Drugs for ADHD?!
Question: I have a friend who has 2 kids with ADHD. The one I'm concerned with is the boy: he lost a lot of weight on Concerta and honestly, it really zoned the kid out. I suggested that she look for a different drug - though as I undestand ALL ADHD drugs will cause some weight loss. So are there are drugs that can be used that aren't such harsh appetite suppressants? Also, I think he was on the lowest dose of Concerta and was still really zoned. Anything else that doesn't zone him out so badly? I suggested she go back to Adderall. It took a higher dose than just the intitial set dose, but at least the kid was functional. Problem is that she likes him this way and she actually asks him if he likes himself like this or "the other way" (w/o drugs). He's 6. And he says yes. (Duh! what else is he gonna say?) There are so many things wrong with this scenario and not enough space here.... I'm just really concerned.
Answers: I have a friend who has 2 kids with ADHD. The one I'm concerned with is the boy: he lost a lot of weight on Concerta and honestly, it really zoned the kid out. I suggested that she look for a different drug - though as I undestand ALL ADHD drugs will cause some weight loss. So are there are drugs that can be used that aren't such harsh appetite suppressants? Also, I think he was on the lowest dose of Concerta and was still really zoned. Anything else that doesn't zone him out so badly? I suggested she go back to Adderall. It took a higher dose than just the intitial set dose, but at least the kid was functional. Problem is that she likes him this way and she actually asks him if he likes himself like this or "the other way" (w/o drugs). He's 6. And he says yes. (Duh! what else is he gonna say?) There are so many things wrong with this scenario and not enough space here.... I'm just really concerned.
I have to respectfully disagree with jura nan... (Hope I remembered the name correctly).
I have a grandchild who is very much ADHD. It is sad that people are so judgemental about those who try to help their children who suffer from this. YES, I DO THINK that there are many who are borderline or just misdiagnosed but my grandson is so much better off when he is on medicine (and believe me, I would not keep him off insulin if he were diabetic.) The doctor thinks her other child is also ADHD but his is not "disabling" him... he only gets in trouble for talking in class, interupting, etc... more normal things... so my daughter will not medicate him... it isn't necessary for him. BUT THE Other child is a different story.
The brain is a part of our body (people tend for forget this and put it in a different category if something is wrong with it) and it doesn't function properly.
When my grandson was first put on medication he was like a zombie. It was very scary (so I can understand when people who have experienced this can become VERY ANTI drug). My daughter kept him on it for 2-3 days and said she would not put him through that. It was AWFUL. They tried a different drug and it was awsome. Every situation is individual... that goes the same with the drugs and how it interacts with each person.
I can only speak from experience. Every child who acts up, is hyper, etc is not ADHD but please do not judge those who are and their parents in trying to help them. (I am not directing this to the person who asked the question ... I'm just stating to anyone who sits in judgement of others) My grandson's experience in life to this point has been dramatically better since he has been helped with the right medication. He has gone from a child who was labeled as "bad, uncontrollable, etc." to a child who won the "citizenship award" for his grade last year and the "principal's award" in December for the whole school. That is an award that the principal awards to one student (from the WHOLE SCHOOL). One student gets the award in each month. The way he views himself (because of the way others now label him) is so much better. I had to take him to the doctor last week (his mother couldn't get off work) and I was approached by two teachers telling me what a "wonderful child" my grandchild is. Unfortunately, that would not have happened if he weren't on medication. I prefer to look at it as medication (not drugs).
As to the weight question... that IS a problem. That is one of the first things the doctor does when my grandson goes to the doctor is to see if he is gaining weight. She doesn't want him to be malnurished. He rarely eats during the day (but lately that seems to be changing some). My daughter makes sure he gets a good breakfast (he has a very healthy appetite in the mornings before his medicine) and after school she has healthy snack. He eats very well at supper.
Just support your friend. It's a hard thing to know what is right but until you deal with this for days on end, years and years...day after day... you don't know what it's like. I know you are just wanting to be a good friend and it's nice that you are concerned. I would be concerned to if he is like a zombie... An ADHD child on medications does not need to live like a zombie... they need something that will continue to let them be them. I would like to recommend a GREAT webiste that you might direct your friend to. It's the best I've found so far. They have a magazine (I haven't gotten mine yet) but they also have podcasts, enewletters, etc. I especially like their positive attidtude towards these kids... teaching them that their brains may be different but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. On a podcast I listend to, the doctor said he tells kids when he diagnoses them that he has some "good news"... he tells them that their brains are like race cars.. they are SO FAST... the only problem is that they have a bad set of brakes and that's what he is there for ... to help them get ahold of their brakes. I think it's a great way to relate to the kids... They have MANY wonderful qualities... the are usually bright, energetic, can be artisitc (can't think of the word I want to use), etc. It's important we start focusing on the GOOD things these children bring (and I think you want to do that) The website is http://www.ADDitudemag.com ... check it out. :-) Good luck to you, your friend and her little one... I wish him only the best.
P.S. Sorry, I didn't mean to write a book... I just got on a roll... you see, I love my grandchildren and I'm passionate about this subject. :-)
Do NOT drug children. There is absolutely no any evidence whatsoever that such thing as ADHD exists. There are absolutely no medical or laboratory tests to prove that somebody have ADHD. Psychiatrists are talking all the time about the chemical imbalance in the brain but never told anywhere what IS the correct balance in the brain. There are no any scientific tests to establish correct or incorrect medical balance in the brain. This is invented diseased and the only one who benefit from is is psychiatrists and pharmacological industry.
For answers about body, mind and spirit, please visit body-mind-spirit.fsm.org
see the detail's on http://www.horizondrugs.com/?af=146538
Check out ADHD treatments, in sections 22 -25 at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris Print, and give to her, or refer her. "You can lead a horse to water...."
My son is on Concerta we had to up his dosage to 36mg and he has never acted zoned out and he's not losing weight, he's growing and doing awesome in school, his PCP specalizes in adolecent ADHD. I think there is such thing as ADHD, and people that don't think there are should live with my son for 1 day without his medicine and they would know. Your friend might want to get a second opinion from a doctor that specalizes in ADHD and make sure thats what he's got. ADHD meds can zone people out if they take it and don't have ADHD. Thats why its a controlled drug, people take them to get zoned.
CHANGE HIS MEDS
not all meds cause the same weight loss (eg.i lost lots on adderal, none on concerta)
and not all meds make kids zone out (i did on adderall, not on concerta)
convince your friend.