Why di I have 4 children w/ adhd?

Question

Both of my parents, my ex-husband, his mother and I all have it. My brothers both have it and 2 of each of their children have it. I have 2 sets of twins,one set 8 & one set 9. I have raised them on my own since they were2 & 6 mos. w/ out child support so getting alot of professional help is out of the question. Their father didn't contact them for 4 yrs, and just jumped back in. I thought it would be a good idea for the kids to know him but I really think it's making them worse. Maybe in time it will get better. In the meantime the school acts like they can't make it w/out them on adderall or concerta.I understand completely but I hate it so bad for them to be on medication. Remember it is just me to take care of them so what are some other things I could do to help them w/out so much med? We're trying a behavoiral therapist but I've only gotten one child in and it took about 5 mos. to get the appt. Now he's sending us to another type of therapist.

Answer 1

Personally I'm all for treating ADHD with medication. As you've noticed, there's a strong genetic component to ADHD. There are actually notable neurophysiological abnormalities in the brains of ADHD patients compared to the general population. Specifically, they show decreased activity in regions believed (ok, basically known) to be involved in impulse control and executive functioning, which are basically what normally give people the ability to sit still (impulse control) and choose what to pay attention to (executive function). The medications commonly used to treat ADHD increase activity in these regions of the brain, allowing the patient to function at a normal level with regard to impuse control and executive function. ADHD is a physiological disorder, just like any other medical condition, and I don't see why so many people are so opposed to treating it with medication. After all, you don't see people going out and arguing that we shouldn't treat arthritis because it's all made up and meds are bad, so why should ADHD be any different? Would you feel bad about having them on meds if they had an inherted metabolic condition and required medication to avoid physical symptoms of the condition? ADHD isn't any different, it's just that it happens to effect a particularly complex organ (i.e. the brain).

If used properly, stimulant medications (Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta, etc.) can be highly effective at controlling the symptoms of ADHD with minimal side effects, and litte risk of any long-term damage (I'd say that the risk of your child impuslively running into the street and getting run over, which is reduced by the meds, is more of a danger than the meds). However, at too high a dose, they begin to interfere with sleep and appetite. The point at which they do this is significantly higher than the theraputic dose, but since dosages of these medications are not weight-depedant, doctors don't always get it right, and parents decide that the medication is has too many side effects without giving the doctors a chance to find the right dose so the side effects will disappear but the medication will still work. I took Ritalin for a while and I'm currently taking Concerta, and I assure you that neither one turned me into a zombie, or even produced any noticable side effects at all (as opposed to Strattera, which I took for all of four days because it made me so sick). Personally I'm a fan of Concerta because it's time-released to maintain a constant blood level, so it doesn't have the "roller-coaster effect" of instant release Ritalin (it start working really well really fast, starts to wear off after like two hours, and then there's another two hours before your next dose, and then you take the next dose and the cycle continues). However, it's still under patent, so it costs about $160 a month, and many insurance companies won't pay for it unless you've tried several short-acting stimulants without success.

But regardless of whether you do decide to medicate your kids, you can also modify their home environment to accomidate their different style of doing things, and try to work with the school to accomidate their needs rather than trying to force them to be like everyone else. You know your kids better than I do, so I can't tell you what will work for them, but a few things to try...

Let them move around while doing homework or studying. Try to make active games out of their homework, rather than having them just sit down and do it. For instance, arithmetic problems can be done by adding up the score in a soccer game. Be creative.

Find something for them to do with their hands when they have to sit still. I know an adult with ADHD who knits during meetings. Something like knitting isn't so involved that they can't also listen to the teacher at the same time, but it gives them something to do that's more productive than figiting, and engaging enough to help keep their attention from wandering where it's not supposed to. An alternative to knitting might be making knotted friendship bracelets.

Answer 2

Don't know, yet. The medication he was on wasn't doing anything but make him sleepy. In any case, he isn't highly unmanageable anyway. He just gets frustrated a lot and can't concentrate or sit down. He's fourteen and was diagnosed about a month ago. There's a difference between ADHD and highly unmanageable children. There may be some correlation but even those kids with ADHD can be manageable with the correct discipline.

Answer 3

My brother is ADHD; 11 years old.
There is nothing wrong with keeping your kids on medication.
I know a lot of people have that, "If there's nothing wrong, don't fix it," attitude towards Concerta(what my brother is on), but think about it medically. There is something wrong. ADHD is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Their brains can't create enough of the chemical they need to stay calm and focused. Medications such as Concerta, Stratera, Adderall, etc. help their brains create this chemical. No amount of behavioral counceling will fix that.
They will be happier and more successful if you keep them on it. I can definitely tell the difference between when my brother is has remembered to take his pill and when he has not.

But if you *really* want them off the meds, try a strict no sugar diet. That way it's ONLY the ADHD making them hyper instead of sugar.
But I still don't recommend it.

Answer 4

ADHD seems to have a strong genetic componant. My mom had it, and several of her brothers children ( my cousins) have it as well. And we are all well into our 50's and early 60's and still seem to have it. So it really does seem to run in families.

As much as I also hate the idea of meds....they are probably worth trying. For some people they make a world of difference, and I certainly wish I had had them when I was younger.

So what you might do is give them a try, and both you and the kids see what you think of them.

If you all agree they are helpful.....then that would be something to think about. If not.....then at least you have some information from that angle.

While no one likes meds, the general consensis seems to be that they are not...poison. So it might be worth giving them a try, and then just letting all of you see what you think ?

Bob J.

Answer 5

I feel for you.. I just have 1 with adHd.. the hyperactivity part really throws a wrench in it for a mother.. Especially if you are alone..
I was just about to pull my hair out with my son.. I found some books and some natural cures for stuff (didnt pull my son off medicine at the start) but I tried some things. I found that diet played a lot in it also..
These are my findings
Nothing with MSG in it. meaning chinese foods, most take outs, processed meats like bologna, hotdogs, bacon etc.
no canned soups, no sauces like BBQ sauce etc.
Nothing with harsh food colorings.. stayed away from bright red or blue colored items, like candy, sweets, blue/red drinks.. NO koolaid
use chocolate only as a treat every now and then (yes I know kids have to have a treat), but on weekends when you know they have a day to get it out of their system before school again.
Try to keep healthy snacks like a bowl of carrot sticks, apple wedges in the fridge.. and use yogurt spiced up with mint, lemon, and or garlic to dip in.. Not processed salad dressings.... All this seems harsh, but diet really calmed my son down..
Also I had to force myself to be more disciplined. I had to be the guru of acitivties around the house.. I had to really plan things for my son, if left on his own, he'd rather just stand there and act like a tornado and physically throw and mess up stuff. He needed a strict ritual to keep him on tract..
I hope you can try some of these methods.. I did take my son off ritalin after 2 years.. The diet alone was my savior.. I gave him camamile tea at night to calm him down to sleep.. He is doing so much better.. Id give you a hug through the computer if I could.. I feel so much for you.. May God bless you and your children!

Answer 6

For mdgcats:
Great advise, accept the meds, dope the kids up, and at least it will be easier for the school to shove them aside instead of possibly attempting to work with them. Never mind the kids are going to be walking zombies and won't be able to comprehend their lessons causing them to more than likely be placed in the resource room for the mentally challenged. Just as long as the school doesn't have to work, everything is fine with supplying the kiddies with drugs.

For Twins:
My advice, you know your children, you know what they are capable of, and you know what you are comfortable with. Personally, I am against giving any medication to children just so they behave. I really do wish you the best of luck and can completely understand your situation.

Answer 7

I think you better bite the bullet and accept the medications. It can work wonders. They can't be happy the way they are! They will be able to learn more in school.
Good luck!