Question about ADHD medication?

Question

My seven year old has been tested and officially diagnosed with having ADHD. He is currently taking Concerta. He was started on the lowest doseage, and his doctor and I have upped the doseage three times because the lower dosages were having no effect. I have concerns about upping the doseage again. I have also been told by his teacher that she's known of a few students who have been on Concerta with no positive changes either. Can anyone recommend a different brand that has had a positive effect on their child? I would like to have some different options to discuss with his pediatrician on our next visit. My biggest concern is that I do not want my son to become "zombie" like, I just want him to be able to concentrate while he's in school. Any suggestions would be great! Thank You!

Thank you for the answers so far. Let me add a little to my question. My son has only been on the medication for a few months now. Prior to that, I was searching for other natural solutions. His behavior problems began around the age of three. Within one year, he was kicked out of seven day cares. I am a great, patient, single parent trying to do the best for my son. I discipline my son. I have absolutely no problem with him while he's at home. He is loving, affectionate, playful, and when he is told something, he listens. But when he is at school, he is physical with his teachers and other students, he hits, kicks, spits, throws furniture, etc. He is very impulsive. Because of this behavior, he is in a "special" class with a time-out room that has padded walls. Everyone has started to expect bad behavior from him, and I am very concerned about his self esteem. He really is a great kid. I'm just not sure how else to help him.......I am his only advocate and I'm just trying to find the

Answer 1

Two of my sons were diagnosed in elementary school with ADD/ADHD- I strongly believe in their cases it was not a dietarly issue, as they were both twitchy babies even as infants who were being breast fed, and not ingesting any sugars, dies, preservatives etc. My oldest was tested at the recommendation of his 1st grade teacher who noticed he would not stay in his seat, had trouble finishing assignments, etc. within a month of starting him on Ritalin SR (the time release version) she recommended that he be moved from her class to the gifted class. He was able to stop taking it by middle school. As others have posted, he did not take it on weekends or during vacations, we just had to make sure he did his homework right after school. The youngest flat out could not sit in his chair, he was tested in kindergarten for ADD/HD and for the gifted program, and also took the time release ritalin until the end of elementary school. The only side effect that I was not thrilled with was the decreased appetite as both of these boys were plenty thin already from all the buzzing around they did. My middle son has since been diagnosed with ADD as well but not until he was in college. Their father also has ADD which was not diagnosed until he was an adult, and he seriously regrets the fact that his parents never had him treated- it really had a negative impact on his education, reading ability, etc. It is only now that he is in his 40's that he is finally able to finish reading a book instead of re-reading the same few pages over and over again until he gives up. Just keep working with his doctor until you find the right medication, dosage, or combination of medications.

Answer 2

My daughter also has ADHD. We tried Adderall first. It did not leave her 'zombied' , however the side effects were not great. Then we switched to Concerta and Straterra both. This has been the greatest for her. She pays attention and is not hyper. We only have trouble if she has to do her homework past 5 pm because the meds have worn off. We also give her something to help her get to sleep because she is unable to shut her brain off. I suggest you do not go above dosages recommended by his weight, but rather try a different medication. It also takes 4-6 weeks to see the full effects of meds.
Each child will react differently to each medication.
Strattera is a non-stimulant and some children react better to it.

Answer 3

my son and my nephew are both ADHD.. Both take concerta. my son is 15 now and my nephew just turned 9. both have been on the meds for years. they both take 54 mg of concerta. theres all kinds out there. if your child dont bounce around and just need help stayin focus i would try to up the dose 1 more time. it takes a day or 2 to start working. i only give my child the meds on school days. concerta does work for all kids. and sometimes it takes a few different tries before u find what works with your child. your son is old enough that you can talk to him and ask him if he feels the meds are helping. thats the most important thing is the kid. u have to keep them involved, and make sure he is taking it. some only act like it at 1st cause they think adhd is a bad thing. (your going to get lots of b.s. comments. some ppl think parents just put their kids on drugs so they arent bugging us parents. )

Answer 4

My 11 year old son has been on Concerta for nearly 3 years. We did have to adjust the dosage in the beginning, as is often the case, until we found what worked for us. If your son's dosage has been upped three times already, I would speak with his doctor about trying a different brand entirely. What works for one child may not work for another. My coworker has her child on Strattera and they have had no problems with it.
Also, as another poster suggested, ask your son how he feels. Our son, after we got the right dosage, told us that he felt better than he ever had and felt more understanding at school and felt a lot calmer. He said he could tell a huge difference himself after getting the medication right.
Best of luck to you and your son!

Answer 5

My son who is 9 has ADHD. I truly do believe in the medication. My son is taking Methylin E.R (extended release) He takes 2 10mg pills a day and has shown great improvement from last year. His grades went from below passing to A's and B's. He had issues with making friends and poor choices. He is doing a lot better. I believe this is a personal choice whether you have him on medication, no one can tell you how to raise your child or what's best for them. We don't think like they do. My biggest concern was the "zombie" state as well. It might be a game of trial and error with meds, but just make sure you have the doctor monitor him. Best of luck to you and your family.

Answer 6

Adderall xr works for me... But I'd recommend the meds only as a last resort, sounds like you're at that point and maybe past it. I'm thinking about switching to Vyvanse or Provigil since it hinders my motivation. But what natural remedies have you tried? Fish oil/flax is supposed to be good (I can't swallow those horse pills) and so is Iron, B complex, and Zing (I think anyway... been a while since I researched them) and my chiropractor recommended Inositol. Inositol should take 4 days to two weeks to show a difference. You could always try that and see if it helps at all. Ritalin = zombie like. Adderall xr makes me kind of... calm and dormant but not really zombie like. I can concentrate and control myself, but I tend to be less creative and all. I also recommend to not use medications at such a young age, try herbal/vitamins first anyway. Have you taken him to a Psychiatrist? They might be able to give a better example of what to do, and might be able to give him something better.

Answer 7

my cousin has ADHD also my aunt had a hard time trying to find a medication that would work and make him be able to function at the same time.. She finally gave up and went on a herbal kick. To my amazement it actually worked.. SO either or try looking around for a herbal remedy

Answer 8

my son(7yrs old) his also ADHD and his taking ritalin only 5mg....the doctor just recently increased the dosage to 10mg.....so far i don't see any side effect...also i could see the different since his under meds.....now he cooperate more on his class and his doing good on his academic.

maybe you should try ritalin for your kid...good luck

Answer 9

All the medication on the market for ADD ADHD and focus issues have all been tested, and the long term testings are starting to really pour in.

Its dangerous stuff. The medications are all in the same family as sedatives, the same stuff they give to demetia patients in nursing homes to keep them in a haze. It has horrible long term effects that include things like developmental issues and even blood clots and heat issues later in live- the effects really run the whole spectrum.

You couldnt pay me to put my child on it.

Ive worked with developmentally delayed and learning disabled kids, most of whom were ADD or ADHD for 15 years. In all those kids I NEVER had one that I couldnt fix with proper discipline, a proper diet, and one on one learning time.

ADD and ADHD are nothing more than lables given to kids who are over stimulated and have different learning patterns, and dont fit into the main stream education mold.

Processed foods, like those that come in wrappers, boxes or bags (even meal kits like rice and noodles) contain chemical preservatives that build up in the systems of some children and cause a reaction like caffeine- except it doesnt burn off. Beyond that, starches in the foods kids are fed in school and in most homes are processed just like sugar. The result is a child who's over stimulated.

On top of it all, most boys learn best when their bodies are in motion. Its a proven fact, theres been numerous college studies on it.

I'd look elsewhere for help before going back to medication. You couldnt PAY me to put it in my child, no matter HOW out of control he was.