I have a child with ADHD, 8 years old.

Kimberly - posted on 05/12/2009

Let your doctor know how bad it gets in the evening I have a friend that had her son on concerta ,he metabolized meds rapidly and they ended up puttig him on a low dose of ritalin in the late afternoon plus his dose of concerta was raised to a higher amount. Some kids just need that extra spread throughout the day . Another friend of ours took their child of f concerta and uses ritalin 3 times a day for better control. They are alot of options .If you have been trying this for a year obviously it is not working and I would stress that to his psychiatrist.

Mandy - posted on 05/12/2009

My son is also on concerta, it works really well for him. It usually lasts until about 6 or 7 in the evening. He has been on it for a little over a year.

Kimberly - posted on 05/11/2009

We had thisproblem alot with ritalin, but when they changed my son to concerta it seemed to have a more lasting effect. There are also extended release meds that seem to give a better control throughout the day.

Cynthia - posted on 05/11/2009

My son has been on meds for 1.5 months now. is anyone having problems when the med are wearing off in the evening time. Since we put him on meds he is doing alot better in school and is able to sit and do his work

Mandy - posted on 05/07/2009

I have a 7 year old son with ADHD who is now repeating the 1st grade, he had such a hard time last year and after we started him on the meds it has made the biggest difference. The first few weeks of school were a little difficult, but now that we are at the end of the year, I have realized that it was the best decision for him.

Kim - posted on 05/07/2009

Well in our case the school system couldnt educate my son a 3 so they sent him to aspecial school for an eval that ended up being 3 years. Now he is mainstreamed back into the Public system with many things in place to support him. In our case, the town really did a good job for the most part. I think holding my son back helped his self-esteem because socially he was in a more appropriate situation and academically he is a bit ahead of the game so ti worked well for him. All on a kid by kid basis I guess.

Kimberly - posted on 05/07/2009

Fape is a federal thing . All states are required to follow it they just differ in how they do and the schools for the most part will not be that helpful even though they tell you they are. If you find an advocate you will find there is so much out there to help your child that the schools will never tell you about. The draw back in holding your child back is that they lose their self esteem that is already fragile. With an Iep his work at school is all at his level. Depending on how severe his disability is the modifications can be extensive. My son was so out of control with adhd and bipolar that he never learned to read or write until 6th grade. He is eighteen now graduating from a public school passed most of the graduation test that normal kids take and is registered to start college in the fall. It took alot of fighting with the schools and some years it seemed I was there almost everyday. But with a mentors helping telling me the laws and what had to be done for my son what he could and could not change or even help We ended up with a greaat IEP. Just be strong and persistant

Kim - posted on 05/06/2009

In Massachusetts every child is entitled to FAPE(free and appropriate education)if the public school isn't providing it they are responsible for finding a place that is appropriate for your child. Maybe it's the samewhere you are? Look into a Special Ed Advocate, they know all the loopholes and rights.

Kimberly - posted on 05/06/2009

If you can get the school to help him and get and individual education plan done to help him next year . If not ask how are they going to teach him differently that will change this outcome.Before the school can get an IEP done you have to have a multifactored testing done that will tell everyone if his disorder is effecting his learning Just request the school do that at their expense and put it in writing. They ususally have 45 days to respond to you and may test him through summer. Get all that information them make a decision on next year.There are agency that can help you if it becomes overwhelming which it will and most school districts have parent mentors that walk you through this.

Kim - posted on 05/05/2009

ar you talking about Gluten Free & stuff like that?? That is something I have recently been ooking into, that and alot of dye free foods.

Kim - posted on 05/05/2009

Why would a teacher advise you to take him off his meds?? Teachers ARE NOT DOCTORS and have no business giving advice about prescription medication. I would report her to the Principal or even better the Superintendent of Schools. Also, I would never have done it. Nobody knows YOUR child better than you and get to choose what is or isnt right for YOUR child. My son, who is 8 and is also ADHD and is also in 2nd grade would find it difficult to get through a whole school day w/out his Concerta. Kyle was kept behind because I felt he was socially not ready to move ahead. If you feel he is not ok then you should keep him behind. But I wuld address the school situation with the school. Does he have a special education plan?? Good Luck

Meredith - posted on 05/03/2009

My 10 year old is struggling in school. He was diagnosed with ADHD three years ago and they just keep passing him through school. He is at the end of the 4th grade and he can hardly read. He has been on meds but the doctor keeps switching him all the time. I just do the best I can to be a good teacher to him. I have him read and I do school work with him. Now the school is telling me that they can't meet his needs so they want to have him removed from the school. I just advocate and fight for my child and his right to an education. I wish that they would have kept him behind because he now gets teased and he is fighting all the time because he is called "stupid" by the other kids in his class.

Bonnie - posted on 04/30/2009

I have a 14 teen year old daughter w/ ADHD and she's had it all her life.She is on meds I also had to keep her back when she was younger but her doctor and my husband and my self made that choose.She is now makin honors and is going into the high school next year.She is also in her 4th year of tap but I also have her in a lot of fun programs w/ other children w/ ADHD. I would discuss this w/ the doctor there are test that can be done and he may not need meds there maybe other ways to handle unfortunately we had to go w/ the meds cause she became very dangerus.I wish you and you're son the best of luck.

Samantha - posted on 04/30/2009

i cant beleive the teacher is putting this pressure onto you. i have a 9 year son with ADHD. He is acheiving very well with his grades and is on meds. it is not for the school to decide if he has meds or not, that is your decition as a parent. dont be bullied into stopping meds if u dont feel is right for your child.

good luck

Barbara - posted on 04/29/2009

Why did they ask you to take him off the meds? Was he doing well on them? Normally they push meds.



Are you open to a nutritional approach to help him?



Barbara Formica

Monique - posted on 04/24/2009

I have a 7yr old that also have ADHD and his is not doing well in 1st grade, I think when they are so young that is is best to do all you can even if you have to keep them back grade. It will be much harder on a child when they get to middle school age to play catch up. Another yr of second grade will better prepare him for the grades to come:)

Patricia - posted on 04/23/2009

I asked to have my son repeat 2nd grade. The school didn't want to but I was able to talk them into it. In addition to ADHD he has a reading disability so he was very far behind where he should be in reading. He repeated 2nd grade, took his meds (which helped his reading tremendously) and is doing so much better now. He is in 5th grade, off his meds and doing well. He still sometimes is not happy I had him repeat a grade, but his self-esteem was so low because of his poor reading I really think it was the right decision. He still gets some help in the Resource classroom but overall is doing very well. As a mom, I think having him repeat a grade was a big help for him. Good luck - it is such a tough decision!