adhd & ritalin

S

stan007

Well-known member
anyone had any experience with ADHD & using ritalin ...

my son was diagnosed last year and quite quickly in my opinion. - it seems quite low level his behaviour at home is actually getting a lot better and school have no issues with behaviour but now agree he does have some problems focusing ... though in some school tests he did last year he did really well ???

the school now agree with my wife (who has been pushing it) that ritalin is the way forward!

as a teacher my experience with ritalin is quite negative - I have taught 2-3 kids who were on ritalin and they were like zombies - totally out of it, even drooling at the mouth etc..

I am not saying ADHD does not exist and he does seem to have some attention issues but he is on;y 7 - I think before jumping straight to the medication we should consider other solutions ... more physical activites will help him etc... I often think the school system simply does not suit 7 year old kids with lots of energy??

any experiences of ADHD ?? is ritalin really the answer ? the only answer?
 
stan007 said:
anyone had any experience with ADHD & using ritalin ...

my son was diagnosed last year and quite quickly in my opinion. - it seems quite low level his behaviour at home is actually getting a lot better and school have no issues with behaviour but now agree he does have some problems focusing ... though in some school tests he did last year he did really well ???

the school now agree with my wife (who has been pushing it) that ritalin is the way forward!

as a teacher my experience with ritalin is quite negative - I have taught 2-3 kids who were on ritalin and they were like zombies - totally out of it, even drooling at the mouth etc..

I am not saying ADHD does not exist and he does seem to have some attention issues but he is on;y 7 - I think before jumping straight to the medication we should consider other solutions ... more physical activites will help him etc... I often think the school system simply does not suit 7 year old kids with lots of energy??

any experiences of ADHD ?? is ritalin really the answer ? the only answer?
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Research Modafinil for ADHD. It is a drug that was developed for people with narcolepsy (fall asleep at random times in the day) but can in some cases be prescribed for ADHD. If the doctor will not prescribe Modafinil, it can be purchased legally and safely online (legal to buy, illegal to sell without prescription, but is sold regardless). I personally think that I have undiagnosed ADD (not the hyperactivity bit), and I use Modafinil to get work done. Has worked like a miracle for me with extremely limited unwanted side effects. Improved my focus massively.
 
stan007 said:
anyone had any experience with ADHD & using ritalin ...

my son was diagnosed last year and quite quickly in my opinion. - it seems quite low level his behaviour at home is actually getting a lot better and school have no issues with behaviour but now agree he does have some problems focusing ... though in some school tests he did last year he did really well ???

the school now agree with my wife (who has been pushing it) that ritalin is the way forward!

as a teacher my experience with ritalin is quite negative - I have taught 2-3 kids who were on ritalin and they were like zombies - totally out of it, even drooling at the mouth etc..

I am not saying ADHD does not exist and he does seem to have some attention issues but he is only 7 - I think before jumping straight to the medication we should consider other solutions ... more physical activites will help him etc... I often think the school system simply does not suit 7 year old kids with lots of energy??

any experiences of ADHD ?? is ritalin really the answer ? the only answer?
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I would side totally with you, as a father of 5 I would of fought to stop the use of this on any of them.
 
I'm not a parent but as a former teacher there's been a massive trend towards diagnosing and medicating kids.
I don't think it boils down to a binary choice but I would say it's an issue where a second opinion or expert advice is needed. Going too rapidly to a pharmaceutical solution isn't a great idea for kids. Check out Ritalin side effects and attainment results as a case study.
 
Not all before a genuine case bites my head off but some kids on it are just badly parented and plain naughty.Adhd is a great label and excuse for some
 
yeah - my kid has never been naughty at school - we were surprised! He can be really diffiuclt at home but is getting better.. school is now saying he cant keep focus so is more attention part than naughty behaviour! I have some some parents in the UK pushing for their kid to get labelled adhd so it can become an excuse for bad behaviour

my mum described my son - as having ants in his pants!
 
Not been patient facing in the community for a decade or more but I'd get at least a second opinion, ALWAYS get a second opinion with diagnosis, they're very often wrong around something as vague as ADHD and even then an ongoing stimulant prescription for a 7 year old isn't something I'd ever be happy with, in fact I find it hugely problematic. All stimulants also have a level of dependency higher than the medical profession admits to.

The school need to investigate how they may be failing him, that would be my first thoughts, he sounds like a bright lad who may actually just find school boring and easy.
 
stan007 said:
yeah - my kid has never been naughty at school - we were surprised! He can be really diffiuclt at home but is getting better.. school is now saying he cant keep focus so is more attention part than naughty behaviour! I have some some parents in the UK pushing for their kid to get labelled adhd so it can become an excuse for bad behaviour

my mum described my son - as having ants in his pants!
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Stan - your mum probably has a good point and as a parent you probably have a better idea of what techniques and structures work to keep any potential concerns to a minimum. Based on my lad, who was never diagnosed, but probably fits the general idea of what ADHD is, structure is important. As is time spent with them. In other words, good parenting...

Go with your own instincts and trust his teachers views too. You and they see him more than anyone else. if you feel unsure about the first diagnosis, then get a second.

All part of the journey. 👍🏻
 
my grandson has had concentration and behavioural issues and has had a difficult time at school , after several visits to specialists he was diagnosed with ADHD and has been on Ritalin his behaviour and concentration has improved immensely and is a much happier little boy
 
stan007 said:
anyone had any experience with ADHD & using ritalin ...

my son was diagnosed last year and quite quickly in my opinion. - it seems quite low level his behaviour at home is actually getting a lot better and school have no issues with behaviour but now agree he does have some problems focusing ... though in some school tests he did last year he did really well ???

the school now agree with my wife (who has been pushing it) that ritalin is the way forward!

as a teacher my experience with ritalin is quite negative - I have taught 2-3 kids who were on ritalin and they were like zombies - totally out of it, even drooling at the mouth etc..

I am not saying ADHD does not exist and he does seem to have some attention issues but he is on;y 7 - I think before jumping straight to the medication we should consider other solutions ... more physical activites will help him etc... I often think the school system simply does not suit 7 year old kids with lots of energy??

any experiences of ADHD ?? is ritalin really the answer ? the only answer?
Click to expand...
Firstly isn’t 7 a little young for a definitive diagnosis of ADHD?
I would seek a second opinion and clarification on how that’s been determined.
As for the medication do some research and see what alternatives are. My son who is now 4 had encephalitis at the start of lock down which has left him with a few permanent problems including epilepsy. They first put him on phenobarbital to control the seizures I fought hard to get him off it the side effects were massive the outbursts and compulsiveness were off the scale. Me and the wife nicknamed it the drunken monkey juice. I am happy to say the weened him off it as it is highly addictive and he’s settled on lamotrogine, there are side effects from that but nothing like the phenobarbital. My point is as a parent being with a child everyday who takes medication you will know if that medication suits them and there always is another option so tell the Doctor and don’t be forced onto a medication your not happy with
 
Just a personal opinion here, I think there is far too much use of pharmaceutical drugs for all kinds of things. And I'm not comfortable with the notion that a 7 year old should be clubbed over the head with a powerful chemical because his behaviour requires a bit of work and patience to manage. Feels like potential cruelty. I'm an ex teacher and I believe most of these kids grow out of the behaviour. The need for drug intervention on behaviour grounds is extremely rare in my experience. But I'm not an expert on ADHD.

Edit. Diet can be a factor too, obviously. Can certainly affect children's behaviour, and accentuate it.
 
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phill said:
Not all before a genuine case bites my head off but some kids on it are just badly parented and plain naughty.Adhd is a great label and excuse for some
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when I was a kid you was just thought ofas a naughty kid and got a smack round the head
 
I mean I probably wouldn't push for my own child to be medicated under any circumstances... but if a medical professional prescriber has decided that that is the best way forwards i would be inclined to at least try it. I would also be inclined to try other methods as well as or instead of medication, like physical activity etc. If you try the meds and find you do not like the outcome I would certainly be straight back to the practitioner to look for other methods, and would probably stop my child taking the meds.

I certainly wouldn't be buying any kind of pharmaceuticals over the Internet that potentially need prescribing via an unregulated body that you don't know where they've come from or how they have been made, and giving them to my child. Not suggesting that you would either, however I have read one or two other replies to this thread!

All the best
 
yeah - I would prefer to try different methods... he does judo and some swimming ...

we live in Brazil - he loved going for big country walks when we were last in the UK ... not much freedom here like that!

also the school system here - seems to be .. sit down, be still, be quiet and listen to the teacher!!! not the most helpful approach to kids who dont fir the ''norm''
 
stan007 said:
we live in Brazil - he loved going for big country walks when we were last in the UK ... not much freedom here like that!
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off topic, I know, but your ‘not much freedom here like that’ caught my attention. I don’t suppose you could expand on that 👍
 
ADHD is a neurodiverse condition, it's evident to me that your son doesn't like the teaching methods and will learn better using a different method.
 
voyeur said:
Just a personal opinion here, I think there is far too much use of pharmaceutical drugs for all kinds of things. And I'm not comfortable with the notion that a 7 year old should be clubbed over the head with a powerful chemical because his behaviour requires a bit of work and patience to manage. Feels like potential cruelty. I'm an ex teacher and I believe most of these kids grow out of the behaviour. The need for drug intervention on behaviour grounds is extremely rare in my experience. But I'm not an expert on ADHD.

Edit. Diet can be a factor too, obviously. Can certainly affect children's behaviour, and accentuate it.
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Spot on.
 
Not much freedom ... Vwey few Parks / (safe) open spaces ... No real access tô countryside... He loved places like Beacon Felll in the UK .. unsafe Streets here & No real.community sports clubs - just quite expensive private ones
 
stan007 said:
Not much freedom ... Vwey few Parks / (safe) open spaces ... No real access tô countryside... He loved places like Beacon Felll in the UK .. unsafe Streets here & No real.community sports clubs - just quite expensive private ones
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We used to have groups of kids from the local primary school on outings to the farm( before a few PC over protective H&S types interfered) the kids loved it. The point I’m getting to is that children who had so called behaviour issues seemed to get the most out of it. The change in them was noted by parents and teachers alike. I have 2 autistic nephews ( brothers) , the connection they have with the animals brings tears to my eyes... very special. All the best with your son.
 
stan007 said:
yeah - I would prefer to try different methods... he does judo and some swimming ...

we live in Brazil - he loved going for big country walks when we were last in the UK ... not much freedom here like that!

also the school system here - seems to be .. sit down, be still, be quiet and listen to the teacher!!! not the most helpful approach to kids who dont fir the ''norm''
Click to expand...
I think you have to ask yourself who benefits from your kid taking Ritalin? Is it your kid? Or is it his teachers, his carers, and even the doctor, from reduced hassle? Short term gain. It feels a bit like the hospital's solution for Jack Nicholson in the Cuckoo's nest. And it sounds like the problem is at least partly circumstantial. And maybe to do with you lad struggling to express himself and to know how to channel his energy.
 
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Newholland said:
We used to have groups of kids from the local primary school on outings to the farm( before a few PC over protective H&S types interfered) the kids loved it. The point I’m getting to is that children who had so called behaviour issues seemed to get the most out of it. The change in them was noted by parents and teachers alike. I have 2 autistic nephews ( brothers) , the connection they have with the animals brings tears to my eyes... very special. All the best with your son.
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There’s some fairly simple and - being frank - obvious elements to this sort of thing and as humans we’ve arrogantly forgotten that we’re animals. If you have a dog and you keep it indoors without exercise, the dog will start to chew and damage furniture. Exercise the dog properly and it will be fine. The same applies with kids and particularly boys.

I know there’s cases that are more extreme, but ADHD never used to be a thing when kids had lots of outlets for healthy play and natural exercise - football in the street or on the park. Riding bikes around. Dens out, bulldog etc...

Looking at schools in Greater London, there’s barely a space for the kids to runaround and play without a high risk of accidental injuries that teachers have to be cautious of - mainly because daft parents then moan and groan...
 
straightatthewall said:
There’s some fairly simple and - being frank - obvious elements to this sort of thing and as humans we’ve arrogantly forgotten that we’re animals. If you have a dog and you keep it indoors without exercise, the dog will start to chew and damage furniture. Exercise the dog properly and it will be fine. The same applies with kids and particularly boys.

I know there’s cases that are more extreme, but ADHD never used to be a thing when kids had lots of outlets for healthy play and natural exercise - football in the street or on the park. Riding bikes around. Dens out, bulldog etc...

Looking at schools in Greater London, there’s barely a space for the kids to runaround and play without a high risk of accidental injuries that teachers have to be cautious of - mainly because daft parents then moan and groan...
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Agree with all of that , as you say and the OP has alluded to, the answer is for a lot of such cases simple, maybe too simple for today’s complex educated society.
 
Personally find it disturbing and wouldn't want my kid on anything like that until they're able to make those decisions for themselves. With the flaws, lack of funding and inspiration often present in public education it all seems a bit convenient, but when you're essentially training kids to be content performing mundane tasks in cubicles for 60 years I suppose focus above all else is the goal.
 
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