to find a way to help her. She is not doing so well in school. It is hard for her to keep friends. It really is hard for all of us. We want her to be happy. The meds make her heart beat to fast. Her personality is altered. What can I do?
2007-12-05 10:35:58 · 11 answers · asked by mary m 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
she is seeing a doctor regularly. she was diaognosed 6 years ago.
2007-12-05 10:56:03 · update #1
In my experience with ADD, I sympathize with the stimulant-based side-effects which can make for some scary effects on heart rate (I'm assuming you've been on the commonplace prescriptions; Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall and/or Concerta). Attempting a different type of drug may be the other option if therapy doesn't work; ask your doctor about 'racetam' nootropics (drugs modifying learning without stimulant effects), or eugeroic drugs (milder stimulant whose effects are more mental than physiological, so no more speedy heart). The new drug Strattera has also been earmarked for ADHD, and is a non-stimulant.
Also, augmenting medical effect with antidepressants is an option you may want to consider.
Just as important, and something you're doubtless already aware of, is the environment your daughter is learning in. Distraction-less environments are very important to children with deficit issues. Involvement in social groups (like sports), as well as extra-curricular learning (after-school) will do quite well for her.
Best of luck!
2007-12-05 10:56:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was diagnosed with ADD when I was five. It has been 12 years, and I have been on six different meds. It takes time to figure out. I was on something called deceprimine, or something. It made my heart beat too fast, as well. I also could not gain weight and literally look emaciated. I also tried celexa and something like deceprimine.
Concerta and metadate worked the best. Concerta is great. I have been on concerta for a few years, and it is wonderful, it doesn't alter my personality(too my knowledge).
Sorry if this hasn't been too helpful. The fact is, it's hard to know what will and won't work. My biggest suggestion would be to make sure you go to a specialist, like a nurse practitioner. It's also best if you go to a doctor who treats mainly children. Going to a normal family doctor or pediatrician is probably not the best idea. Specialists are ideal.
2007-12-05 11:37:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you okay with how her doctor is treating her? Also, is she going to a family doctor for meds or is she seeing a psychiatrist? If she's going to her family doctor, you might want to consider switching her to a psychiatrist. They specialize in medications for various mental disorders and studied psychiatry for several years before becoming a psychiatrist. A family doctor or a pediatrician can prescribe psych meds but they get a relatively small amount of education in psychiatric disorders and psychiatric meds. She would be better off seeing a psychiatrist.
If she's already seeing a psychiatrist, you might want to look into getting her into a child/adolescent psychiatrist. You can call around to various mental health agencies in your area to see if there are any near you. Some places have people who specialize in treating children/adolescents and some don't. A regular psychiatrist can treat her, but since it sounds like she's having a lot of problems with meds, someone with more experienced dealing with children/adolescents might be better for her.
Just so you know...often medications for things like ADHD require trial and error before finding the right medication and the right dosage. I know it's frustrating to see your daughter not doing well. I wish I had a better for answer for you. Good luck.
2007-12-05 11:52:56 · answer #3 · answered by Angelia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Medicating my kids with ADHD was not an option - as our family Dr. said, both the child and the parent need to learn to "deal with the behavior"
So, we did. We learned to manage their behavior as parents, and they learned self-control within their abilities. Sure some things were more difficult, but that's the nature of being an individual. Exercise and frequent breaks were a
big part of the management technique...running laps around our house before asking them to sit on a chair for supper was one of the most effective things we ever did. The same worked for traveling in a car, taking a park-break every hr to 90 min. Concentration was possible, so long as the length of time is geared to the child's ability with breaks in between. Regular snack times help out the mood. Outside play lets them make all the noise they please, so the inside voices will work for inside.
Our Dr gave us one more tip:
Come bedtime we would line the children up for their night time natural "cider" of 1/2 cup hot water, teaspoon of honey and I think it was a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. -- in about 20 minutes you have children who are willing and able to lay on their beds, to relax, and to fall asleep.
This is really the first generation where medication has become common. Our impression, and our Dr's is that the medication is really more for the benefit of the parent than for the child. Even kids who do take medication for ADHD will one day stop taking it - and they will still have to deal with the same energy and urges, but will not have practiced, learning the skill to do so. To learn self-control as a child is a skill that will carry them through their adult life.
2007-12-05 11:01:45 · answer #4 · answered by Hope 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried altering her diet in anyway - removing one type of food or additive at a time may show something that helps.
Start with the obvious like sugar / sweetner, then caffine, colourings, preservatives, wheat, dairy etc.
It will take time and commitment from you but it may help to lessen the symptoms and sure beats filling kids full of drugs - even if it helps to reduce the amount of medication your daughter needs.
You (& she) will benefit in the long run but it will be hard to find out what agrivates her condition - give it a go.
Best of luck.
2007-12-05 10:45:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My son has severe ADHD. For 4 years he failed in school, couldn't keep friends..teachers couldn't handle him..I felt at a loss and wanted to help my son have a quality of life he wasn't experiencing...so I kept at it..researching on my own and harassing ( yes, harassing..lol) his doctor ( an AD HD specialist) He was on Metadate 30 mgs...but it wasn't touching the symptoms...then we found Risperdal...When we added that to his Metadate (started with the smallest dose possible) 0.25mgs, we saw a different child...not a drugged out child either..He's now excelling in school..he has friends.. he is playing sports..you know what? My son is funny!! I can honestly say I never saw that before, and its awesome!! It was so worth the stress, to now see him with the quality of life he should have..After the first week, my son said " keep giving me this mom... it really helps me" Good Luck hun...You will find a way to help your daughter...I know its possible!! Email me if you need some extra support!!
2007-12-05 10:54:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
meds: try strattera, it is a nonstimulant that may be easier on her heart. and possibly, your doctor could figure a combination of medications to treat her personally.
grades: talk to her teachers and ask for updates periodically, if the school has a website that has the homework listed check that, offer to help with homework/studying
friends: 11yr olds are fickle. just let her know she should be herself, no matter what. keep encouraging her to break out socially and talk to everybody its a lot easier to be friends with everybody than have a "group"
2007-12-05 10:56:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
meds are only part of the solution. keep trying until you find the right one. do a bit of research on it. talk to her teacher/principal. perhaps a behavior modification/reward system may help her. also, a regular visit with a therapist so she can learn strategies is a good idea. if you think it could benifit her, see about getting her a one on one aid to help her do the right thing during school hours.
2007-12-05 10:51:49 · answer #8 · answered by racer 51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her back to the doctor so that he or she can check her heart and change her medication again. My nephew has ADHD and his mom had to have his medication changed about 8 times before she found one that helped her son.
2007-12-05 10:40:08 · answer #9 · answered by jackie_jabar 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Has she been diagnosed by a physician that specializes in adhd, our daughter started puberty at 11, personality change, have you tried concerta?
2007-12-05 10:42:48 · answer #10 · answered by Sprocket 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋