Grandson on Ritalin

[Mangee]

What are the long range effects of Ritalin? My grandson was placed on it by a phsycologist at the behest of teachers. He has been on it for several years. The unbelievable part is that he is only given it during school days or when he is wih his father. He is usually off it on weekends. Does this make sense? I just recently took myself off of Oxycontin and I am wondering what it will be like for him when the time comes for withdrawal. He is 13 years old.

[vicaddict]

Wow, that is wierd. I thought that was a drug you had to be consistant with. I don't know really that much about the drug, so I am really not much help to you..but I thought that at the least, that it had to be consistant.

As far as w/d's go? I would assume the Dr will ween him off of them safely when it is time for that. I know I would be worried too, as we both know how bad w/d's can be.

But I am sure the Dr like I said would take him off them slowly, and safely.

Hope this helps a little.

Tracy

[ThursdayNext]

They wanted me to put my son on ritalin and so I did and saw not affect on his grades.  I went to an applied kinesiologist and we took out food dyes preservatives, milk, and sugar.  He not longer has problem with add (never did).  He does have a learning disability (dysgraphia) this contributes to a lack of attention.  I mean why pay attention when you aren't getting it.  If you google milk and ADD.  You will be amazed (and pissed) at the number of hits you get.  The doctors think pills will fix everything and that is not the case.  The teachers are overworked and underpaid and cannot afford to take the time to help kids that need a bit of extra help.  I think everyone should have a chance to try it but you should get the book called "The Edison Gene" fascinating book about the evolution of "ADD" where it comes from and why this latent gene is being triggered at an atronomical in this country.

Kids are drug free.

[TweetyCat]

I have a nephew 10 yrs old he is on ritalin also, but not on week-ends, and he doesnt show any signs of w/d's on the weekends either. So maybe he gets w/ds but just doesnt know what it is, i dunno _Tweety

[vicaddict]

Wow..so you don't have to be on it consistant then? How odd. Interesting too.

Thanks tweety!

[emilyanne]

Hi All!
I am on Ritalin for ADD, and it has worked wonders. I am a 26 year old girl,( married with a two year old little boy ) and finishing my senior year in college. (took me awhile)
When I turned twenty one, I finally had testing done, because of all the ADD symptoms I had displayed since childhood. College was difficult, and Ritalin gave me the ability to focus and pull my grades up from c's to a's! Somewhere along the way, unfortunately, I became addicted to painkillers, but the Ritalin has never made me feel "high" or "messed up"...just able to focus. I only take it as needed...it's not really like an anti-depressant, where you have to keep the same levels up in your system. It's more like a painkiller in the sense that you take it as needed. I have NEVER experienced withdrawal from it...some days I don't take any, even several days in a row, and rarely in the summer. Some days, especially days that I have class or major studying to do, I take one or two ( I am prescribed for three a day, as needed, every day). Hope that helps a little...been on it since I was 21, with no withdrawals ever...Take care, everyone!

[Mangee]

I agree in regards to lazy teachers thursday next. It was a one teacher that said she couldn't handle him. be sent to a specialist who diagnosed him with DDD. He is extremely hyper and has above average intelligence. I think it was just boredom that caused him to upset the teacher. I think what may have done it was the fact that he is quite mouthy and has to comment about everything. I am somewhat amazed at the number of school children who have been allowed to slip through the cracks because of a teacher who was too lazy to do the job she was hired for and that is to teach and lead.

[Mangee]

I agree in regards to lazy teachers thursday next. It was a one teacher that said she couldn't handle him. be sent to a specialist who diagnosed him with DDD. He is extremely hyper and has above average intelligence. I think it was just boredom that caused him to upset the teacher. I think what may have done it was the fact that he is quite mouthy and has to comment about everything. I am somewhat amazed at the number of school children who have been allowed to slip through the cracks because of a teacher who was too lazy to do the job she was hired for and that is to teach and lead.