Parents and kids using ADHD drugs

I disagree with this point. Kid's organism is weaker and it needs less drugs to be treated. Grown-ups are oppositely others. Big doses for kids are dangerous. And what if it's hormone treatment? It's not safe!

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A friend and coworker of my husband's was telling him how amazing he worked/programmed when he took Ritalin - and my husband, at the end of his rope in a current project and unable to focus, tried it. He was *amazed* at how focussed (two s's?) and how much MORE he got done in much LESS time.

When he admitted the drug trial to me, I was - at first - very upset and scornful (and just worried about his health) but then I started thinking about it more. I take antidepressants because I can't function at my best without them (taking for anxiety/panic) - so what, really, is different about taking Ritalin to get the same end result - being at your most efficient/effective...?

While I wouldn't want my husband to be on it regularly (like daily) - if, for the odd time he would perform better in whatever manner he needs to - and he is doing it WITH his doctors knowledge, then so be it.

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Better living through pharmaceuticals is fine for adults. Be careful with children. That said, recognize that our body chemistry frequently isn't optimal and using prescriptions to be the healthiest you can be is not anything to be ashamed of. I do worry a lot about the parents who suddenly start diagnosing themselves and all of their family members with something. The "Johnny is bi-polar and so is his father and I and I think three of his grandparents were too and also. . ." syndrome is a bit too Munchausen.

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Boy, do I have experience with this. My son takes Ritalin and it has helped his life improve tenfold. I never cared for the "sit down, shut up" style that so many people employ, but my son's enjoyment of life was nil before he started taking the Ritalin.

I take anti-depressants for a chemical imbalance. I need them to function on any sort of "normal" level. They also reduce my anxiety. My husband recently went to the doctor, thinking he was depressed, and found out that *he* also has ADHD. He's now taking medication and *his* life has improved drastically.

I accidentally took a dose of my son's Ritalin the other day. Yes, it was truly accidental. I had his medication ready to go, I pulled my medication bottle out and was about to open it and got distracted by the phone. I had also put out some Advil for me (huge headache) and had inadvertantly put the Ritalin with the Advil. I took it all. Luckily, I realized my mistake and didn't take the anti-depressant.

Ritalin is speed, basically. And I was WIRED for about four hours. It has the opposite effect on people who have the ADHD brain chemistry; it evens them out. I would not be surprised in the LEAST if certain people are taking unprescribed Ritalin because it gives them a burst of energy. I know, first hand, that this can run in families. But I also know that Ritalin does not work they way it's intended for people who don't have ADHD. My husband said it was like I was manic. I hated the feeling; lightheaded, my heart raced, and I felt like I had a hundred things to say and no time to say them.

I hope people are smart enough to not take medications that haven't been prescribed for them. Ritalin, especially, is not meant to help people get more done. It's meant to even out brain chemistry.

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My mom always resisted putting my youngest brother on Ritalin when he was a kid (15+ yrs ago). He has multiple learning disabilities, but I don't know that any of them was related to ADHD at all. So he was never on meds. But my mom ended up going on Strattera (another ADHD med) a few months ago, and she said it has helped her so much. She thought she was being a little extra flaky because of menopause, but the medication has helped her to focus and concentrate on things. My brother never did go on meds, and he's graduating from college next spring! So some kids don't need meds to get by, but some do. I just think they're horribly overprescribed.

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I'm personally appalled at parents who medicate v. raise their children.

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Um. Unless you have a child who truly has ADHD, SHUT YOUR MOUTH.

I believe that if my brother had been kept on uppers he would not have gotten interested in drugs (starting at the ripe age of 13). He was self medicating, and eventually was shooting up and contracted HIV in this manner. Jeff, may he rest in peace, did great on uppers (prescribed uppers) - he was calm, he could follow directions at school, which meant he was not in trouble, which meant he was happier. The doctors took him off of uppers when he went into puberty as the thinking at the time was children grew out of hyperactivity. Ha. Bad mistake.

I also know for myself that I function better on ritalin, I am a better driver, I am better at organization and tasks. My thoughts aren't scattered by every little thing, and I am happier because I am not so anxious all the time. I haven't been on methyphenidate for almost 3 years and it has been hard (pregnancy and nursing). I never felt wired on ritalin, the first three days on it I was so tired. I slept almost a whole weekend and kept falling asleep in class.

This probably the easiest test about ADHD - if you feel calm and sleepy on ritalin, you're on the right stuff. The rest of y'all who are wired need to cease immediately, you obviously need a different med or shouldn't be on anything anyway.

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Ethel,

If you haven't noticed, this is a discussion board. Everyone has a right to their opinion and no, no one has to 'shut your mouth' just because their opinion differs with yours.

Maybe some education might help. Try it.

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Julianne, I'm pretty sure that Ethel was responding to "anonymous" (and way to stand behind your opinion by not using your name, anonymous). Perhaps she shouldn't have said "shut up," but I can certainly understand why she's so angry.

I'm personally appalled by people who pass judgements when they have absolutely no idea what it's like to be the parent of a child who has a neurological disorder such as ADHD. How nice it must be to be able to sit back and make pithy statements, instead of really trying to understand how incredibly difficult it is to watch your child struggle with EVERY SINGLE THING, every single day of his life.

Yes, there are many, many children who are mis-diagnosed. Yes, there are way too many prescriptions being written. But some of these kids, mine included, benefit tremendously from medical intervention.

The very first day my son was on his medication, he told me, and I quote (because I'll never, ever forget what he said), "I like my medication, mom, because it makes the noise in my brain stop and I can think."

So, anonymous, how about you try to be compassionate and understanding instead of judgemental. And Julianne, if you had to deal with other people questioning the hardest decision you've ever made, you'd understand why Ethel was so upset.

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I think I have ADHD an with no health insurance how can you do anything my one brother I know has it so does his daughter my son has a mild case he was on concerta first 10 milg then 30 milg they only help for a short time I think my dad had it he acted like it in many ways he was many things I think it ran in his fanily I heard his family had alot of issues.

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Anyone interested,
I'm a senior in highschool who has been taking concerta for over a year now. The irony of my situation was that it was my mother who went to the doctor without even screening me for a disorder, and got a trial perscription.Although I have all the reactions to the drug that non-ADHD youths have(twitches, hyperness), the improvement of my scores were very noticeable. By no means do I advocate the use of the drug for 'academic doping', I was impressed by the results. The drug helps me remember information better, and less time is needed to get work done. I want to make clear that I am ashamed of taking the madication, but it is very beneficial. I don't believe I have ADHD, and the effects of the drug are not enjoyable, I avoid taking the medication regularly by only taking it on review days, test days, and for concepts I cannot master quickly. Unfortuantly I believe that the competition for colleges and scholarships have been the main driving force for the medication of the youths. I think parents should spend extra time to talk to psycologists and professionals about the adverse effects and hopefully find a alternative.

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