ADHD treatment for children

[DearWriterGirl]

My 9-yr-old granddaughter was recently diagnosed with ADHD. She was having more and more angry outbursts over very small things, and would become aggressive out of the blue. It was very surprising because she is very smart and engaging, though she has always had a hard time staying on task or focused. Very short attention span and high energy always. My concern is her doctor prescribed Guanfacine (I believe it was the lowest dose) generic for Tenex. We noticed her behavior worsening almost immediately. It's been 2 weeks and not only was there no improvement, but her behavior is sooo much worse! So her doctor added Adderall two days ago. No difference in her behavior yet. We are just learning about ADHD. Have done hours of research. I know dr. might need to adjust dosage before we see improvement, but I can't help but wonder, since she has gone downhill so fast, could it be something else, not ADHD? We are looking into seeing a psychologist who treats ADHD patients. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! We are so scared for our granddaughter and want to help however we can.

[Sandman2]

    
    Seeing a psychologist who specializes in ADHD children is a very good idea.
   Guanfacine is a non-stimulant med that takes one to two weeks to become effective.  Never suddenly stop it.  You will probably have to give adderall a chance by slowly increasing the dose.   If you had started her on adderall and she had the reaction you described, I would have said the dose was too high.  I am not really sure about the reactions to Guanfacine.
   However, if she has something like Sensory Processing Disorder, the reaction would make sense.  It is not unusual to mistake SPD for ADHD.  And SPD  is not treated with medication, but by an occupational therapist.
    This site has loads of info on SPD - so you might want to check it out.
          http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/
  Hope this helps.  keep in touch.

[MarkLakewood3367]

Meds along with behavior therapy works very well for kids with ADHD.  It is a very good idea that you find a therapist to work with your daughter.  Every child on psychotropic medication should be seeing a therapist in conjunction with their meds.  Please don't count on the meds to change things.  The real change comes from the mental health counseling.  

[Kermit the Hermit]

first add and adhd are different pains in the butt

adhd almost always has rage disorder

reg docs are bloody idiots take to a shrink and some counseling on dealing with rage

im adhd wit to many complications to list

my dad that man did wonders teaching me

and it worked for some but now at 40 im finally fixed

it took counseling to stop my explosions destroying stuff holes in walls

now wow i see it around me and cant believe the person i was or that my wife stayed with

the only true way to help her rage is counseling meds later as needed

and school

my parents took me to a university had i dont know there hours it took but 10 pages or more

they took that proof and the shown ways to help and forced my school to help and do what was told

my science teacher i wish i could thank that man

he put me in the back let me goof do my own thing because he knew in the end it would get done

best wishes ask me or any other member for more

i can give you liks whatever your needs are

also as you may know allot of us adhd are thought idiots like me i post like crap

everyone hates my posts i have one of the worst learning impairments they saw at the time

but hands on or by a book while fixing or recently i youtubed my fridge and washer and fixed them

my adhd gift is fixing building and its funny posts getting it out right being misunderstood

life and web yet i can call cable electric all them and sweet talk or sell my mamma

so its worth the work its worth giving freedom to find there area then like my dad encourage the crap out of it he tought me how to fix so much

and your other concern allot act like adhd so without a proper reliable shrink impossible to know

best wishes