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SN children

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Original poster

ADD son refusing to take medication ,help needed.

14 replies

niamhsmummy · 30/01/2007 09:27

Don't know whether I am on the right thread. Son started taking Ritalin in October last year. He has now been given Concerta (sp?) which are slow release. This is great as he is being a pain when it comes to taking his medication at school. The only thing is he needs to swallow Concerta whole whereas the Ritalin we were crushing and putting in something. The past week or more I have been called to school as he has refused his ritalin. Today I said he was to take the Concerta amd we would use that from now on. He won't swallow it though. He is being silly about it as it isn't a huge tablet and would be better as he wouldn't have to take anymore during the day. What can i do? we have tried everything, he is now in his room as he can't go to school until he has taken

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QueenBodicea · 30/01/2007 23:08

Is it simply a swallowing problem or is it the principle of taking the medication? My DS (9) has been taking Concerta for the last two years. To start with he had terrible problems swallowing it so for about the first year or so he would take it with a tea spoon of ice cream and managed to swallow it OK. When ice cream wasn't available, e.g. if we were away and no freezer we tried jam or sweetened condensed milk. The smoothness of these substances really helped him get it down. Now he has got used to taking it with just water. I hope this helps. I remember being that age and having terrible problems swallowing tablets. We too prefer Concerta for him as then he doesn't have to worry about taking it at school and other kids seeing/knowing etc.

Original poster

niamhsmummy · 31/01/2007 16:09

Queenbodicea. Thanks for replying. Its the swallowing the tablet. With his ritalin we were crushing it and putting into something for him to eat. He has taken the concerta for the first time today with water and has been at school all day. No phone calls, no fight at lunchtime to take more tablets cos it lasts all day. I have had a fab day, lets just hope it continues.

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QueenBodicea · 02/02/2007 22:10

Thats great NM. Glad its working out.

jhyesmum · 04/02/2007 16:20

Hi! Hope you don't mind me joining in.
My son(6), has just been diagnosed with ADHD and we have now got his first lot of Ritolin which he is starting tommorrow. Quite nervous about it. I hope that it really works as children can be so cruel as they think that he is an easy target. Parents think that he is just a 'bad child'. He is so behind at school too, so i hope he can now settle down and catch up a bit!

mom2asd · 04/02/2007 21:47

There is a special cup that is made for pill swallowing. maybe you could do a search on special needs cup or pill swallow cup. It has a huge spout that you put the pill in and when they drink out of it, it automatically makes the pill be swallowed without hesitation. the drink comes through holes under the area the pill is placed. I'll try to find a link for you. We had to get ours from the USA.

jhyesmum · 05/02/2007 09:49

Little one went to school this morning after taking his first ritolin - no probs! (thank god).

Roll on 3pm to see if he has been calmer in class! Fingers crossed!

Original poster

niamhsmummy · 05/02/2007 10:18

jhyesmum. So pleased for you. That first day is a nightmare as you don't know what is going to happen. I hope you have good feedback from school this afternoon. Going to phone my doctors today to see if we can get the patch that you can get now. Son refused tablet all weekend but then took it this morning no problems. The patch just sounds so much easier and no hassle!!

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jhyesmum · 05/02/2007 10:28

I didn't know about a patch! If things turn around and he starts refusing then I will ask his doc - thanks for that!

We don't know if we will have him on the medication during the week-end, the doc said we can put him on it when we want. My hubby is quite against the medication, but I said to him that if he is going to have a normal life at school, and catch up (he is a yr2 and is only just managing yr1 work), then we have got to try it.

Have you noticed a big difference since yours has taken it?

Original poster

niamhsmummy · 05/02/2007 10:43

There has been a difference and even he knows that when he takes it it helps him enormously. I have just phoned my doctor about the patch and he said he didn't know about a patch and wouldn't be happy prescribing one. Am going to go straight to our consultant as she knows what she is talking about and she may agree to prescribe instead. I know of another mumsnetter whose 10 yr old has been given the patch.

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jhyesmum · 05/02/2007 10:48

Good luck!

I'm sure you've had a crap time going through this like we have, so just to try anything that is going to help is a bonus!

Fingers crossed, 3pm, all will be well!

jhyesmum · 05/02/2007 16:48

Seems we've had quite a 'calm' day!

Fingers crossed!

Original poster

niamhsmummy · 06/02/2007 11:04

thats good, jhyesmum. My son has had a bad couple of days. Was a nightmare at school yesterday and got called at 2.00 to go and get him. Today I got called at 9.20! Went in and he settled down and was allowed to stay. The thing is he is taking his medication now. I am phoning our consultant to speak to her today.

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jhyesmum · 07/02/2007 16:41

Tough times! I hope everything calms down.

Mine has had three quite good days at school. Parents evening this evening

Behaviour is still an issue here though!

Original poster

niamhsmummy · 07/02/2007 20:39

jhyesmum. good to hear it is going well so far. My son had a brilliant day today. No probs. Will see how it goes. He is finally taking his tablet without any fuss in the mornings. People have been saying that it just needed to get into his system properly. We will see how it goes. Hope parents evening is ok.

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