Stimulant meds for children with ADD

I think they are the worst option for the majority of kids. Granted there may be a select few with a severe enough problem. Speaking from personal experience, this is a very addicting drug. As many changes as young people go through in their early life, these medications can easily send them down the wrong path. They dont learn to develop good eating habits, kids (especially high school age) are most likely always going to be looking for that "high". Discipline and structure I think should be first and foremost in a childs life. Follow through, make sure they stay on task. Of course it is "easier" to give them their daily dose and be on your way, but you are setting them up for a lifetime of struggle from withdraw if they dont have it. It will also teach them a valuable lesson, 'Quick fixes and shortcuts arent always the best option'. When the ugly hormonal stage is over, I think ADD medication is much better served. They are working great for me now, I dont want to offend anyone, I just want the parents of these kids to know the damage these medications can do. Everyone is different, this is just my opinion. What are some other opinions?

Quick fixes and shortcuts?

Have you seen the effects stimulant drugs have on ADHD? My son has been using different stimulant drugs since kindergarten and they "help" reduce his hyperactivity and improve on task behavior but he still has problems focusing his attention. He still has to use coping strategies because the meds alone do not resolve all his symptoms.

What damage does taking stimulant drugs do to a kid with ADHD that you have seen? My son has problems sleeping and when he was young he had no appetite until the meds had worn off about 7pm but otherwise I have not seen negative effects.

I don't understand what you mean when you say kids don't develop good eating habits and are most likely looking for a "high". People who do not have ADHD get a high when taking stimulant meds but a kid with true ADHD does not get high but instead it is calming.

I have 2 kids with ADHD who both take stimulant medication. They have both tried to attend school and study without the medication, but even with the coping strategies, they must take the medication to be able to concentrate.

They take "med breaks" sometimes on weekends or in the summers, but we have found that they need the medication. I hope things go well for you -take care.

These meds are not addictive to kids who have adhd. Kids getting addicted to stimulants are those who don't need them. You don't sound like you really know much about adhd and the meds used to treat this problem. Kids with adhd don't get "high" from stimulant medications. Stimulant medications help them focus.

Regardless, I still think its wrong for about 99% of children out there. Whats wrong with coaching our kids through this? Explain to them that there isnt anything wrong with them, that they are just different like everyone else. Life is a struggle no matter what condition you have. Why do all school aged children all have to fit into the same jello mold? EVERYBODY is different and everybody learns different. A child should feel special about they way they were born. There are a lot of good qualities in ADD children. Helping them to understand that their attention span is a little shorter than most and their activity level is higher. There are ways of coping. Let them tire themselves out. And yes, they will deal with addiction later on in life, they will find it hard to start the day. Have you ever asked a child if they would rather not take their pills? I would love to find one child who prefers taking their pills and why. All the children I have seen, my husband included, HATED those pills with a passion. In the lond run I think they will do more harm than good.(to children) All the mothers who disagree, in ten years I would love to hear if you still would have done exactly the same thing.

I tried coaching my daughter through it. We did, and still are, behavior modification therapy; but it is not enough. She just started a stimulant med and there is already a huge difference. I forgot to send it with her Wednesday night, and got a phone call from her teacher Thursday saying that she could tell a difference.

Do you honestly think that tiring theirselves out is a way of coping? If I allowed my daughter, who is almost 9, to tire herself out, it would be after midnight before she crashed. Having to get up and go to school the next day on less than 7hrs sleep is not good. If my daughter gets less than 9hrs of sleep, she is worse.

What kid, or adult, enjoys taking pills? I know I don't, but it is a necessary thing for me to function. Just like it is for my ADHD daughter to take her pill. I don't even have to tell her to take it, she does it on her own. She knows what a difference it makes, after only a week. My only regret is not getting her on something sooner.

My daughter also knows how special she is and that God made her the way she is for a reason. She knows that everyone is not the same, and we all have our own problems. I tell her multiple times a day that she makes me proud and that I love her no matter what.

Do you have proof that children on stimulant meds will have to deal with an addiction later on? Or that they will find it hard to start the day? I find it very hard to start my day when I don't take my anti-depressants, does that mean I am addicted to them? No. It just means that my body doesn't work properly with out a "jump-start".

I was on stimuland medication as a child, I havent taken them for 7 years and it is still hard to make myself get going. I am still waiting for that little pill to kick in and make me super woman. The withdrawls were tereible. I became addicted to anything over the counter that would "pick you up" It was very hard as kid and I think thats why I'm hyper sensitive about it, it would kill me to see some other child go through the same thing.

I enjoy taking my pills b/c if I don't you probably wouldn't want to be around me.

First of all, ADD/ADHD is a mental disorder and to be frank, if you have a mental disorder you are quite different from others. Of course life is a struggle no matter what but when you throw a mental disorder into the mix, there is more of a struggle. I would know since I was not properly diagnosed until college, but due to having a higher intelligence then most of my class, the teachers never really said anything about my inability to focus or sit still for 5 frackin mins. I ponder sometimes if I was diagnosed earlier, would I have been able to achieve more in my life. But since there's no do-over button I will never know. My husband also has ADD (which is worse than mine) and he's been on medication since he was 12. He does not have any problems with addiction to stimulants and quite frequently forgets to take them.

Addiction can be caused by many things, including how the child was raised. If the child was raised in a house hold where a parent has some kind of addiction problem, most likely the child will pick up that habit too. There has been plenty of research about how certain mental disorders (which includes alcholism) are genetic, and some addictions can be the same way. It all depends on how the brain is wired.

IMO, if your going to use a blanket statement, such as 99% of children don't need stimulant medication for their ADD/ADHD, you should have research to back it up. It shouldn't be just based on your beliefs, since most people's beliefs are biased.

Whatever works for your children is fine, and it is good that you shared how you are dealing with your children being ADD/ADHD, but don't expect for everyone to share your same views.

Of course my opinions are biased. I never said anything about factual information. I just thought I would share my opinion on my experience and what I have seen. I wasnt trying to piss anyone off, just share a different side. The 99% was just a thought. I didnt think sharing one opinion would upset so many. I was just looking for feedback, not for people to think I am stupid. Just to suffice I wont ever post my opinion on here again......maybe. Excuse the crap out of me and i'm sorry to all whose panties I bunched.

I was on stimulate drugs as I child. I experienced visual and audio hallucinations, extreme rages, dissociation, suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation. I had no appetite and I was largely mute. I thought it was normal.
I told my mother I didn't like how they made me feel but I was still forced to take them. A child really can't explain certain things.

I think forcing a child to take SPEED is child abuse.

First, while learning behavior techniques is very important for children with adhd, that alone is often not enough to counteract the difficulties that can really make life pretty unbearable for these guys.

Second, my son DOES prefer to be on his meds as without them, he paces uncontrollably. He say, "Mom, I feel like those caged animals at the zoo." He is the one who makes sure I get him medication refilled on time.

Third, I know quite a few adults who still take adhd meds and they started them as kids. They didn't become addicts. And they do much prefer the assistance the medication gives them to trying to function without.

I could not my young sons beautiful developing brain on speed. Even at the worst of times I would rather not look back and say, "Gee, maybe drugs werent the answer." They are only children for such a short amount of time.
I have never found anyone who has said that these drugs arent harmful to a developing brain. I just dont think it would be worth it in the end.
I find it interesting how many overly defensive mothers there are (the ones with children on medication) Why the hostility over one persons opinion?

You are right! If positive action isn't taken, then your daughter's relationships will not be good down the road. You are doing the right thing for your daughter.

I have given one of my child stimulant medication for seven years I would not do it to another child, I am older and wiser now and can see the affect it had on him.

It was not right.

As I said on another thread I have used dope and it has an affect like that on kids.

Tishie, what kind of effect did the med have on your child? Do you believe the diagnosis ADHD was accurate for your child?

While it was working it made him the model child, like a zombie I would say with no spark. Then it would start to wear off around the time he came home from school and we would get a rebound effect. So I was given other meds which had the same effect without the rebound.

I didnt want a perfect child I wanted my son with a little spark.

On the holidays we would sometimes give him a break from his meds and he would revert back to an uncontrollable child, there didn't seem to be a learning time while on meds at all !

Yes I agree with the diag also have added a few since then like BPD and depression.

He now is in prison as he wont take the meds offered any more.

There did not seem to be a happy balance, and all the schooling he learned he has now forgotten.

He is now 20 and nothing like any of my other children.

I don't think any of us are hostile. I think we are frustrated with ignorance.

To me that sounds like you are having a pop at someone.

Still new to this.
Will be faced with a decision about meds for my 7 yr old.
Clearly strong and cautionary opinions from people who feel like meds failed them or their kids. And great stories from the families where the meds + behavioral training are working.
There is vast amounts of research on the safety and efficacy of the medications. However, we also know people who have been improperly diagnosed and therefore improperly medicated.

I personally understand the value of medications, since I have heart disease and take many meds in order to live a long and healthy life. It is still a very hard choice to make for your child.

Hmmm addmomof1 that was a bit harsh about the panties being bunched up do you not think? These moms have tried coping without meds and did everything possible to help their children. The expectations that we put to our children are not met, repeatedly. There is a failure to thrive. Unless they are savant like and considered specially gifted then they fall through the cracks in education. My son is considered gifted but is not making the grade - pun intended. I and his father (and our other son) are at our wit's end. He is too. It is like asking someone with diabetes to just stop eating and jog every day for five miles or whatever. You have to have serious motivation and will to succeed. Sometimes lack of motivation is part of the problem of ADHD. I hope that all our children grow out of this somewhat and learn to motivate themselves. I did. I wish you and your family well. I came here for support and I need it too. Is it the best thing in the world to medicate our kids? Well, at this point, if he doesn't medicate himself he will grow up very handicapped and totally dependent it seems to me.

This is ADD for goodness sake. They are not going to be handicapped if they dont medicate themselves. We are all held back in life in some way or another. They need to have a better understanding of the wonderfully unique qualities they posess because of it. I am not saying that it is not a difficult thing to deal with, I am just expressing my feeling that I think stimulant drugs are NOT a good idea for CHILDREN. They can be a great option for adults. I just think in the end they will do more harm to the developing brain than good.
There are a lot of fabulous things to be admired about ADD as well. Some of the most creative people in the world suffer from ADD. Children with ADDare often far more resiliant than others. They are often far more compassionate as well. They have a fabulous hyper-focus ( when its something they enjoy doing) I wish there were more people that could look at the up-side of things as well. Instead of "If he doesnt take his medication, nobody can stand him"
I have to believe that there is an alternative to medication because my son definately has the ADD/ADHD gene. Luckily I get to stay at home with him, so maybe that will help.

I wish you success ADDMom. There are varying degrees of ADHD/ADD - maybe he is more functional and with your assistance will learn some really good coping strategies. My son is very disorganized, set in his own ways and somewhat defiant. How old is your child? Mine is 18 next month and I stand by my word of him becoming handicapped if he continues doing what he is presently doing. He is quite dysfunctional at this point. Maybe he is a slow developer. He is mature in some ways and quite immature in others. I have tried it without meds; now it is the recommendation of the psych to put him on meds. I hope he won't have to do it for the rest of his life. I just want him to finish highschool; and get a job of some kind. I had high expectations for him when he was younger; I have since lowered them to a degree. I will not give up though and I will support him however I can. I just want him to be able to live a decent life and not be left all alone. I worry that he will be dependent upon us for a long time. I know this sounds somewhat dramatic, but it is how I feel about the situation.

Peace

You don't know that someone with adhd will not be handicapped if they don't medicate themselves. There are wide variations in ability and disability among people with adhd. Many DO need to take medication in order to be able to hold down a job or relate with other people. Some people can manage the symptoms without meds, but many cannot. Can you acknowledge that the symptoms vary in severity from case to case?

And I do object to your assumption that people give their child medication so other people "can stand" them. Not every adhd child has behavioral problems. Or, even if they do, their behaviors don't generally warrant people disliking them. Medications aren't given to change personality; they are given so these kids are able to focus, learn, organize their thinking, thrive to their fullest. My own son has never been a behavioral problem, but his ability to focus, to contain his movement, organize his thinking, etc. is greatly impaired without medication. It frustrates him to no end if he has forgotten his meds and is unable to do what he wants and needs to do. He wants to take his meds. He takes them without having to be asked. He lets me know when his prescription is about to run out.

I admit that I am hoping that the meds will affect his personality in a positive way! My son has had behavioural problems all his life. It is my fervent wish that the meds will help him to control some of the areas around the behavioural problems (impuslive, lack of focus, goofing around to the extreme) so that he can function at a job. There are many different levels of ADHD I suspect.

Good Day AddMom

I just noticed in an earlier thread that you were stating that you felt overwhelmed yourself. That when you were younger, you took Adderall and that it worked for you. I am a tad confused.

Whatever you decide to do - we are here to support you. I hope you will support our decisions too.