I would like some feedback...on meds .. I am sure we all go through the stages of getting to grips with our children been on meds, we all wish for a med free summer ~ I was determined to get through the summer without my son been on meds.... but after 2 weeks of negative feedback from camps, I thought what the heck am I doing, I am setting him up for failure.

I have been flip flopping around a bit with the meds and not sure what effect it is having on my son, the doctor doesn't really tell me otherwise either. For the past year he has been on 18mg of concerta, the school was telling me it wasn't quite having an effect...my doctor recommended the next dose up but I didn't want to go that route a few months ago as he was already have insomnia, loss of appetite, stomach pains, so I asked her if a 5mg of ritalin as a top up would work... I actually didnt' use it as a top up but would give him one of these on the weekend instead of the 18mg.. it calms him down and is in and out of his system quicker.... however the school term was not getting better so a month before it ended I asked my dcotor for the next dose.... I did not tell the school so I could just get their feedback... it was positive, he had more control, and it was even mentioned on his report card that the last month he seemed to have more control.. anyway I was determined to have a med free summer but he was in soccer camp for most of it.. well the first week of complaints I tried to pass of as teething pains, but then the second week >... I had to rethink and thought ... what am I doing to him.. anyway I gave him the 18mg for a few days but there still seemed to be the complaints so I then upted it to the 36mg .. the next day I went to give him the 18mg and my 8 yr old turned around to me and said... (not knowing about the (mg) of the pills) he prefers # 36 as he behaves better... I was shocked he would come out with this and wondering why he would say that... I could only think that he is more in control and feels the positive effects of this.... so a day or so later I tried to get more info out of him about it, and he said it makes him feel happier.

Just hearing my son say this, makes me feel more relaxed that I am doing the right thing for him. Even though he hates taking the pill, I think he is beginning to understand what ADHD is... sometimes you forget how smart these little guys and gals are.

Nocky

Real ADHD doesn't go away for weekends or holidays.

I like how you did your own controlled study. That's one smart eight year old you've got there and with teamwork like that, the future looks great for both of you. :cool:

My son is also 8 and on 27 mg of concerta, I do believe we are going to up the dose next appointment.
I am one of the few who keep him off meds on weekends and breaks, He does better socially when not medicated (we all have noticed that) and he claims he does better in sports when not on the Concerta.
Getting his chores done on the weekend can be a challenge but we work on “strategies” to get him going then. I feel it is a good learning tool for him, we can talk about it, he can see the difference, he learns a lot more about his ADD when off the meds than when on….
I think an ADD brain is a beautiful thing, and needs to be set free as often as possible.

VickiS,

Have you come across other people who do better socially when not medicated?

VickiS,

Have you come across other people who do better socially when not medicated?

I don't really know too many ADD folks, just a my son, myself and a few family members (who are in denial) so I would have to say not personally but it has come up on this forum...

we all wish for a med free summer


Hell no!! Why would I wish for that? He's much, much happier with the meds and he's alot more fun to have around. He never wants to go off and I never want him to.

I have to agree with this last poster..I would not be able to handle my 6 year old without his meds..I hate that I have to say that ,but it is true..my stress level is alot better when he has his meds(strattera) however I would like his mgs increased this school year ..He has an appointmet in a few weeks with his neurologist to increase his dosage because hes starting to get immune to the 18mg hes on..you don't want your children to consume you because thats going to affect how you are as a parent and with adhd/add children I truly think we're doing them an injustice academically as well as socially when we don't get them on the proper medication.