DONT PUT YOUR CHILD ON THE ADHD MEDS

[TUDA81]

I WANT MY STORY KNOWN.  I HAVE A 7 YR OLD THAT WAS TREATED FOR ADHD 2 YRS AGO, NEVER COULD FIND THE RIGHT MEDS, SO OF COURSE THEY KEPT SWITCHING THEM.  IN 2YRS THEY STILL CANT FIND THE RIGHT MEDS. SINCE THE BEGINNING SHE IS NOW BEING TREATED FOR ADHD, ANXIETY, AND ODD.  SHE HAS BEEN ON FOCLAIN,ADDERAL,STRATERRA, RISPERDALE,ZOLOFT,VYVANCE, AND MORE.  IN THE BEGINNING MY DAUGHTER WAS A VERY SWEET LITTLE GIRL SHE WOULD GO THREW HELL OR HIGHWATER TO HELP SOMEONE, SHE WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE LITTLE GIRLS THAT EVERYONE LOVED. THEN WE GET TO THE PAST 2MTHS OF OUR LIVES.  SHE WAS STARTING TO GET VERY MOODY SHE COULDNT PLAY WITH OTHER KIDS CAUSE SHE WAS HATEFUL AND HAD TO BE IN CONTROLL.  THEN OUR LAST VISIT TO THE WONDERFUL DR HE PUTS HER ON 150MG OF ZOLOFT 10 MG RISPERDALE 50MG OF VYVANCE, THEN HELL BEGAN, SHE STARTED HAVING EPISODES OF NONSTOP GIGGLING,THEN THAT LEAD INTO UNCONTROLLABLE CRYING, THEN THE VIOLENT RAGES, SHE LOST CONTROLL  OF HERSELF, SHE BEGGED ME TO GET A GUN AND SHOOT HER CAUSE SHE FELT CRAZY.  WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING HER OFF THE MEDS, AND IT IS HELL.  MY LITTLE GIRL IS HAVING WITHDRAWLS, SHES HAVING REALLY BAD SWEATS.  IM TELLING YOU PLEASE READ THIS AND KEEP IN MIND THESE DRS DONT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR KIDS THEY JUST WANT TO DRUG THEM, PLEASE ANYONE OUT THERE CAN DEAL WITH A HYPER CHILD BUT HAVING A CHILD THAT CANT CONTROLL THERE SELF AND PUTS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN DANGER IS MUCH HARDER THAN A HYPER CHILD.  IF THE SCHOOLS TELL YOU THAT YOUR CHILD IS ADHD TELL THEM TO STICK IT THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF YOU CHILD BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY R DOING.  I WANT TO CRY WHEN I HEAR OF KIDS BEING ON MEDS THERE JUST AS BAD AS STREET DRUGS MAYBE WORSE.  OUR LIVES R NOW ON HOLD WE CANT DO ANYTHING UNTILL WE GET HER RECOVERED.  YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH ME BUT PLEASE TRUST ME NO ONE DESERVES TO GO THREW THIS . I THANK GOD EVERYDAY THAT I HAVE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO SUPPORT US.  IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT HAS ANY OF THE SAME ISSUES.  PLEASE TALK TO ME.

[specialmom]

I think schools and teachers are in such an excellent position to help families understand when their child's behavior isn't within normal limits.  It was a teacher that directed us to my own son's delays that I wasn't fully aware of as he was my first child and it is hard to be objective about your own children.  I'm forever grateful to that teacher!!  We've written her a thank you letter for it was she who started us on the journey of helping our son with the things HE wanted to do.  (One, was to simply fit in with his peers).  

Teachers are in a unique position to look at groups of children and see where there is a consistent pattern of struggle.  So wonderful to start intervention for these kids so that they can be successful.  Tweaks here and there can make a HUGE difference.  

I feel for parents that face the choice of medication or not.  I personally know so many kids that thrive and are genuinely happier once their families started medication for their medical diagnosis of add/adhd---  that I think it is a great thing to do when the situation warrents it.  Never would I enter into that lightly and would have all the facts first.  But I also wouldn't ever let fear or shame stop me from doing what is in the best interest of my child.  

Parents who read this, please know that intervention and accepting the issus my child had helped us help him.  luck to all

[PassinThru]

The fact is that the school can make its own preliminary evaluation and can pressure the parent to have the child evaluated by a professional. The less educated (but far from stupid) parents are in fear of this interference and don't know how to protect themselves. They know their rights but are afraid that exercising them will result in serious problems. Rational or not, they fear charges of neglect. I know this for a fact because some have come to me for help.

I never meant to suggest that the school can authorize medication or therapy. But once directed to professionals the child may be subjected to over-doctoring and over-medicating. We are back to the subject of wisdom. Not all professionals are wise. And some are greedy.

[Sandman2]

    Not sure if you are aware that in October 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of ADHD.  It can be found here  http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/suppl/2011/10/11/peds.2011-2654.DC1/zpe611117822p.pdf
     And a recap in more easy to understand terms is here -http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/759086?src=nl_topic
      The point is that nowhere do schools get to diagnosis kids.  Yes, they can (and usually are) involved in the assessment by the psyc.  And many times (or most of the time) they are the ones that recommend the parents seek more help.  But diagnosis and medication can only be done by a doctor.  And even then, parents always have the ultimate decision to make.  
    But yes, you are correct in that schools are a conduct (if that term is used correctly?) to medical treatment.  But since a child must have the symptoms in two or more places to be diagnosed by the doctor, they kind of have to be involved by default.

[PassinThru]

I agree with you. However, I do not think the school should be allowed to involve itself in a speciality it is not trained for. An uninformed parent might well look up to the school as having a competence it does not possess.

That is not to say that there are not wise and caring teachers who offer excellent advice to a parent on a one-to-one basis. It is that involvement that has always been valuable and more than welcome. The difficulty lies in the  school now acting as a conduit to medical treatment, and this is becoming institutionalized. It can be damaging and I suspect accounts in part for over-diagnosis.

[Sandman2]

    Not at all!   But its been my experience that some/many parents let the school system take over their function.  
   Also, in thinking about my last post to you.  I should have added that the "wise" parent seldom posts on this web site.  The wise parent has done their homework and usually does not need the help we offer.  Hence the typical poster is posting because they lack the information to make good decisions.

[PassinThru]

I don't understand. Are you suggesting that the school system is primary in the upbringing of a child?