my son has add and i need to know if this is normal?!?

Question

my son was diagnosed about a year ago with add and i dont give him his meds on weekends or when he isnt in school. but there r das that he drives me absoulutly bonkers. is this normal? do u think i should give him the meds all the time just to make it through a normal day?

the doctor is the one who told me not to give him the concerta on the weekends or when he wasnt in school

just so u r aware my son was kicked out of preschool for being to violent and not focusing enough. once he was put on the meds he has never had a problem in school. he actually looks foward to going and learning. i am not another parent taken over by doctors. the meds do help him.

Answer 1

One of my kids (number 2 out of 6) has severe ADHD. We had him on meds quite a while during elementary school, they helped a lot. We used various combinations over the years, sometimes he took them all the time, sometimes only on school days. They helped.

I'd also suggest counseling, both for him and for you. Also helps a great deal. In fact, most studies show that medication along with therapy is far more successful than medication alone.

Good luck.

--- EDIT ---

Wow, I just read mark d's comments. What an insensitive (and so very wrong) prick. Never mind about jerks like that. Your son has a real (i.e. not imagined) medical condition, and both medication therapy and counseling can help. If you son had asthma or a heart condition, would you withhold his medication? Of course not. What's the difference here?

Answer 2

My son also has ADHD he is now 21. All through his school years I gave him meds for school but not after school and on the weekends. Yes there was times he drove me crazy but It also has helped him to learn how to act in and around 'normal society'.

People tend to think that ritalin is the be all and end all of ADHD and this is not the case. For example. An ADHD child might stand outside and throw snowballs at every car that passes, missing most of them but having a jolly good time. This is just something an ADHD child will do. Now you give him ritalin. The Child will then stand outside and throw snowballs at only buses because they have a better chance of hitting the target. The medication helps the child to order his thoughts, to I guess take time to think. If he is always medicated when does he get the chance to learn how to do this on his own?

With my son he would often fall into a screaming rage where he wanted to just hit out at anyone and anything around. We were able to teach him that if he was feeling like this to go sit by himself and let himself calm down then to approach the problem that made him mad and try to resolve it. Yes the medication might have prevented the whole episode but the child would never have learned to be a responcible adult.

I can truely and honestly say I like my son as a human being. He is a wonderful person and he learned how to be that way by learning how to act/react around others and to various situations.

I hope this helps


Edit: please note also that ritalin is not a medication that needs to be taken constantly it works when taken. IE it does not need to 'build up' in the system.


Should the medicine be taken for homework and weekends.?

The quick answer is: take the medicaton whenever it would lead to the next few hours being a more positive experience for the child. Certainly, this would usually include school hours. However, homework time usually benefits from medication as well, even though many parents try to "tough it out" at home without the medication.

What could happen if this medicine is stopped suddenly?

There are no medical problems in doing this. A few youths may experience irritability, trouble sleeping, or increased hyperactivity for a day or two, if they have been on daily medication for a long time, especially at above average doses. Occasionally, it is better to stop the medication gradually, over a week or so.


http://www.pediatricneurology.com/ritalin.htm

Answer 3

I also have a son that is ADHD, some of the medications prescribed are a sort of methamphetamine (Concerta), so if you are taking it away, they will have DT's. However, I do know that with the drug Adderall it can be given as needed.

I have realized with him that consistency is the key, do the same thing everyday... I would recommend that you either keep in on the meds, or take him off and implement his diet to help control.

GNC has a vitamin called "Calm Kids", I haven't used it, but have read up on other vitamins that help the situation such Fish Oil Pills, and Flax Seed Oil pills. Good Luck with what you decide, I understand how you feel.

Answer 4

Most ADD/ADHD, antidepressants, and similar psychological medicines have withdrawal symptoms when you do not take them. You either need to give the medicine to him exactly as directed or not at all and help him through the withdrawals. The better option would to not cop-out and help your child overcome his obstacles without relying on a drug.

I somehow get the feeling I'm feeding a troll... but in the slim event that I'm not, please do the right thing for your son.

Answer 5

That sounds kind of stupid. These types of meds need to be taken everyday. Have spoken to his doctor? How do you know if it's safe to just give it when YOU think it's ok? You have no right to put his body through that.

Answer 6

Just another ignorant parent won over by the doc and pharmaceutical companies. Hmmm...try being an involved parent instead of a drug dealer to your own child. Keep dopin'em up!

Answer 7

I have ADD and I don't believe in medication. Sure they help you focus and do good in school but they turn you into a zombie after awhile. But its your kid and if he drives you nuts just ***** slap the little sh!t.