Ritalin/concerta advice needed

[blossomhill]

Had a meeting with the paed. today and he really feels that dd would benefit from medication. She is doing really well but her concentration is very poor. TBH It is really bad but I have just got used to it.
It was when he asked what she was like in supermarkets and I burst out laughing and said I don't know as I never take her. Too stressful.
It is the last resort really. We have tried everything eyeq, additives, behaviour techniques and really feel we have exhausted everything.
I just want to give dd a chance and although I was dead against it after chatting to the paed. (who is the head for our area) he made a lot of sense and I have come round to the idea.
My only worries are that dd is just 5. It would only be a trial for a month to see how she goes.
I have googled Ritalin and some of the side affects are scary!
Any advice gratefully received!
BHx

Helloooo!

Tom has been on methyphenidate (first equasym- now concerta) from age 7

it must be hard to make the decision at only 5....but hope this helps.

we didn't tell the teacher that 1st week- nor family- and everyone noticed a difference.

it didn't 'zombify' him- and now at 10 he asks for it- he can tell the difference.

if you try it and don't like it there are no delayed side effects- just as it starts working within 30 mins....once it wears off- that is it- gone. (as opposed to some meds which take 2-3weeks to work- and just as long to be weaned off)

my stepson (ADHD/ASPERGERS) was unmedicated till 16- and it was too late- he was in prison by 18

I BELIEVE THAT THE MEDICATION ENABLES THE CHILD TO BETTER ABSORB HELP/INFORMATION/STRATEGIES AND IN THE CASE OF ADHD HELPS THEM BE CALMER AND FOCUSSED.

THIS GIVES THEM THE CHANCE TO LEARN THINGS THEY HAVE NO CHANCE OF OTRHERWISE

ofcourse i am biased.....and if there was an alternative....... but 3 years on i have accepted that he NEEDS the tablets- and in the right doseage they are safe.

please use the CAT if you need more info....as always i have heaps of info!

p.s

AS I ALWAYS SAY........PEOPLE WHO CODEMN- ARE OFTEN THE LEAST QUALIFIED TO COMMENT.

AND PPS.....shouldn't really admit this- but i have tried his meds to see if they helped me focus....and i certainly DID NOT end up 'HIGH'....so yes i know they are a form of 'street drug'....but the quanitity to get that way would be enourmous!

Thanks MrsF - I was hoping you would answer. I will CAT you if you don't mind as I am worried but excited as it could change lots for our family.

Do you think I should wait until she is 6 when it is licensed? I am worried that her organs are not developed enough yet and having googled I have read some rather unpleasant things

Anyone else with any information, please!

Even if you have alternatives to medication. Obviously we have tried Eyeq so that's out.
Thanks

Blossom - my ds is currently on Ritalin (Aspergers/ADHD) and EyeQ. He started on Ritalin when he was 5 (he is now 7)- my god did it make a difference. I could suddenly take him out of the house, to the shops, and even...to a CRECHE! It really was a completely different way of life.

Of course, MrsF is right - it really does allow the child to concentrate and focus so that they can - and you can enjoy doing everyday things together. Things that are so hard when they are having a meltdown (in the middle of the high street usually!)

I was really against the idea of medicating him to start with but after a long conversation with a woman who later became his childminder, and whose ds had been on Ritalin, I trialled it. The rest is history.

His consultant tried him on Concerta - but apparently even thought it is similar in makeup to Ritalin, it just DID NOT WORK! That was the week from hell, I can tell you!

Personally I would say that you have to be entirely comfortable with giving your dd medication, and talk to as many people who have first hand experience as you need, then make your decision. As many MNers and the lovely MrsF will tell you, as parents we get a lot of flack for medicating our children with Ritalin - but as pointed out before, they do not know how it changes our lives unless they have experienced it. x

also....if you do go for a try....then ask for EQUASYM as it is available in 5mg tablets (back when we started ritalin was 10mg...so had to be cut in half)...maybe ritalin is in 5mg now????

i personally wouldn't start with any of the long acting ones like concerta...as IF you don't like how it works its better to have given a tablet that wears off in 4 hours than 12!

And start the trial at the weekend/hols so you can keep an eye and observe for benefits etc....then i'd medicate on a school day...without telling the teacher. then by lunchtime the med will have worn off and she will hopefully then behave in her 'usual' way...assuming ofcourse she was calmer in the morning due to the medicine.

this gives a clear contrast and hopefully that afternoon when you collect her or the next day the teacher will say something like "she was calmer etc today"....and then it's up to you whether you come clean or not.

As far as 'witholding medical info ' from schools goes...i think for a couple of days is fine...and if your not asking them to medicate then you could try a whole week....however once you are sure to carry on you need to tell them incase she were ill and a doctor was consulted...i always worry that aif someone didn't know about the med they may tadminister a medicine that would react to the methylphenidate! (OOOOH I am a worrier too!!!)

Then assuming you carry on....maybe try concerta if 'school time' medicating is an issue.

personally.....i am thinking of reverting back to equasym.....as we only started concerta as the old school was forgetting to med him...or he'd go to get it and the person with the key to the med cupboard had gone to lunch. expecting a ADHD/Asperger's child to remember their meds is a joke and a half....at the new school there are several having meds at noon....and i think it would work at this school.

i will email you direct over the next couple of days Blossie.