I have a 9yr old that has been diagnose with ad/hd can someone recommend other pills instead of ritalin?

Answer 1

ADHD is most successfully treated medically with stimulants. There are manny stimulants available, but the most well-studied (and cheapest) is Ritalin. People who have done studies in this area have tried behavior therapies, which helps a little, but hasn't been shown to be as effective as medication.

Other (newer) medications used are Adderall, Concerta, Strattera, Focalin, and a few others. What's interesting about ADHD treatment is that though a lot of the medications are in the same family (i.e. amphetamines), different meds can have profoundly different effects on the child. One may not work at all and another does a great job even though they may both be in the same class. This happens to be a unique feature of ADHD treatment.

Part of the advantage of Ritalin is that it, when started, it can start to work right away whereas something like Strattera takes longer to work and needs to be taken everyday. With Ritalin, you can also give a "drug holiday" which allows parents to withhold it on the weekends or during school vacations.

Drawbacks of Ritalin are that you typically need to dose more than once per day (unless it's a long-acting Ritalin "LA"), and then again if the child can't stay focused or is having behavioral problems at home.

Part of the treatment of ADHD involves regular follow-up with your doctor along with progress reports from teachers, parents, and child.

There is a lot of stigma about using Ritalin, but when a child is struggling in school with behavior problems, I've seen these medications work wonders. I would at least give the medication a good try and remember there are always other treatments.

Answer 2

ADHD is so overdiagnosed I wouldn't try medication at first. It's possible that your child is just bored with school, or is reacting to stress.

As someone who was "diagnosed" with ADHD years ago I can tell you the Dexedrine was awful. What worked for me was finding ways of dealing with stress, and taking more challenging courses in school.

I'd hazard a guess that 90% of kids who supposed have ADHD really don't, they are just very physical or are acting out due to boredom or stress. The pharmaceutical companies have fueled the explosion in diagnoses of ADHD, autism, Asperger's etc. It is really sad because these kids are getting medication they don't need that turns them into zombies. Quiet does not equal healthy in a kid, in fact it is rather unhealthy. Kids need exercise, nutritious food, challenging schoolwork, discipline, parental attention, and family fun. That combination is a hell of alot more effective than a bunch of damned drugs.

Answer 3

ADHD medications, such as
methylphendidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
dextroamphetamine (Adderall, Dexedrine)
atomoxetine (Strattera)
Cylert (pemoline)
Focalin® XR (dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride)

Answer 4

I was diagnosed when I was in the 7th grade with ADHD I was put on Medidate CD and it worked very well... I am now 20 and have grown out of thank goodness.. ask your doctor about it..

Answer 5

i grew to become right into an prolonged term single parent of two Disabled babies (and one had severe ADHD) -- so here is what I did ... approximately 30 minutes formerly i might positioned him to mattress, i began by technique of turning off the television ... enjoying some calming music in the history (classical), fixed a warm Cocoa Drink, and had him sit down down for tale time. After that it grew to become into the ritual time to start mountaineering into mattress - - he surrounded himself together with his filled 'MPs' (ok -- i'm Retired protection stress -- and this grew to become into jointly as i grew to become into on lively accountability) .. they might "safeguard" him jointly as he snuggled down, a pair in front of the closet (to guard there too), then the main advantageous easy grew to become into grew to become off ... and a nightlight grew to become into grew to become on. the blend tape participant/alarm grew to become into set to easily yet another 30 minutes ... and by technique of the time the tape grew to become into carried out he grew to become into speedy asleep. the superb difficulty you're able to do is at first the 30 minute calm down era -- the nice and comfortable Cocoa, the story time, and him setting up his 'guardians' for the mattress ... then the comfortable classical (or regardless of comfortable music) you want when you prove his lighting fixtures furnishings. considering the fact that the two one among my babies have been Disabled -- one might cycle by way of evening exercises in one bathing room and the different might use the grasp tub .. that way there have been no issues there the two. yet do end television viewing early ... so as that their brains are actually not overly inspired by technique of the consistent 'bites' of noise between the categorised classified ads (Which ADHD little ones can quote thoroughly -- is drove me nuts on the subject of the categorised classified ads till i found out that this grew to become into how their brains worked -- 15 to 30 seconds of information at a time).

Answer 6

Get a second opinion. "ADHD" is overdiagnosed, and children are overmedicated. Consider the possibility that your child is normal -- for an energetic boy.

Answer 7

My son (with adhd) uses adderall

Answer 8

Well, two 20mg Focalin XR should help a lot.

Answer 9

Before you put him on medication did you try diets?