And horrible..

Like this is controlable...I am sure that it's because I am a horrible parent, she watches too much t.v., has eaten too much sugar, and just needs to cut out red dye.

I don't want her to have to do this. All the experts supported the decision to medicate -- our family doc, her psychologist, my psychologist, my psychiatrist, and the gifted expert....why do I feel so badly? I have gone to just about everyone about this I can trying to figure a way *out* of this diagnosis...and it's not going away.

This coming from me who is also ADHD and has been helped immensely by medication.

And then I read these threads about things like DORE and all this other crap..and it just makes me feel bad, like there is a cure that doesn't require a psycho-stimulant ... and all that stuff around the internet about how I am going to kill my daughter by giving her medication.

It just doesn't feel good. Sigh. I just needed to talk.

-- Sea

and all that stuff around the internet about how I am going to kill my daughter by giving her medication.

Statistically, you're 157 times more likely to kill your daughter by allowing her to sleep in a bed or sit in a chair.

Last week, I read a newspaper article (which I also found here (http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/living/14696739.htm)) which said that ADD drugs were deemed responsible for 25 deaths between 1999 and 2003. That's an average of 5 per year. According to this site (http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm), in 2002, 785 people died by falling out of a bed or a chair. In that same timespan, 66 people died from being struck by lightning.

The facts pretty much speak for themselves.

Thanks, yea...I *know* all that..this is just purely an emotional response as a mama. I just wish I could protect her from every struggle in life. Of course, not going to happen, but hopefully I can help give her the tools to help her.

Of course, oen thing those stats don't talk about is percentages of the population that sat in chairs vs. people taking ritalin and taking that inot account...but still, it's a darn small amount.

Thanks for replyng. Like I said, I think I am just emotionally responding to this. I'll get over it. Even when I told DH how I felt he just looked at me and said "why??" and he's more cautious that I am. And has an education in neuropharmacolgy.

I am going through the same thing. I just agreed two days ago to let my 14 year old son take Metadate CD. But it was very hard for me to do. I am so stressed and so afraid that he will get addicted. I go back and forth every minute of every day (and I work). My nephew got addicted to Ritalin and it took away many years of his life. There is no clear cut answer.

If the ADHD diagnosis is correct the chance of addiction from their medication is extremely low. The studies that have been done actually indicate that stimulent medication that is continued through the teenage years lowers the risk of abusing drugs. The average ADHD kid has twice the risk of substances abuse during their teen years as a non ADHD kid. However, on medication the risk is the same as a non ADHD kid. The risk of sudden unexplained dead (ie: cardiac incident) actually goes down on medication too. All medications have side effects, but sometimes the side effects of not taking medication are a lot more severe. I hope this reassures you some -- it did me. My 8 year old started Ritalin last month. Dr. Dodson shared this information at the ADDA conference when he spoke with Thomas Brown of Yale about ADHD and Comorbidities (the CD's is available from ADDA).Scattered

Do we have a list compiled somewhere of studies done by reputable sources?

Also, I go through waves of guilt with my son. I know he needs it, but I hate medicating him regardless. I think all of us feel this way sometimes. I know, in my head, that it's the right thing to do, but I have an underlying fear that he will be one of the rare cases where a negative side effect occurs.

Do we have a list compiled somewhere of studies done by reputable sources?

Also, I go through waves of guilt with my son. I know he needs it, but I hate medicating him regardless. I think all of us feel this way sometimes. I know, in my head, that it's the right thing to do, but I have an underlying fear that he will be one of the rare cases where a negative side effect occurs.You know I think we all have that fear. There is a small chance that things can go badly, but if the ADHD is severe enough there is a big chance things will go badly if not addressed.

I'll try to find the sources on the material I shared. I got it at the ADHD conference from Dr. Dodson a MD who runs an ADHD clinic specializing in the medical treatment of ADHD. He was the co-presentor with Dr. Thomas Brown from Yale who runs the associate director of the Yale Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders and the creator of the Brown ADHD Rating Scales and author of Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults. It may take me a bit of time to locate it -- I'm not the world most organized person!:rolleyes: The tape of the presentation is also available for $30 from ADDA -- I posted the link to order CDs under the tapes section of ADHD resources. The presentation was called "ADHD and Comorbidities".

Scattered

People have given the perspectives of moms who have put their children on medications. I'll give the perspective of the child though (well, I'm 18, but my mom put me on meds when I was like 16). I'll say that I would be more upset and I would have been worse off if my mom hadn't helped me giving me some relief from the symptoms. I was able to achieve according to my potential during high school. Parents are afraid of harming their children. I think this is why they are afraid to put medication with some bad publicity into their bodies but I think for most people, it does more good than harm. I know people have used this analogy before but it seems appropriate. You would give your child pain medication if she was in pain. The symptoms of this disorder can cause a lot of pain and you are helping her by allowing her to take medication to relieve her of those symptoms. Ok. I've talked enough. Hope it helps!

Thanks for sharing USMC!:) It does help!


Scattered

Thank you all again. And yes, USMC..that does help! I wish that I had been helped as a child and so far dd is reacting well to taking meds. It helps that we both take them and it is something we share.

You all are so great to be able to come to.

Hi,

My 5 Cents comment on this

There are many natural treatments now available for the
treatment of ADHD. This doesn't mean they actually work, but
they are available. Sticking to simple and common sense
treatments will work far better than any fad diet claiming
to cure ADD.

First of all, diet is extremely important to all of us but
especially important for the individual with ADHD. They can
have a powerful effect on your mindset, emotions and how you
behave. This, of course, can be negative or positive. The
right diet can actually decrease the amount of medication
you need. There are four important things in an ADD
friendly diet; lots of water, high protein intake, moderate
carbohydrate intake and a low to moderate fat intake.
Taking extra vitamins such as a daily multivitamin can be
beneficial as well.

Another important aspect of natural treatments for ADHD is
exercise. Exercise releases lots of endorphins, increases
brain blood flow and has positive effects on how well all
your systems work. This is especially important for
individuals with ADD who have sensitive systems and areas of
the brain that are chronically underactivated. People with
ADD should exercise at least five times a week, and it is
good for them to do intense cardio to get their heart, body
and mind going. Exercise allows the extra restlessness and
energy to be released from the body and mind of the
individual with ADHD. It quiets everything down a bit, and
it really is the best medicine for them.

Meditation is another natural form of treatment that is
great for the individual with ADD. Just sitting and
breathing on your own for twenty to thirty minutes can
significantly slow down your mind and settle your restless
thoughts. Meditation can have an extremely positive effect
on your life if you do it regularly.

Ooh! Great news! This was in dd's report today:

"During exploratory play this a.m. (a busy, noisy time) I gave (dd) some unfinished addition work and asked her to complete a certain number of problems before making a choice in the room. She did it very quickly without needing to be directed back on task and she answered them correctly!!"

Needless to say, our K teacher has been providing positive feedback (yea!!), and she has been having a lot more good days - due both to behavior modification and meds. This latest update, however, I am attributing quite a bit to meds. Also, she is having a much easier time with transitions apparently.

She has been on methyphenidate for a week now -- 5 mg in a.m. and 5 mg at noon.

I was giddy when I read her book today...it was soooo nice seeing something positive, not only about her behavior but about her academic performance and ability to show her achievement.

-- Sea

One tidbit about diet. My childs MD said it is very important that children get carbohydrates with every meal. He stated that brains only fuel is carbohydrate, and children are not able to store much carbs.

In hindsight, it does not make complete sense to me, but I really like this Dr. and he is an MD.

No problem. I knew my experiences had to be useful for something someday.:)

I worry about my teen driving without his adhd meds. You should be worried about my teen driving without his meds too. lol