add/adhd

Both my daughter (13) and son (9) take Concerta for their ADHD. I have to give both of them their meds in the morning - daughter doesn't like taking it. Likes feeling scattered and impulsive. With my son, he needs to have it when he wakes up or I will go out of my tree. My daughter isn't as bad. My doctor actually believes that you shouldn't stop them on weekends or during the summer. We tried taking my son off to see what he was like without medication. What a mistake. He is back on and we don't miss a day. My daughter on the other hand didn't take hers this weekend. She was a royal pain in the butt, and she couldn't get out of her own way. Since it was a beautiful weekend, we were out doing yard work. The kids task was to pick up trash, sticks, etc. in the yard. My daughter was gazing at the sky most of the time. Her attention is nil. I would ask the doctor why he wants to stop on the weekends. Are you trying to wean her off? Are you trying to get an idea of how she acts without meds? I certainly can see a difference with and without meds in my daughter, but I knew her before meds and after. With my son, we only knew him on meds and wanted to experience him without. Wasn't a pretty sight. And my stress level definitely increased. Hope this helps. Melissa :)

The doctor has talked about weaning her off. He does not want her on it forever. (She also takes Concerta. )Sometimes she is fine without the medicine. Which is why when she is impulsive or unable to sit still, I am not prepared. When I am on top of things, I can redirect her (Or at least exhibit more patience). Her medication level has been the same for over two years. Sometimes I think, she acts out because she can use the lack of medicine as an excuse, but I don't want to expect something from her she can't give. I actually had kept her on for weekends for several months, because I had heard it is not good to take them on and off. Also sometimes going off can cause her to (for lack of a better word) crash, and become very sleepy. I am telling her doctor these things as well, so I will do what he says...But the additional input can help me. Thanks

The lack of medicine as an excuse is one I hear often from my daughter. She sometimes uses it as a crutch or to try and get out of trouble for not doing what she is told. I just found in my experience with her that she does so much better on it especially with the attention. I also found that with the Concerta, there are less highs and lows throughout the day and it lasts longer than the Ritalin did. When my son came to live with us he was on the max. dosage of 54 mgs. per day. My daughter was only taking 36mg. and she weighs twice as much as he does. We have my son down to 36mg. and he is doing fine.

One of the things I did early on with my true ADHD kids(many were misdiagnosed)was list what was going on and what the children had eaten when they seemed more out of sinc. Television, even short bits, was too much. After watching any TV, they were more hyper and less able to clearly function.(computor had the same effect) Anything with red dye and canned ravioli had the same effect. Jogging or riding bikes(use helmets, especially with impulsive kids, my son cracked three but his head's still there)helped them to focus better. I like this option because it allows my son to regulate his own system as he could feel for himself the difference. Adding structure to the weekend helps. Having the same chore and routine causes the children less agitation as they won't forget what they're doing. A lot of outside time to be noisy and run around is also good(in my opinion, all kids need this). Both my ADHD children are currantly medication free and feel much better.