My 10 year old son has had problems increasingly focusing and following directions. He has went from A's and B's to D's. He doesn't have the hyperactivity associated with ADHD, so I guess you'd just call it ADD. Anyway, we finally agreed start him on Adderall this past Friday. He is having trouble sleeping and with a little upset stomach but nothing severe. I don't see a huge difference, but as I said, it's not really his physical behavior that was an issue. I would just like to hear some experiences of a similar nature to help ease my mind :-) I am intersted in side effects, good changes, bad changes...anything really. Thanks!
2007-11-13 05:21:45 · 7 answers · asked by B Young 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
I will not be taking the drug for myself. I appreciate where that answer was coming from, however, I do know that Adderall effects children and adults in a completely different way. It wouldn't give me any insight at all and it's illegal and dangerous.
2007-11-13 05:41:37 · update #1
I don't have any personal experience with this but I would probably give it a while and see if he does better with it. Otherwise, go back to the doctor and try a different drug, not everything works for everyone, that's why there are so many different choices.
Also (this is the reason that I wanted to comment in the first place) don't "try it out for yourself" that person has no idea what he/she is talking about. Of course if you take a drug that you don't NEED it will have adverse effects on you. That's why people who don't actually have ADD get "high" off of it. Your experience taking it would be completely different than that of your son's.. not to mention illegal...
2007-11-13 05:39:58 · answer #1 · answered by ! 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My 11 year old son started taking adderall and I saw an increase in his ability to focus on the task at hand, yes, it made him eat a little less, but that was a good thing. The thing about taking any kind of drug is that it takes time for the drug to build up in the system.
That's when you see it's full effects and can determine the next course of action. They may increase the dosage, taking it twice a day or maybe switch him to something else, either way, unless he's having a severe reaction...aggression, severe stomach pains, his behavior getting worse, give it its run, usually a couple of weeks to a month, to see how the drug will work/not work with your son.
2007-11-13 05:28:56 · answer #2 · answered by Yankee Micmac 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son is 7 and was put on Adderall 5mg in the spring. He did not have many side effects..no stomach pain or headaches. The one unusual side effect he had was about day 2 on it he talked like nonstop (so not like him). He did great on med though..his teachers noticed difference...we didnt notice too much b/c by the time he got home from school it wore off. He was only diagnosed with ADD not ADHD. He went from a kindergarten reading level to an almost 2nd grade level in reading in just 2 months after being on the meds. It made a big difference in his grades. This year though he starting having some of the same attention probs so we just switched him to Vyvanse 2 days ago..we are still watching for side effects but this med. lasts 12 hours so it will get him through homework time in the evening which was always a hassle. Last night he did awsome on his homework..flew through 4 pages and really understood what he was doing. The meds really make a world of differnce for children with ADD..my son will tell me if he is having trouble concentrating so I know he can't help it. Good Luck!!
2007-11-13 06:12:00 · answer #3 · answered by Meg 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am a nanny for a little boy that is SEVERE ADHD and Autistic. I can't remember the meds he was on before, but they just recently switched him to Adderall and prescription Amphetamines. Adding the amphetamines helped more than anything. Kids that have true ADHD and ADD (I am ADD also due to my mom smoking while pregnant) are helped more by stimulants. They don't get "Hyped-up" like kids without these disorders. This is why when parents put kids without ADD or ADHD on these meds they have an adverse reaction. Give it a few more days and ask the doctor about the amphetamines. They helped me become more focused.
2007-11-13 05:45:17 · answer #4 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont have a child that takes adderall but my younger brother and best friend both tried adderall and didnt like it. my brother told me that it made him depressed, tired, and sleepy; my best friend said the same. since then my mom has taken my brother off the medicain because of how he said it made him feel and my best friend refuses to take the meds so overall my opinion of adderall is its not a good drug to help your child stay focus try to find something else. i know that i am young but i hope my experience has helped you. and maybe the effects wont be the same for your son, and maybe it will help.
2007-11-13 05:35:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can I recommend something...Try taking it yourself for a day. See how it makes you feel, you might freak out and never want your son anywhere near it or it may ease some of your worries. I graduated highschool about five years ago. Adderall was a very popular drug. Believe it or not a lot of kids I knew lied to their doctors to get prescribed. The kids that were on it sold it or gave it to there friends. I mean Im not kidding, it was everywhere. I use to take it in highschool (I was not prescribed to it), and to be completly honest...I would never put my kid on it! You feel like you are on drugs! Even the kids that were prescribed and supposedly needed it got high off it! One of my closest friends like was prescribed to it was 'zombified' on it. No to mention she lost lot of weight b/c she couldnt eat. You dont just loose you appetite but you CAN NOT eat! I tried to force a banana down and as soon as I swallowed it, it came back up! I went almost a wk once w/o sleeping because of it. My friend that was prescribed was sleep deprived! Kids in college take it to stay up late and study for exams. Please, you dont have to take my word for it, but make sure you research these negative effects. You dont usually hear about them from your doctor! Good Luck!
2007-11-13 05:32:25 · answer #6 · answered by Me 3 · 1⤊ 6⤋
you cant sleep, loss of appetite, very bad depression. its like cocaine
2007-11-13 05:27:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋