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Does anyone have a child here on medicine for a.d.h.d.? My middle son was on medicine called Adderall XR but I pulled him off of it. I'm trying something else more natural or with less side effects. He's doing okay so far but did fall asleep on the floor yesterday. I've got him on cod liver oil now which has e.p.a. and d.h.a. good for the brain. I am also getting him something from the health food store tomorrow and I want to monitor his diet from artificial colors, etc too. I read that children were actually dying from Adderall XR and would like to keep my son alive. I'm still researching what I can give him.
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My ds(7) has an ADHD dx. He's very impulsive. The psychologist who dx'd him suggested we get a genetic study which we are doing through the local children's hospital. They did blood work, hand scan, abdominal ultrasound and an MRI. Today he is getting an EEG. The choromosomal abnormalities that they were checking came back normal & everything else looks good so far. One thing they did find was that ds has low carnitine levels. Carnitine is a vitamin. We are getting a *prescription* for carnitine (you can buy it in a health food store but the genetic dr said that the quality isn't as good).
I googled carnitine and saw that some have used it in the treatment of ADHD. I also found that carnitine deficiency can mask itself as ADHD. This might or might not help ds's behavior but I at least want to give it a try before we go the medication route. Ds also takes 1 tsp of cod liver oil daily and a Magnesium/Vitamin b6 tablet from Kirkman Labs. We also have removed artificial colors/flavorings/additives, etc. and try to eat organic as much as possible. If this does nothing, at least it's making us eat healthier.
Here is a website that has some good info:
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My oldest DS is on Straterra, the lowest dose possible (because I don't feel he needs to be increased, although the doctor says otherwise)...However, he also has Tourettes Syndrome (a mild case)...I can probably help the ADHD with better food choices (which we have done)...however it doesn't help with the TS.
There are some side effects to the Straterra (none of which my son has shown any symtoms too and he's been on it now for 3 years)...but we find that it has helped alot!!
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I will check out that website for sure. Yes we've tried several medicnes on my son including Straterra, Concerta, a combination of straterra and concerta and more recently he was on the adderall XR. Our doctors did none of the testing your child had. The only sort of testing that was done was a questaire his teachers had to fill out and I had to fill out. I think it might of been called the Connor's scale?
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My son is not ADHD, but Aspergers, which can have ADHD symptoms, so we don't use meds but supplements - meds wouldn't work. However, in my research and in talking w/the doctors, I've learned that the ADHD meds are like antidepressants in that there are many different ones to try, so not only do you need to find the right one, but you have to work w/your child and doctor to find the right dosage. Don't give up quickly, and don't stop abruptly due to the withdrawal and crash. Don't let the Dr. dose him up and push you aside. Make the doctor do follow ups, keep the appointments and be aggressive about the care. If it doesn't seem right, let the Dr. know.
Also, I don't know your individual symptoms, but the other thing I learned is that if meds aren't working, don't overlook that your child may not be ADHD, but Aspergers, especially if they show the classic signs like my son - obsessiveness, "Little Professor", etc. He's fidgety, talkative, impulsive - many things that an ADD or ADHD child is. The first Dr. didn't take time to really study him and labeled him as such. Thank God they first wanted to try holistics - natural changes and therapies, and that I'd done research and suspected Aspergers. Otherwise, he would be so wired from the meds! Once we got the Aspergers confirmation (from more than one doctor - I guess ds is a classic case), I was so glad I didn't keep w/ the first doctor. Sensory disorders are common w/Aspergers, too.
If your child is true ADHD, do let the doctor know about the fears and results. You want your child to benefit from the meds; to feel better, not to worry about crashing or worse. I don't blame you for taking him off, but I hope there's something better for your individual child out there, and seeing a Naturopath who knows about ADHD could help, and rarely hurts (it's just that some of the natural things they want you to take are expensive - DS' vitamins are $50 +).
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Just to add too - if your Ds has been on all these different meds and has not had any others tests to make sure that the meds aren't having any other effects on their system...do yourself a favor and get a second opinion.
We, too, went to my DS's first doctor and all we had was a questionaire...we saw him once and after that...he prescribed meds over the phone...he didn't want to see DS again (and to boot...he was the Cheif of Neurology at a very good hospital)...we switched doctors...and we have gotten the best care out of the 2nd doctor...He tests for EVERYTHING...my DS has a regular Cardiologist, neurologist, oncologist, etc...This doc wants to make sure that the dosage we are giving him is not having any other side effects...he has EEG's and EKG's regularly. Because of his age and weight...he really should be increased to the higher dosage...but as long as he is controlled in school, we "deal" with him at home.