Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 691739

Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!

Posted by BUCKEYE FAN on October 4, 2006, at 9:15:27

Has anyone had any real success with the prescription drugs for ADD& ADDH?

My teenage daughter is really suffering...and all the horror stories and self research I have done, make me extremely sceptical of the usual prescribed medicines.

Anything NEW out that I havnt heard of?

Any opinions on what the safest prescription med that is being prescribed? ( I know they all come with non-safe risks)...but is there one that is worth a try and has been proven to be safer for the kids overall health, present and future?

thanks in advance

BF

 

Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!

Posted by SLS on October 4, 2006, at 9:34:28

In reply to ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by BUCKEYE FAN on October 4, 2006, at 9:15:27

> Has anyone had any real success with the prescription drugs for ADD& ADDH?

It's not my area of knowledge, but could you be specific as to what your daughter experiences or displays as ADHD? It might be helpful.


- Scott

 

Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!

Posted by BUCKEYE FAN on October 4, 2006, at 10:20:47

In reply to Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by SLS on October 4, 2006, at 9:34:28

> > Has anyone had any real success with the prescription drugs for ADD& ADDH?
>
> It's not my area of knowledge, but could you be specific as to what your daughter experiences or displays as ADHD? It might be helpful.
>
>
> - Scott


Sure Scott, thanks for the reminder~
She and her older brother have always had trouble concentrating and staying focused. ( Their mother and I have always had this also)

My son has become frustrated and has all but given up..he is a Junior in HS.

My daughter attends a much tougher school academically, and has been holding her own and getting ok grades. But she has broke down many times in tears about not being able to concentrate, focus, and she ( like my son) constantly struggles with forgetting things,( Time, Lost or misplaced School Books, etc..

Also they she has trouble organizing and keepinmg things in order.

Hope this helps

BF


 

Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!

Posted by med_empowered on October 4, 2006, at 11:11:04

In reply to Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by BUCKEYE FAN on October 4, 2006, at 10:20:47

In the RX realm, you have some options...Straterra is one (I didn't like it). HIgh-dose antidepressants are another (I dont think this is appropriate, since good data is lacking but..its an option). And of course...stimulants. Personally, I think Ritalin sucks, although some people like it; in terms of benefits/side effects, I think adderall and dexedrine come out on top there. Provigil is an option, too, but again..the data isnt nearly as good as for the amphetamines.

You can also couple meds with non-drug treatments. Awareness training is an option, as is biofeedback...just getting a nice, empathetic counselor could be very helpful, too.

You can also go w/o meds and just do psychological stuff. That works for some people.

 

Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!

Posted by lymom3 on October 4, 2006, at 11:49:00

In reply to ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by BUCKEYE FAN on October 4, 2006, at 9:15:27

Stimulants have worked for me and my kids for ADHD. We are hard core cases though. I couldn't even keep babysitters for my kids without meds; it's not like they were optional. The correct meds have been lifesavers for us. Ritalin has never helped anyone but me. I have one child that responds tremendously to Focalin XR and one that does great on Adderall. I know that some swear by dietary changes and some don't believe in meds. It's all a personal choice but your daughter sounds like she's ready for the help. She's also old enough to tell you if she's unhappy with any side effects of the meds too. If she's in high school now, she's a good judge of what's helping her and whether the side effects are negative or not. It's a little tougher and scarier when they are young but I think if she's at that point, meds deserve a chance.

 

Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!

Posted by Racer on October 4, 2006, at 12:10:08

In reply to Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by lymom3 on October 4, 2006, at 11:49:00

Disclaimer: I know nothing, this is only my experience -- and I'm weird...

Adderall, which a lot of people swear by, caused depression for me.

Dexedrine was OK, gave me some benefits, few if any side effects, but wasn't earth-shaking.

Strattera was useful -- more for depression than ADHD, but I was taking it with other drugs and the combination was not a winner. Then again, that was Dr Let'sTryThreeNewDrugsToday, so who knows which drug caused the problems?

Ritalin, though, was fabulous in terms of symptoms. I get a lot of background chatter going on in my mind, and everything around me distracts me -- I can't not get pulled away by things like a car backfiring on the street, someone dropping a pencil, etc. (Unless I'm in hyperfocus mode, but that's a different story...) Ritalin fixed all that. Side effects, for me, were three: headaches, which probably would have gone away in a few weeks; feeling a little high, which I hate, which also probably would have gone away in a few weeks; and increased appetite, which freaked me out so much I wasn't willing to stick it out for those few weeks to see if any/all went away. I'm planning, though, to try it again. (AFTER we get past the last-ditch attempt to have a child, whether that's giving up, or succeeding...)

It's an n of 1, but I hope it's helpful...

 

Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!

Posted by Meri-Tuuli on October 4, 2006, at 15:32:05

In reply to Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by Racer on October 4, 2006, at 12:10:08

This is my personal experience, but I find that when I'm even the slightest bit depressed, the first thing that goes is my concentration. Or even if I'm stressed.

And I really really find giving up all sweet stuff (and white bread etc) and coffee really really improves my concentration no end. When I used to eat Danish pastries and drink coffee/cola, I'd read up about the sweet/caffine thing, and think 'yeah sure, coffee and sweet stuff doesn't make *that* much difference' but you'd be really surprised.

I dunno. When I was in the equivalent of high school in the UK, I could never concentrate much anyway and I had zero motivation. I'm a late deveoloper!

Do you get what I'm trying to say? Sorry if its garbled - its late at night here! I mean, there are lots of ways to address a lack of concentration. But I don't know how you tell the difference between plain old lack of concentration and clincal ADD. I'm not a pdoc! And I sometimes wonder what the involvement with Big Pharma is too, even with pdocs. There are alot of unscruplous practices going on out there - I just recently posted a news article about it.

Also, I have at various times filled out alot of those online ADD tests - including the Utah-Webber scale or whatever it was called. I was off the scale. I was totally ADD. But, even through I scored highly and I'm sure if I went to an (American) pdoc, they would really say I have ADD, I'm pretty sure that I don't. Its just like I said before, as soon as I get the first hint of depression my concentration goes as does my ability to organise myself. I dunno. Sorry if I'm not making much sense.

I really wonder what the rates of ADD/ADHD between say, Finland and the USA are. For instance, (get this!) in primary schools (age 7-12) they can only drink water or milk during the school day. Nothing else! Its amazing. I wonder if some children just get more 'hyper' because of lots of soda, sweets etc. I profess I don't know much! I'm just wondering if ADD is overdiagnosed.

I guess I'd explore all other avenues (nutrition, exercise therapy etc) before you the drugs. Its not an easy solution, I mean its easier just to take a pill, but 'alternatives' things could be just as useful and more safe perhaps.


Anyway, let us know how it goes.

Kind regards

Meri

 

Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter! » Meri-Tuuli

Posted by Phillipa on October 4, 2006, at 20:24:53

In reply to Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by Meri-Tuuli on October 4, 2006, at 15:32:05

Merri anyway you could find out? Wouldn't that be interesting. I think they use it too much in the states with young kids instead of attention from parents or teachers. Sorry not trying to offend people with legitimate kids with this problem or themselves. Love Phillipa

 

Re: ADD Help Needed--stimulants » BUCKEYE FAN

Posted by psychobot5000 on October 6, 2006, at 0:35:14

In reply to Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by BUCKEYE FAN on October 4, 2006, at 10:20:47

Hi,

I'm going to be the one to say: I think the traditional ADHD drugs should probably be the first thing you try. There are lots of other angles out there, but despite all the bad press, they very effective medications, and reasonably safe.

Most of the lay public, including journalists, don't understand too much about Methylphenidate/Ritalin or Adderall or Dexedrine. But they get scared because:
1: millions of kids are prescribed it.
2: Often it's not the kid, but the parent that makes the decision, with pressure from teachers and schools.
3: One of the medications is related to a street drug.

This fear effects their reporting.

Your daughter sounds to me like a classic case of 'Inattentive ADHD.' If so, she has would most likely (75-80% chance) get a legitimate medical benefit from stimulants (methylphendate or the others), for a legitimate medical need. The reason doctors continue to prescribe them is because they work so very well, and because the medical community generally considers the risks to be modest in comparison with the benefit.

There are some questions, however--the medications generally cause a -slight- increase in the stress on the heart. (methylphenidate/ritalin is generally the best on this, with dexedrine in the middle, and Adderall having the strongest effects on the heart) Family history of heart disease matters, but in any case, she should probably get an electrocardiogram. It's a simple procedure, and takes only a few minutes, and will tell you a lot about whether her heart is healthy. If so, stimulants are probably the best way to go.

Other concerns, though, are a history of serious drug-dependence in her family (her mother, father, sister and brother, mostly), and another possible disorder. You would also want to check to see that your daughter doesn't have another cause, like depression--which can also cause symptoms of poor concentration and focus. Parents can overlook this sort of thing sometimes!

The traditional drugs, methylphenidate, dexedrine and adderall, when properly managed, are fairly low-risk. If you have a conscientious provider, or if you are willing to put in the effort to manage your child's care (which you clearly seem to be), I'm sure it will be fine, though there is some degree risk in ANY drug or herbal treatment. If used properly, they are likely to be very benign and helpful to your daughter.

Methylphenidate and the others are very, very well-studied (over a 50 year period for methylphenidate, and a 70 year period for the dexedrine), so they are very well understood. The risks are relatively well-known and possible to deal with. There has always been controversy over them, because they can be abusable or dangerous in the wrong hands, or when used without proper care. I see no reason to believe that these would be the case with your daughter, though. She seems well taken care of. :)

I apologize if this is too long--I guess I've seen the benefit these meds can give, and so am passionate about it.

I very much hope you find something that works,
P-bot

PS As others have suggested, same antidepressants are a good secondary choice--though they have their own risks and benefits.

 

Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter! » BUCKEYE FAN

Posted by psychobot5000 on October 6, 2006, at 9:19:51

In reply to Re: ADD Help Needed For Teenage Daughter!, posted by BUCKEYE FAN on October 4, 2006, at 10:20:47

Hi,

I looked over your post on the alternative board, and realized how opposed you were to stimulants. I'm sorry--I didn't mean to offend.

I'll try to post a few more herbal suggestions on the other (alternative) board.


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