what do you think about medicating kids?

Question

my son was diagnosed with adhd at a young age and over the years the doctors have had him on many different medications. i never saw a difference in his behavior (except for the ones that made him sleep) which scared me. we have been in and out of counseling for a long time. well last year i decided enough is enough and quit giving him medication. now the school is sending him to a psychiatrist and i know she is going to recommend medication. well, now my son refuses to take pills. so i cant make him....... but what my question is..... does anyone know the side effects of taking ritalin, adderal, stratera over a long period of time? has there been long term studies what these drugs do to the kids (like liver damage). i know some people that took ritalin as children and are now hooked on speed as adults. i dont want that to happen to my kid. but his teacher said if we dont give him medication he will self medicate (take street drugs) i dont know what to do.

Answer 1

This is a hard decision to make, I know.
My little brother is 15 years old this year and had been diagnosed with ADHD when he was only 6.
He's been on all different types of pills and medications since then, but nothing has helped.
He's a problem child, and now has anger issues since withdrawal from adderal.
Adderal is VERY powerful, and probably too powerful for kids to be on, I think. It makes him tense, angry, paranoid, and sleepy.
NOT a good combination !!!!
I myself have ADHD and have found that mood suppressants such as Clonidine and Fluvox (I take them together...not suggested for younger kids. I am 20 and started taking them at 18) helped a LOT.
And the only side effect I see, is it makes me REALLY hungry.
Most medications for specifically for ADHD has side effects,weeks to months to even years after stop taking, of anger,depression, suicidal thoughts, and ENORMOUS weight gain.
Mood suppressants such as the ones I mentioned,when taken off, may make you sleepy OR have insomnia (depending on how the medication effects you), but that's it.
There's no long-term effects like Stratera and Adderall and Ritalin have, such as liver damage like you mentioned, blood clots, etc.

Answer 2

To be honest I am lost for words on this subject, but I do know that a long long time ago people had ADHD and survived and did very well in their life without the use of meds. I just don't see why they are popping kids with these pills left and right. Of course the parents think that something is drastically wrong when teachers complain and doctors are handing out the pills...so for you as the parent I am so happy to know you put your foot down, you are a great parent for having the concern about your child. There are so many other parents out there that don't question the side effects. Do you believe your son will self medicate? How is your communication with him? That is where your answers will come from, I wish you and your son all the best of luck!

Answer 3

There is an excellent book available on Ritalin only, I suggest you go to the book store, buy it and read it. You may want to watch the food your son is eating (food affects behavior). All medications have side effects, even an aspirin. We live in an instant gratification society, obviously the doctors and teachers will medicate your kid because is it the easiest route to deal with your son's behavior. The problem with medications is that most of the time it treats the symptoms and does not get to the root of the problem. My suggestion is to educate yourself and continue to do extensive research so that you can have the last word on your son's treatment.
The book: Ritalin Free Kids by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, N.D., M.S.W., and Robert Ullman, N.D.

Answer 4

i haven't had experience with an ADHD child, and i'm not a pharmacist, so can't give good insight on medications for children.

i have been on medications myself, however, and i've noticed that i am 'sensitive' to meds and many times they have to prescribe me a very low dose...

meanwhile, i'm sure that if you do a search on the internet, you will find all sorts of good information about ADHD and its treatment... perhaps there is a chat or forum out there where you can talk to other parents who might give good, useful advice as well?

also, you have the choice to get opinions from any number of doctors and psychiatrists for your child -- you don't have to take one doc's word. sometimes a second or even a third opinion can be very valuable.

Answer 5

My son has ADD , I tried medicines. They gave him migrains. I put him on it because the school was complaining he was not turning stuff in, I pulled him off the meds, didnt tell the school. and asked the teacher if he was still doing good , and she said ohh yes, so much better with him on meds.

That pissed me off.... but oh well they were leaving him alone. I worked with him on getting organized, He wrote assignments down and i showed him how to stay organized. 3 years later still no meds. and is an honor student again. ( i changed schools he was in a school that had 430 kids total in the whole school) to a High school with 6000 kids. My son loves it.

I was scared of him being in a school that had over 900 kids in his class at first but he thrives. I never thought moving would make that much of a difference. It did.... Sometimes a life style change can make all the difference.

Answer 6

Ritalin is a very dangerous drug. I had ADHD when I was a kid, and a teacher kept on bugging my mother about it, and my mother did not want me to be on that stuff. Some people I know were on it and it made them fall asleep in class. That is just one minor side effect, and there are worse side effects.

Answer 7

I would NEVER medicate my child!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has been proven that when you change the diet - the (supposedly) ADHD will go away.
The first thing to cut; the medication and then all SUGARS.
Unfortunately, today's educators have failed to learn how to deal with 'boys being boys'. My boys, when small, were active but they never 'bounced off the walls' because I would not allow them to have tons of sugar. I fed them healthy foods, NO carbonated drinks, NO junk food and never had any problems.
Taking kids to 'shrinks' is NOT a good thing unless something tramatic has happened to them.

Answer 8

I know some one who has taken those medications for 10 years and it has really helped them I don't know if it can give you liver problems so I wouldn't really take my advice you should see a professional.

Answer 9

follow your instinct , not what the teacher says.
forget the psychiatrist too, let the kid be a kid and stop listening
to all these other folks.
talk to your own kid and see what u think he needs, u are
raising your kid, not the government.
use your own common sense.
It is probably nothing wrong with your child at all.

Answer 10

well for 1 , i can tell you ridilin has been around for over 40 years...but my father had it when he was a child, and just dealt with it. he is now 43 and has grown out of it.