Daughter with ADHD

[missashley1999]

My 9 year old daughter has ADD.  We have had lots of trouble finding the appropriate dose of medication - have just been using her pediatrician to this point.  She will be in 4th grade next year, and the academics really ramp up, so I feel like I need to find an extended-release med to help her.  Right now she has been on one 10 mg. Ritalin, given once in the a.m.  We tried Concerta, Ritalin ER and Adderall (adderrall).  All had really bad side effects - she couldn't sleep, was out of control emotional, very agitated.  Then she would shift into being totally blank at times also.

Does anyone have any suggestions - I'm thinking of taking her to a child pshychiatrist who specializes in these medications.  

She also has developed anxieties toward things - especially getting to sleep and worrying about school.  Don't know if it's related to the ADD.

So far, socially, she has been great.  But as she gets older, I worry about these things starting to become more noticeable to other kids and girls can be really mean...even at this age.

[dollyn]

My son to was on Adderall (adderrall) and then Concerta and I feel that your daughter is going threw what my son did after being on those med's .

after me telling his doctor a few times about what was going on,he sent my son for an egg and it came back that my son was having seizures.witch concerta can cause seizures.
the blank look you see in her can be the first sign of her having them.

I would get her checked right away,and hope she is not, because my son seizures have gotten worse.and the meds are not working.

don't mean to scary you but this reminds me of what my son was like at first and now is much worse.

I only wish I had never put him on anything and that the school  teacher would have been able to handle my son and do her job.and that I would have put my foot down when it came to those things.

best of luck with everything.

[jojomaxie]

My step son is on 50mg of adderall (adderrall) xr. he is 15 and weighs 110 pounds. He has also had the sleeping troubles, sometimes has had that far away empty look. So you are say that really they are have mini seizures, and can get worse. I have noticed that the far away looks don't happen quit as often as they have but also I believe the medication is also not working as well as it did before.

What happened to your son and what have you done to help him.


Thanks

[Sandman2]

   I think that, "taking her to a child pshychiatrist who specializes in these medications," is an excellent idea.  Dosage is a trial and error process based on your child's weight and severity of ADHD.   A pediatrician may not have enough experience to figure this out.
   You are correct that the academics get harder in fourth grade.  Typically, the main problem will be math.  If her ADHD is not under control, consider getting her some outside help.
    Worrying about school could be related to ADHD.  I always felt that frustration was a great sign of ADHD.  The child knew she should be doing better in school (intelligence was there), but couldn't.  Do let your new doctor know about your worries, especially the sleep issues.

[dollyn]

first my son stop taken medications for adhd when I found out he was having seizures.

he has been on seizure medicine since 2006 and still is  and went from the staring look to the twitching in is sleep .so he would be hard to get up every morning and hard time staying awake at school.you see he has seizures threw out the hole night sleep even on the medicine he is on.we have tried 5 medicine and they are still not working.

he also will walk into things.he also stated to have his head drop  and the next one's he has come to have over the last few months now he will be walking and look like he is a drunk and sometimes fall's or if I am holding his hand and walking with him he will fall to .

he has had two MRI and they come out normal. he will be now going to have the VNS put in him to try and help the seizures.

he cant go to school and he cant learn anything because he forgets what he has learned.

please talk to your son doctor about it and check on him when he is sleeping,and see if you can see his feet or had or even his lips moving like a twitch.also if his eyes look not right to you.

sometimes seizures don't show up on egg ,but I would still get one done and make the doctor get one done this is your child you are talking about.

you can message me if you would like to.

[Beldan4]

I would suggest what worked for me, Neurofeedback. Somthing that will treat the problem hopefuly without medaction.

the website that of the person I see that has links to other practicing people you can trust is www.neurotherapynw.com. its a new, drug free way of treating all sorts of stuff including AD(H)D. i know it can be even used on children at a very young age. if you want more about my personal exprience ive got a older post down below.