How long did it take you to find the correct medication?

Denise - posted on 03/14/2010

My 9yr old daughter is on the Daytrana 20mg patch. It works really great. I put it on her at 7am and take it off at 4pm (it's time released over 9hours) and it is still in her system enough for homework, but doesn't hinder her appetite very much or make her groggy

Stephanie - posted on 12/13/2009

It is a good back up for other medications but not good on it's own.

Stephanie - posted on 12/13/2009

If your child is not responding well to medication then it is not ADHD it is a processing disorder within the sensory disorder. Please make sure your son is not playing video games as they can interupt the process of the brains wiring not to mention hyper the sensory disorder. You might need to get further testing, perhaps with a neuropsychiatrist who specializes in processing disorders to find out what the specific areas are that he is struggling with. It could be as simple as queues to calm him down,
change in diet, setting up different boundaries, working with brain gym, different things that can help him help himself. Medication is great if it works, and it doesn't always work. When it doesn't work then you know your child is not ADHD.

Margaret - posted on 12/13/2009

it took like a couple of years of different meds because of her body getting use to them

Eleni - posted on 12/11/2009

hi ..my son is not on medication.we are working with a specialist for all the problems he have..for the behaviour,the angry,the fockus,and every other problems of the adhd..

Susan - posted on 12/11/2009

What does any Mom know about Strattera? I appreciate your feedback!
Thanks Sue

Susan - posted on 12/11/2009

Hi Suzanne, I went to the doc. this week and he told me that Folcin is not cover by my insurance. He has prescribed Strattera. I have been reading about it and I don't like what I read. My son's doc. said that it will not effect his appetite, but that is not what I read of the list of side effects for Strattera. Do you know anything about this medicine?
Thank for responding,
Sue

Ashley - posted on 12/09/2009

hi actually finding the right med for my son wasn,t the hard bit. getting the right people to listen was my major problem. thankfully after 2 years of asking for help an excellent teacher backed me up and emailed the head pediatrian in that field, herself. my son initially started on 27mg concerta xl which to be honest gave very little difference at all. he has now been on concerta xl 36mg for over a year and touch wood no problems, not massive changes as i dont want him on a high dose as dont want to loose the person in him, but definate improvements. for his age and bmi etc he should be on 57mg, but i am hoping he will be able to remain on the level his is on now till after he leaves school next year. Stick with it, it will be worth it in the long run for all the family concerned.x

Beth - posted on 12/08/2009

I know it's hit or miss on finding the right meds. We've been pretty lucky. But sometimes the meds just stop working and we've had to up the dose or change to another one. Just keep in touch with your doctor. He can't help you if you don't keep him in the loop.

Margaret - posted on 12/07/2009

i have a 14 year old daughter dignoised at 3 years old with adhd tried different med threw out the years i and herself has found vyvanse about 5 years ago and she loves it no highs no low it really helps her focus and is nonstimulus its one of the best ones i found useful and yes she sees both a thyrapist licienced clinical social work and aimed doctor for pyic meds so i have a team of psychologist it is good to have them to really get a good diagnoisis and meds good luck

Suzanne - posted on 12/06/2009

Sue,
Concerta totally wiped out my 9 yr old's appetite. He even had trouble forcing himself to eat. He just felt bad when food was in his stomach while on the Concerta. The doctor said that he would be hungry when it wore off at night but that was not the case. We switched to Focalin XR and have been very pleased. He is eating again and all other side effects have gone away but his attention is so much better. There is also a medicine that can be added that will stimulate appetite but I do not know the name.
Talk to you doctor and see what he/she suggests.

Susan - posted on 12/04/2009

Thank you for your response. I have also gone through some trail and error and different meds, but I am concerned about the lack of appeite. My son has even said to me a couple of times "Mom change my medicine so I want to eat." On the weekend I don't have him take his meds. and his appetite go back to normal. Are there any meds that don't inhibit their appetite. He is doing so well in school on the Concerta, but I don't feel like it is the right med. for him. If you can give me some advice I would really appreciate it Thanks Sue

Rabecca - posted on 12/04/2009

Quoting Cindy Millikin:

PLEASE ck online for teenage suicide associated with these meds!!! After a year of ”trial & error” with 3 different zombie drugs my beautiful 14 year old daughter shot herself with her brother`s hunting rifle. I did the research too late too save my child and I will be haunted forever by the fact that I was supposed to protect her & I let her down. Pls call me @ 318-669-3669. My daughter's name was Maddie Mae.
Sincerely,
Cindy Shelton

I am so sorry for your lose and yes this can be an issue and you def need to montor your kids whan they are on these drugs and hopefully even help them learn to have the self control and socail skills to remove them from them I know if your child is acting not right or Zombie -ish they ARE NOT ON THE MED and you would not leave them on a medication fo anything if it wasnt working same with these meds .

Also what I know is lots of children that dont get the proper help for these kinds of issues can start to self medicate and have dependancy issues of all sorts they act out with sex drugs anything because they're minds are not working properly so some need medication and some need strong therapy and some like mine need both  to help them learn to control ther symtoms and that can def be life threating as well we all love our kids and only want to help them become strong happy well adjusted teens then adults

 I dont believe you were not protecting her you were doing the best thing you felt for her what good parent would do anything other than that any action we take as far as medication and just choices we make that involve our kids in anyway can effect them in ways we have no idea could even be in the realm of things that could happen you never know that letting them ride in a car with a friend could be the last time you see them you just dont know

  I know for one the first few days after we have done a med change I waltch him like no other and every differnce in behavior is def talked about with his doctor

Rabecca - posted on 12/04/2009

my son has been on 4 differnt medications the last one he was one for over a year and seemed to be doing great but after that year he started having rebound effects and his issues were worse than before meds plus each one we tried to change doses to see if thats why or what was going on with him one of them I honeslty thought he may have been posesed and needed and exorcims LOL but he had some major anger which really isnt like him it really is a trial and error kind of thing its tough cuz you just dont know if finally your little man is going to feel like hes noramal and stop worring about all the issues they have all day on top of low self asteem and kids who tell them they are mean and they think that to because they dont have kids who want to play with them and you get this new med thinking is this going to be and you pray it it and then no go .

Finally he is on just adderal he does have to take it 3 times a day which can be a pain but him taking it like that keeps him more even through the day and he is happy a friendly good natured kid that i could se ebut he just couldnt display to anyone at school this year they have taken him off all his behavioral intervention plans and he is at the top of the class he still has some reservations about other kids which hes working on his friendship skills because he really felt hurt and by kid smaking fun of him when he was so out of control he knew he was and really didnt want to be but coudnt control himself for the most part now he can but he sometimes thinks kids wont lie him because they didnt in the past but he did make a friend this year and seems really great and well worth the trial and error to find what would help which of course when you are going through it seems so endless and fustrating for everyone but now I feel very fortuante to have went through all that and found our answer keep at it good luck

Susan - posted on 12/04/2009

Quoting Melissa:

How long did it take you to find the correct medication?

We are doing the trial and error method to find the correct med and dosage for my son with ADHD and sensory issues. He just took his first pill today. Focalin XR 5mg. UGH!

Is Focalin a new medication? My son has been taking Concerta for a half of year. I don't like the side effect, lack of appetite. My son is almost 10 and he is getting tall, but looks very thin. Please let me Know how Focalin effects your son. I want to try a different Medicine. Thank you, Sue

Melissa - posted on 12/04/2009

Thank you for all your responses. Kevin is in preschool disability class with a max of 12 kids. He has his own personal aide. the hyperactivity and the impulsivity, i can deal with, it is the aggressive behavior he has shown for the past year, we cannot. I cannot let him hurt others anymore or hear anymore stories of kids going home crying both in class and on the bus. he does have a behaviorist on his case. we have a FBA in place for him. he does get OT in school and outside of school. He also gets social skills/behavioral therapy by a sports psychologist and trained therapists twice a week. He gets yoga there every week and they participate in sports, art, and other activities. we had him in swim for a little, but couldnt afford to keep it going. the doctor we are seeing is a psychiatrist. He is monitored not only by me, but his teachers, therapists, a psychologist and a psychiatrist. We have the Dream Team on the job.



He started meds the other day and had hiccoughs/burps all day. He also had to go to the bathroom quite often. Is that normal or do you think he had gas because of it and it was pressing on his bladder? Or do you think it might be a UTI? Not sure if this is regular. Otherwise he was ok they said. Thursdays I barely see him between school and therapy. I will get to see more of it myself this weekend.



Please respond to the above questions and again thanks for all your help

Charlie - posted on 12/04/2009

Hello there,

Each child is different and you just need to be patient and supportive. The first thing that you will need to do is take your son to see a psychologist and possible OT. That is what we had to do with my daughter Leanne. She is 8 years old now and the one thing that the doctor suggested we do as well is take her for OT and sports such as swimming, ballet etc. These sports some how get them to use muscles and release the hormone that some how helps to stabilize them.



It will take time my dear but do not give up.... you will find the right one

Martha - posted on 12/03/2009

Hi Melissa,
Sometimes the first med is the right one and progress happens quite readily. Sometimes it takes several trials and even several different kinds of meds or different combinations or different doses. These things are very individual with each child responding in their own unique way. One thing to remember is that as the child goes through growth spurts the med and dose that once worked well may not work as well due to the growth changes et al. Usually minor re adjustments by the Dr can bring it all back in check again. Diet of the child plays a big role as well. My grandson actually became very much a participant in the choosing of snacks that were good for him and keeping clear of the ones that were not. Again this may be individual. I know that he chooses the clear, diet type of pop and things like Ritz Bitz with Peanut Butter over Candy Bars etc.. He has been on the Honor Roll all through Elementary School since the right med and diet were in place for him
Patience and good observation are both very important. Sometimes the seemingly small things observed and jotted into a notebook or diary are Big Information for a Doctor to work with. They also will show up progress over time. When you can flip back to the first notes and read on through to the present and see the progress it gives you a real boost.
Children are amazing. Keep the child IN the loop. Originally the only information you may receive from the child is an answer to a question asked. Later the dialogues may become more spontaneous and often originate from a statement by the child.

Denise - posted on 12/03/2009

Have you talked with your pharmicist or a support group... not that your doctor doesn't know what they are doing but sometimes they get into a habit and other influences my be helpful... just a thought....

Cindy Millikin - posted on 12/03/2009

PLEASE ck online for teenage suicide associated with these meds!!! After a year of ”trial & error” with 3 different zombie drugs my beautiful 14 year old daughter shot herself with her brother`s hunting rifle. I did the research too late too save my child and I will be haunted forever by the fact that I was supposed to protect her & I let her down. Pls call me @ 318-669-3669. My daughter's name was Maddie Mae.
Sincerely,
Cindy Shelton

Denise - posted on 12/03/2009

Hello Mellisa,I hope this answer works out for you! The best thing for your son and other children,would be natural herbs like, Chamomile. It's good for relaxing, and also a soother for the body! I, myself, don't like to give children medication! They say the body can heal itself, with this herb, your son would be calmer. Herbs are great for the body! My son, who had asthma would take the pump, that gives them an adrenalin rush,and would all over the place! I did research using the Back To Eden book, which helped me ,and still is with my grandson. You can also use a Chamomile body wash and lotion, plus a good prayer for the child! It make us feel good knowing the child is at ease. After that you would feel like Wonderwoman, or wondermom. I hope this information would be helpful to you. It's an honor to see mother working together! Stay Blessed!

Kameshra - posted on 12/03/2009

He has been on these meds for 3mths now but we started him with just the Risperdone and that was not working so then we added the Ritalin and that was not working at first so his doctor ordered him to take it twice a day in the morning and at noon because he would have more mood swings at school than at home and it was to the point where his teacher could not teach unless he was removed from the room because of his tantrums but since the change he has shown some improvement he still has his moments where I am not having this but his tantrums have gotten smaller versus him having one that last an hour or two. So far these meds are helping him. Its like they say different children have different reactions, I was scared at first because I did not know how he would do but I can see a change in him and I hope that this a change for the good. Sometimes the body can become immune to cetain meds and they start to not have the same effect as they do when you first start them and I pray that this does have a long term affect for my son because I would hate to have him start all over again on different meds.

Denise - posted on 12/03/2009

Quoting Melissa:

How long did it take you to find the correct medication?

We are doing the trial and error method to find the correct med and dosage for my son with ADHD and sensory issues. He just took his first pill today. Focalin XR 5mg. UGH!

Kameshra - posted on 12/03/2009

My son has ADHD and ODD and we are trying him on a small dosage of Risperdone and Ritalin to see how he responds to these meds so far so good. Just keep your head up and pray for the best.

April - posted on 12/03/2009

Well I certainly can relate to your situation. We have struggled with our oldest daughter being medicated because of her ADHD and ODD since she was about 4-5 years old, she is now 13. Each child is different and it may take some time to find what works best for your child. We have gone through a few different types and doses. As they grow the body changes, so the need in amount of Milligrams changes, the body gets used to one and doesn't work as well anymore, so change is common---or can be. We used Concerta several years ago and it made her zombie like--she wanted to sleep all of the time, but we tried it again a few years ago and it had a different affect on her--it worked better the second time around. She is currently on Adderrall XR, it is time released and seems to be doing well. So what doesn't work now may work down the road. We have costantly prayed over this situation, because of the struggle of to medicate or not was stressful, and everyone under the sun has an opinion as to what you should do--well intentioned or not. You and your husband are the only ones that can make that decision, once you do--don't second guess yourself, you know your child better than anyone else. We only want what is best for our children and the choices that we have to make sometimes are hard to make, but once we noticed the difference in her attitude and her grades, she did better medicated and with an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan). A Behavior plan is also an option--it did work for us for a little while. Some children thrive on instant gratification, sticker charts, and treasure box items--you can even try one at home. Having a child(ren) is definetely a trial an error thing, but even more so when you have one or more with special needs or considerations. Our other child is developmentally delayed, no medication, but a small classroom setting is the choice that we recently made for her. We'll do this for now and see what happens, she likes it so far and feels better about herself. I almost wish that we had tried it with my oldest, it may have been a better way for her, but hindsight is 20/20. Whatever you do, keep praying and I wish you the best of luck, being a parent is the hardest job, but is the most rewarding! God Bless you all=]

Gabriella - posted on 12/03/2009

Each child is different and each child has their own way of metabolizing medications at various doses so it's difficult to guarantee that your child will experience the same side effects that I have seen with other children. You will have to work with the doctor very closely to determine what works best. You will also have to decide what is important to you. As one of the moms said, for some children, they are not themselves when on certain medications. You will have to decide if the medication is worth the trade offs. This will require working closely with the doctor and making good notes on the changes that you see in your child. Even if you have to write down the changes in the increments that they occur (1 hour after the medication, 2 hours after, etc.).

There are many all natural approaches to ADD and ADHD as well. There are all natural supplements that have shown benefits as well as diet modification. Hang in there, you are already in a great community of moms who are willing to help and share stories. Keep asking questions of us and of the physicians. If I can be of any assistance, feel free to ask away!

Claire - posted on 12/03/2009

hi ya babe i have a 9 yrs old son with server adhd and he takes equasym slow release u will see fairly quick responce a few days maybe . my son ethan also needed help 2 sleep . you will be able 2 see if they r working 4 him every child is different all boys in my family have it and nearly all of my husbands 2 good luck babe it gets easyer

Tammy - posted on 12/03/2009

Well, I have 6 year old twin boys and they both have ADHD, and they are on different medications. One of my boys is on Focalin XR10mg and has been for almost a year and it works wonderfully for him, but we have just added Focalin 5mg in the afternoon as soon as he gets home from school so that he can focus on homework. The other son is the more difficult one. He has developed Oppositional Defiance Disorder as well as the ADHD and he can be more difficult with the mood swings. He is now taking Intuniv 1mg at night in conjunction with Concerta 36mg everyday and it is working!!! I am so happy!!!! I don't do this for me....my boys could bounce around all day if that is their inclination and they don't get hurt. But, they were starting to feel the effects of being different at school and their grades were affected because of the lack of concentration. Not to mention the behavior problems related to the son that has the ODD. Just give this time....it will take plenty of it to determine what works just right for your child. Feel free to ask me questions anytime! Oh, and this has taken two years to get this right.....

KARA - posted on 12/03/2009

It took us 3 yrs and 9 different meds but we are now on Vyvanse and love it!! Been on that for almost 2 yrs now!

Melissa - posted on 12/03/2009

I can take several months depending on the medication. If the FocalinXR does not work then you have to start over with a different medication. If it is just a dosage issue you should notice a difference, it just may not be up to where it should be. I would give yourself a good 3 months to work through everything....again it will depend on your doctor as well. Good luck!

Elizabeth - posted on 12/03/2009

ok.... i'll try not go on my soap box.... but I went through 5 different meds with my daughter. They either made her worse or made her shuffle around like a zombie. And she was on 1/4 of the lowest dose available. I have two questions: how old is your son, and has he seen a psychologist or only a pediatrician?



I took my girl to a psychologist and he said take her off the meds and bring her back. He then told me that she has tendencies but said she was bright high spirited child. In fact what she needed wasn't meds but challenges. She was given an IEP which the school decided it wasn't worth their effort and energy. They wanted her on meds.



we put her (and our whole family) on as close to a natural diet as possible. No food colour (we learned red and yellow dye were like giving her speed), we reduced her gluten intake and that helped as well.



We home school our kids (for other reasons aside from the school not wanting to follow their IEPs).



We have seen a great turn around. They get more time to be kids instead of sitting like drones. I'm not saying you have to homeschool, but sometimes finding a educational environment suitable and conductive to their needs and personalities helps where meds dont. There are so many side effects to the different meds one has to wonder if they are worth it.



I wish you luck and if I have to recommend one it would be celexa... it was the one that had the least harsh effects. She was more interactive than the ones that turned her into a zombie. And definitely did not make her worse. But it took away her wonderful imagination and I missed her. She went from dancing around and making up songs and drawing and climbing (when outside) to just wanting to watch tv after her homework was done. No matter how much I encouraged her to get up move she lost her gumption.