Does medication like Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera etc help with impulsive behaviour?

[Blossomhill]

Seeing Camhs soon and it is very likely that medication will be offered for dd this time.
We are kind of toying with trialing it but no where near to making any decision.
Does it help with impulsive behaviour?
Thanks

Yes it should. It's worth a try and if it works, you should see a result pretty quickly.

DS takes Risperidone which reduces anxiety and could therefore help with impulsive behaviour. If you are asking Camhs about specific meds include this one just out of interest and to be thorough, might not be the right one though. BTW, it doesn't change his personality either, not zomboid or anything but helps with sleeping.

Dobbin - do you have any personal experience?

Davros - oh that's interesting about Risperodone. I will ask when I go. How are you anyway. Haven't "spoken" in ages!

Yes, about 10 years professionally. Monitoring the effects on children over time.

Are there any dodgy (life threatening) side affects to taking them though?

My experience is as a psychologist in a specialist clinic that prescribes and follows up on the drugs. I am not a medic. From my experience in our clinic, the main common side-effects are loss of appetite (so make sure your child has a good breakfast before it kicks in and a good dinner after it wears off) and sometimes trouble going to sleep (again, best to let it wear off before bedtime). There are other side-effects such as tearfulness but these usually wear off after a few days on the medication. Side-effects are short-lived and only last for the duration of the drug effect, e.g. about 4-5 hours for ritalin. I am not aware of any life-threatening effects but a specialist medic in this are would know more.

Blossomhill,
I've just remembered we've discussed this before when you said medication had been suggested. If you do decide to try medication, I would ask the following questions-
Who will be monitoring the medication effect?
Who will be monitoring your dd's weight, blood pressure etc. and how often?
How long will they try the first medication for? If it doesn't help, what next?
I would also ask them about side-effects. They should give you a sheet listing what they are for whichever drug you try for you to take away. I am suggesting these questions because some CAMHS services prescribe the drugs without knowing how best to use them. The drugs are most beneficial when carefully adjusted over time to achieve the maximum effect for the individual child. Some CAMHS teams just hand out a standard dose (some do not and are excellent), so it's worth asking.
I used to be very anti-drugs before working in this job and having seen their positive effect when prescribed and managed correctly, I am strongly in favour of their use when needed. I would have absolutely no hesitation in using them with my own ds if necessary.

tom is checked for weight and blood pressure etc every 6 months....and yes it deffinitely helps him be less implulsive.

he is mor ADD than ADHD... less hyper than those i know with 'just ADHD'....he has AS too so it maybe presents a bit different.

when i have taken the meds...I AM LESS IMPULSIVE...I FINISH I JOB BEFORE STARTING ANOTHER...I AM LESS IRRITABLE...I AM MORE DECISIVE>

to me the main benifit is that when he is medicated he can interact better with his peers and us a s a family...he is able to think a bit before acting or saying something offensive...and also i look at it as a 'window of oppertunity' to HELP him learn strategies and methods to cope better at times when his meds have worn off.

the only thing i hate is that cos we got him on meds at 7 b4 school had really tried strategies to help....it has meant that cos it has worked so well for him...they ended not needing to do anything special to help him...but as your DD gets help already...i'd not be worried.

also ...if it works it works...and you will not REGRET IT...AND IF IT DOESN'T...YOU STOP...AND SHE WILL NOT HAVE ANY WITHDRAWAL PROBS.

finally...make sure you start with a type that lasts for only 4 hours a dose...as later on she can go on an 'all day- long acting' tablet...but 'just in case' it does not suit her... it's best to start with the types that last a shortere time...then when you are sure...certainly change to a longer acting one...as that means you can avoid meds at school...

oh.... as far as appetite....tom eats no brakfast...hardly any lunch then eats nonstop after 4pm...the other day i gave him a WHOLE packet of jaffa cakes...as an experiment...to see if he ate them. HE DID!!!! so i have spoken to him...and pointed out that even if he does not FEEL hungry.... that this eating 12 jaffacakes shows that his tummy was happy to recieve them!!!
I know it's hard for him as even off meds...which we do the odd day in the holidays... he just doesn't get hungry till late afternoon...so to then take meds that supress appetite...well...it is hard!

but I feel better now i know he ate the jaffacakes...as i was worried sick that he was not eating...and that the meds were totally responsible...so him eating all those jaffas...well...i now have to find something else 'healthy' that he will eat with just as much enthusiasm....even though he doesn't fel hungry.

my reason is that i know hunger causes poor concentration....and that is something he has probs with.

Mrs F - thanks You are always so helpful and informative!
I think dd is probably more like Tom as she is more Add than Adhd. Just finds it hard to sit still and very impulsive but isn't destructive. She also has poor sense of danger too so will run into the road when not concentrating etc.
It's funny as if anyone said to me if you give her this tablet it will take away her language/communication difficulties I would give it to her straight away. So why do I feel so bad about giving it to her to help her concentrate?
The main reason I am considering it is not for us really as we have coped so far. Although it would help obviously. It is more for dd as she has such a low self esteem and so badly wants to fit in and I guess if this helps her to do this then I kind of feel bad not trialing it at least.
I asked dd yesterday in one of her really responsive moods when we were having a little "chat" if mummy could give her some medicine to help her sit still would she want some and she said "yes" she would and she really meant it too

Risperidone causes increase in appetite so kids often put weight on with this med. Therefore the dose has to be regularly checked to keep up with weight increase. DS has a blood test every 3-6 months to check liver function and prob other things (that's great fun!). It is very closely monitored and managed. I can email my Paediatrician if we have problems or questions and our GP is great too. When meds come up as a possibility do ask Dobbin's questions and have your little list of meds you've heard of and want to know more about although you may find the Dr will come up with them spontaneously anyway.