| Apr 23 @ 7:48 PM |
A.D.H.D. question
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oceanlover734
Posts: 171
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I'm raising my 9 year old granddaughter and she is on Adderall 15mg. I really have never liked her being on the meds but did know she struggled so decided to allow it. The sad thing to me is the side effects........very very irritable in the crash of it. Evenings are bad. Sleep is very hard to come then by morning she is beyond hateful. I'm thinking of taking her off now that school is almost out and all major testing is complete. I want to do it before school is out to see if they notice a difference or not so of course I'll have to make her think she is still taking it.
My question is does anyone know the best way to this. Should I wean her down on the dosage or cold turkey? Any suggestions would be so appreciated.
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| Apr 23 @ 7:51 PM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 25,169
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Never take her off of her meds without consulting a doctor.
I don't know who put her on it, but I hope it was one who specializes in ADHD. If not, find one who does.
These meds can be adjusted. it just sounds like she's not on the right dose or the right med.
My older one has ADHD. It's not fun to deal with.
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| Apr 23 @ 8:04 PM |
A.D.H.D. question
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oceanlover734
Posts: 171
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The Dr. is her Pediatrician though to say she is an expert in this field no I wouldn't. She has tried several meds but the biggest problem has been she can't swallow and I have tried every trick grrrrrrrrrr. Some meds like the patch insurance will not approve at this time. Honestly every med though ends up with the same results. Irritable and sleeplessness among the not eating well until it wears off. I will call her and see what she says. Thanks Bandmom.
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| Apr 23 @ 8:12 PM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 25,169
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And how long has she been on it? Sometimes the adverse reactions will go away with time.
And I'm happy to read she was tested. ADHD has become such a blanket diganosis for simply an active child.
It took almost all summer to test my older one back in the day.
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| Apr 23 @ 8:26 PM |
A.D.H.D. question
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oceanlover734
Posts: 171
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She has been on this med for a year. She was tested at age 5 by a Psychologist but most of the answers to the questions came from myself and her teacher. She didn't have behavior problems in school either. The problem was she would know `the work one minute and not the next. Like letter sounds and she really struggled with reading majorly because of it. She went to a Montessori School and should have been able to do that without a problem as it was part of her everyday life since before she was 3. Even with the meds she struggled majorly until I put her in public school for second grade. She received extra help that I couldn't afford to bring into a private school and now receives a little help in math and will probably very soon phase out of all help. I don't know I so struggle with concern if the meds really help so much. I hate that her personality becomes lost with meds.
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| Apr 23 @ 8:42 PM |
A.D.H.D. question |
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BandTMom
Posts: 25,169
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My son's test were actual tests.....he had picture tests, an eye exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist, and ear exam by a pediatric ENT, a psychological exam, ad even more.
If your pediatrician can't give you the help ad answers you need, it's time to find one that specializes.
Has she been tested for learning disabilities? She might not have ADHD at all.
Just a thought.
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| Apr 24 @ 6:12 PM |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 7,995
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I havent had my son on Adderall in years. Taking him off it was by far the very best thing I have ever done for the boy.
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| Apr 24 @ 6:37 PM |
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hippydippychick
Posts: 35
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I agree with bandtmom. Thorough testing with paed, ed-psych and other agencies need to be investigated. One of my children has c.p/sensory difficulties/adhd - although they seem to blur into one!! I was lucky with our paed and o/t - they recognised that the sensory difficulties were impacting greatly on my childs learning ability. With the right intervention and learning aids in place, medication was no longer necessary. I hope that this gives you hope. My thoughts are with you x.
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| Apr 24 @ 9:42 PM |
A.D.H.D. question
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oceanlover734
Posts: 171
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Thanks all. I have a call in to her Dr. and should hear back tomorrow. Burns can you tell me about how you took your son off the meds?
hippydippychick it is so difficult to find the right people here. My granddaughter is only covered by the state insurance which hasn't proved to be very good. Besides the fact you hear so many thoughts on A.D.D. and other things that one starts to question in their mind everything. I wish I had not gave into the meds when she was 5.
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| Apr 24 @ 11:18 PM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 25,169
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Please, please, please, as a nurse and a mother who has been through this, do not attempt to adjust any medications on your own.
ADHD drugs are not to be messed with as it can cause worse problems.
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| Apr 24 @ 11:24 PM |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 7,995
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I stopped giving them to him. Adderalls a short term medication.
And switched his treatment plan from curing to coping. Two completely different worlds. Instead of minimizing his issues, we learned and taught him how to cope in life with them. The brain and the body is amazing things. It actually finds a way to better itself even with difficulties. More therapies, less medication. It worked for us wonderfully. Will it work for you? Who knows.
Dont play with dosage. I agree. Either stick with it, or cut cold turkey.
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| Apr 24 @ 11:29 PM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 25,169
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Learning to cope is the most important part of ADHD treatment.
Unfortunately many health care professionals only want to dispense medications.
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| Apr 25 @ 12:09 AM |
A.D.H.D. question
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goodlady354u
Posts: 44
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Ocean....My oldest was on Adderall for 3 years....at the end of his 4th grade year....I cut cold turkey. Didn't seem to bother him at all...although we didn't have any of the bad side affects when he was taking it.
AND Band....my son was also tested...in many different ways...with very little input from me or his teacher. The suggestion that it was ADHD came from the teacher because he couldn't sit still or concentrate...which I had also noticed when he was home.
I didn't want to put him on meds to begin with, but in the end was so glad that I did....he did really well with them. When I took him off....he did learn to cope very well and today is a straight A student in 9th grade.
My honest opinion would be to search for a new Dr. or at least get a second opinion to make sure the diagnosis is right...and that the meds are the right one for your granddaughter.
Good Luck :)
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| Apr 25 @ 6:49 AM |
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oceanlover734
Posts: 171
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Again I thank you all. Bandmom I promise I'm not going to mess with the dosage on my own. Damn stuff scares me enough without that. I will wait for the Dr. I do realize therapy is very important in this and have been slack in this area. So time to do better and thats why I am asking questions. Thanks so much for the advice all!
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| Apr 25 @ 7:30 AM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 25,169
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Therapy may help. but they should be teaching you how to deal with her at home too.
These kids somehow have a built in radar on exactly which buttons to push. 
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| Apr 25 @ 1:17 PM |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 7,995
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Look up out reach, in your areas. Great programs. My sons wonderful, yet it is not because of me alone. All I did was choose to learn from others that know more then I. Mike Edwards of Family Outreach has be our main man, Two heads are definately better then one.
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| Apr 25 @ 1:27 PM |
A.D.H.D. question
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Loreli
Posts: 18,667
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My second son is ADHD.
He was put on Ritalin in first grade. He had been evaluated and found to pay attention only 25% of the time.
Funny thing, though....He's probably more knowlegeable about a zillion subjects than the rest of us.
We had to take his face in our hand to explain something to him, or give him directions. Many ADHD kids excel at video games because they can "focus" on the whole.
Heck...I'm ADHD....put me in a grocery line for 5 minutes and I want to scream...
(Read up on diet, also)
Good luck!
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| Apr 25 @ 3:53 PM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 25,169
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Funny thing, though....He's probably more knowlegeable about a zillion subjects than the rest of us.
People with ADHD are often above average in intelligence, but don't realize it because of the struggles they have. And ADHD is often accompanied with a learning disability which furthers the problem.
Along with ADHD, my older son also has a written language disability. He has it in his head but has difficulty getting it down on paper.
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| Apr 26 @ 11:25 AM |
A.D.H.D. question
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oceanlover734
Posts: 171
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I spoke with Savannah's Dr. yesterday and she did listen to my concerns. I can take her off Adderall cold turkey though and see how she does. I feel better doing this with the Dr. knowing. So I'll try it for at least 2 weeks no meds. I'm going to write her teacher a letter explaining and ask her to keep up with how she seems during this time. I'm also going to ask her to hold Savannah responsible for herself no matter what.
Burns and Mom you are right I do need to seek more outside help. I know she needs more as do I. I work with children everyday and damn good at it but when it comes to my own I'm frustrated. Neither one of us asked for this but it is what it is so I have to deal with it better. Hey Loreli I think I must be A.D.D. myself to,lol. Seriously why else can't I get a plan together on this. Mom you said something else I thought was so on target with Savannah Along with ADHD, my older son also has a written language disability. He has it in his head but has difficulty getting it down on paper.
That is one of the first things I noticed about her. She could articulate any subject but to put it on paper was impossible. Just this year has that more come together. Spelling was a real pain as she could spell out loud but never get it right on paper. Now she makes mostly 100's. I'm praying that just possibly her brain has figured it out better now and we maybe can stay off the meds.
Thanks all again because it does help to hear other thoughts on this.
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| Apr 26 @ 11:38 AM |
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BandTMom
Posts: 25,169
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Have her testing for learning disabilities. Your school system should do this for free or at least mine did at the time....many years ago. Of course, at that time the state of Oklahoma didn't recognize ADHD as a learning disability.
Does she have an IEP?
And good news, there are those who "grow out" of it too.
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