I've started the meds... Advice please? (ADD/ADHD)

After a whole year of having the Ritalin in the top of the pantry, I've finally decided to trial them.

The over the top crying - howling - the 'I can't do it' while crying. The up & down emotional drama has just all gotten too much thes holidays. I only ever considered using the meds for school, no other reason, but if the even out her moods & give her some sort of self control, it'll be worth it.

So, she had half a 10mg tablet this morning. Half hour later, she folded the clothes she'd been crying over & put them all away. Coincidence??

Do they start affecting them instantly, or does it take a few days? Has anyone else used Ritalin themselves, or had their kids on it? What side affects were there for you/them?

Any experiences would be appreciated :)

My experience as a teacher with kids who take their meds each day is that I can pick it within the first 10 mins of the day if they forgot them. I know they worked extremely quickly with the boy I had in my class and he was like two different people with and without them.

It's a hard decision to make but it made a huge difference to the boy I taught. Even he liked how calm he was on the meds, as he couldn't control his behaviour otherwise.

I hope it gets easier from here :hug:

Thanks Cat :) The reassuring part is hearing so many kids who say that they even notice the difference & are greatful for the medication. I honestly wish my mum had known more about it for me, but because I wasn't ADHD, just a quiet non achiever, noone thought there was a problem. Its only in the last few years since doing so much of our own research we've known more about that side of it.

When we gave Lachlan his first ever tablet (dex-amphetamine) he was a different kid within the first hour. Sat and watched his brother play a whole game of school football. He'd normally be annoying the living hell out of us. We did however increase his dosage to two tablets after a few months.

If for some reason we forget to give him his tablet it is noticeable.

Yes I believe they do work pretty quickly. My little foster boy can feel the difference within himself . I was pretty anti medication but now I see the real difference it makes to him. He often tells us he no longer feels bonkers or crazy when he has had his medication. It's such a tough choice to make *hugs*

DD was prescribed a full tablet twice a day, but I've started with half. At least for a few days? Just a bit weary of side affects. Do you think thats ok, or should I stick with whats prescribed?

I haven't heard a winge out of her all day, & considering the mood she started out in, I'm hoping thats a positive...

I started at what is prescribed I guess as long as you don't go over the dose then it shouldn't be a problem. It's amazing the change. I also the the change is evident of a right diagnosis and the right medication. At least that's the case with us

I think that's a good idea. give you time to adjust.
I really happy you have noticed a difference so fast.
In a few days you can talk to her and see what she thinks and how she feels.

its amazing what is fixed so simply when you get it right :)

From speaking to parents who have started their kids on meds, they started on the lowest dose and worked their way up. Then when the kids were really calm, seeming 'drugged' they lowered the dose a bit. Generally it took about 6 months to get the right dosage they said.

Also big changes in their lives can also upset the apple cart a bit like holidays, moving and such things. The parents kept in touch with the drs and let them know what they were doing with the meds. The older the child the more influence they can have on the meds too as well I think.

It's the good thing about these drugs. You can tell very quickly if they work on your kids. If they don't, then it works out if their system relatively quickly.

Well I think things are going ok. Teacher said she is seeing a difference. I'm going to start the lunch time one on Monday. So still just half, but twice through school hours instead of just the moring one.

So tell me about side effects in the first few weeks? Did anyone notice the behaviour while not on the meds was any different? It is the first week back at school, but tonight DD was just over the top. When she gets upset she struggles to control herself & stop the over the top crying. I have to get mean to make her stop :( Its the only way or she'll cry til she vomits.
Anyway, tonight was one of these over the top nights. Only nothing was working. She even came into me, after the 2 whole hours of crying, & asked me why she couldn't stop crying. I think she may've thought that it was unusual for her too. Its not, but it was a bit over the top, even for her.

Its been a week tomorrow, so I'm guessing this is just while she gets used to them? Maybe it was a bit of a come down because she's not used to them yet? I read that irritibility can be normal, but is that just while they settle in?

So many questions & I'm sure there'll be more!

To find we have a rapid wear off in the afternoon almost like focused and well behaved and polite to crazy not able to hold a conversation pretty quickly. I know the wear off time and plan lots of outdoor time then where ever possible. My boy also has a night time med to help sleep and that helps too I feel. The drug does leave their little bodies pretty quick once worn off I believe. Not sure I've answered your question but hope it helps

That does help. Just to know that its not unusual. Its easier having an idea of what to expect, even though not every one is the same.

Lachlan had a very emotional day after a few days of being on his meds. Our doctor told pre-warned us that it could happen. He hasn't had any side effects since.

What kind of assessment process did you go through to get to a ADHD Dx? My 10 yr old (Aspergers/SPD) was recently assessed (and I use that term loosely) & then Dx with ADHD simply going off the connors behaviour check list thing. This was with a Child Psychiatrist. But the problem for me is, He is 10 & suddenly in term 3 of yr 4 he is ADHD.. I don't believe ADHD is the root cause of his behaviours & the Pead agrees. But the school roll their eyes at me when I said I am not going to put him on ADHD meds (he is already on Lovan for anxiety, and funny enough, with his anxiety under control the behaviour got worse, so my theory is that he was held back so much by his aspergers socially but his anxiety kept him back. Now that is under control he is struggling with what is socially acceptable behaviour, plus he has learning difficulties adding to his avoidance behaviours in class)

Everything I have read about ADHD suggests that all of Evans other issues are actually the problem & that he is not ADHD. The Visual & Auditory processing, the anxiety, the Aspergers, the SPD, depression etc etc etc are all things that can explain the problem behaviours.
It was recommended to put him on ritalin (even after the psychiatrist agreed with us it was not the right medication for Evan) but at this point Im not convinced.
But yeah just curious to know what others have gone through to get to the point of Dx & medication?

I went through a school councillor, then OT, then paed. The OT assessment was actually a range of tests. All including teachers have agreed its her lack of concentration that is the major problem. The fidgeting/movement could be either that or the SPD, but we've done the OT's suggestions & she can be more settled, but the lack of concentration is still there. Also the lack of impulse control.
I wasn't sure, and its taken me a year & a rediculously bad report card for me do decide on medication. I haven't made this decision without trying to deal with the SPD first.
Other than maybe anxiety, there is nothing else she struggles with. It's about her attention span & lack of self control. I'm trialling this to see if this Is the answer, as a last resort.

I'm probably two steps behind you. Trust me, when I question things I am honestly looking for some insight and not questioning your choices. I do have a little niggle saying yes, you need to try. Our next step before looking at meds seriously for ADHD is flying to Melbourne for assessment with the academic child psychiatry unit at the royal children's hospital. I don't think people here in cairns have a broad enough level of experience to really identify Evans problems.

With the impulse control, would you say it's like she thinks the rules don't apply to her? See Evan seems to lack self control but on the other hand he is full of his own reasons for touching or doing things he isn't allowed. He will argue till he is blue in the face why he was doing something. It's like he has a god complex and he is entitled to do anything he likes.

So I struggle to understand if that is the same or different to ADHD impulsive tendencies

Efjay - I don't think its that she doesn't think the rules apply to her. More that she does what ever it is, before she's had the chance to think about what she's doing. She's completely oblivious to the fact that she's done it, even though she knows very well she shouldn't. She's 7. Her bed is covered in drawing. So are half her blankets, sheets & some of her clothes. She just has pen/texta in hand & does what ever with it & doesn't think about the consequences til its too late. But she has no arguments. She knows it was wrong. She just wasn't thinking about what she was doing.

She also has very little self control over her emotions. When she's upset, she's overly upset. She doesn't just cry, she howls. And it can last for an hour or more. She sometimes vomits because she's so worked up. Its the same when she's excited. She's over the top excited, jumping around & yelling & honestly can not contain herself. I have to stop her & force her to bring herself under control. And it doesn't work unless I use something she really doesn't like. I tell her at night if the crying doesn't stop, she'll have to go stand outside til she calms down. Thats the hardest thing with DD2.

Her behaviour is actually pretty good. She's polite & well mannered. She's just a bit OTT. She's a love or hate kinda kid I think. Most people love her, & most people who don't to begin with, learn to love her. But for some she's just too much. Especially some kids who are just a bit *****y.


**Just wanting to share an awesome moment. Today she got 2 tickets for being the first to finish her work!! That has NEVER happened before! I'm so excited for her :D**

It's so lovely when they can complete tasks and start to receive rewards it was a proud moment for me aswell. Woo hoo go your DD