[BlackCanary]

OK, it's been many months in coming, many visits and calls and forms and assessments.
Tomorrow my son will start taking a medication for ADHD.

I'm filled with fear, horror, hope, anxiety, sadness.
He's 8. I think we've had some idea since he was 3 that he had ADHD.
I think I wanted it to be something else, something smaller. I know his Dad is probably ADHD; got beaten for his behavior for a few years when he was 6, 7, 8. I know there are plenty of other kids with ADHD. I know I've got happy and successful co-workers with ADHD!

I still wish I had the power to change this for my son, make it so he did not have this challenge as a little boy.
Please God let this medicine be a helpful thing for my child.

[Callista]

You're starting him at a very low dose, I hope? When I started Concerta, they started me on the lowest dose that exists--the kind they give three-year-olds--and I'm an adult. It was just so much easier not getting hit with the full dose at first.

The good thing about stimulants, though, is that if they work, you'll know in a few days; and if they don't, they don't take too long to clear from the body (meaning side effects go away pretty quickly if they turn out to be annoying ones).

Don't worry too much if he loses his appetite for a few days--I did, but I got it back pretty quick. Just so long as he drinks enough, a few days' pickiness at the dinner table won't hurt him.

Did you ask your son's therapist about learning useful parenting strategies that can help your son stay organized and inhibit impulses? It's very useful to have a supportive environment (which, of course, if living at home includes parents).

[BlackCanary]

It is a tiny dose, XR. I don't think he noticed any difference.
When I asked him about his day, he said he had a bad day because I fed him carrots for dinner, sigh.

We've not gotten advised directly on parenting strategies from the PhD counselor (she suggested books, duh, been there), but we have employed various things for a few years with advice from teachers - cues about instructions, 5 minute warnings for transitions, and also figuring out what we are willing to permit to accommodate him (he likes to stand up while he eats) vs. getting "our way".
I'm hoping to find a parent program, maybe something with CHADD, that my husband and I can do together on a Saturday.

[kikki27]

Originally Posted by BlackCanary

OK, it's been many months in coming, many visits and calls and forms and assessments.
Tomorrow my son will start taking a medication for ADHD.

I'm filled with fear, horror, hope, anxiety, sadness.
He's 8. I think we've had some idea since he was 3 that he had ADHD.
I think I wanted it to be something else, something smaller. I know his Dad is probably ADHD; got beaten for his behavior for a few years when he was 6, 7, 8. I know there are plenty of other kids with ADHD. I know I've got happy and successful co-workers with ADHD!

I still wish I had the power to change this for my son, make it so he did not have this challenge as a little boy.
Please God leontt this medicine be a helpful thing for my child.

Yes I hope it does work,If it dont they have more good meds

[BlackCanary]

It's been 2 weeks.
It's hard to tell, and I think it's supposed to be pretty obvious if it's working?
One week on the half dose did not seem to do much. One week on the full dose seemed to result in angry and tearful evenings.
This will be the 2nd week of the full dose. He's staying up later, not good. But no tears this evening.

[sneschalmers]

the angry and tearful evenings are common side effects of stimulant medications as is insomnia. sometimes you just have to wait a few weeks for them to subside or you can request the dose to be lowered. which medication and what dosage is he on?

[BlackCanary]

He's taking Adderall XR at 10 mg.
We did know that these side effects were expected, just wished we were not seeing them.

Since it's summer, we've been letting him stay up a little bit later (9 pm vs 830) but he has to get up and get ready in the morning without whining. He stayed up until 930 playing Wii with his dad (rrrrr, dad!!) last night and really struggled with getting up. But, once he was reminded that the 9 PM privilege would go, he got right up and got dressed!

I have NOT been keeping track on paper about his day and each evening, so I'll start that now, see if it dials back this week. Remaining hopeful that it's something that he can adjust to, that we can respond to appropriately.

At 5 mg, he was still plenty inattentive, and he does seem to be better focused at 10 MG. Hard to tell since he's not in school, no assignments or deadlines. And he's got to be able to get through homework time.

[BlackCanary]

We have switched to Focalin now, and it does not seem to have the same emotional impact at dinner time. This is good. We cannot tell if it is helping him to focus since he's just doing camp activities. He never had much trouble focusing on Wii or Lego.

I got a book called Superparenting for ADD - certain to make me feel like an underacheiver, just going by the title. But, hopeful it gives us some good tips and tricks for being parents to this amazing kid.

[Perna]

LOL, don't pay attention to book titles; think of all the books for "Idiots" (hate those titles but sometimes the books are good). They're just hype; won't point you up as being a lazy/lousy, underachieving parent, just might remind/teach you a few tricks (like you're a dog :-) Glad things are going pretty normally and you're perhaps not as stressed as when you all started?

[daisygrrl]

Adderall can have some unpleasant side effects that are less likely with Ritalin or Concerta or some of the newer drugs. Be patient and keep at it; his doctor will find the right meds for him. The right meds can make all the difference in the world for a kid. The research shows that kids who get appropriate treatment not only do better academically, but avoid some of the negative social outcomes that happen with kids with ADHD (being ostracized, social isolation because they can't stay on task and take their turn, etc.) and they're less likely to wind up with alcohol/tobacco/drug use problems than kids with ADHD who aren't treated. Hang in there; you're doing the right thing!

[BlackCanary]

@Perna - yes, I'm feeling better about having to make this choice for my kid, to give him medication. Of course I take medications every day - but I also had to reach a point of acceptance on that stuff as well.

The superparenting book starts out with a few chapters on LOVE so it's going to be just right. Edward Hallowell MD is one of the authors, and I did enjoy his book "Crazy Busy" - it's also cool that he has ADD.

@daisy - Also, I feel like this year we are entering school with a known situation vs. being on pins and needles about how it will go (will he grow out of it? will he learn to sit still?). This year we will all be working together to address some specific needs. He will get reminders and feedback vs. criticism and punishment (I hope).