DS3 + ADHD + MEDICATION = SMILES ALL ROUND!

[MUM23ASD]

Paediatrician confirrmed ds3 has ADHD yesterday, and as DS1 has it also, and has been on meds for 7 years- i was upfront and requested immediate trial of meds for ds3.

Low dose of 5mg methylphenidate- equasym.

1st tablet 4pm yesterday- so i could watch for sideeffects.

2nd tablet today 7am- took him to school- had to fill in forms ref school giving him lunchtime dose....and he sat next to me- no squirming, interrupting etc...whilst i explained all to head and completed form

was going to medicate him 'secretly' and wait for school to notice and comment- but decided to be 'upfront' incase (as paed warned) he were to be poorly due to tabs.

So hoping he has a lovely day- and that the tablets don't 'change' him completely...DS1 always retained his "essence of DS1"...but a more controlled version. As the last thing i want is to 'zombiefy' my child for a 'quiet life'.

What i want is for him to be less disruptive at school- resulting in less 'detentions' which should rebuild his self esteem- as at the moment he has such a low opinion of himself.

[coppertop]

It sounds as though he's off to a good start.

Fingers crossed for you, Mum23ASD, that it goes well for ds3. xx

[magso]

Hope things go well! How old is ds3? You are right about medication helping the child to be better in control!

[MUM23ASD]

he was 9 in may.

Hi CT!

a 'great result' would be for him to come home HAPPY and to have earned more 'behaviour stickers' for his 'dragon chart' at school.

also, as having luch med at 12.30 approx...will be hopefully calmer when he comes home at 3.15...that will be a big 'test' to me- as the 3-15- 4pm slot is always a stressful time here!

[macwoozy]

I'll be interested to hear how he gets on mum23asd.

I have an appt with the gp tomorrow regarding the possibility of starting ds on some sort of medication. The school mentioned at his last review meeting that I should pop down to his doctors to get advice on meds as he's so hyper and so much is going on inside his head.

[MUM23ASD]

its a hard decision Mac, and thought i'd be more relaxed about it today as it's my secon child taking ADHD meds...however am sat here feeling ver anxious!!!

I am PRO meds...as my attitude is that it gives DS 3 hours minimum of what i always call a "Window of Oppertunity" . a chance to interact easier with peers- and achieve more of what he is capable of.

Ds1 has only just recently sufferede adverse reaction to tablets (weight loss due to appetite being supressed)...but we had 7 years 'trouble free'

Som G.P's are not willing to prescribe- and some aren't wiklling to even discuss these types of meds. So if youyrs is like that, you may need to see a specialist. (school could even refer you to for example Community Paed if GP unwilling- that's how it all began for us 10 years ago- the school reffered ds1 as GP was not listening to my concerns)

[TotalChaos]

things are on the move then now you've had the DX. Hope that the "settling in" period on the meds is as side-effect free as possible.

[macwoozy]

I'm sorry that your ds1 is beginning to suffer from side effects.

I would love ds to just feel calm, just to be relaxed for once and not stressing about anything.

I don't think we'll have any problems with our gp as she mentioned it a few years ago when ds was literally bouncing off her walls. But the only thing that stops me putting him on meds is that every med I've checked out on the internet has a very small chance of causing an arrhythmia. In a healthy child it's not a worry, but my ds has a 50/50 chance of developing a heart condition and I just can't take that risk. But I will go along at least to show the school I am doing all that I can.

[dragonbaby]

my daughter has high funtioning a.d.h.d query asbergas on meds 7.5mg am 5mg lunchtime 5mg 3.30pm eats like a pig and there is still no change

[dislexicicecream]

My ds1 also has quite bad A.D.H.D, they think possable aspergas but he also gets a bit O.C.D he is on 20mg rittelin am, 10@lunch and 10mg pm sometimes an extra 10 if it is a long day he aslo takes rispiradone (sp) and melatonin at bed time, so far there have been no bad affects, seems to be the opersit he was always tiny and skinny but has now cought up with his class mates, he has also for the first time ever made friends! and the past year at our house it has been like living with a new child it is a hard thing to do puting a kid on meds but for some it really can make all the diffrence to there lives, in the past year he has learned how to read,(he really couldnt read at all befor) write, his maths is grate he can now swim and he has even learned to sit quietly and amuse him self! allround it has given him a better quallity of life and with out sounding self fish it has also made the whole famillys lifes better, i hope your son has a good day at school and that it keeps getting better for him :O)