Ritalin problems/ADHD Problems

Have they ruled out post tramatic stress syndrome? If you were in an abusive realationship it dose not matter if the child was little or big it will take a toll on them and they may show it in bad behaviors. My daughter was only 4 when she started having an imaginary friend who made her do notty things. They said that was so she could disasociate her self from what she was seeing and hearing. After some time and counceling things got much better. I don't knoiw what the issuses you are having are but if that has not been ruled out you may want to seek another opinion. she is 12 now and still remembers things but she can handle them much better now.

I don't have personal experience with ADHA/ritalin in my kids, but it sounds like you might want to to find a new doctor. Any doctor who isn't willing to at least try something else doesn't sound like a good doctor to me! I also know a couple of families who have children on ritalin and have never seen behavior like you are talking about. If at all possible, I would suggest getting a second opinion.

I don't know if you've tried flaxseed oil, but I have learned that a lot of ADHD problems (and other problems) come from an omega-3 deficiency in the brain. I've been giving my kids a supplement for the past 6 months.

Hi A.,

Our son has ADD. We had problems with him in school and everywhere else too.

We tried the aderall, ritalin, etc. There are so many side effects with these drugs, it's not fair to the kids. It stunts their growth too.

There are natural alternatives that I would check out first.

#1. Change her diet. Do not buy "bleached" anything! Use unbleached flour, etc. Do not use white sugar. Do not feed her cereals, make her oatmeal instead. Try more fiber in her diet. Have her try eating her sandwiches with wheat bread or whole grain breads. Stay away from sweets, etc.

#2. Get the chemicals out of the house! I cannot tell you the difference it makes when you start changing your shopping habits. Purchase products that are environmentally responsible. We as a society are doing a chemical experiment on our children! If people only knew the chemicals that were in the laundry detergents, soaps, cleaning products, deodorizing sprays. Your children play on the floors you clean, they wear the clothes that you launder and sleep and breath in the chemicals from the sheets and blankets on the beds. Most of the laundry detergents have carcinogens in them or worse have neurotoxins in them.

#3. Get your child on a good supplement. I can recommend one if you are interested. I can also tell you which ones are a waste of money.

#4 Lastly, there is a product out there that we really had great success with our son. It not only helped him stablalize, but it had side effects. Those side effects: cleared up his acne, he's never had another asthma attack since! It's a little more on the expensive side, but worth it!

If you want to learn more, just let me know.
I know how hard it is to go through all the doctor stuff. They sent our son to shrinks too. We put a lot of stuff behind us once we "simply switched our shopping habits".

J.

I know it seems like medication is the only way to deal with this problem, but there really are other effective ways. Please take your child off the medication and read Disease Proof your Child by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Something as simple (or hard) as changing your family's diet could make a huge difference in your child's behavior. This could also have a very positive impact on the health of your whole family. It sounds like you are already well aware of all the negative side effects of Ritalin.

Blessings to you and your family,
D.

Wow, you have a lot of responses already, so I usually wouldn't even respond, but I will.

Let me add to Jill G's list:
#5-GET A NEW DOCTOR! I hate the ADHD diagnosis anyways, and any doctor who thinks they know how to solve it is an idiot. There is no quick fix, and drugs are a tool not a cure, and they just add to problems with all the side effects.

#6-Check out the book "Raising a Sensory Smart Child." I guarantee that some of the things will ring true, and you will look at why your child does certain things in a different way. You may even see a little of yourself in there. I know I did.

#7-Look into chiropractics. Hopkins wellness center has information and does adjustments for kids. They could give you more information, and recommend someone close to you. Dr. Pete is the one we see the most, but Dr. Llewicka saw my kids when they were very young. (They like her better; now they like Dr. Fox.)

I'll stop. I', sure you are overwhelmed. And as I always say--trust your gut. Mother knows best.

A.,

I saw your post and just had to respond. Ritalin is a class 2 narcotic and there will be side effects. Not all, but most doctors will diagnose and then prescribe. Unfortunately, all drugs have side effects and some are fatal. There is a better way to live and be healthy.

!. Boost the immune system with a mineral with a proven delivery system into your cells - it must be absorbed or it will just bind with food or just pass through the body.

2. Grape seed products are essential. The product that we use is a super triple antioxidant that uses the whole grape (so it has grape seed and grape skin), it also has blueberry, ginko, and billberry. This product is essential because it crosses the blood brain barrier. This slows down the brain activity and improves focus tremendously!

3. Omega 3's are also essential for proper brain function. This synergisticly works with the grape seed product to naturally improve proper brain function.

4. Detoxify your home. This is often overlooked, but it also plays a part in ADD or ADHD. There is a better, safer, less expensive way. I do laundry for $.08 per load and I have to toxic residue left on our clothes.

A., all of these products are natural and they are proven to work. I've seen it myself. You can try these products risk free for 60 days from the company. I shop with them and I love their products.

Check out the company and then get in touch with me if you want to test drive the products. It will make a huge difference and you won't have to worry about the harmful side effects and long term damage from drugs.

www.melaleuca.com
(take the self guided tour and then I can answer questions)

A.

I think that it is really sad that a doctor would tell you that you have no other options but drugs for your child. I am not advocating quitting cold turkey, because I am not a doctor, nor do I know the side effects of this.

However, my now 12 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 6. They told me that I had to put him on medication, and that if I didn't they would not see us or help us. I chose not to medicate him. We have used vitamins, omega 3's, common sense, and behavioral interventions to teach him how to survive in the world.

Omega 3's are huge, they are great for every part of a body, but in this case they help the brain long term. This is something that if you make sure that she gets now, daily, you will see improvements long term.

Some of the common sense things that I discovered through trials at home were limiting the amount of screen time (tv, video games, computer) If you sit down and watch the cartoons that are now available to kids, you will quickly understand why they can not concentrate in a school setting.

Limit the amounts of processed foods. The more all natural, fruits, veggies, dairy, whole grains, and meat products (watch the sourcing here, organic is best), you will find that it also helps her behavior and her ability to learn.

I finally got my son's therapist to admit that caffeine has the same short term effect that medications do long term on the mind. So I give him a small caffeinated (sugar free, fizz free) beverage every morning before school, and then again mid to late afternoon.

There are so many resources available, and there are good therapists, books, and internet resources available for alternatives to medication.

Just this past year he was taken off of a behavioral plan at school, and even though we have to work hard, he has never been medicated.

Believe me, this advice requires a lot of attention, patience, and care, however, after reading all the bad things that medications do to so many kids, it is worth the effort. Best of luck to you.

A.:

I worked in a natural healthcare setting for a number of years and I have seen hundreds of children diagnosed with ADHD helped thru a change in diet, Chiropractic and massage therapy. There are no negative side effects to these treatments and I have been witness to parents praising our therapists and doctors for acheiving wellness in their children who otherwise seemed to be without hope unless they were on Ritalin (which by the way is like speed for kids) without medication. Please consider trying this if you are open to it as I think that it will change your daughters life and your life for the better!

This sounds like tardive dyskinesia, which is an uncommon but potentially devastating side effective of ritalin. You should discontinue the ritalin immediately and discuss with your doctor; in rare cases, tardive dyskinesia can be a permanent condition, and the risk increases with the length of drug exposure. I don't want to scare you, but I would not give another dose of this medication; for whatever reason, your daughter is sensitive to its side effects, and there are plenty of other alternatives for managing ADHD, including often underused behavioral interventions.

Have you concidered a gluten-free diet? My daughter has Aspberger's Syndrome (form of Autism)and we manage with a gluten-free/caesin-fee diet. I have no experience with ADHD, but I have found in my research for my daughter that gluten free can benefit ADHD as well as Autism. She's been gluten-free for 1 year and the change is unbelievable. It took 6 weeks before we saw a small change and another 6 for the full change. So, it's not quick but it's been a lifesaver for us.

Get another doctor. From his/her response to your concerns he/she obviously does not respoct your concerns nor truely cares for the welbeing of your child.

ADHD can often be treated with simple dietaty changes. Find a chiropracter that also deals with nutritional & supliments. I know wheat sensitivities can cause similar symtoms to ADHD. Take her of of wheat/gluten & see if that makes a difference while you find a new doctor. Also make sure she is getting enough fatty acids. I recomend Coreomega. It is kid friendly.

I would take her to someone else, i.e. get a second opinion. I have twin boys that have been on it since 2nd and 3rd grade, (now going into 8th and still on), I did not want them on it either, but it has made a world of difference for them in school. Luckily, we had no such side affects. I know there are other types of drugs as my grandaughter and also a friend of mine's son is also on another type of drug for it.

About me, Divorced, 46 y/o with a 26 y/o daughter, 17 y/o daughter, 13 y/o twin boys, granddaughter 7 and grandson 2-1/2.

Hi A.! My heart goes out to you! I was married to an emotionally abusive man for 23 (TWENTY-THREE!) years, and you can imagine it did my kids & me no good. Give yourself a lot of credit for getting out so quickly!

About your daughter's "side effects" -- TAKE HER TO ANOTHER DOCTOR! Did you stop giving her the Ritalin? That's what I'd do, but if you haven't stopped yet, maybe you should check with her doc before you do. Have you tried home remedies for her hyperactivity? My niece was a hyperactive child, and coffee calmed her right down! I understand that's the usual response of hyperactive kids.

I have ADD and I take Adderall XR, which helps some. Don't know if it's ever prescribed for a young child, but you could see. It makes my mouth very dry, I drink a ton of water, and I am constantly trying to ward off constipation, but those are symptoms I'm willing to put up with for my improved ability to concentrate. I would not put up with the side effects your daughter is dealing with. They sound worse than the ADHD!

Good luck! I'll be thinking of you! L.

My son is 7 and he is on ADDERALL XR...it works within a half hour at least and lasts until about supper time with him. He takes 10mg per day.
I really haven't seen any physical side effects with him, at least not as bad as you're reporting what Ritalin does to your daughter.

Wow...Get her off the ritalin...First of all, I truly believe that your daughter is too young to be diagnosed with ADHD...If she is only 4, she has a lot of energy and needs to work it off...That doesn't mean that she is ADHD. When I was teaching, I saw way to many children diagnosed with ADHD and the drugs are not necessary. Try a high protein diet. Make sure that she is not taking in too many carbs and sugars...If indeed she ends up having ADHD, carbs and sugars have a very negative effect on these children. I had a student whose mother tried the high protein diet and we saw huge change in her son. He has never been on medication and is now graduating high school at the top of his class. The ADHD diagnosis is very over used and needs to be adjusted. If you doctor is telling you to use it or he won't treat your daughter, I suggest you find a new doctor. Don't ever let your doctor bully you around...It sounds like you had enough of that in your last relationship, don't let a professional treat you the same way...You and your daughter deserve a 2nd opinion...If you need some advice about good books to help with this, just let me know...

Good Luck and God Bless...

A. K.

Please, get a new doctor, NOW! There are many treatments for ADHD. There is a WIDE range of things to try, including SEVERAL different medications.

My two ADHD kids take Adderal Extended Release. You need an understanding doc who WORKS WITH YOU to help your child. We are blessed with such a pediatrician. Our kids meds work wonderfully and we have tried several options to get the best result. We are complimented frequently on our kids, manners and behavior... of course, those folks don't come HOME with us! LOL

Keep working with her and get a new doc! This is an illness with lots of options!!

Good luck!

Have your doctor try adderall, my grandaughter was on ritalin and she had some really bad side effects, they called them a form of ticks, her eyes would twitch all the time, she was constantly moving her mouth and raising her eyebrows without realizing it, she is 9, I am not sure where you are located at but have them try Adderall, it helped tremendously.

hope everything turns out ok
S.

First of all, Ritalin is not the only drug of choice for ADHD. My 7-year-old daughter has ADHD and she was prescribed Strattera a few months ago. Seems to be helping and the only side affect she experiences is being tried half-way through the day. A little quiet time and she is ready to go. She is much calmer and does very well in school. I highly recommend you find another doctor or get a second opinion. Find a mental health professional that will listen to your concerns and see if they have other alternatives. I was not in favor of Ritalin for my daughter and our family physician listened. Of course, my daughter does go for counseling to help her cope with her ADHD symptoms.

A.,

Find a second opinion!! There are more than one drug in the world. I have not used ritalin for my kids but, I stongly suggest getting a second opinon.

Good luck with everything.

A.

Google Dr. Ted Broer. He's got a few books out there. One is in regards to ADHD...from what I hear the book is good for informaiton on the subject and causes -- sometimes you can fix the symptoms by modifying what the kids eat--however in a review of the book on ADHD the reviewer said its great for information, but if you want to know exactly how to eat to modify it, you want the eat, drink and be healthy book. Perhaps the two together would help you.

I haven't been there myself, but my late mother-in-law has when my husband was little. He had the same problem and they had to put him on the same drug. Apparently it just made things worse. She told me that they took him off of it becasue the doctor refused to. It wasn't easy and I'm sure he kept her extra busy, but after a while, he seemed to normalize. Today, you wouldn't know that he ever even had a problem. Good luck!

My son has adhad/Odd and depression there are otherdrugs out there get a second opinion. My son only uses an addrenaline blocker for his ADHD we also see a psycologist and psychiatrist to help with how to parent him and do things to help him. Hope this helps. Good luck

I know you have gotten a lot of post already but just had to say get a second opinion. Your doctor is not a good doctor if he says it is Ritalin or nothing. There are so many options, if your doctor is just a family doctor find someone who specializes in this... I went to a family counselor/psychiatric who helped with dealing with ADD/ADHD on meds and off meds.

Both my brother and I struggle with ADD/ADHD and took Adderall (ranging from 5mg-20mg). Both my brother and I stopped taking medication our sophomore year of college and learned how to deal with ADD/ADHD of the meds. I know I still struggle as an adult with it and now being a mom I might go back on something to help me focus more on being a mom instead of my artsy, chaotic side.

If you haven't done so already read up on the issue, I personally believe that yes medication will help but does not solve the problem. What will help your daughter the most is teach her how to control her ADHD/ADD. It is possible, she may not be able to do it till high school so meds will help till then.

Here are some good books for you and some day your daughter to read:
Stress Can Really Get on Your NERVES! by Trevor Romain & Elizabeth Verdick
Living with a learning disability by B. Cordoni
ADHD Achieving success in school and in life by B.P. Guyer
You mean I'm not lazy, stupid, or crazy?! by K. Kelly & P. Ramundo
LD and the law by P.S. Latham & P.H. Latham
Learning through listening: An informed guide for educators and parents of students with learning disabilities. by C.A. Michaels & G. Lodato-Wilson
Learning through listening: An informal guide for students with learning disabilities. by C.A. Michaels & G. Lodato-Wilson

Videos:
ADHD: What Do We Know?
ADHD: What Can We do About It?
both by Russell Barkley, Ph.D.
Guilford Press Videos

It is a struggle dealing with learning disabilities in the school systems (grade school to college/grad school)... so make sure you read up on: The civil rights of students with hidden disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973... put out by U.S. Department of Education.

I had to fight to graduate from college... I could not pass the 2nd year of Spanish and I took the class 3 times, with hours of tutoring every day! I finally did in-depth research on the above act, copied it did high lighting and showed the college that they did not provide what I needed to 'succeeded' in completing the recruitments so they had to let me graduate. After months of intense meetings I was told I could graduate 3 days before graduation. So know your daughters rights... it will really help in great higher education.

I work in a treatment center where a lot of our clients have ADHD and I sometimes pass their meds. There are sooo many options out there to try... The new thing is Vyvanse (don't know if I spelled that right) and I've heard it works best for kids under 12. Someone told me that her child had horrible side effects from other meds and he seems to be responding very well to Vyvanse. I'm guessing that it's pretty expensive but insurance should cover it! Good luck and it will get better!

Please seek the help of a naturopathic doctor. There are so many different and safe options. AND so many different things that could be causing the behaviors including food related issues. Last year my 9 year old showed signs of ADD and my doctor started him on fish oil pills and another brain-specific nutrient. His sypmtoms dissappeared within a month. You DO have other options but may need to look in other places.

First off, nobody has a retalin deficiency.

Call Dr. Paul. He has a business called "Independently Healthy." His number is ###-###-####. He's located in St. Cloud.

He used to be a "doctor" but was disgusted with the system of treating symptoms and not curing the problem. So, now he tries to get to the root of the problem for you. He has helped people with everything from cancer to lyme disease to fibromialgia.

Hope this helps.

PS> He helped us have a baby. Regular docs couldn't figure out why we kept miscarrying and Dr. Paul helped us. (Our boy just turned 1!!!)

No way would I keep her on the Ritalin! It's having the reverse affect on her. My son also has ADHD, and he takes 10mg of Adderall. And that seems to be working. I don't know what your doctor is talking about that there is no other treatments. That is totally not true. Have you thought about getting a 2nd opinion from a different doctor? I for sure would think about doing that. Since my son has ADHD I've read up on different medicines that might be able to help him, and I've heard stories about older kids selling their Ritalin to other kids because with some people it has the reverse affect and it's like giving a kid speed. So yeah I would definitely get her in to see another asap. Let me know what happens or if you ever want to talk, here is my email address ____@____.com

Hi

i've heard of that side effect - my son took a medication for adhd (he does not have that but he does have symptoms for it as part of ASD and bipolar ). anyways my understanding is that there are other medications rather than just ritalin. The medication my son tried was called metadate CD - i'm not an expert so it maybe similar but i'd say get a 2nd opinion at the least.

email me privately if you want to discuss more - ____@____.com. I can give you the details of my sons doctor f you are close by.

Yes, there are other medications other than Ritalin. If you aren't happy with what your current Dr. says, get a second opinion. I wish I could remember what my nephew is on. It has alot less side effects and he only takes it when he is in school. If you would like me to find out I can.

A. -

My son is 10 and he was diagnosed back in Kindergarten with ADHD. We have tried several different meds both stimulate and non-stimulate medication. We also experienced side effects from the meds such as; not eating, not sleeping and making animal noises and other noises that made it difficult for him to make friends.

Last April we decided to start taking him to a homeopath for his treatments. He has been off meds since July of 2007 and it is great. He has gained 20 pounds and no longer makes any noises and has a lot of friends. He is also able to think much better and quicker without them.

We also took him off all preservatives and additives in his diet. It is not as hard as I thought. We still have a few problems here and there with his attention but now he has the ability to try and cope with them without medication.

Keep in mind that you are your children's best advocate. The doctors are somewhat paid by the medication companies.

Good Luck with your decision. If you want more information on any of the things that I have done for my son, email me at ____@____.com

Hi A.,
What testing did they do to make the diagnosis? I don't know a lot about ADHD, but I thought it had to be a brain scan to know for sure. Have you tried anything else? Gluten and/or casein free diet, etc?

I carry a vitamin in my store which has a study regarding the bionutritional aspects of ADD/ADHD with the vitamin. If you don't want to go the medicine route, you could give that a try. If you are interested in more information about the vitamin, please feel free to contact me at ____@____.com

Good luck,
K.

Please take your daughter off of Ritalin A.. She's only four years old and will be affected permanently by these nervous-system inhibitors. Go to the website below and start reading about ADHD:

http://www.thomhartmann.com/index.php?option=com_content&...

Your daughter most likely doesn't have ADHD but PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are many solutions to PTSD on this website as well.

In the mean time, to calm her down and get some sanity into your life, try something new that won't hurt her in any way but which will work wonders:

Rescue Remedy. This remedy is so effective they sell it at GNC, America's largest retailer of vitamins. Here is the link to GNC's page.

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2466302

Put four drops in a beverage and allow her to sip on it or drink it down. You will see a HUGE difference in her behavior almost instantly. Give it to her daily ~ and to the little one and YOU too.

I've never had a child with ADHD, but as a teacher I know there are other meds out there. I would seek a second opinion. This doctor seems highly insensitive.

My son was diagnosed w/ADHD about 7 years ago, we have tried just about every medication out there, and some work better than others, if I were you, I would go to a different doctor. My son was officially diagnosed by a child psychologist, then we worked with his pediatrician to find the right meds for him. Over the past 7 years, he has been in therapy off an on to help deal with the other issues that go along with being on meds and having ADHD. He may not like being on meds, but knows that w/o them he would be in trouble at school and home a lot more. I takes a lot of hard work to have a "normal" well adjusted kid. My husband and I also went to parenting classes to help us adjust and learn more about how his brain works.

I would find a different doctor!! There are many other meds out there for your daughter. My sons doctor refuses to use ritalin with her patiance because of the horribale side affects. My son is on Adderall XR. I would deffinatley find a new dr. and ask about Adderall.

A.,

If your doctor is only allowing you to use Ritilan, go see a different doctor! My son is on Adderol and it is working fantastic for his ADHD. Get a second opinion!

Take care and good luck

Your Dr.'s a quack when he says ritalin is the only choice you have. There are many other drugs out there for ADHD besdies Ritalin. There are adderol and Stratera to name a few. Stratera is not a stimulant like the others.
If the side effects are not something that you can tolerate try something else. Also if your Dr. won't try anything else try a new DR. Your Dr. doesn't want to listen to you and that is not good.

Your dr said "if you don't like it then you just won't have treatment for your daughter"??? Find a new doctor! That's a terrible thing to say! There have been so many advances in the treatment of ADD and ADHD that I'm sure another dr would be more than happy to help you find something that's works better for your daughter.

There are too many responses to read this late at night, but since I have a son who is ADHD and have been through all and I mean all of the drugs out there, I think I can safely say, that your daugher is having a reaction to the ritalin. Doing what she's doing isn't normal. Do your own research and find out what else is out there. You have to remember that ritalin is a hard narcotic. There are better things out there. Also remember that your doctor isn't god. Get a second opinion on her meds.

L.

Hi A.,
I have a daughter who was diagnosed with ADHD at about 3.5 years old(I knew something was wrong @ 18months old). She has been on several different meds since then.

I took a parents class (5 weeks long) through an organization called CHADD. CHADD also has a great web site too. The class was very interesting and educational. It changed how I think about ADHD all together. It is a brain chemistry disability and one that does need special attention. Studies have shown that the kids with this do far better on medications and even more so with medication and family guidance with a good counselor. The trick is to find the best medication and counselor combination. Patience and prescriptions will help you with all of this. If you are not pleased with the results then seek out a professional that will work with you to find the right combination that REALLY works. The right medication will do wonders for your child. Think of it this way....if your child needed insulin for diabetes to function would you consider not giving it to your child? It takes tweeking and searching, but once you find the right medication and dosages your child will be SO MUCH happier and able to participate in life instead of struggle constantly. Good luck...educate yourself and the right path to take for your child will seem much clearer to you.

BTW... Don't listen to those people who are judging you or tell you what to do. If your child needs medication at age 5 then they need medications no matter what their age. Nobody knows your child or your family as well as you do, and you know best. Just turn off your ears to people who are judging you for medicating a medical problem despite your child age.

Hi A.,

I have never heard of these side effects with Ritalin so I don't know if that's normal or not. However, I do know that there are many different medications you can use to treat ADHD. There are basically two "families" of drugs. One is the Ritalin and everything similar and the other is "Adderall" and the likes. They work in completely different ways (sorry I can't explain it any better) and some kids respond well to one and not the other. Some kids go back and forth. My son is currently taking Metadate CD, which is in the Ritalin family. He does not have any of these side effects and he does very well with it. I would strongly recommend you find a different doctor. If that is not an option ask your doctor the difference between these two drug families and why he feels that there is only one option for your daughter. Even if she has bad reactions to the Ritalin does not mean she will react the same to other similar drugs. I wish you the best. It's not an easy road but it's well worth it. Feel free to send me a message if I can be of further help.

K.

Did your family doctor diagnose ADHD for your daughter? I don't think you have a responsible doctor in your corner. Ritalin for a child that age is irresponsible and dangerous. If a 4 year-old is having severe behavioral problems it means the problem can be solved by therapy for the child and good, consistent and ongoing parent-coaching for the parent(s) by a clinical psychologist. Your daughter could benefit greatly from a non-invasive treatment called 'neurofeedback'. The effects of neurofeedback are permanent, as neurofeedback is simply training one's brain to function better. Just because the doctor told you to give Ritalin to your daughter doesn't mean you have to. This is a time for you to explore other options. Please find a new doctor. Ritalin is not good for any 4 year-old--your instincts were right.

Dear A. -

I didn't get to read your first post that you referred to, however, if I were you and it were one of my children I would find a different doctor!! This doctor does not sound compassionate nor as if he/she is taking the time to find out why it is happening. I have read about ritalin and I have never heard of that as a side effect. I would certainly find a new doctor in a big hurry if it were my child!!! You are the mother and you are the only advocate that your child has to speak up for them.

This is just my two cents worth!! Take care and God Bless!! N.

There are a lot of options for treating ADHD out there - medications, therapies, modified diets, etc. - don't let a lazy doctor tell you different. You are the mom, and know your child better than anyone, and you know if this is not working. You are also the best advocate for you child - don't be afraid to insist on different options. I would get a second opinion from a different doc - I have been in similar situations (I have a medically fragile daughter, so LOTS of docs in her young life) and have more than once refused to accept "the only answer". Anytime we have met a doc that has that attitude, we have not seen them twice.

I'll be blunt. Get a new Dr. There are more medications out there that will help her.

I am very surprised that your doctor prescribed Ritalin to your young daughter. That is usually a drug that is reserved for adults because of its adverse effects on the body, especially the liver! My younger brother was diagnosed with ADHD in middle school (which was about 13 years ago) because of his behavior issues. The Ritalin made him very different, even his personality. In retrospect, he just had a lot of anger issues that he needed to deal with, and wasn't really ADHD. He was misdiagnosed , which explains why the Ritalin made him weird. In your case, I would either get a second opinion or get a different doctor. There ARE other treatment options for ADHD instead of Ritalin, and your daughter has a right to try them. Good luck to you and your daughter.

You know what, you need a new Dr. There are so many better sources than him. Find a Children's hospital in your area, and work with a multi-disciplinary team there. There are 20 other options besides Ritalin. There is Concerto, for one. SO, open another door. Also, you can get a great book atyour library called "Don't Label MyChild." You'll love it. So, move on, and always trust your gut. Kiss that Doc good bye.

Hello Mama,

I am not much of a believer in ADHD. Considering that she has had a pretty stressful start in her life, I'd look at that first. Lots of moms have had success giving their babes Fish Oil. Many studies have shown that the uprise in behavior problems in children in the US is due to not getting enough fish. I don't like your doctor's attitude at all, and I think that you should find a different doctor. He isn't even considering that she might be stressed out from having an abusive parent. He sounds awful. Dump him. Listen to your instincts. Learn to trust yourself, and your inner voice. Stop the medication, and try giving your babe two teaspoons of fish oil in the morning and two at night. You can get it at Whole Foods. It is pricy, but worth it. She is only four, so there is lots of time to give her medication later on if she needs it. You know, I am getting more and more pissed the more I think about how your doctor is reacting.

Take your daughter for a second opinion please. This is not a "normal" side effect, it is something to be concerned about and she should not have to experience that. There are alot of other treatment options for ADHD. My son also has this diagnosis and we had to try 2 different meds and have had to adjust his dose to get effective treatment, we see a pediatrician who has experience dealing with this even tho it means driving a little farther than his regular MD. I am also a nurse and so i am pretty sure that the side effects that you are describing are something to be concerned about. I hope this helps and you have a better experience with a future dr and treatment. C.

Ritalin is prescription speed. For the hyperactive it slows them down. For others who are not hyperactive it would speed them up. I would imagine that would be why she is moving her jaw. I wouldn't be surprised if she is jittery and has a loss of appetite. My sister had ADHD, she eventually grew out of it. Good luck.

Hi, A....

Wow...it sounds like there's a lot going on here, but you definitely need to find a new doctor. There are a number of different medications available for treating ADHD. Many of them are in the same class as ritalin - but there are different routes of entry, different formulations which can affect how long they're in the system/how slowly they affect the system/etc...which can all affect what types of side effects your child has. There are also medications which are in an entirely different class - but with different side effects.

That being said, 4 is awfully young to start on a medication except in severe situations (I missed your first post). And with your family history there may be an emotional component which could be affecting your child's behavior.

Is she seeing a therapist (yes, even four year olds can benefit :) )? There are some really good therapists at http://www.counselingandhealing.com if you're in the Burnsville/Lakeville/Apple Valley area.

Hi A.,
My first thought is find another doctor. There are many choices and medications for ADHD. Sometimes diet helps such as removing artificial colors and flavors. Sometimes children are just over sensitive to sugar. She is also only 4 years old, which seems a bit early for a definitive ADHD. I am not a doctor or anything though. I know you just want to do the best for your child as we all do for ours.
Best of Health,
S.
Mamasource business owner

All I can say is GO WITH your GUT!!!! I have 2 kids NOW diagnosed with ADD...(The first one we listened to the Dr's) After that I started reading the books...(Driven to Distraction is a good one) If you are NOT comfortable with her on the meds TAKE HER OFF!!!I did find out that schools will comply with them NOT on meds and help in extra ways..(Yea NO one TELLS you that) You just get told "Try the meds"...Do what is best for your family...(Only you can figure out if that is meds or no meds..) and there are MANY meds!!!(My son tried 3) Maybe find a Dr that specializes a little more with ADD

A. -

I have a little boy (age 5) with ADHD. Please check into another Doctor. I would contact the Alexander Center (a Park Nicollet Clinic) in Eden Prairie -- they do comprehensive team treatments for all types of kids disorders - everything from Learning Disabilities, to Autism, to bed wetting. Age 4 seems young to be put on Ritalin. Also you may want to check into Dr. Mayfield (chiro) or Dr. Wand (M.D.) -- they do a lot work on the more nutritional/functional medical approach for these types of issues if you want to stay away from drugs at this young age. Best of Luck!

I have a child with AHD and it is a difficult thing to deal with. I just want to say that after reading your posting, I feel you need to find a doctor that will work WITH you and your daughter on this. (What town do you live in)Ritilan is NOT the only medicine for this problem- there have been many others introduced the last few years that work great. My son is on focalin XR. we have had great success with this. My son also goes to counseling for behavior therapy to help him with his behaviors and it's helping also. ADHD is not just controlled with medicine but it's part of the whole picture of things that need done for a child and family dealing with ADHD. I have looked extensively into all parts of helping a child with ADHD and have found lots of little things to change that add up and make a difference. Please feel free to contact me if you want and I wish you the best!!! You are definately not alone on this one!!!! Rachael- ____@____.com

Hi A.
You need to stop your daughters medication. I posted on your last request. I thought maybe your daughter had sensory deffensiveness and I still think she does IT has many of the same behaviors as ADHD and now that this medicince is effecting her so negetivaly I really think so, anyways PLEASE at least read the book the OUT OF SYNC child and decide if any of it sound like your daughter. I know how hard this can be Hang in there and dont let anyone make you feel like a bad mom. You are doing a great job :)T.

There are multiple medications that can be prescribed by doctors--you can always consult a different doctor!! My daughter is now 12 and has ADHD and ODD. We tried 3 different medications before we found one that helped without side effects. Besides medication, you can also try reinforcement behavior modifications (rewards/losses), but stick to one simple rule at a time and be strict with the rules! We also found out that many artifical colors and other foods affected her behavior. Go to the library and check out books that cover ADHD! Read more than one also--the more information you have, the better to help deal with the ADHD as there is more than one "type". You may want to try some of their non-medicated strategies to help you cope and help her learn. Some insurances also have coverages for mental health professionals. Our psychologist helped us understand how our daughter's mind worked, and also tested her for things besides ADHD (my nephew was misdiagnosed ADHD, and a psycologist has diagnosed him differently and is helping him with it), that is how we found out about the ODD.
My daughter is now off of medication, but we still use different strategies to help her deal with it, but she is better. You will learn what works, what doesn't, and what battles to pick. I hate to say experience is a wonderful thing, but you (and she) will get better at dealing with it.

GET A NEW DOCTOR!!!!
My son is treated for ADHD and there a million drugs out there. Our doctor told us we'd just keep trying new meds until we found one that works for him. Every child is different and will react differently to different meds. Don't accept the one drug excuse.

That is true, there no other allopathic alternatives to perscriptions with side effects (that sound aweful for her), which is what your doctor went to school to become. However, there are 1000 other options in homeopathy. What worked for us was eliminating all sugar, dairy, wheat, foods with dye. Took everything electrical out of his room (anything with a plug) and we were giving him Pine Tree Bark and Vitamin C but he has detoxed all the chemicals and foods that was causing that behavior so he doesn't need the Pine Tree Bark and Vitamin C anymore. His diet (our diet) consists of organic (if possible) fruits, veggies and meat. We save a ton of money at the grocery store not buying the "traditional American diet" and just eating healthy.

A.--Is there another doctor in your area that you could get a second opinion? I work with children that have ADHD and there are other medication alternatives. It makes me think the doctor either doesn't know much about it or doesn't want to take the time to try something else. I would look at switching doctors and trying other meds.

Hi A., I just wanted to comment also that I was in a bad marriage the first time around and my son has emotional depression was diagnosed with post traumatic disorder along with ADD, so his pediatrition put him on Strattera which is working wonders for his concentration and his depression now that he is not able to have visitations with his father since a year ago that he exposed him to pornography. My son is doing great on his meds. I would suggest hopefully you are not set on this doctor because you have to do what is for the best for your child, I had too. Even for myself I had to switch doctors because my own doctor was not doing what I wanted for my health, you know yourself better than any doctor!!!I hope this helps along with all the other help you got from this wonderful site this site has helped me through alot of other issuses it is great to hear what others also go through in life. GoD bless you in your furture....J.

There are many drugs available for ADHD besides Ritalin. My son has been on concerta for over 8 years with no side effects. He started in 2nd grade and as he grew they upped the dosage when problems started arising in school. Also they should have talked with you about foods that should be avoided. If they did not do this and just prescribed a drug I would definately find another doctor or ask for a second opinion.

Good Luck!
L.

Get a new doctor. This one sounds like a bully.

If I were you I would find a different doctor! My daughter also has ADHD and I was afraid to put her on meds too but she is taking Aderall xr and is on 20mg and is doing fine so far.I was also worried about side effects and one was ticks which never happened the only thing she has had is some insomnia a couple stomache and headaches that have subsided after she took the meds for awhile. There are many other kinds of ADHD medications besides ritalin so yout doctor shouldn't say nothing else will work.We also see a psychiatrist for behavior that goes along with ADHD and it does help along with the medication.You may want to check into behavior therapy if you are not currently doing that like I said it does help.My daughter is 8 and it is hard to deal with but with the right doctor and help things do get better.I completly understand what you are saying I to would be worried. Good luck to you and if you have any questions feel free to respond back :)

A.,

First, I would say get a new doctor. No child should HAVE to be on ritalin at the age of 4! There are other approaches and I would explore those with a different doctor - provided insurance allows it. Get a second oppinion. Four year olds don't have an attention span, and clearly, your child is reacting to the medication in a way they shouldn't. There are alternatives - get a different doc.

Your doctor is mistaken about something that will help your daughter other than drugs. We have 2 natural products that have proven to help big time with ADHD. They are OPC-3 and B-12 complex. You can find information on these products at our Web Portal http://marketamerica.com/tkwentland and feel free to contact us at ____@____.com should you have any questions. Let us know how we can be of service to you and your family.
Tom & Kathy

A. - you might want to check out Dr. Ray Strand. He has a website and has helped many people with nutritional information that has been live changing.

Also, check her diet and really track what she is eating. Not all ADHD problems are nutritionally related but many symptoms can be controlled with a more natural diet. Eliminate all processed foods any caffiene and extra sugar.

I've also heard that chiropractic can make a difference with ADHD children.

Just a couple of thoughts.

All the best to you,

D.

I KNOW what you are saying. We adopted a girl who is now 9 years old. She was 6 when she moved in with us. She came on Aderall. I took her to the med center in Omaha and they suggested Stratterra because of some of the side effects of aderall, which is a ritalin type med. She was doing pretty well on that, but after a year I wondered if maybe something else could work better. I don't remember the med we tried, but it was another ritalin type med. My daughter's eyes went crazy, like you are saying about your daughter's mouth. I felt the same way, kids are really going to make fun of her. She has enough issues that she didn't need that too. We switched back to the Stratterra. We have also found someone to test her. They did a test for her attention off the meds and then again on the Stratterra. Since she came to us with meds I wanted to see her off to see if she truly needed meds now that her life was stable, so we went off for a short time. She does need the help of the meds. Off the meds she tested 43 points, normal being 85 to 115. On the stratterra she tested 65 points. The Stratterra does help. The ritalin type meds are sterroid based and Stratterra isn't. I think it works well. I think it would be worth a try for your daughter. Everyone is different, but it helps my daughter. I won't do a ritalin type med ever again. I hope this helps.
Good Luck!

i dont mean to alarm you but you and your child need to know the truth you deserve it, i have tried Ritalin Methylphenidate to see what it actually does and im sorry to say but i wouldnt give any kid Ritalin this is a drug thats VERY similar to an illegal drug called speed or amphetamine im not calling you a bad mother please dont get me wrongly

i cant sleep even though i want to, i cant eat dont even feel hungry im hot n sweaty also very talketive why i say its like speed is the fact that i got a high from it only had 10mg (1 tablet) the effects are very similar to that of speed,

speed effects and side effects
high: head and body buzz feels good while the drug is still active but theres some side effects apart from the good feeling.
side effects: not been able to sleep , cant sit still and cant or dont want to eat, sweaty, talketive, fidigity also in older males its practically impossible to make love while on it or coming down from it.
come down:depression emptyness lost feeling headache tummyache still experiencing the side effects above weather your hungry, sleepy or not this can be a pain
this drug is also illegal

now for Ritalin Methylphenidate
high: mostly head high and abit of a body buzz not as intense as the speed high but its very similar feels good while the drug is still active but theres some side effects apart from the good feeling.
side effects: not been able to sleep , cant sit still and cant or dont want to eat, sweaty, talketive, fidigity also in older males its practically impossible to make love while on it or coming down from it.
come down:depression emptiness lost feeling still experiencing the side effects above weather your hungry, sleepy or not this can be a pain
this drug is legally prescribed by you doctor

i assure you all the information ive giving is true i have taken both drugs i know what is what first hand the only good thing about ritalin is is prescribed by a professional doctor so its natural stuff no rubbish in it but with speed its from a drug dealer cut with alsorts

i do not like the idea of giving kids it and dont agree with your doctors attitude he is wrong to say stop the treatment best thing you can do is go to a different doctor but also they are doctors and 99.9% of them would never prescribe meds to hurt anyone

why dont you try it see what 5mg does to you then you will know what your daughter is feeling i have tried it and im shocked if you wanna find out why not???

I don't want to offend anyone, but what is the world coming to?? Some folks seem so worried about what "everyone" else thinks and if kids will make fun of their children. Kids are mean and each and every child will be made fun of at some point in there life. It's our responsibility and duty to help change that and instill good values in our children so that maybe the world can become a better place. We have a child with PDD-NOS (autism spectrum) and believe me I'm sure my child has a long road ahead of dealing with children that are cruel and mean. I'll be the first in line to set those kids straight, along with their parents. I hope moms out there can focus on helping there children versus worrying about "just" what other kids will do or think of them. God made each person in this world special and none of us should be here to judge. So I wonder why you are worried if someone thought your child is mentally handicapped?? Saying you know how a child with that acts like seems presumptious. I've come into contact with lots of children and you can tell which parents have intilled the best values for their kids to love all walks of life.

Hi my son who is six just started ritalin a week ago now first everything was ok and today he was sitting and told me mom my mouth wont stop moving he was opening and closing it then started crying when i asked him what was wrong this lasted a few minutes then he said nothing wrong with my mouth i am taking him off

Hi
If yoou can, I would try to find another doctor. I just think ADHD is way too overdiagnosed and doctors are way to eager to "just give a pill". plus this doctor sounds very uneducated or very uncaring. Those are not acceptable side effects for any drug, sorry.
I would work with a natural/holistic doctor if it were my child and try natural remedies first (as long as the supplements won't do any harm)
I am a veterianrian but also own a nutraceutical business and am becoming more aware and interested in holistic health. Food and diet play a major role, try to eat better foods, less processed, lessen hydrogentaed oils (did you know peanut butter is all hydrogenated oils) so look for natural ones, lessen sugar and high fructose corn syrup....I know this is easier said than done....I am trying to convert my families eating habits as well...it's more expensive and takes time but will be worth the effort.
I have gone to several product trainings for my business and 3 speakers have recommended supplements for ADHD.
One would be omega 3 fish oils....for our product it's 1 capsule per 75 lbs...it's a huge pill but can be pierced and add lemon or honey to it to get it down, possibly mix with yogurt or something like that. Second would be our product called OPC-3...a blend of superantioxidants...esp. pycnogenol (see independenat site pycnogenol.com....i believe there are studies with it and ADHD children, look under the press releases) a third supplement would be B-vitamins.
I hope this helps...visit my web portal for more info
www.marketamerica.com/livewellvet
you can also email me at ____@____.com
Thanks