My daughter is 10, and she was on Adderall for a while when she was 9. It seemed to make her really depressed and angry. The anger/attitude seems to be a problem with all of the stimulants for her, but the depression was present with the Adderall. Have you looked into other meds such as Welbutrin?

BTW - we had bad luck on Strattera too. Good luck to you (it all feels like a guessing game!)

Laurie

Your user name speaks volumes. Navigating this ambiguous path while trying to maintain some sense of control and peace of mind, is very frustrating because of all the conflicting information, expectations and opinions about what is best for your child from doctors, the school system, and society as a whole- the message is to medicate. We were “strongly encouraged” to medicate our child at age 7. We made the decision not to use drugs given all the research about the risks and unknowns of amphetamine/stimulant use with people under age 18 and there are no long term benefits to using stimulants. Reading all the posts from people reaffirms that for us, this was the right choice. It has not been easy but today I can tell you, that with a lot of hard work, and eliminating toxic foods and chemicals from his diet, and working closely with our son and the school system, he is healthy, happy and doing great. The only side effect we experience is some days of feeling exhausted!  But we know in the long run he will be better off. I understand the desperation you are feeling and would encourage you to read the research about ADD and medication- can be found on the internet with a simple google search, also Frontline did a good job with their story (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/medicating/adhd/diagnostic.html) and there are some good books out there SuperParenting For ADD by Edward Hallowell, and also Special Needs Kids Eat Right by Judy Convers to start. We remind ourselves that the goal is progress not perfection.  Best of luck to you and your family.

Laurie,  We have not tried Welbutrin.  do you use this in combination with an ADD med?  thank you so much for replying
TRyan,  I also found your reply interesting.  I read the book SuperParenting…but it seems that in the heat of the moment I lose all the techniques I have read about.  Maybe I’m the one who needs counselling   I have not read Special Needs Kids Eat…  I will be looking for that one.
We are so scared to go off the meds….what if things go terribly wrong?  somedays the thread seems like it’s getting shorter.  I am really enjoying this website and I am hoping to make some good connections here

We are currently using it with Intuniv (2 mg), which she has been on for about 2 years now. The hyperactivity is not pronounced like it was then, the attention just isn’t addressed as much as it should be to help her out in school. But, as it should (Welbutrin is actually an antidepressant) her anger and temper are not there as they were on the stimulants. I got my child back. Now, if the attention could get taken care of….

I will talk to our doctor about the Intuniv and Welbutrin.  After all we’ve been through I can handle the attention issues   Thank you

Hello Hangingbyathread,

My daughter is 14 and was diagnosed with ADHD / ODD when she was 5 / 6.  The choice to medicate or not medicate is a very personal decision and must be based within your own family experience and what works for you and your child.

I can only share my experience with you - and can very much related to T Ryan’s post.  I have not medicated my child once, and have also worked very closely with her since early childhood (ie. behavioural workshops, incredible school support, a detailed IEP that works, extra homework support and a strict organic diet).  While we are dealing with a bit of tween hormones + anxiety at the moment, my daughter is happy, healthy, eats and sleeps well.  My choice felt right for my daughter and I.

My daughter can be moody, but she is 14, has started her cycle, and much of this can certainly be attributed to the developmental cycle at this age.  Never do I see the manic episodes, sharp mood swings, aggresiveness, twitches / jerking, or other symptoms that are often reported on this site.  While she has had minor friendship troubles, she maintains a great friend base and has a good 3-4 friends that she relies on and it is very healthy.

I also know that through these posts, some medications, different dosages, seem to be the right fit for some children with very little symptoms…  Be open to trying new treatments, or tweaking a dosage, and I would certainly raise the symptoms your daughter is having with your medical specialist.  If you are not feeling right about something, follow your gut.  You are the mama, and are probably right when something doesn’t feel right.

Thank you Katri,  I am happy for you and your daughter.  My main reason for joining this website was too gain insight on new treatments.  We work closely with our doctor but sometimes I feel he makes decisions based on what I’ve read and tell him…and then he makes me happy…I really want to go off the meds for the summer.  I’ve purchased many organic, gluten free foods and foods that contain 0 additives/dye, etc.  I appreciate all the advice from everyone.  I feel you have a good grip on your situation.