ADHD Medication

Beth - posted on 07/20/2011

The problem with you theory is that being dx for ADHD is actually a long process. It's much longer than a couple of Dr visits. It involves teachers , family , psychologists, counciling at least once a month, school councilors. It's not just a once in and hey your kid has ADHD. My daughter is ADHD-C which is combined type, not just hyperactive but also inattentive type. I've know for a long time , because it's hereditary , I am ADHD-I and I have a sister that is ADHD-C. ADHD should not be dx until age 6 or 7 because the behaviors in ADHD can also be age appropriate before that. It's being dx more now because these kids aren't being just classified as bad kids or mentally ill kids. And because of advances in science have been able to live close to normal lives. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a common childhood illness that can be treated. It is a health condition involving biologically active substances in the brain. Studies show that ADHD may affect certain areas of the brain that allow us to solve problems, plan ahead, understand others’ actions, and control our impulses.

Stifler's - posted on 03/24/2011

I think ADHD and ADD can be legit. But there have been a lot of threads on here about their 2 year old having ADHD when if you read most sites info about ADHD it's not diagnosable until 6 or 7 so I have no idea whether a doctor has really told them this or they are jumping to conclusions about their child's behaviour.

Jennifer - posted on 03/23/2011

@Brandi: You might want to keep in mind that the "lazy" parent you mention may also have ADD. It tends to run in families. So the mom who has difficulty providing consistency and routine for her child may have her own (often undiagnosed) ADD.
I'm not saying that is the case for everyone, but those ADD kids grow up to be ADD adults. I am an ADD mom with a grown ADD child whom I didn't medicate, but looking back I now think maybe I should have.

Jessica - posted on 03/01/2011

I was with you until my son blew way out of control last summer. I thought too many were diagnosed and drugged. But if it wasnt for the time release, I would have had to quit my job to stay home. My son was getting kicked out of school bc the school didnt know what to do. I ended up putting my son in a behavioral hospital only to come out with severe ADHD (the same thing the psychiatrist diagnosed him with two thousand dollars earlier). I still believe they over prescribe, but in my case It's what we needed. Did you also know that there are physical characteristics of ADHD? I didnt either until the dr at the hospital told me (then i looked it up myself). My son had all the phyisical signs. I tried everything with the school. Shorter days, less days, smaller class, a few medications that I told the doctor to prescribe since what the hospital gave my son wasnt enough. But know I can work almost 70% of my work week, 5 months later instead of 30% on a good week.

Yes, they do over prescribe. Yes, some kids REALLY do need the medication!

Jesse - posted on 03/01/2011

My husband has ADHD. When we first met, he was taking adderall but, a couple years after we left high school, he stopped taking it because it made him unable to sleep or gain any weight (which for him is a problem because he is VERY thin/lean). He told me that as frustrating as it is to ALWAYS have his thoughts going, going, going... He would rather deal with it by himself than be on medication that either made him hyper-focus or act like a zombie.
I agree 100% that doctors DO over-diagnose ADHD. A lot of the time it is that kids just have nowhere to burn off all of their excess energy. I know that when my kids are old enough (daughter is almost 1 and we have #2 due in July), I do not want them to be cooped up inside playing on the computer or playing video games. Kids just want to have fun and be able to expend all their pent up energy!

Carolyn - posted on 02/28/2011

I truly beleive that kids arent afforded the opportunities they need to burn off their energy.

If you look back in time, there were no video games, computers, tv's and all the things in life that we now have that have made the majority of society a sedentary people. So many schools have cut extra curricular activities, phys ed ( atleast here) is no longer mandatory in schools after grade 9, children are burdened with hours and hours of homework starting at a young age further limiting their ability to burn that energy.

so all this excess energy boils over and expressed in lack of attention span and other ADD/ADHD "symptoms"

I also beleive that sometimes, teachers will find fault in the child instead of finding better ways to intrigue the children in the material they are learning, be more creative in ways to keep attention, or integrate ways to burn energy while learning the materials at hand.

Parents are often consumed with work, household chores, personal interests and may not engage their children in physical acitivities.

Family time is all to often sitting down and watching a movie instead of going to the park , swimming, sliding, skiing, for walks etc.

I think it is society as a whole that has resulted in such a soaring increase in ADHD.

Naturally there are some children with true diagnosis warranted, and extreme cases needing medications. But the label band aid and medication are more convenient then putting in the effort as whole to help the children channel that energy into healthy and productive outlets.

Brandi - posted on 02/28/2011

My nephew was diagnosed with ADHD. At first, we were all really pissed that my ex-sister-in-law was giving him medication for it. We thought she just didn't want to deal with a hyper little boy. However, after he started the ADHD medication, his grades at school improved. He could concentrate on things easier. He's still hyper as all get outs but HE seems to be happier. He has even said that the medicine makes him feel better.

I do feel like ADHD is a default for lazy parents. If you can't handle your hyper kids... maybe you shouldn't of had any. =/

Shani - posted on 02/28/2011

My son is 5 years old and we have done everything except put him on medication: Organic only diet, no preservatives, fish oil supplements, herbal supplements,behavior modification, gluten free, dairy free, etc. He has been in a developmental preschool since he was 3 years old. I am considering medication ONLY because I have tried recommended options. I think that ADHD medication and treatment should be prescribed by a specialist. Most pediatricians have knowledge of the condition but a specialist has been trained in all aspects of the condition and can offer a better diagnosis. We have been to a developmental pediatrician and they were reluctant to diagnose my son because he was so young (3yrs old at the time) Now we are going back to be re-evaluated. Wish me luck !!!

Carrie - posted on 02/05/2010

I have to agree my husband was put in an institution in the early 80's because they didn't know alot about ADHD and they did do the medications and it only made him worse. His parents pulled him out when they saw he wasn't doing any better and took him off all medications. Remember medications are only a temporary fix and do not cure everything.

Tiffany - posted on 02/05/2010

Thanks everyone for your input..especially Cassie Johnson, I have in turn looked into those reading and found them very helpful. I am actually going to forward them to my mother as well. If more people read Dr. Rohm's book I think a lot of people would atleast have that clarity.

Mandi - posted on 01/31/2010

i totally agree with you, i was "diagnosed" with adhd when i was only 2 and half, its not that my mom was busy, she was a stay at home mom, she just couldnt deal with all my needs as a growing 2 year old and demanded a diagnoses. doctors do it to get money and get angry parents off their backs, and the sad part is that when you make a child that young take medication and they take it for years they sometimes dont know how to function without it, honestly you cant really even start to diagnose these things until at least 10 to 12 years of age, they can say the child has adhd tendencies........ but they cant diagnose it

Amber - posted on 01/30/2010

I also agree with you. My son has been perscribed different meds for ADHD and I have refused all of them. The problem I have is that just because I do not accept the meds for my son teachers and doctors seem to look down upon me because i'm not helping my son. What's worse lack of attention or all the complicated side effects from the drugs?

Cassie - posted on 01/30/2010

You're right they do over diagnose kids with ADHD. I was one of them. Riddlen made me jittery and Adderal made me feel dull or flat, like I wasn't really myself. I found this great book that helped alot in terms of helping me find out why I was the way I was. It's called Persoality Plus by Florence Littauer (not sure that's the right spelling of her last name). It was a great book to read. She and I have the same personality. I would also reccommend reading Dr. Robert Rohm's books on personalities. Those are also great reads and very enlightening. He talks about docs over diagnosing ADHD and things you do for a very active child. Hope it helps! =)

Beth Ann - posted on 01/30/2010

I agree with you... there are WAY too many children being diagnosed as ADHD. my mother used to work in an elementary school and she told me about how at lunch time, a ton of kids that line up in the nurses office to take their ADHD medication. I believe that yes, maybe some kids suffer from the disorder but most of them are being diagnosed with out having it. Kids will be kids. Busy, loud, all over the place... they just want to have fun.