My 14 yo sister was just diagnosed with ADHD. She currently is on many meds for a chronic health condition as well as Propanolol for migraine headaches. She has responded a little to the Propanolol but still gets frequent headaches which might not be migraines but a reaction to the weather/activity level.

Anyway in the last several months she has had some sleeping issues which this summer have worsened some. She will wake up at all hours of the night and not be able to get back to sleep. She says she is not worried or scared, she just feels ready for the day. Then she is tired all day and even when I don't let her nap she will wake up in the middle of the night.

I'm concerned that with already having sleep issues any meds for ADHD might cause that to worsen and she really with her medical issues needs to get her rest. Does it sound like something she should be on a sleep aid for anyway since she hasn't even started the ADHD meds and is already having sleeping problems?

Thank you.

what does her doctor recommend?

i am not intending to be dismissive, i just have *no* clue!

There are other ADHD meds than stimulants, and not all ADHD meds will disrupt a person's sleep.

I've been invited to sit in on a roundtable discussion on ADHD by the SHIRE ( Adderall ) representitive on 8/10th. Actually, it is also to honor a pediatrician from another part of the state whom I don't know. It will be interesting to hear what he and the others have to say. I don't know if any other psychologist's will be there so I'll probably be surrounded by peds, lol. I hope to learn something from listening to what they have to say .I'll keep you posted if you like.

although i'm not the original poster, i'd love an update when you get back. maybe in the adderall thread in the medications forum?

i've been thinking of switching to adderall, so, any new info. on it is great.

thanks.

Hi,
I went to the presentation last pm and enjoyed it. The presenter was a pediatrician from another part of the state who's been practicing 30yrs now. His practice is primarily ADHD. There was one other therapist there, as well as several nurses. The rest were all pediatricians. Fortunately, some friends were there and it made it more fun. The data he presented were from several sources, including Barkley, Kevin Murphy and George DuPaul. I didnt really see anything I hadnt seen before but there were some excellent questions about meds. Of course, this particular doc uses Adderall as his first line treatment but he did talk about several others. The consensus from the pediatricians was that Straterra takes a long time to work, if at all. They also felt that it was being used more with adults now. Please remember that this isn't "scientific", it's just their personal opinions.

I had a nice time and was flattered to have been invited.