Channel4 news - ADHD drugs

[runningonmt]

Ok so I only caught the end of it (currently recording Channel4+1) but did anyone else feel again it was yet more negative reporting about ADHD. Perhaps I am just a bit touchy about the subject (DS age 11 has ADHD and IS medicated) to suggest that our children are being 'drugged' unnecesarily.

I particularly liked (not) the suggestion that children with ADHD would benefit from behaviour therapy instead ..... it is a lovely sentiment but my experience (certainly in my region) is that it simply does not exist . . . I know because I have spent the last four years banging my head against a brick wall trying to find it and was finally told last year by CAHMS that the reason I cant find or access it is that it DOES NOT EXIST. My (quite extensive) research actually suggests that a combination of therapy and medication can be most effective for the majority of children than either used on their own - Thanks channel 4 for adding to the already widely speculative un-educated opinion that all us parents are shoving drugs down our kids throats as it is the easy option. How are we supposed to banish prejudice when the media keeps spouting this biast rubbish.

Rant over ..... for now ....

unpa1d ..... tears streaming down face with the Mr Tongue story ....... I am crossing my legs to prevent tena-incident.

But hey, you know us ........ we'll give anything a go.

Seriously, still sniggering.............I am soooooo on your planet x

dolfrog - thanks for the links - will certainly check them out but not tonight - brain is too fried for anything tonight.

mothership of course it is your fault for working! I work too so that is obviously why mine was born with a neurological imbalance too. Lets all throw the towel in and sit on our backsides instead and await an overnight and miraculous recovery. I think I would have had to sit on my hands had the senco suggested that to me - oh boy!

streakybacon - the month script gets on my nerves too. My doctors surgery have just changed their system for the better. Previously they had to remember to handwrite in words the quantity or the chemist would not fill the prescription - the times i had to go back and forth between dr and chemist just to get the bl**dy paperwork right, and stand in queue at chemist for ages because of course they cant make it up and leave it on the shelf for me to collect. I have now got into a routine every 30 days but all the bank holidays over easter played havoc -

Dd just got an adhd diagnosis because of her brain damage and lack of sleeping plus other symotoms. She has been syarted on 5 mg of ritalin in the. Orning. No difference yet. How long does it take?

Riv it's fairly quick, once you get to the right dose; usually some response within 3 days and definite by a week. It's just that they all metabolise it at different rates so you have to start low and build up, as overdosing is when you get the worst side-effects.

The issue I found with it, is that insomnia (!) is one of the more common side-effects, but at the right dose it goes away after a couple of weeks. So if you're medicating partly for sleep issues, I think you'll have to stay on each dose for a fortnight to see whether the lack of sleep is because it's not working yet, or because of transient side-effects.

Many thanks for the links - this is really helpful.

We are on monthly scripts as well, prescribed by private psych and GP happy to do repeats. Bit of a pain to have to do it on a monthly basis, but local pharmacy and local surgery play nicely together so no problems so far. I am curious about melatonin for sleeping, does it work? Is it best to ask GP, psychiatrist, or pharmacy? I am a bit weary of giving more meds, but if it helps her sleep, will try at least during the school term....

runningonmt, do rest assured the SENCO did get a piece of my mind!

Melatonin is another one that is controlled, GP can't prescribe it your better asking psychiatrist works for some didn't work for DS, he didn't sleep until he went on risperidone in March of this year.

Thanks borderlass will ask psych about it. Do you know whether it's a private script or whether NHS will do it? GP has so far been cool about concerta, but we paid first lot on a private script to see whether it worked and if it was worth approaching GP to continue.

Hi Riven, Our son's worked immediately (in that he fell off the tumble dryer and didn't beat me up for it). But I guess it would depend on the child, their disability and the dosage. I hope you see something positive soon.
BTW just commented on the grauniad (guardian) story again, right under your last post (that's me!)
All the best

Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone that we all produce from the B6 in our body which is triggered by darkening light. (which is why we are more sleepy in the winter evenings than the summer ones).

Reseach suggests children with ADHD lack B6 or cannot retain it thus making the production of melatonin harder (or impossible). My DS has been taking a supliment of B6 each day for yonks on this basis.

Melatonin can be bought over the counter in the USA (like we can buy multivits) and is freely available from chemists and supermarkets.

Melatonin can help to promote sleep if you are in a calm and relaxed state and wish to fall asleep, unlike powerful sleeping tablets which are MUCH stronger.

Melatonin can help you drop off but does not necesarily keep you asleep.

A side effect is often the user wakes again after a few hours.
A slow release version is available in the UK called circadin which because it releases slowly it should help keep you asleep and not just get you to sleep.

Circadin is licenced in UK for kids - Melatonin not so (i think) so it is available but much more expensive therefore Doctors prefer Circadin to pure melatonin for this reason (i believe).

Melatonin helps my DS, circadin doesnt (as it didnt help get him to sleep OR keepp him asleep) but that is just my experience.

A relative in the US gives her dogs melatonin when travelling to help them to rest.

I gave my son melatonin before school one day (oops - wrong pill box - we have one for morning and one for evening) and he was absolutely fine and not at all drowsey - proving my point that it is not a "powerful sleeping pill".

But it is yet another reason for the "un-enlightened" to bash us over the head for drugging our un-disciplined brats instead of parenting them properly.

Just my opinion people - you may form your own different opinions and are very free to do so.

PS I would not recomend buying over the internet as you can never be 100% sure on what you are buying but if you ever visit the states and decide to buy some from wall-mart and try them you may form your own opinion based on experience as to how beneficial they may or may not be.

Riven Ritalin should be effective within 30 mins but if the dose is too low you may not notice the effect to any degree until it is increased. Short acting stays in the body for only 3 to 4 hours I believe. Mine started on long acting concerta xl 18mg and for the first time in his life we went to the cinema and he managed to watch the whole film right the way through - It was a "tears welling up moment" for me as I knew then I had made the right decision FOR HIM to agree for him to take this medicine.