whats your take on this

[yessy21]

Yesterday I took my daughter for her yearly physical.

 

my daughter clearly has Adhd. Her doctor asked me about school as usual and I told her about the complaints of the teacher on how she does all her work... gets its correct but starts playing with a pencil or disrupts the class.

 

I know I sound like the typical parent but my kid is really really intelligent. I mean yesterday she did her math hw without even having to ask me and got it right without even having to work out the problem.

 

she can read at 4th grade level also.(I take her on Saturdays to the library)

 

the doctor has been trying to get her ton the adhd medication for 2 years but I always say no because I just don't feel comftorable.

 

but now after hearing that she is being sent out of class for not sitting still and so on so forth I said I will give it a try.

 

She prescribed Concerta 18mgs.

 

After I read its a narcotic and the side effects and dependency issues im kinda regretting doing this to my little kid.

 

I mean shes 3'11 1/2 weighs 45 pounds and cannot afford to loose anymore weight.

 

side effects include: insomnia, stomach cramps. depression, loss of appetite...ect

 

the reviews of people on it are astounding.

 

they love it... but im a little scared.

 

I need some type of advice... on whether giving my child these narcotics that can be addicting is the right choice.

 

I know that the benefit is greater than the risk but I just need some type of advice.

[turnera]

I'm in the science field, so I'm biased toward using the drugs that we've been able to develop. Start at the smallest possible dose and adjust it as needed.

[sabre80]

My girlfriend and I are both ADHD/ADD. She uses medications I do not. I have 3 kids all ADHD and ADD. I would try to exhaust other options before going the medication route. If she is completing her work then this is a blessing. She has the capability to focus just not sit still. This is my daughter. Fortunately for her the school has great resources. She is given time in a resource class where she has a standing workstation to do her work. They also gave her one of those giant yoga balls to sit on instead of a chair. It lets her focus her surplus energy on not falling off.

 

My son is different he has issues focusing. He is extreme in his inability to focus on the right thing. It is not that he cannot focus. He just focuses too easily on everything else. It actually causes him pain and anxiety if there is too much stimulus. Teachers found when the class got to loud he would sit under his desk and do his work. They put him in a quiet room all by himself to do important tests and assignments.

 

I also believe a musical instrument is a great way to help them. Both my kids have been doing much better since they started a routine of practicing 30-45 minutes a day.

 

I hope this helps but I would like to put emphasis on not medicating what can be fixed with a little corrective training. There are side effects with medicine. Sitting on a ball can only strengthen your core muscles. My girlfriend is a child psychologist and her position is only medicate if the child is exhibiting un-correctable major disciplinary problems or is incapable of forming social bonds with peers.

[yessy21]

Well.... this has been a ride.

 

I have set an appt to talk to the doctor again.

 

Yesterday when I went to pick her up at school, she was ...emotionless. there could have been a tornado and she wouldn't have cared.

 

She did all her hw ... and by herself. got the math part right but she didn't like her reading comprehension. She says its BORING.

 

I didn't help her with any of it. Maybe its time to find another school that has a higher math education. Clearly the math is too easy. the reading is Boring because its easy also.

 

Her emotions changed after 6 pm when my sister was over and her daughter was jumping on the couch and my sister put her on time out. She said " GET YOURSELF to the WALL NOW!" all of a sudden my daughter bursts into tears screaming "WHY ARE U SAYING THAT SO MEANNNNNNNNNN!"

 

My sister and I just looked at each other.

 

1. She wasn't talking to her and 2.My daughter isn't that sensitive. Clearly this medication is making her overly emotional at some points and emotionless to others.

 

She also complained about dreaming my car blew up. but maybe that's her overactive dream state.

 

All of this is in a notebook of my experience that I will hand over to the doctor.

 

 

She plays the guitar but she says its boring sometimes too.

 

Actually to her EVERYTHING is boring.

I tell her ... when I was 7 all I had was crayons and a coloring book. NO guitar no toys no nothing.

[yessy21]

Honestly after this experience I don't know if its really a chemical imbalance or if its the fact that I didn't spend too much time structuring her behavior.