My oldest son is 10, he has ADHD on the weekends I dont give him his meds, is this safe?

Question

he has asthma and takes those meds too, on the weekends and on breaks from school I give his ystem a break he's been on meds for ADHD since he was 5. I agonized about putting him on the meds from the beginning. But after much prayer, talking to him, punishments, rewards, taking him to numerous doctors, and seeing how he couldn't control himself, I agreed to give him the meds. Now his grades are back up and he can sit at his desk.We do talk and I ask him does he know why he takes the meds? He says yes. I ask him does he think he needs them? He says yes. He knows sometimes what he does is wrong but he can't stop it.

Answer 1

Hi Kitee

Here is how o correct his Asthma and that will help you with the ADHD. Nutrition is the key to a healthy life. Must educate oneself on it. A few curing testimonials as well.



Cause:
Asthma is caused by malnutrition. Only by diligent and consistent effort to change embedded habits will one get permanent relief. The cough is a result of nature's effort to expectorate mucus from the lungs, after which breathing becomes easier. Ofttimes the cause of asthma is basically a nervous condition because the nerves are irritated

Herbal Aids:
1. Convulsions: When a person is in a convulsion there are certain herbs that will give very fast relief. One of these is tincture of lobelia, and a valerian decoction with a little cayenne added to relieve spasms. If such an attack comes after a meal one should use an emetic, such as a large dose of lobelia or use the Yoga finger method. (see # 2 below)

2. Yoga Finger Method: Drink several cups of warm water, then place the middle finger deep down the throat and press the tongue until regurgitation starts. Mustard is also good to clean the stomach and lungs. Prior to the emetic a peppermint or spearmint tea should be used to soothe the area and alleviate the discomfort of continual vomiting. Hot fomentation of castor oil, comfrey, lobelia, mullein, etc., may be placed over the stomach, liver, spleen and lung areas. Frequent hydrotherapy baths or lengthy sweat baths are beneficial, followed by a cold shower or sponging.

3. Vapor Bath: Another helpful method is to take a vapor bath twice a week, inhaling steam from a decoction of cudweed ragwort, wormwood, or a decoction of the following herbs, taken warm, (equal parts) will prove very beneficial: elecampane root, horehounds, hyssop, skunk cabbage root, vervain, wild cherry bark (and to this preparation add tincture of lobelia or antispasmodic tincture. Clear the bowels with an injection of catnip or barberry bark. This affliction also calls for plenty of outdoor exercise, deep breathing, and good ventilation while sleeping. The whole body system should be built up with tonic herbs such as chickweed, comfrey, marshmallow, mullein, etc. Diet should be mostly fruits and vegetables, avoiding all processed devitalized foods.

4. Dr. Christopher's Herbal Respiratory Formula: (Resp-Free) It is wonderful for asthma. This combination of herbs in tablet, tea and capsule form is an aid to relieve irritation in the respiratory tract--lungs and bronchial. This is an aid in Emphysema as well as other bronchial and lung congestion such as bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, etc. Suggested amount for an adult is a cup two or three times a day, or 2 or 3 capsules or tablets two or three times a day with a cup of comfrey tea. For additional help in the program, it is good to add three to six drops of tincture of lobelia to each cup of tea. This formula consists of comfrey root, mullein, chickweed, marshmallow root and lobelia.

5. Dr. Christopher's Hay Fever Formula: (Sha Tea) It is good for asthma also. This combination is a natural herbal aid working as a decongestant and antihistamine to dry up sinuses and expel from the head and broncho pulmonary tubes and passages the offending stoppage and mucus. Combine this with the respiratory combination to speed up the process. The wise person will turn to fresh wholesome food and beverages to keep the body in a perfect state. This will guarantee permanent relief, by going to the cause.

6. Elder: The inner bark is used, although it should be aged before used. The fresh bark is violently irritating and poisonous to children. It is specifically used for spasmodic asthma with copious phlegm and stringy mucus. For asthma, take a tablespoonful whenever an attack threatens. Powdered Cloves can alleviate excessive vomiting when using the bark. To avoid bowel cramps, add a tablespoonful of powdered Ginger to the infusion. (ShoA:58).

7 Lobelia: Most people agree that Lobelia is a specific treatment for asthma, as well as other bronchial or spasmodic troubles. Because the herb removes obstructions, giving it when an attack comes on will often cause vomiting; matter will accumulate in the stomach which will cause obstructions. When the person vomits, it removes the intestinal blockage and often removes the mucus accumulations in the bronchial system as well.

8. Lobelia: It is one of the best plant expectorants, but as it is a stimulant to the vagus nerve it can easily produce nausea and vomiting when taken in excess. If a teaspoonful of the tincture produces nausea, cut down; it can easily be overdone, says herbalist Moore (Moore:98). The leaves and flowers have strong antispasmodic effects on the bronchials when smoked, and certain individuals with asthma can find it a reliable herb to smoke at the first signs of spasms.

9. Mullein: This herb soothes the lungs and helps bring up the phlegm. It can be combined with sage and plantain for use in asthma. Sometimes a vapor treatment of Mullein is good for asthma, which is made by simmering a strong pot of Mullein tea and inhaling the steam with a towel over your head. This is also good for bronchial troubles of various kinds.

10. Skunk Cabbage: Because of its antispasmodic properties, is well known in many cough problems. Foremost in this use is its application in asthma. It can help control the coughing and sneezing in hayfever. Many claim that it is useful in cases of tuberculosis. For people who have chronic dry coughing spells, skunk cabbage can offer relief. It will also clear up a chronic cold, with a cough which will not leave because of mucus accumulations and bronchial problems of all kinds.

11. Milk Products: One of the best ways to prevent and therefore treat Asthma is not to use milk products. Dr. N. W. Walker, in his book Raw Vegetable Juices (Norwalk Press Publishers), says about cow's milk, "Cow's milk is probably the most mucus-forming food used by human beings. The casein content of cow's milk is exceedingly high, being about 300% more than is contained in mother's milk. [Casein, by the way, is a milk byproduct and is considered to be one of the most tenacious adhesives used for gluing wood together.] This is one of the reasons for the mucus condition of children and adults brought up to drink quantities of such milk and for the resultant colds, running noses, tonsil, adenoid, and bronchial troubles--whereas carrot juice is one of the greatest aids in the elimination of mucus!

Testimonials:

1. Man Who Couldn't Sleep Lying Down for 20 Years Because of Asthma--Cured: Dr. Christopher used the tincture of Lobelia to clear people of asthma, although they have had it many years. A couple of young fellows brought an old, old man into the Doctor at about two o'clock one morning in Evanston, Wyoming. The old man had had asthma for 26 years. For 20 years of the 26, he had never been able to work. He had never laid in a bed for 20 years. They had to build a special chair so he could sit up at night with his feet stretched out. He had a doctor at the home an average of once a week, either to give him some drug orally to keep him alive, to give a shot, or to administer oxygen. Since the family couldn't locate the doctor that night, they came in desperation to Dr. Christopher. Since the doctors did not want a naturopathic physician in town, most people had never heard of such a thing. The young fellows asked, "Do you treat human beings?" The Doctor said, yes, and to bring him in.

As the man sat down, the Doctor gave him a cup of elderleaf tea to drink gradually. He told him how he had asthma. He had been quite independent, but lately they had had to mortgage their home in order to go on with the doctoring. After he had had the elderberry tea for about ten minutes, the Doctor gave him a teaspoonful of the tincture of Lobelia. He waited ten minutes--being sure to be very accurate about this--and gave him a second teaspoonful of the tincture. After another ten minutes he gave him the third. In forty years of practice, the Doctor commented, he never had to use the tincture of Lobelia more than three teaspoonfuls to a patient. He explained that this was so because each time he was called it was at a crisis, at the climax of the disease, the right time for clearing the disease. They just sat around and chatted. The Doctor had buckets and pans around, and all of a sudden, the man started to heave. This was a little after two o'clock in the morning and he heaved on until five o'clock, for three full hours. At the finish it was dry heaves, but he brought up everything he had eaten for days, plus nearly a cup of phlegm and pus from his lungs and bronchi, from yellow to green. After he was done, the Doctor told his sons to take him home. "Should I bring him back tomorrow", he asked. "No", answered the Doctor, "it's a do-it-yourself-kit; it's all finished".

They took him home and started to walk him to his chair, but the man said, "No, boys, I'm sleeping in the bed tonight". "But, Dad, it'll kill you!" they pleaded. "No, I'm the boss-- take me to bed". They were afraid to stretch him out in case he should choke up and die. This was at five o'clock in the morning. He slept through until five o'clock the next morning--which is twenty-four hours--and slept on past noon--thirty hours he slept! When he woke up, for the first time in over twenty years he took a deep breath of air. He could take it without choking or coughing, and he said, "I'm healed". The boys were quite pleased about this. Twenty years later, one of them touched Dr. Christopher on the shoulder in Salt Lake City. He said, "My name's Workman; remember me?" Dr. Christopher said, "No". "We brought our pap into you in Evanston, Wyoming at two o'clock one morning." The Doctor then remembered him. He asked, "What happened to your dad?" The young man answered, "He never had an asthma attack from that day to this, and he went to work as a gardener and never missed a day's work since that time. The family thanks you very much".

2. Choking Phlegm in Pregnant Women Relieved: Dr. Nowell told the story of a woman who at forty years old was pregnant with her first baby. She was suffering terribly with asthmatic spasms, unable to lie in bed, fighting for breath; both she and her husband begged their doctor to stop the cough. They were told that nothing could be done until the child was born.

Dr. Nowell gave them a bottle of tincture of Lobelia, telling her to take a teaspoonful whenever the coughing began. The next morning, the patient told the Doctor that almost immediately after taking the first dose, the patient brought up long, thick masses of phlegm from the lungs the size of a man's fist. No further dose was taken and the patient never had a trace of any chest trouble since and lived a long and fruitful life.

Best of health to both of you

Cheers

Answer 2

This is a very tough situation. I know a family that has a son who suffers severely from ADHD. His mother doesn't give him his meds at home, but the school nurse has his meds and she is the only one who will administer them, this is the way his mother wants it. I think it's so she won't be "the bad guy". I know the teachers have problems with him all day Monday, or the first day back after a break until his meds kick in, and by Friday he's a great student. I would think it would mess up his system to do this on again, off again administering of his meds. You really should as a doctor before doing that. Also, I have a family member whose son has ADHD and has been on meds since he was 5. He knew why he was on them just like your son. He told his mom when he turned 14 that he didn't like the way they made him feel, and he begged her to let him try it on his own. He has been medicine free for 2 years now, he struggles to control himself and to do well in school, but he is doing it! Perhaps as your son gets older, he will be able to control himself, too. Don't give up! Praise him for what he does well. The fact that you asked the question shows you are a good mom and concerned, I bet he will be fine.

Answer 3

Good question.....

I am adult ADD (attention deficit without hyperactivity), and while I do not stop dosing on the weekends, I use a reduced amount to allow my mind to rest. That said, if your son is not on any Ritalin based medication or generic (including Concerta), my suggestion is to change over to Adderrall or it's generic or Strattera as soon as possible. Here's why:

Ritalin is very close to cocaine and/or meth-amphetimine in the speed that it works. Having been on it briefly, I would describe the experience as being shot up a high rise in a fast elevator, forced to run around the rooftop for as long as the medication is active, then dropped back down the elevator into the basement. I have also seen another sibling on Concerta who is not as calm an ADD who is great while the does is up but turns into an absolutely grumpy bear (translate that as real SOB if you want to) when he hits the down side.

In contrast is that Adderrall (I use the generic) is like riding up to the second floor on an escalator, walking around the mall knowing exactly what I am shopping for, buying only what I need without implusivity ruling, and how to finish the task without a lot of distraction, then taking the escalator back down and walking out of the mall at the end of the day with everything done.

That said, remember that 10 year old boys are a handful but are still boys, and will mess up regularly. Best trick is to teach him how to affect the overall behavior patterns, not worry about the every day troubles, because hey, he's still got another eight years of training, right?

Answer 4

I agree with Julia, you should ask a doctor. I have ADHD too, I've had it my whole life and I am now 15. I take my meds every day because if I don't people think I'm weird and won't talk to me. I think your son should take his meds daily because it is better for him trust me. There is also the chance (don't have hopes that are too high) that the meds can correct or get rid of his ADHD, and the chances of this are increased greatly by taking your meds every day.

All of this is true information. I hope it helped you.

Answer 5

It is safe, but not really smart...you end up sending a message that he only needs the meds when he needs to mentally attend to something (like school, or work), when in fact he needs to mentally attend to everything in his life. Your development happens and you learn things whether you are in school or aren't. There would also seem to be no physical benefit of withholding the meds on the weekend. These meds have come a long way since straight up Ritalin was the only one. They are harmless when used properly, and are actually VERY effective, but your son will need to take it for his entire life, there's no "growing out of" ADHD...but it is very manageable.

Answer 6

It depends on the type of ADHD meds your child is taking. Some meds it is OK to do that with. Other meds need to be taken every day for the medication to be effective. I would advise checking with his doctor to discuss the type of med that he is taking and also the alternatives if you do not want to give it on a regular basis.

Answer 7

I'm not a doctor, or nurse, or pharmacist...but I don't think it's a good idea to take him off his meds for the weekends. It's my understanding that the type of meds he's taking (for his medical condition) operate best when taken EVERY day at approximately the SAME TIME of day. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what you want to know.

In my opinion, you are creating a accident waiting to happen, setting him up for a really 'bad day' someday soon due to low levels of his meds in his system.

You appear to be a very caring and loving parent who only wants the best life you can give to your son, I certainly admire that. Keep up the good work trying to make him happy and well-cared for!

Answer 8

If it's working keep doing it... I worked with people with ADHD I also have ADD... I know from experience that if they are not properly medicated that often they will self medicate by using drugs or alcohol... because they feel some thing is wrong with them and they feel powerless to fix it and drugs or alcohol makes them feel better or feel like they are more in control... keep using the medications perscribed, also, medications to help with this problem, it is highly important to be consistant with the medicine, that is part of the key to this... his body is constantly having to adjust to changes, it is very posible that by not being consistant with giving him his meds that he could be going through a lot of behavior changes... the meds help him keep his moods consistant, it is just as important on the weekends as it is one the weekdays!!!

Answer 9

It's great that you communicate with your son about what is going on with his body and why he has to take the medication. However,, "giving him a break" from the meds is actually going to make things harder on him. The dosage is given at a certain schedule in order to maintain a steady level in his system for maximum outcome. Any deviation in that schedule disrupts the efficiency of the med. Please reconsider altering his dosage. One thing you can do to help him cope better is to cut out all sugar from his diet. Good luck!!

Answer 10

It's not harmful, but it's less effective. Many ADD/ADHD meds have to build up in the system to be effective. If you don't give it to him on the weekend, his levels drop and the meds don't work as well by the first day of the week.

Answer 11

whats his performance like on Mondays? i was wondering if the meds needed to stay on a balanced level in his system...my daughter had ADD (not adhd) and I let her off on the weekend..my stepson has adhd and he needs his meds on the weekend. We tried to let him off but it just wasn't working..he is 14 and it effects his decisions too much not to have them in his system at all times.