I will attend

I have questions about Concerta so that would be a good opportunity for me to ask there thank you and I will be there.

I will attend

Will attend.  Hope for these questions to be addressed:

1) Does tolerance develop in those taking stimulant medications? And,
if so, will drug ‘vacations’ help slow/reverse this problem

2) Are there any drugs on the horizon that will approach ADHD treatment differently than stimulants or serotonin/dopamine adjustment regimes.

3)  The costs of stimulant meds are outrageously expensive.  Although outside your area of focus…  is there any relief on the horizon?

Alternative Treatments.  I have read in one location that some form of electro-stimulation has shown promise/efficacy in treating ADHD.  Can you comment?

I will attend, thank you!

I will attend!

We are struggling to decide whether or not to medicate 3 of 4 family members with ADD. My husband and twin sons (11 y/o) are very ADD as well as dyslexic. No one is medicated but we are considering this avenue as a possibility to improve the stress and increase our son’s self confidence. We have heard that medications benefits wear off after a period of time. Is this true? Are there certain medications that are better for pre teens than adults? What are the cons of medication?

I will attend

I will attend.  The omega oils… what is safe for children?

I’ll attend.

I’ll be there

I will attend

I plan to attend the “How to Use ADHD Medications Effectively” Web Chat on Tuesday, November 6th, 2012, as long as my schedule allows it.

I will attend

I will attend.  My question:

I have tried all the usual medications since being diagnosed 2 years ago.  None really seem to help me focus better that I can tell, but what they do do is get me out of bed in the morning.  If I don’t take the medication I have zero motivation to get out of bed.  I am currently not working so it is easy for me to get away with this lack of motivation, but I don’t like it….guilt etc.

I’ll be there. Our 10-year-old son has been taking Adderall XR since he was 6. There’s no question that it helps enormously, but he also experiences at least one of the known side effects: suppressed appetite. The nagging - and perhaps frivolous, all things considered - question we have is whether there is concrete evidence that it will or will not cause him to grow less tall than he might otherwise grow. Honestly, raising a happy, well-adjusted kid who doesn’t feel the world is against him is probably a fair trade-off for a lost inch or two, but I’ve been a little afraid to ask the question, and I think I need to ask it now. Thanks.

We are really struggling with meds for my 5 year old son who has been diagnosed with ADHD.  We have tried Adderall, Metadate, Ritalin, Daytrana all in multiple doses.  The only thing that seems to work ok is Ritalin, which he has to take 3 times a day.  He has lost 3 pounds to make him 39 pounds and 44 inches tall. Daytrana has caused significant tics, zombie like and increased heart rate at 20Mg and no effect at 15mg.  He also chews excessively on his fingers.  Please help!  I want my son back but calmer!!!

I will attend. Thank you.

will attend

I will attend. Thank you!

Will be there

I would like to be included. Thank you.

count me in!

count me in!

Be there for sure. Dear Dr. 
Question:Whole family with ADHD in various forms and combinations. Everyone on different medications in different forms as well, which makes sense. I do not have any problems with blood sugar dropping too low or “crashing” at the end of my day but my daughter of 20 years old DOES!  She is a full time university student A.D.D. with a social anxiety side kick. And of course her ADD makes remembering to eat snacks sent with her to keep away the blood sugar crash. She has recently started prozac, in April started at 20mg and now 40mg a day for about the last two weeks. Waiting to see what Over her high school and now university career we have tried everything and she describes her feelings at the end of the day when the meds wear off as “completely unlike her self” and “how one would feel about a week after learning some one they cared for has died”....that’s bad. At the moment she is on 60mg a day of Vyvanse at about 7am, with a dexetrine bump of 5-10mg later in the day if needed which is very rare. She says the Vyvanse has been the best of the bunch so far but she still resists it due to the anxiety over the crash. She does sooooo well when medicated but her fear is becoming greater than her will to succeed. So my questions are this:
1)How can this crash be avoided. Without working this out, she will never commit as an adult to the medications which as an adult my sister and I have found lie saving!
2) What is your recommendation for what to feed her in the mornings pre medication to BEST help with the blood sugar problem.
3) What kind of snacks are best to carry throughout the day in order to keep the medication and blood sugar levels even and hopefully keep the end of the day crash as small as possible.
4) Is there any way to actually avoid this awful crash? I know it’s very common in some shape or form but is there anything medicinally or naturopathic to take at the end of the day to prevent it or lessen it for her? I know Xanax works but certainly no one wants to encourage the use of anything addictive so she does not use it. Anything non-addictive but similar? Or might moving her up to the 40mg of prozac end up helping in a few more weeks? We are really struggling now. Her school and her artwork and her future are certainly balanced on this bottom line of finding the right balance and the right routine to avoid the end of the day nosedive.

We really need your advice!
Thank you!
Sophie and family

I will be there! :D If you are sending out email reminders, I would like one ..  Please & Thank you!!

1) I’ve read that taking caffeine is similar to to taking a small dose of ritalin. Is there any validity to this?

2) Not med-related, but do you have any thoughts on efficacy of cogmed? It’s expensive… worth it, in your opinion?

3) Is it advisable for someone on ritalin to completely avoid all alcohol or are modest levels acceptable?

I will attend

me too

I’ll be there.

1) My daughter has been taking Intuniv for 2yrs but doesn’t seem to work very well.  She is extremely underweight, so not able to take stimulants because of appetite suppressant side effects.  Any suggestions?

2)  Can hair loss be a side effect of Adderall?

Thank you!

Looking forward to it.
Lorraine

I’ll be there.  How can you gage if your child is on the right dose.  I have the psychiatrist who increased his dose to 72mg of Concerta per day to help him deal with attentional and impulsive behaviors and the pediatrician who was horrified at the dosage, thinking it was way to much for a 12 year old boy.  Keep in mind this 12 year old boy is 5’6 and 150lbs.

I will attend.

I will attend

I’ll be attending.

I plan on attending

I am planning on attending.

My son is 9 and taking vyvanse, he is doing great at school but around 430pm he gets angry and sometimes says he wants to die.  I will be there

hoping to be there - little thing called work may get in the way. . .keeping my fingers crossed!

I will be there!

I will be there!

I will try to attend.

I’ll be there

I am interested.

Can stimulants cause stuttering or make it worse?
Is ODD part of ADHD?

Ill be there:)

Will try to attend.

i will attend

i will attend

i will attend

Look forward to hearing Dr. D.

I will be there as well.  Wondering what warrants a change in medication.  My son also has depressive bouts at 4:30ish when the medicine is wearing out and the appettite suppression concerns me.  He’s on Concerta and we recently lowered the dosage but it hasn’t seemed to help.

Count me in.  I am currently on a stimulant medication for my ADD/ADHD .  I have had extreme difficulty getting my prescriptions filled due to recurrent out of stock issues.  Because of having to go long periods of time without meds I have found it very difficult to get stablized. I’m very frustrated, any suggestions?

I will attend.

Would also like to hear about how to gauge when to change medication. My 14yr old son has been taking Concerta for many years, and Risperidone for the past few years. As he gets older, he complains more and more about tiredness - is this a “teenager” thing, or a reaction to the medication? Under what circumstances would a doctor recommend reducing medication to see it’s effect?

I hope to be there. 

My son is currently taking Strattera which is not covered by my insurance ($200 per month).  Well it is covered if we prove all the stimulants do not work for him.  I am against using the stimulants with him as he also has anger issues.

I am curious about the long term affects of Concerta on growing body and brain.