How do you feel about using ritalin for ADHD?

[sashacat421]

I have really strong feelings about this, but not because I have a child. I have a man whom I share everything in my life with and he's ADD. His parents but him on it for eight years from age 6 to 14. He said it was awful. And it was, for him. They didn't bring him down off it gradually, they just stopped, and it caused even more issues. Another major issue is when parents use it as a substitue for GOOD PARENTING, as in Eric's own case.

Now as an adult he's got some stuff to deal with, as I read an article awhile back that prolonged use of Ritalin in children leads to stumped brain cell growth so by the time they mature, the brain has been "shut down" in certain areas, which leads to increased depression, insomnia, low seratonin, lack of testosterone functions, and general malaise - almost opposite symptoms of ADHD in children. Fascinating article. If anyone has an interest, I will post it.

 

[smokiethecat]

sashacat,I would like to see that article.

Thanks to all that are posting. I appreciate it!

 

[vespacat]

My brother has/had ADHD, and was prescribed Ritalin as a child, but my mother didn't like the way it was affecting him (no energy at all), not to mention the stigma of the disorder back in the late 70's, so he was taken off of it after a couple of years.

Interestingly, the psychiatrist I had before my current psychiatrist believed I had ADHD and wanted to refer me to a psychologist who specialized in the disorder for an official diagnosis. I still have a difficult time concentrating, even with the bipolar meds, they don't particularly help.

I think any medication that can improve ones health is beneficial, just as long as it doesn't present a potential dependency problem.

 

[sashacat421]

Originally Posted by smokiethecat

sashacat,I would like to see that article.

Thanks to all that are posting. I appreciate it!

http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com...lth_news.shtml

ok here's the second:
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/001876.html

 

[deb25]

I would also like to recommend cutting back on the television and video games. There is a lot of talk that these things contribute to ADD and ADHD.

Teachers do not diagnose ADD and ADHD. Only a physician can do that.

 

[lizch6699]

Originally Posted by Deb25

I would also like to recommend cutting back on the television and video games. There is a lot of talk that these things contribute to ADD and ADHD.

Teachers do not diagnose ADD and ADHD. Only a physician can do that.

That's interesting. Like I mentioned before, my cousin is ADHD and he plays TONS of video games. Is it possible though that maybe video games are one of the few things they can concentrate on, instead of it being a cause?

 

[sammie5]

I have no expertise in teaching, or parenting. But I find it bizarre that these teachers think he is ADHD is two subjects, but not others.

I suspect that the issue is that his learning style in these subjects is not the same as the average student. It's unfortunate that teachers are not given the resources to teach every student in the way that they learn best. And if he has missed out on some of the basics, because he didn't have the advantage of specialized teaching, that would explain some of his inattention now.

He sounds like a lovely child. I'd have him assessed for learning styles, not just for ADHD. Those teachers have no business even suggesting a medical solution when a medical problem hasn't been diagnosed.

 

[deb25]

Originally Posted by lizch6699

That's interesting. Like I mentioned before, my cousin is ADHD and he plays TONS of video games. Is it possible though that maybe video games are one of the few things they can concentrate on, instead of it being a cause?

One study has some interesting conclusions.
http://www.technostress.com/ADHDVideoGames3.htm

(Scroll all the way to the bottom for the conclusions.)

 

[blue_monday_88]

Originally Posted by Sammie5

He sounds like a lovely child. I'd have him assessed for learning styles, not just for ADHD. Those teachers have no business even suggesting a medical solution when a medical problem hasn't been diagnosed.

Ditto, double ditto. One of my BF's best friends's parents were told, when he was like 12, he was ADD (not w/ hyperactivity), he'd never learn normally and needed to be put on drugs. His mother put her foot down, b/c they wanted him to be in "slow" classes. This guys is one not one of the most "book smart" people I know now, but he has a lot of street smarts today (he's 31 now)...anyway it turned out he was severely dyslexic and just needed to be more detail-oriented. Again, he wasn't an "A" student, but moderate and he became a cop, almost a detective so he seems to have found his niche.

I don't have children, so far be it for me to judge someone who wants to put their child on ritalin. If anyone has seen Super Size Me, I think the problem with child overactivity and even adult "malaise" if you will, is processed foods and refined sugars, coupled w/ no outlet to release energy (think of the quote somewhere here about cutting back on TV and video games, and substituting karate lessons or pilates to focus their energies). Super Size Me said some of the "behavioral" students at a special school were more focused and getting good grades b/c of the focus of nutritional education.

I know, for me, when I cut out processed foods and white flours, sugars, etc, as an adult, I was able to focus more, had more energy, and was not easily distracted. I also take vitamins and have not been sick (knock wood!) in over 3 years. Minor colds, but nothing major. So to an extent, if I were to "diagnose" myself, I would say I had a minor form of adult ADD.

It sounds like your son is a normal boy, whose learning style conflicts w/ his teacher's teaching style. As you said, he sounds very creative and artistic, he may need an outlet for this, since modern education does not focus on that so much. Please please please make an informed decision before putting your son on ritalin. I'm sure you are not rushing into it, since you are asking our opinions...but it seems to me that a lot of parents put their children on it not as a last resort, which is what I think they should be doing. JMHO. Like I said, I am not saying someone is a "bad parent" if they do, I do not have children, so it's easy for me to be on the outside looking in.

 

[turtlecat]

Personally (and I have ADD/ADHD) I hated the drugs. they really put me in an imbalance, and my mum says that's when I went from being relatively cheerful to mean. I've heard often, and have myself experience that the ritalin (and later the Ephedra drugs) made me violent tempered when coming down off the medicine, and that there are better ways of teaching a child to concentrate and drain out some of the crazies.

See about martial arts, especially see about tai chi, because it helps teach focusing on energies. Also, you might look into yoga/grounding techniques for him. There are far better LIFELONG results from learning to cope with ADD/ADHD than the benefits from taking drugs for it.

 

[blueyedgirl5946]

Originally Posted by valanhb

Teachers should not be able to diagnose ADD or ADHD, nor have more influence over whether a kid should be medicated than the doctors. Have your son assessed by an impartial specialist, with no mention of the recommendation from the teacher. There are far too many kids on medication than need to be, simply because the children don't know how to focus not because they are unable to.

Good advice

 

[smokiethecat]

Thanks to all of you that took time out to give me your opinions. I trully appreciate it. I think we will take the next step and just get him checked out by a specialist and take it from there. I feel like saying to the teachers(the ones complaining)...lets pretend he is allergic to stimulants/meds and lets brainstorm some other ideas! I'd probably get frowns all around.
Thanks.