Well, Dennis is curious about everything and loves to do whatever it is his little mind thinks up. It can be adorable to watch but at the same time we have to diligently keep an eye on him at all times or we will find him doing something like this. And all it takes is a few minutes-- that little turkey!
Jonny lost his first tooth last night! What a big boy! And he pulled it out all by himself! He had so many questions about the tooth fairy-- it was just precious. He wrote her a letter too. He wanted to know what her first name was so he can address the letter with Miss So and So. Needless to say, last night he was excited to go to sleep!
Caleb rescued this big fat toad from our swimming pool!
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Last night I saw the preview for Toy Story 3! Finally! I can't wait till June 2010!
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I am concerned about the medication Annalyn is on. I have not noticed much of a difference (and the doctor said it takes about 2 days to notice a change) except she seems more emotional than ever-- which means I am actually seeing more arguing and more crying over things that she didn't used to cry over. I am going to give it two more days and then I am going to call the doctor. We will either increase the dosage slightly higher or I am going to ask about other medications. I am concerned about her being on a stimulant and I would like to stay away from medications that are habit forming. Any suggestions, I can research?
37 inspiring thoughts:
The only thing I can suggest is to give it more time... not sure with your particular med, but I know it took my dd time to get used to her meds, and it ended up being quite beneficial. Hope that helps...
I have several w/ ADHD. Some on meds, some aren't depending upon the severity. Depends on the medication she is on as to how long it will take to work. Some meds you notice a change right away,some up to 6 weeks(Straterra is one of those). The half life in most these meds is not long, about 12 hours. So, the majority of the ADHD stimulants actually don't build up over time. Most of my experience is the docs will start on the lowest dose possible but definitely has to be increased. Since some kids have side effects, they start out low to make sure nothing major happens. I had one daughter w/ severe, severe side effects after just the first dose. Yet, my other boys have been on for years w/ absolutely no side effects. None. My one son explained it to me as my brain can think clearly now mom. I never even told him what the medicine was for, he thought it was a vitamin. Give it time but not much time. You know her best & definitely ask the doc his opinion. Not all drugs will fit each child. Makes it hard for a doctor to make the right decision. Some self-medicating stimulants are of course coffee. Our neurologist actually suggested we give our son expresso. Seriously. Coffee does calm him down for sure. But he is on meds and doesn't drink coffee but every onee in awhile. Mountain Dew, etc. would work to. Most ADHD adults will automatically self-medicate if not on meds in order to hold down a job. Stick w/ it & don't be afraid to try another med that may work better for her. I know the medicine actually changed our kids' lives for the better. Good luck.
Stephanie--mom to 7 special kiddos!!!
I don't have any suggestions for the medication - you will do the right thing! I wanted to tell you, though, that as I was 'blog surfing', I saw that there's a place where you can vote for your favorite blog in various areas (single mom, multiples, etc.) and one category is adoption blog. You can cast a vote for your favorite blog written by someone who has adopted - and I really wanted to submit your blog, but they're in the finalist stage. They are touching stories, from what I can see - but yours would easily top those. I know you're not 'competing' to tell the best story - but you have such an awe-inspiring story you are telling as you go along!
Hi, does the very first toy story have any language in it I should be worried about? I want to show my kids that movie sometime, they are still little only 2 and 3 and don't let them watch anything but, s. street, barney and signing time.
thanks!!
I know what you mean about concern with using a stimulant. We went with Straterra for Hannah for ADD but the nausea and/or vomiting went on for over a month. (She only vomited twice, if it had happened as often as the nausea, it would have been chucked way sooner.) So, we tried a homeopathic remedy for several months. No side effects but really, no help either. Now, she's on Focalin, which is like Ritalin but time released. It's in and out in four hours. She says she feels like she can focus better but it's hard to tell since the stress of Alex's behavior left with him when he went to residential. Her dosage is very low...5mg. She also does not take it on weekends. Hang in there, sometimes medications that are to help with the mental self have side-effects that take about two weeks to go away.
I don't know if your doc suggested this already, but you may want to keep a "mood diary." For instance, on a monthly calendar maybe the two of you can give a "grade" for each date--how much she felt in control, behavior reports from the school (if you get updates that frequently), moodiness. I could be something simple like check minus, check, check plus. Or happy/sad faces in different colors. But the idea is you can also mark on the calendar when she's getting her period (if she's started already) just to make sure that's not the trend you're seeing. My doc had me do something like that when I was a teenager and starting antidepressants.
As far as habit-forming goes, my personal experience with stimulants is that it hasn't been habit-forming in the sense of lusting after it, "got to have it"--like the way you hear people talk about cigarettes or drugs. It's been more like an issue of tolerance--it used to work and now it doesn't work so well. But I'm not worse on the days I don't take it--not like someone who is trying to quit smoking and is extra-irritable, for instance. I just don't have its benefit.
One last thing, though: I don't remember whether this is the same daughter who is on growth hormones, but if it is, you may want to make sure that both the psychiatrist (or whoever is prescribing the ADHD meds) and the endocrinologist (or whoever prescribes the growth hormone) are both fully aware, just in case there are any interactions. I know you probably do that sort of thing anyway, but I thought I'd bring it up just in case.
She might not be on the right medication. You should have seen a difference immediately. Autumn is on Adderall but when we tried her on the extended release form she flipped out so we went back to plan Adderall, only down fall is that she has to have it 3 times a day instead of 1 time. Be patient and communicate with her doctor.
I was initially very opposed to medications, but we recently started Katya on Vyvanse and have had great success. I just posted about it yesterday. It is a stimulant, but it's timed release and is supposed to have less addiction potential since there is no initial buzz from it. We saw good effects right away and minimal side effects.
You might try reading this blog. This mom (a doctor) is going through very similar stuff and just reluctantly put her daughter on medication too with better results. Can't hurt to reach out to her. http://alwayswanted4.blogspot.com/
We stopped Vyvanse after a month for mood related changes... my daughters neurologists switched us to Focalin and that helped, but we stopped because of tummy aches
They say to give it time.. but a Mom can only stand to see so many belly aches before we decided to give the meds a break for now
I agree that keeping a mood diary is important
It took around 10 days for us to see a change with strattera....he was a bit more emotional the first few days too but that tapered off ( we did not start with a low dose because of his past history of medication). It might not be the right med or right dose either.. everyone response differently. This is the first time release med that my son could handle. My daughter is on vyvanse, although it is a stimulate it can not be abused because of the way the body has to process it (where as adderall can be snorted vyvanse can not). good luck
Sorry no help with the medication although I probably would try it a bit longer as results differ in each person. Johnny looks cute without his front tooth - isn't it just a wonderful phase! Dennis sounds just like my boys - into everything!
Christine: What dose did they start her on? They started Curt at 10 mg once a day and moved up to 25 mg after two weeks. Sometimes Straterra doesn't work. The ONLY stimulant I would ever use after my research is VyVanse.
Anonymous - try the Plugged In website if you want to know about language, voilence, etc in a movie.
http://www.pluggedin.com/
We use Concerta. I would wait longer for her body to acclamate, but yes they usually start at a dose that is probably too low.
I haven't heard too many issues with habit forming, more likely most kids outgrow it in their teens, and also as they get older they actually refuse to take it as a control issue.
If her moods get worse with ADHD meds, that sometimes means she also has a mood disorder which is pretty common in kids with tough backgrounds. ADHD meds are known to make mood disorders worse, and... you won't like this :) but they give an additional med to treat the mood disorder and then it is fine. We do this and it has worked out great.
But first try different meds to see if maybe one doesn't make the moods worse.
Good luck.
As someone who is on meds for psychological reasons (granted for depression with an inability to concentrate on anything for any amount of time), I can say that it takes time, but trust your instincts. My ANP was amazing and listened to me when I voiced my concerns going into the meds. Even though I was having side effects, we both decided that a higher dose would be better for me, because my "side effects" were most likely from me starting to come out of the depression. I noticed the change right away after upping my dose - for the best. We tried holistic remedies first, but they didn't work - so we worked together to find the BEST solution for me - a slightly above normal starting dose of an antidepressant and biblical accountability and support. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life.
Trust your instincts though - I knew my ANP and I were making my medical decissions from the place of medical knowledge and prayer. (My clinic is a Christian medical mission because I am underinsured.) My feelings and concerns were taken seriously.
I can't offer any advice about the meds as I have no knowledge. I'd just say that what you plan to do is right.
Dennis is just doing what kids his age do and it is so wonderful to see how he has blossomed since he joined the family.
Hey, I just got this in an email a few weeks ago, and remembered it now... it is an article on managing ADHD - without drugs. Don't know if it is any good, but might be worth checking out.
Peace.
I would recommend concerta. I myself have been using it for about ten years and have had no problems it with. As with any medication, it may take some time for the medication to have any profound effect on Annalyn, but Concerta is definitely another viable ADD medication to consider.
I personally have ADHD and none of the meds I've been on have been addicting? Beyond that some meds do NOTHING for me at all - I don't notice it but I do notice the side affects (perhaps those are making her more grumpy?) and then others work with lots of side affects and only one (aderol) works with minimal side affects.
Email me if you want to talk about ADHD meds, I've been on a bunch of different kinds. What is she taking?
Dear Christine,
If she has ADD or ADHD, then the stimulants won't be habit forming for her. Most parents of these kids complain about how hard it is to keep them ON the meds! Our son used Dexedrine time release pretty effectively, but it is an "older generation" drug and won't likely be the first one docs try nowadays. He is used to it and it works so our doc suggested he stay on it. It is a classic stimulant, just as Ritalin is, and DS is definitely not hooked on it. He skips, he forgets, or he just likes how he feels without it...except for that flunking school and getting written up at work part! :) I would say, though, that you need at least a couple of weeks before deciding. Our son had a pretty tough adjustment period when he first took them (lack of sleep, no appetite; edgy). Then it eased up. Now he seems to go for months without and jumps back on when he wants to (as an adult) and seems to be OK with the transitions. The stimulants work differently than Strattera, so, I guess what I am suggesting is to consider them if it doesn't work, before giving up on meds b/c you fear addiction. The true ADD kids just do not get addicted to these. Actually, I think their native state is more addicting, based on how our son describes it. Annalyn may be emotional because she is losing that charged up feeling that ADD gives her. DS says, "everything is brighter and I can have more fun when I'm not on meds." Plus, brain scans seem to show that the effect of Ritalin on an ADD person is different than on a normal person, which may explain why most get addicted and ADD kids don't. I agree that these are not to be taken lightly, but on the other hand, they are highly effective and should be considered very seriously, as the consequences of leading an ADD life w/o them can be harsh. Like all your kids, you will have to carefully observe, discuss w/docs, hubby & child, and feel your way through. There are no easy answers! Sherry
Christine,
The tooth fairy must be busy, my oldest lost his first tooth also!!! As for the medicine, email with any questions. I am pharmacist and will be happy to answer any questions. Our phamracy also specializes in the homeopathic treatment of ADHD and austic-like disorders (this is not my area of expertise, but I can point you to the right person). I know several people commented that they did not work but with "natural" remedies it can take 6 months to work. Straterra can take several weeks to notice a full result. However, you have a "motherly instinct" you can not deny. There are lots of options pros and cons to all. There is no right answer. My only word of caution is to be careful where you get your research info. The internet is great but there is a lot of bias in blogs and many "medical" website. My email amiehowe@gmail.com. Have a great night
You read Christie Minich's blog, don't you? She has reported having good success using a natural stimulant, coffee! Maybe this is something you have already eliminated, but if not, it may be worth a try.
Jasmine would get really emotional when her meds were wearing off. We went on the daytrana patch. Slap it on and it last 9 hours. We do jump start it with a 2.5 focalin (very low dose).
I, too have kids on ADHD meds. Some have worked well, others not so much. The best advice I can offer you is to find a pediatrician who is knowledgable about ADHD and the various drugs. Don't let someone just shoot blindly in the dark. Make them justify why they chose a particular medication. If it's because it's what the latest drug pushers put in their shelves, move on to a different doc. I'm not familiar with Stratera, but I am with several other meds. I know this is a newer one that is supposed to be different from the others - more like an antidepressant I think?? I don't know for sure though. If it is the case, my older son especially had WAY more negative side effects from those meds than he has had with the stimulant ADHD meds.
The moodiness may well be her body adjusting to it, but it shouldn't take more than about 3-5 days at the MOST. If it's been longer than that, and you aren't seeing any effects, you may need to do more than just increase the dosage. You may need to move into a stimulant. It is a little scary, but after seeing the difference they make for my kids (and how much they've helped both of them with attachment, too) I am a big believer that these medicines really do serve a purpose and really do allow kids to function and to be "normal." At this point in their lives, it's something that my kids could not be without the meds.
Hello!
When i first had first read that you were considering ADD for Annalynn, I remembered my own experiences with multiple ADD medications I had taken when I was in gradeschool. Unfortunately, while I took multiple medications I can only remember taking Aderall. With all of the medications I tried the side-effects were bad enough for my parents to decided i should go without them.
I experienced side effects ranging from physical (stomach aches and pains) to emotional (just being totally depressed and blah all the time). I'm no doctor, but I would pay attention to the symptoms.
After trying multiple medications and nothing working out, we decided to give my willpower a second chance. I'm sure I put my mother through extraordinary amounts of frustration (I was homeschooled) but at the same time, she knew that the side effects of the medication changed my personality and knew that I was upset enough with the medication to try and make things work.
I will definitely be praying over the situation this week; for you and the doctors that you will have wisdom find and creative solutions, for Annalynn the willpower to work hard and that God can play mediator between her mind and her actions and bless her with concentration and stillness, and that your family will be filled with grace for each other.
As an adult I still haven't mastered ADD, but thank God the people surrounding give me grace!
:)
Wow! Look at the size of that toad! I can't quite decide whether he/she is cute or repulsive! We don't have toads in NZ, only little tiny frogs.
My DD was on Ritalin for a while. We noticed side-effects especially weepiness for the first few weeks and then they settled. Only thing that stayed was the loss of appetite. However, we did notice a change in her concentration almost immediately. The effects dont last all day though. SHe was on the long acting, took it at 7am, and then by 4-5pm it had worn off. I hated the idea of it, but looking back it was the best thing we did.
I agree with everyone who says that Strattera is not the drug that is going to kick in quickly, expect to see full dose effect in 7-10 days. Stimulants work much quicker and the change can be noticable immediately because they are fast acting and also don't build up, but Strattera is not a stimulant, and does have to reach therapeutic level before true results can be seen.
I also agree that homeopathic treatment is a VERY viable option, should strattera not be effective. www.diannecraft.org has amazing amounts of information on the biology of behavior. I found the B vitamins, the melatonin, the pycnogenol, and the lithium orotate (which isn't the lithium of prescriptions)wer all incredibly helpful for our kids.
Also of note, I always noted emotional 'episodes' when beginning ADD medications. I think it has a lot to do with the children's brain slowing down enough to think about things. Before meds, they really could 'pass over' lots of things that may have stricken an emotional chord, but as the meds slow them down, they 'see' it more. I think this was really just part of the adjustment to the meds though, as they all seemed to acclimate, or desensitize to these things and balanced back out with time.
Lastly, I should say that while I am quite opposed to stimulant medication in most cases, we must always keep in mind that for some children, they are an only option. While I think they should be the route of last resort, I don't think they should be automatically ruled out.
Hope this is helpful, we'll be praying here that your persistance in your desire to help Annalyn cope with this disorder will be met with success! Keep Swimming :)
Cute tooth picture! Do your kids have tooth pillows? My friends daughter is a light sleeper so I got her a tooth pillow to hang on her door from our good friend Dollar Tree. Also check out this blog for some help with the meds issue! Her daughter is from Russia too maybe she could give you some advice! http://www.alwayswanted4.blogspot.com/
That toad is SO cute!
What med is your dd on? We just started my stepson on Vyvanse after hearing some really good things on it.
we had Ethan on a stimulant and it was an absolute nightmare. NIGHTMARE! he became antisocial, emotional, irrational, angry, irritable, in short not at all Ethan! he is on Strattera now and doesnt have any of those side effects. he is no longer surly all the time. he is still grumpy some because thats just his personality but he happily remains part of the family goings on now AND he can sit long enough for schoolwork. Every drug reacts differently in every person. there are many drugs out there and while one might be awful for me it might work great for you. so if this one isnt working call the doc and try antoher.
Most parents see only the side affects because the medicine wears off later in the day. You might want to make sure the medicine lasts until homework time is over. Often children have "withdrawal" issues such as headaches when it starts to wear off. I was often angry and had stomach/head aches when I took Ritalin and it was early afternoon. My mom would push me through my homework and then make me go outside and blow off some steam by myself. This usually worked out very well. I took a break from the medicine in third grade and still regret it to this day. This was the year we learned multiplication and I still stink at it! Our pediatrician said it took some kids several weeks to start working properly so keep with it.
I understand your concerns about stimulants, though there are things you can do to try to avoid dependance, for example I usually decrease my dosage or go off meds all together during summer break and other times when I do not need focus because I am not doing homework etc. My best advice would be to keep with the strattera a bit longer, and not to give up on medication as a whole because one or two medicines do not work, as far as I've heard there is usually one medicine that works far better than the others for each person. I would encourage you to try vyvanse before other stimulants because it is supposed to have much fewer side effects than other stimulants, and I have heard a lot of good things about it. I would not expect her to become dependent immediately, as she should start on a very low dose initially, and if you were to stop the medication at that point there should be very minor if any withdrawal type symptoms. (the only withdrawal symptoms I've ever experienced even after being on a medication for awhile is some fatigue and a headache similar to a caffeine withdrawal). I hope this helps, I think you are doing a great job of raising your children and of being their advocate.
Have you considered a regular exercise program? It's considered best to do it before school with a minimum of 20 minutes of elevated heart rate. It really makes a difference! Also, if you can work it in, exercise where there is exacting precise movement and an elevated heart rate works best - think of trail running, doing an obstacle course or even swimming laps with correct form.
You can google exercise and ADHD and it'll come up with a ton of links, but here's an article I like about it: http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-3-12-21050-1,00.html
be sure to follow the links to related articles, there's even more.
Of course, this takes time which can be hard to come by, but it's proven and steroid free with only positive side effects.
Good luck!
My oldest son Chance has been almost every ADHD medicine, including Strattera. He did really well on it when he was 5 and 6 years old. However, we have had the best results with Adderal XR and Vyvanse. They are longer lasting. We are now using the Daytrana patch as he suddenly decided he could no longer take capsules. My son was also very teary and sometimes angry and mad.
We now have added a tiny bit of Risperadol at night. He also had trouble sleeping and could stay up all night.
We have in no way gotten close to solving our problems. Now that he is 11 years old, I think some of the things I tell him are finally sinking in. It is a challenge each day. We have bad days and good days cherish the good days.
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