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anyone with children with adhd
I have a 12 year old son who had been diagnosed with adhd. This was a few years ago. He is currently on Daytrana patch. He is a zombie, he does not eat, has lost about 8 pounds, has picked a bald spot on the back of his head and has chewed his nails practiacally to nothing. He has tried Stratera, Adderall,Concerta and now this. They all have these adverse effects on him. The reason wwe went with the patch is because he woudl totally flip out when we asked him to swallow a pill. Can any of you suggest a better way? Anyone know of anything natural/herbal that may help thats not a waste of money? thankyou
I have one child that is on Daytrana. He has been using the patch for almost two months now and personally I think that it is a miracle! He has been on so many other medications that I couldnt even begin to name them all, and this patch was basically a last resort. Thank god that it was available! The only side effect that we have found is that the area the patch was at will be a little red for an hour or so after we take it off, but that is it! And it has so helped him with home and school! And it is so easy to regualte! He only gets the medication while it is on him and for like an hour more. So he has a break" from it every evening and night before we put a new one on the next morning. Also, unlike other medications, it can even be put on a child before they are awake if need be or if the child sleeps in (like on a sat. for example) it can be placed then and still be taken off at the normal time so there is still relief of symtoms while he is awake.
In case you cant tell, I cant say enough good things about this new medication! Again, each child is different, but if interested, I would deffintely talk to your pediatrician!
In case you cant tell, I cant say enough good things about this new medication! Again, each child is different, but if interested, I would deffintely talk to your pediatrician!
My 8 year old son has ODD and ADHD or both I don't know...someone was suggesting getting blood work done for hormone imbalances such as Hyper thyroid, which I plan to do. I was interested in the martial arts suggestion too as I just read about the benefits of this discipline, so I plan to try that also...I'm not so keen on medication but would love to know, is there anyone who has used amino acids at all? I'm trying them out on myself as I strongly suspect I have some form of ADD, but I'm weary...
We have a busy household, 5 kids in all, 2 dogs etc...I have to work..in fact I work in school assisting children with special needs...I have loads of patience with them..but not so much with my number 4! My eldest daughter is physically disabled with Spina Bifida too so my attention is really quite split and I can't help but feel guilty!Still, I've found that group therpay for me helps...how about psychotherapy with the children? Have you any feedback on that?
love on...Malteser
We have a busy household, 5 kids in all, 2 dogs etc...I have to work..in fact I work in school assisting children with special needs...I have loads of patience with them..but not so much with my number 4! My eldest daughter is physically disabled with Spina Bifida too so my attention is really quite split and I can't help but feel guilty!Still, I've found that group therpay for me helps...how about psychotherapy with the children? Have you any feedback on that?
love on...Malteser
I have an almost 4yr old boy who has recently been behaving in an odd behovior for him. If we go to pick him up after telling him not to do something he will start crying and say "don't hurt me". We are firm belivers in trying not to physically discipline him. We do time outs and nose's in the corner. I am not sure what to do since this has most recently started happening. Our lives have changed some since me and my fiancee are getting married and I have started working a different job that takes me away longer in the mornings. I am not sure if this is his way of acting out because he sees it causes a reaction from us. Any help would be appreciated.
I have 1 w/ adhd and basically if you look at a food and it looks like a color other than something of an earth tone. You probably don't want to feed it to any of your kids. We replaced barbecue chips w/ plain. Colored cereals to non colored for ice pops we use dole's and breyers icecream. clear soda if you must give them soda. We never restricted chocolate in our home. The child diagnosed w/ adhd was on meds for 1 week when i researched the possibility of this being an effect of food coloring. He's still active but able to wait until appropriate times to jog, play sports, he's a great tap dancer. Also he's 15 at this point and his grades are accelerated physical science 95 history 99 math 99. I would definitely recommend any parent trying this w/ all of the children in the house otherwise it won't work. They don't need to eat junk food anyways. some snack idea's...popcorn, toast w/ cinnamon & sugar, apples, chocolate, icecream, crackers & cheese, pretzels. Please try this before drugs and and watch out particularly for drinks ....some look like juice but are only 10% juice. Juicey Juice brand is 100% real juice and comes in six pack single servings for on the go. Good Luck! : )
Hi all!!
I have a son who is 15 years old and he was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5. From kindergarten to the 7th grade he was on medication, it was due to my own research that I decided to ge him off the medication because all research shows that as adults the kids are likely to be drug addicts and addiction runs in my family and in his fathers family. When my son was 10 I divorced his father who is by-polar, I remarried a year later to a man who is very active. We decided to home school my son and keep him activly buisy therefore keeping him tired and out of trouble. It has worked so far, not to say at times we were both ready to give up and put him back on meds. He is a good hearted child, and the more he achieves in his personal life and the more positive feed back he recieves the better he behaves. If I was to ut him back in school it would allbe negative again and I know that he would regress. This way isn't for everyone. There has to bean awesome support system in place for any achievement.
I have a son who is 15 years old and he was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 5. From kindergarten to the 7th grade he was on medication, it was due to my own research that I decided to ge him off the medication because all research shows that as adults the kids are likely to be drug addicts and addiction runs in my family and in his fathers family. When my son was 10 I divorced his father who is by-polar, I remarried a year later to a man who is very active. We decided to home school my son and keep him activly buisy therefore keeping him tired and out of trouble. It has worked so far, not to say at times we were both ready to give up and put him back on meds. He is a good hearted child, and the more he achieves in his personal life and the more positive feed back he recieves the better he behaves. If I was to ut him back in school it would allbe negative again and I know that he would regress. This way isn't for everyone. There has to bean awesome support system in place for any achievement.
the patch is called daytrana but form the experiences we have had i would not recommend it to ANYONE. of course all kids are different.
I also have a son with ADHD. They are also looking into possible ODD to. My son is on Focalin XR 20mg a day, and he also takes a 5mg pill around 4:00. I hate having to medicate him also, but he really is out of control when not on his meds. My problem is no matter what meds he is on, they just don't last long enough. The X R is supposed to mean extended release, 12 hrs at least! But I'm lucky if I get 6 hrs tops! That is why this post caught my eye! I've never heard of a patch for ADHD kids before, and I'm wanting to get some more info on it. Altough I will say after reading the side affects that your son is suffering from I'm a bit weary. My son suffered some side affects also,but that was useally when he either switchs to a new med or they up his current dosage.
Sorry, my computer posted the comment, and I wasn't finished!
continued...
~The emphasis is on CONCENTRATION in a highly structured approach.
~It teaches how to CLEAR THE MIND FROM DISTRACTIONS.
~They are NOT graded or CRITICIZED.
~They don't let anyone down if they lose focus.
~It offers them a chance of SUCCESS.
~It teaches SELF CONTROL OF THEIR BODY MOVEMENTS.
I am HIGHLY encouraging my sister to enroll her son in some type of Martial Arts facility...but she is so bogged down with 5 children, and a husband that works 12 hours a day. It can also be expensive. Maybe do some of your own research on the benefiets of this, it can't hurt! BEST OF LUCK, AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND THE LITTLE MAN!
continued...
~The emphasis is on CONCENTRATION in a highly structured approach.
~It teaches how to CLEAR THE MIND FROM DISTRACTIONS.
~They are NOT graded or CRITICIZED.
~They don't let anyone down if they lose focus.
~It offers them a chance of SUCCESS.
~It teaches SELF CONTROL OF THEIR BODY MOVEMENTS.
I am HIGHLY encouraging my sister to enroll her son in some type of Martial Arts facility...but she is so bogged down with 5 children, and a husband that works 12 hours a day. It can also be expensive. Maybe do some of your own research on the benefiets of this, it can't hurt! BEST OF LUCK, AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND THE LITTLE MAN!
He does seem to fit the bill for ODD....and ADD.
My sister has the exact same problem with her 6 year old son. It is VERY sad to see this little man struggle, and sometimes it seems so unfair that anyone is faced with this. He is so tired of always hearing what he has done wrong, and I feel for him so much...as it breaks my heart.
He is currently on straterra, and it causes him to be very sad, and experience an abnormal amount of anxiety as well as paranioa. They are currently reducing his intake.
You asked for a natural method to help him deal with the effects of this...
I would suggest any form of MARTIAL ARTS. At MANY facilities, they will even have an instructor that speacializes in children with ADHD. Martial Arts will help sharpen the persons focus.
~The emphasis is on CONCENTRATION
My sister has the exact same problem with her 6 year old son. It is VERY sad to see this little man struggle, and sometimes it seems so unfair that anyone is faced with this. He is so tired of always hearing what he has done wrong, and I feel for him so much...as it breaks my heart.
He is currently on straterra, and it causes him to be very sad, and experience an abnormal amount of anxiety as well as paranioa. They are currently reducing his intake.
You asked for a natural method to help him deal with the effects of this...
I would suggest any form of MARTIAL ARTS. At MANY facilities, they will even have an instructor that speacializes in children with ADHD. Martial Arts will help sharpen the persons focus.
~The emphasis is on CONCENTRATION
I looked it up Rose and it was very intresting to see how it really sounded like him. Thanks again!
Is it possible he has ODD also - oppositional defiance disorder? it sounds like you've really got your hands full with him -
Thankyou both, i do feel terribly guilty medicating him. Rose, on weekends if i decide to leave the patch off he is terribly uncontrollable. picks fights, highly disrespectful, you can get him to stay still long enough to explain that if he does not stop he will have certain consequences. Its like his brain is going 100 miles per hour :( I waited 2 yaers after he was diagnosed to put him on meds but it got to the point where he was becoming so erratic that it was disturbing to fellow students and thats when it had to stop.
mom, I have read alot about preservatives and food coloring also linked to adhd. I am going to our health food store Friday and buying a book there about raising and adhd child. Im sure they will have alot of info in it about diet changes. It will be hard with 2 other children but ill do what i have to do. Thankyou both for your help!
mom, I have read alot about preservatives and food coloring also linked to adhd. I am going to our health food store Friday and buying a book there about raising and adhd child. Im sure they will have alot of info in it about diet changes. It will be hard with 2 other children but ill do what i have to do. Thankyou both for your help!
Fromnowhere, what's he like on weekends, when he has freedom to move around and do what he wants to, without any structure?
My oldest son was on Ritalin from the time he was in first - fourth grade. A low dose, about 7.5 mg per day in the morning, no re-dosing at noon.
He couldn't concentrate at all in school, was fidgety, would "fog out", his teachers described him sometimes as appearing not to know where he was. If he had to sit for a long time next to certain kids, they'd be poking at each other or talking too much. That sort of thing.
But on weekends, he did great. It was just that infernal SITTING and being BORED that was so very bothersome for him. Once he got to middle school, we saw an enormous improvement, just from the ability to change teachers 6 times during the day.
Does your son do okay when given freedom? Best wishes. It's so hard to know what to do.
My oldest son was on Ritalin from the time he was in first - fourth grade. A low dose, about 7.5 mg per day in the morning, no re-dosing at noon.
He couldn't concentrate at all in school, was fidgety, would "fog out", his teachers described him sometimes as appearing not to know where he was. If he had to sit for a long time next to certain kids, they'd be poking at each other or talking too much. That sort of thing.
But on weekends, he did great. It was just that infernal SITTING and being BORED that was so very bothersome for him. Once he got to middle school, we saw an enormous improvement, just from the ability to change teachers 6 times during the day.
Does your son do okay when given freedom? Best wishes. It's so hard to know what to do.
The effects of the medications on your son sound terrible! I'm so sorry to hear he's having such a tough time. I wanted to offer to you what happened in my family.
My brother had ADHD as a kid (a LONG time ago... he's 44 now) and Ritalin was new then, not many people took it and there weren't any alternatives. My mother didn't like medicating him and one kind doctor offered evidence that some kids react to all the artificial food additives that had begun appearing in our diets (This was in the 1960s) She cut out all artificial flavors and colors from his diet which was no small task, they didn't have so many organic and natural foods available like now. The effect was apparent in less than a week and he was able to go off the medication. She would send his own snacks and food with him wherever he went (Bryers icecream, Bit-a-Honey candy & Bakers brand chocolate, Teddy brand peanut butter are the ones I remember) If someone was lazy or didn't realize that they gave him a food with artificial flavor or color he would be all wound up within hours and it would take a day or so to get out of his system depending on how much he ingested. The effect was that dramatic.
I don't know if this is something you could feasably do or not, but if you're desperate I'm sure it wouldn't hurt him to give it a try. (It's not like that stuff is good for us anyway...) By the way, my brother outgrew ADHD by his twenties. I wish you the best & hope that your son gets better.
My brother had ADHD as a kid (a LONG time ago... he's 44 now) and Ritalin was new then, not many people took it and there weren't any alternatives. My mother didn't like medicating him and one kind doctor offered evidence that some kids react to all the artificial food additives that had begun appearing in our diets (This was in the 1960s) She cut out all artificial flavors and colors from his diet which was no small task, they didn't have so many organic and natural foods available like now. The effect was apparent in less than a week and he was able to go off the medication. She would send his own snacks and food with him wherever he went (Bryers icecream, Bit-a-Honey candy & Bakers brand chocolate, Teddy brand peanut butter are the ones I remember) If someone was lazy or didn't realize that they gave him a food with artificial flavor or color he would be all wound up within hours and it would take a day or so to get out of his system depending on how much he ingested. The effect was that dramatic.
I don't know if this is something you could feasably do or not, but if you're desperate I'm sure it wouldn't hurt him to give it a try. (It's not like that stuff is good for us anyway...) By the way, my brother outgrew ADHD by his twenties. I wish you the best & hope that your son gets better.
yes its quite obvious he has adhd. All these behaviors he only does when he has the patch on. There are days i leave it off , on weekends sometimes so the poor child can have a break. His behavior is very erratic when not on the patch. He talks uncontrollably , blurts out in class, cant sit still, all the typical signs. He has not tried Ritalin. I have alwasy heard bad things about it but my goodness it cant be much worse than it already is. Thanks for your help!
One question - are you sure your son suffers from ADHD? Some of the behaviours you listed are indicative of other disorders. Just a thought ...
How bad is his behavior/concentration without medication?
Those side effects seem extreme, especially with the patch where he can't get a "break" from the medicine on weekends.
You don't list ritalin in your list. Did you try a very low dose of that?
Best wishes. This sounds very difficult for him.
Those side effects seem extreme, especially with the patch where he can't get a "break" from the medicine on weekends.
You don't list ritalin in your list. Did you try a very low dose of that?
Best wishes. This sounds very difficult for him.
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