Ritalin / ADHD
Discussion
I wonder if anyone can share any experience they have of Ritalin to manage ADHD
My 8 year old son has ADHD (diagnosed at age 4 and re-diagnosed last week confirming he has it), he's also being diagnosed for suspected Autism.
Hitherto my (now ex) wife and I have managed the condition using behaviour management strategies in conjunction with the mainstream school he goes to. He's under an EHCP and we are lucky that we have extra funding for a classroom assistant to help.
However recently his behaviour appears to be deteriorating and the school are hinting at him going to a special needs school. My ex wife wants to put him on medication (Ritalin) but I have serious concerns about committing an 8 year old boy to a lifetime of medication.
Can anyone share any stories / experience that they have had that may help me make an informed decision on next steps?
Many thanks
My 8 year old son has ADHD (diagnosed at age 4 and re-diagnosed last week confirming he has it), he's also being diagnosed for suspected Autism.
Hitherto my (now ex) wife and I have managed the condition using behaviour management strategies in conjunction with the mainstream school he goes to. He's under an EHCP and we are lucky that we have extra funding for a classroom assistant to help.
However recently his behaviour appears to be deteriorating and the school are hinting at him going to a special needs school. My ex wife wants to put him on medication (Ritalin) but I have serious concerns about committing an 8 year old boy to a lifetime of medication.
Can anyone share any stories / experience that they have had that may help me make an informed decision on next steps?
Many thanks
I don't have any really close exposure to it, but from what I've seen with a couple of kids I know quite well, it seems to be a very powerful but rather blunt instrument.
One of the kids is highly intelligent, and both can be a lot of fun when they're in full on hyper mode, and when you see them at the other end of the scale, it's a bit sad.
Having said that, I'm not their parent, and I do know that they can be horrific to try and control when they're off their medication, so I can certainly understand them using the drugs.
It rather surprises me that there isn't better time release technology in pill coatings or whatever to allow for a trickle feed of the drug to deliver a happy medium between hyper and zonked.
One of the kids is highly intelligent, and both can be a lot of fun when they're in full on hyper mode, and when you see them at the other end of the scale, it's a bit sad.
Having said that, I'm not their parent, and I do know that they can be horrific to try and control when they're off their medication, so I can certainly understand them using the drugs.
It rather surprises me that there isn't better time release technology in pill coatings or whatever to allow for a trickle feed of the drug to deliver a happy medium between hyper and zonked.
Thanks - that is one of my concerns. Medication could send him the other way and whilst his behaviour isn’t great in a structured school environment, I believe it could make him very successful when he’s older. Maybe that’s just wishful thinking but I don’t want to emasculate him with medication.
Talk to your local authority and keep on at them.
Special schools are not all the same, ask what's available and see if any meet the needs of your son.
Choose the school he'll be happy and sucessful in, not the one you think he should be in.
Mainstream isn't necessarily the right choice.
Special schools are not all the same, ask what's available and see if any meet the needs of your son.
Choose the school he'll be happy and sucessful in, not the one you think he should be in.
Mainstream isn't necessarily the right choice.
Don't
Do not manage autism with drugs. The behavioural problems your son has, can be managed, but it's hard work and needs proper dedication to the cause.
Hence why my sister in law sued her local education authority when they finally admitted they don't have a suitable place to educate him.
Instead, every waking hour is taken up with teaching him, one to one in bite sized chunks. 5 minutes at a time, before his attention turns to something else.
Can you or you ex wife afford to do this full time?
Thought not.
Its s
t, but avoid the drugs.
Do not manage autism with drugs. The behavioural problems your son has, can be managed, but it's hard work and needs proper dedication to the cause.
Hence why my sister in law sued her local education authority when they finally admitted they don't have a suitable place to educate him.
Instead, every waking hour is taken up with teaching him, one to one in bite sized chunks. 5 minutes at a time, before his attention turns to something else.
Can you or you ex wife afford to do this full time?
Thought not.
Its s
t, but avoid the drugs. Thanks, to be clear Ritalin treats ADHD not Autism, they are 2 different conditions albeit they often overlap.
Can you share any more information about your sister in law's child? Their journey / condition etc?
I'm really after real world experiences of how peoples have dealt with this kind of situation before
Regarding your point about what time / effort I can put in, I am very lucky to work part time a have a huge amount of flexibility over hours so can dedicate some real time to him. However I'm not sure home schooling is the answer is this case,
Can you share any more information about your sister in law's child? Their journey / condition etc?
I'm really after real world experiences of how peoples have dealt with this kind of situation before
Regarding your point about what time / effort I can put in, I am very lucky to work part time a have a huge amount of flexibility over hours so can dedicate some real time to him. However I'm not sure home schooling is the answer is this case,
foliedouce said:
I wonder if anyone can share any experience they have of Ritalin to manage ADHD
My 8 year old son has ADHD (diagnosed at age 4 and re-diagnosed last week confirming he has it), he's also being diagnosed for suspected Autism.
Hitherto my (now ex) wife and I have managed the condition using behaviour management strategies in conjunction with the mainstream school he goes to. He's under an EHCP and we are lucky that we have extra funding for a classroom assistant to help.
However recently his behaviour appears to be deteriorating and the school are hinting at him going to a special needs school. My ex wife wants to put him on medication (Ritalin) but I have serious concerns about committing an 8 year old boy to a lifetime of medication.
Can anyone share any stories / experience that they have had that may help me make an informed decision on next steps?
Many thanks
My Grandson (who's now 10) is a couple of years ahead on the same journey. His mum tried everything with him to try and avoid putting him on Ritalin. My 8 year old son has ADHD (diagnosed at age 4 and re-diagnosed last week confirming he has it), he's also being diagnosed for suspected Autism.
Hitherto my (now ex) wife and I have managed the condition using behaviour management strategies in conjunction with the mainstream school he goes to. He's under an EHCP and we are lucky that we have extra funding for a classroom assistant to help.
However recently his behaviour appears to be deteriorating and the school are hinting at him going to a special needs school. My ex wife wants to put him on medication (Ritalin) but I have serious concerns about committing an 8 year old boy to a lifetime of medication.
Can anyone share any stories / experience that they have had that may help me make an informed decision on next steps?
Many thanks
His school has been brilliant with him, understanding when he got angry and ran off (which he did frequently when it became too much) and yes, he also got physical with the other kids (pushing in excitement) when he was hyper. They got funding for his own TA who is a saint in human form.
So, reluctantly his mum tried Ritalin and it's been a revelation. Back is the sweet natured boy - no mood swings, miles better behaved at school - he even likes/wants to go there now. He has mates now where before he didn't (as he never understood the social rules around play and was frequently over-the-top physically).
We can tell when the medication wears off as the old traits (hyper) come back. Apart from that and a slightly reduced appetite (as its an amphetamine) there's been no other effects.
I understand where you're coming from on a 'lifetime of drugs' - we were the same, but balanced against the massively improved quality of life he has now, I have to think it's worth it in his case.
Hope some of that helps ?
Different drugs (Prozac and risperidone) but I’ve had similar concerns with my autistic daughter.
Complicated immensely by the fact that her mother and I are separated and have very different views, her mother will dose her up to her eyeballs whereas I think she’s perfectly manageable when she’s not taking anything.
I do realise ADHD is a different kettle of fish and know I would personally struggle with hyperactivity. In my daughter’s case it’s prescribed more for anger and irritability.
The point I did want to stress is that no prescription would be for life - seek assurances from the doctors that it would be administered on a low dose as a trial and express your concerns about long term dependency - when I did this he seemed glad I had raised the concerned and assured me the drugs could always been withdrawn gradually if my daughter’s behaviour and temperament changed as she grew up (my argument being most 14 year old girls are irritable at least a quarter of the time).
Complicated immensely by the fact that her mother and I are separated and have very different views, her mother will dose her up to her eyeballs whereas I think she’s perfectly manageable when she’s not taking anything.
I do realise ADHD is a different kettle of fish and know I would personally struggle with hyperactivity. In my daughter’s case it’s prescribed more for anger and irritability.
The point I did want to stress is that no prescription would be for life - seek assurances from the doctors that it would be administered on a low dose as a trial and express your concerns about long term dependency - when I did this he seemed glad I had raised the concerned and assured me the drugs could always been withdrawn gradually if my daughter’s behaviour and temperament changed as she grew up (my argument being most 14 year old girls are irritable at least a quarter of the time).
Thanks Juice and theboss, that is the kid of real world experience I was after.
theboss said:
Complicated immensely by the fact that her mother and I are separated and have very different views, her mother will dose her up to her eyeballs whereas I think she’s perfectly manageable when she’s not taking anything.
This is the issue I face - his Mum is looking for an escape which I do understand as it cab be relentless. I've offered to have him live with me for a period to at least try a different approach before medication but she's resisting that.foliedouce said:
Thanks, to be clear Ritalin treats ADHD not Autism, they are 2 different conditions albeit they often overlap.
Can you share any more information about your sister in law's child? Their journey / condition etc?
I'm really after real world experiences of how peoples have dealt with this kind of situation before
Regarding your point about what time / effort I can put in, I am very lucky to work part time a have a huge amount of flexibility over hours so can dedicate some real time to him. However I'm not sure home schooling is the answer is this case,
Ritalin and other powerful drugs to treat 'children', eh? Can you share any more information about your sister in law's child? Their journey / condition etc?
I'm really after real world experiences of how peoples have dealt with this kind of situation before
Regarding your point about what time / effort I can put in, I am very lucky to work part time a have a huge amount of flexibility over hours so can dedicate some real time to him. However I'm not sure home schooling is the answer is this case,
Scares the s
t out of me to think if I'd been born in this modern era - I was a disruptive (if not tallish) little bugger at junior school back in the day - I'd probably be on meds of one sort or another. What say does the kid get? None.Have you not heard of 10 yr old Harry Hucknall? If the name sounds familiar, he was a cousin of the famous singer.
(admittedly, little Harry was prescribed a tad more than Ritalin and even on ADs like Prozac, ffs!).
Poor little soul, whose parents were also separated, didn't get the chance to be on meds for 'life' as he took his own.
foliedouce said:
This is the issue I face - his Mum is looking for an escape which I do understand as it cab be relentless. I've offered to have him live with me for a period to at least try a different approach before medication but she's resisting that.
The problem in my case is that the ASD diagnosis forms a significant financial dependency for my ex-wife who is getting carer’s allowance, higher rate DLA and so on. The needs of a disabled child also add weight to her financial claims against me after we’ve divorced. This gives rise to all sorts of conflicting interests, just as you say, I offer to care for our ASD daughter more because I feel I manage her anxiety levels very well, yet the ex is more concerned about maximising her maintenance entitlement. A real nightmare.JPJPJP said:
I would fight like a cornered lion to avoid putting an 8 year old child on Ritalin
Same, but it gets tricky when other parent makes all sorts of “professional allies” in the school and healthcare sectors, and then you find yourself discredited and portrayed as the father who thinks he knows better than the doctors. The problem with these drugs is that they can’t be administered intermittently. If the doctor prescribes my daughter Prozac and I refuse to give it to her when she’s in my care, a family court isn’t likely to favour my stance should it all blow up into a custody dispute. Add a few social workers and mental healthcare workers to the picture and use your imagination...Edited by theboss on Saturday 27th April 22:09
I cant be too specific but I have experience of children who are medicated for behaviour.
In the morning before it kicks in they can be borderline unmanageable, after fifteen minutes if left unstimulated they can enter a trance like state for fifteen minutes then become effectively normal, transforming into smart, intelligent, interested children who are a pleasure to know.
As the school day goes on and the drug wears off behaviour becomes worse, especially if its PE or swimming day as exercise seems to clear it from the system more quickly.
By home time they are often hyper and hard to handle because the medication is out of their system. Problem is the school will cannot administer medication so its either a huge dose in the morning or a meltdown in the afternoon.
If the meds are not administered then you have a child from hell, its like Jekyll and Hyde.
Another point is that Special Needs Schools are often a long way away from home, meaning a long bus or taxi journey twice a day which throws up its own set of problems.
Im not a healthcare professional but have worked with quite a number of children on Ritalin and the effect can be miraculous, if it was a choice between staying in mainstream school on meds or a special school without then it would be meds every time if it was my child.
If you have ever seen an enraged slightly built seven year old who has the strength to fight off three adults or a fifteen year old with extreme anger management kick off then Ritalin might seem a miracle drug.
In the morning before it kicks in they can be borderline unmanageable, after fifteen minutes if left unstimulated they can enter a trance like state for fifteen minutes then become effectively normal, transforming into smart, intelligent, interested children who are a pleasure to know.
As the school day goes on and the drug wears off behaviour becomes worse, especially if its PE or swimming day as exercise seems to clear it from the system more quickly.
By home time they are often hyper and hard to handle because the medication is out of their system. Problem is the school will cannot administer medication so its either a huge dose in the morning or a meltdown in the afternoon.
If the meds are not administered then you have a child from hell, its like Jekyll and Hyde.
Another point is that Special Needs Schools are often a long way away from home, meaning a long bus or taxi journey twice a day which throws up its own set of problems.
Im not a healthcare professional but have worked with quite a number of children on Ritalin and the effect can be miraculous, if it was a choice between staying in mainstream school on meds or a special school without then it would be meds every time if it was my child.
If you have ever seen an enraged slightly built seven year old who has the strength to fight off three adults or a fifteen year old with extreme anger management kick off then Ritalin might seem a miracle drug.
Thanks for the information, after a tough meeting with the school on Wednesday we have accepted the prescription of 10mg of Equasym XL - lasts for 8 hours so basically the school day
I'm sad about it and I didn't want to do it but the alternative was permanent exclusion.
He starts tomorrow so I hope it has a positive effect for him and doesn't dumb down all the amazing traits he has.
I'm sad about it and I didn't want to do it but the alternative was permanent exclusion.
He starts tomorrow so I hope it has a positive effect for him and doesn't dumb down all the amazing traits he has.
My stepson (who is 32 now) was diagnosed and statemented with ADHD and A-typical autism,when he was about 10.and he was an absolute nightmare.prescribed Ritalin and wow what a huge difference it made.
Don’t let people put you off-give it a try.it changed our lives for the better.massively.
Don’t let people put you off-give it a try.it changed our lives for the better.massively.
Edited by and31 on Wednesday 8th May 18:35
I've not read the thread yet, so this may have already been said. My youngest son, 10, has ADHD and aspergers.
Pre medication, looking back, was a bit of a nightmare for him and us as a family to be honest. From his point of view school work suffered, realtionships with peers suffered. Post medication the change was very positive, he was able to concentrate at school a lot better, his handwriting improved dramatically, his interpersonal relationships with friends, peers and siblings also improved.
To understand why this is you need to understand what the medication does. The cut down version is that a chemical imbalance in the brain causes not a lack of attention, but an inability to focus on a singular thing. My son would be sat seemingly daydreaming / causing disruption at school but was still able to take in some of the lesson or what was going on around him as his brain was seeking stimulation. The meds, which to all intents and purposes are amphetemine in effect, give the brain the stimulation its seeking which allows the ADHD suffering to concentrate on one thing at a time, taking away the need to seek the stimulation elsewhere.
So the medication does for someone afflicated with ADHD the opposite of what it would do for a neurotypical person in that it calms them noticably.
When asked he is more than happy to tell whomever that the medication has improved his day to day life.
There are downsides of course. They do make sleep difficult, my son takes melatonin at bed time to kick start his sleep cycle. Putting on weight is also difficult for him, but then again it wasnt exactly easy before. I suppose the biggest downside which i would point out, but which doesnt bother him whatsoever, is that when the ADHD has been sufficiently dealt with is does then highlight his autistic traits a lot more. Not because it enhances them, more that with the ADHD out of the way you just notice it more.
Anyway, TLDR?
Pro- Meds are a succesful way to help ADHD sufferers if prescribed correctly.
Cons- Sleep disruption, weight gain issues.
Happy to answer any questions you may have.
Pre medication, looking back, was a bit of a nightmare for him and us as a family to be honest. From his point of view school work suffered, realtionships with peers suffered. Post medication the change was very positive, he was able to concentrate at school a lot better, his handwriting improved dramatically, his interpersonal relationships with friends, peers and siblings also improved.
To understand why this is you need to understand what the medication does. The cut down version is that a chemical imbalance in the brain causes not a lack of attention, but an inability to focus on a singular thing. My son would be sat seemingly daydreaming / causing disruption at school but was still able to take in some of the lesson or what was going on around him as his brain was seeking stimulation. The meds, which to all intents and purposes are amphetemine in effect, give the brain the stimulation its seeking which allows the ADHD suffering to concentrate on one thing at a time, taking away the need to seek the stimulation elsewhere.
So the medication does for someone afflicated with ADHD the opposite of what it would do for a neurotypical person in that it calms them noticably.
When asked he is more than happy to tell whomever that the medication has improved his day to day life.
There are downsides of course. They do make sleep difficult, my son takes melatonin at bed time to kick start his sleep cycle. Putting on weight is also difficult for him, but then again it wasnt exactly easy before. I suppose the biggest downside which i would point out, but which doesnt bother him whatsoever, is that when the ADHD has been sufficiently dealt with is does then highlight his autistic traits a lot more. Not because it enhances them, more that with the ADHD out of the way you just notice it more.
Anyway, TLDR?
Pro- Meds are a succesful way to help ADHD sufferers if prescribed correctly.
Cons- Sleep disruption, weight gain issues.
Happy to answer any questions you may have.
Edited by duffy78 on Wednesday 8th May 13:28
Kermit power said:
I don't have any really close exposure to it, but from what I've seen with a couple of kids I know quite well, it seems to be a very powerful but rather blunt instrument.
One of the kids is highly intelligent, and both can be a lot of fun when they're in full on hyper mode, and when you see them at the other end of the scale, it's a bit sad.
Having said that, I'm not their parent, and I do know that they can be horrific to try and control when they're off their medication, so I can certainly understand them using the drugs.
It rather surprises me that there isn't better time release technology in pill coatings or whatever to allow for a trickle feed of the drug to deliver a happy medium between hyper and zonked.
Zonked is not how the medication works as the stuff is actually a stimulant. One of the kids is highly intelligent, and both can be a lot of fun when they're in full on hyper mode, and when you see them at the other end of the scale, it's a bit sad.
Having said that, I'm not their parent, and I do know that they can be horrific to try and control when they're off their medication, so I can certainly understand them using the drugs.
It rather surprises me that there isn't better time release technology in pill coatings or whatever to allow for a trickle feed of the drug to deliver a happy medium between hyper and zonked.
and31 said:
How many of the posters above saying
“Don’t do it-don’t put a child on Ritalin!!!”, have any experience of their child having severe adhd ?
I have experience of 4 nephews and nieces who are on the Autism spectrum. Three very Aspergers, and the youngest, now 11, with ADHD.“Don’t do it-don’t put a child on Ritalin!!!”, have any experience of their child having severe adhd ?
He is home schooled, because he started Primary Education being able to speak in sentences, and use the toilet by himself and within weeks his one to one support in a special unit was so good that the best communication you could hope for was grunts and growls. And he was back in nappies.
The education authority have tried to wash their hands over the last 6 years, trying to get out of their legal responsibilities. And my sister in law has to obtain the services of a solicitor who comes 100 miles for every meeting with the Education authority who now pay direct towards his own education fund.
They have repeatedly lied and changed their story, and frequently suggest medication.
He needs people who can work with him. I can just about deal with him for 2 hours if I'm at my peak and have had a good night's sleep
But what you see is what you get. You get Jack and his many sides.
Oh and nuts. He's allergic to nuts. Everything now says may contain nuts after the pret a manger mix up.
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