[bnytrans]

I am looking for some advise for a 10 year old who I think may have ADD.
He is now being treated for PTSD due to seeing his mom shot to death in his presence. I am now his guardian. I am concerned about putting him on medication, but I am also afraid I am doing him more harm than good by not letting Doctors prescribe medication. Any help out there.
Thanks,
Maria

[thelostone]

they are far to quick to medicate children. i allowed one of mine to be medicated for add and it never really helped her. she paid slightly better attention in school, but didn't learn the coping skills for long term. after i took her off and started working with her she learned more how to cope unmedicated. if this child is already recieving therapy i would let his pdoc decide. it is my opinion that he can learn to cope with the add much better through therapy than just medicating the problem away so schools etc don't have to deal with it. jmho

lost

[AAAAA]

Hello bnytrans and welcome to PC!

I don't know where you're located, but when my eldest was 5 we were fortunate enough find a husband and wife team that spent a great deal of time with my son and ourselves. He was a MD, she was a child psych. The program was spread out over a 5 day period. The first day she spent talking to us and reviewing school files, for each of the next three days she had him 4+ hours a day without us being present, and the final day we went through all of the results.

We tried a variety of other things diet thearapy, allergy testing etc. In the end we did end up medicating him. It was the best decision for him in the end. He has always taken the lowest possible dose.

We were able to get this type of information from the school (Dr recommendations), which they do not do anymore. I would speak to the person he's seeing for the PTSD, express your concerns about the medication etc. and request info on someone with alternate treatments.

my 2 cents....

For my son... I didn't use medication.... I did the "green" method.... which is to get them outside.. in nature.. as much as possible... exposure.. to pets..to nature - to things literally green..I have read articles.. on this method...

BUT, my son did not have PTSD... which I have and understand.. so... every child is certainly different...

He also didn't eat sugar... sugar products.. because he didn't like them... not because of anything I did....

I kept... him away from computers... computer games... TV.... and made.. everything about... serene...about activity that was doing.. interacting with environment..

Again... he was my only... and I was a single parent... had those options open to me....

And.. I did battle.. after battle.. after battle... with school teachers.. school administrators... it wasn't his behavior....

well it was...

His 3rd grade teacher... made the kids do.."rote" assignments... meaningless coping.. so he could have time to do...lunch money.. and milk money counts... so.. we did battle.. because my son could not do this....

I have a friend.... who is raising her 8 year old.. and he is ADHD... and does have alot of behavior problems... she searched for a school... that specialized in it...having a classroom geared.. to ADD ADHD... and she says.. it is like night/day... I am not sure.. what is "different"...

It is a public school.. she needs to provide.. the pick up/drop off... and she works... and is a single parent... but... this year.. has gone well.. and no medication...

So.. I do think environment plays a part...

Again... (((((hugs)))) for him... the PTSD... must be so difficult.. along with the ADD...