Summer med break?

[Anonymous]

Our kid with ADHD combined and maybe some mood issues has been on various meds for a few years. His ADHD symptoms are better now but still not great - he still routinely gets in trouble at school and home. Seems like the medicines might be helping a little but it's a lot of medication for what seems to be little benefit.

So we were thinking about taking a med break over the summer and then reassess as school begins (or just before). I think the timing might be tough because he'll have to slowly taper off and then ramp back up. We are hoping to maybe cut out any medications that aren't really helping at this point. And maybe he's matured enough to not need as much?

Has anyone tried this? How did it work out? Suggestions on what to do or not do?

[Anonymous]

My child was similar: we had added med after med to try to get more control over symptoms (ADHD, anxiety, mood) and weren't sure what was actually helping. We tried to taper off one or the other but then she would struggle and we'd stop. Then she went to a camp with insufficient oversight over meds and she forgot to take any of it for 10 days. Not doctor recommended, but it did give us the clean start we needed. After about a month off everything, we added back what we needed one med at a time -- slowly -- and she's now doing better than ever on three meds (two of the four she was on before and one new one).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child was similar: we had added med after med to try to get more control over symptoms (ADHD, anxiety, mood) and weren't sure what was actually helping. We tried to taper off one or the other but then she would struggle and we'd stop. Then she went to a camp with insufficient oversight over meds and she forgot to take any of it for 10 days. Not doctor recommended, but it did give us the clean start we needed. After about a month off everything, we added back what we needed one med at a time -- slowly -- and she's now doing better than ever on three meds (two of the four she was on before and one new one).

That would certainly help with the summer timing issue.

How did she do during all of the transitions and month off? Was she struggling until you got to the new combo?

[Anonymous]

I ended up being a teen buddy to an 8 yo ADHD kid at vacation bible school years ago. The kid was on a med break and was having major issues participating so I was brought in as her buddy to keep her on task and to try to keep her from totally upending the room.

We connected really well and on day 4 she completely broke down after we had stepped out of the room to calm down. She told me she hated being off of meds because she couldn't control herself and hated the feeling. She wanted her meds so she could make friends and participate like she did at school. She felt like a freak without them and and hated being ostracized for being impulsive and disruptive. (Truly we were all doing our best--this was her not feeling like she could engage with her peers.)

I'd talk to your child and be flexible. Try going without and see how it goes. If they want meds, I'd listen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child was similar: we had added med after med to try to get more control over symptoms (ADHD, anxiety, mood) and weren't sure what was actually helping. We tried to taper off one or the other but then she would struggle and we'd stop. Then she went to a camp with insufficient oversight over meds and she forgot to take any of it for 10 days. Not doctor recommended, but it did give us the clean start we needed. After about a month off everything, we added back what we needed one med at a time -- slowly -- and she's now doing better than ever on three meds (two of the four she was on before and one new one).

And how do you think this went for the poor counselors and her bunkmates?

[Anonymous]

Way back when, I was a sleep-away camp counselor for a few years. The occasional kid taking a "summer break" from meds were a nightmare, for themselves and everyone else. Think carefully!

[Anonymous]

I can't get my kid's Rx filled for love or money anywhere in the DMV. How nice you guys get to choose when to take a med break instead of it being rammed down your throat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was similar: we had added med after med to try to get more control over symptoms (ADHD, anxiety, mood) and weren't sure what was actually helping. We tried to taper off one or the other but then she would struggle and we'd stop. Then she went to a camp with insufficient oversight over meds and she forgot to take any of it for 10 days. Not doctor recommended, but it did give us the clean start we needed. After about a month off everything, we added back what we needed one med at a time -- slowly -- and she's now doing better than ever on three meds (two of the four she was on before and one new one).

That would certainly help with the summer timing issue.

How did she do during all of the transitions and month off? Was she struggling until you got to the new combo?

She did great at camp and for that month, I think likely because the meds have long half lives and so weren't totally out of her system (except for the stimulant, but ADHD is the least of her problems). Then, when we were on vacation, she had a massive meltdown that included threats of self harm -- we restarted the mood stabilizer immediately. A few weeks later when school started, we restarted the stimulant, and a little after that, tried a new anti-anxiety med (different from the two she had previously been on).

It could have been very bad -- and that one meltdown was scary and make me very thankful to have a very accessible psychiatrist -- but I'm not at all sorry how it ended up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ended up being a teen buddy to an 8 yo ADHD kid at vacation bible school years ago. The kid was on a med break and was having major issues participating so I was brought in as her buddy to keep her on task and to try to keep her from totally upending the room.

We connected really well and on day 4 she completely broke down after we had stepped out of the room to calm down. She told me she hated being off of meds because she couldn't control herself and hated the feeling. She wanted her meds so she could make friends and participate like she did at school. She felt like a freak without them and and hated being ostracized for being impulsive and disruptive. (Truly we were all doing our best--this was her not feeling like she could engage with her peers.)

I'd talk to your child and be flexible. Try going without and see how it goes. If they want meds, I'd listen.

Absolutely. If he felt like medications were helping we would certainly stick with them. Right now we are questioning the benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't get my kid's Rx filled for love or money anywhere in the DMV. How nice you guys get to choose when to take a med break instead of it being rammed down your throat.

So sorry. That must be rough.

Is it an option to change stimulants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was similar: we had added med after med to try to get more control over symptoms (ADHD, anxiety, mood) and weren't sure what was actually helping. We tried to taper off one or the other but then she would struggle and we'd stop. Then she went to a camp with insufficient oversight over meds and she forgot to take any of it for 10 days. Not doctor recommended, but it did give us the clean start we needed. After about a month off everything, we added back what we needed one med at a time -- slowly -- and she's now doing better than ever on three meds (two of the four she was on before and one new one).

That would certainly help with the summer timing issue.

How did she do during all of the transitions and month off? Was she struggling until you got to the new combo?

She did great at camp and for that month, I think likely because the meds have long half lives and so weren't totally out of her system (except for the stimulant, but ADHD is the least of her problems). Then, when we were on vacation, she had a massive meltdown that included threats of self harm -- we restarted the mood stabilizer immediately. A few weeks later when school started, we restarted the stimulant, and a little after that, tried a new anti-anxiety med (different from the two she had previously been on).

It could have been very bad -- and that one meltdown was scary and make me very thankful to have a very accessible psychiatrist -- but I'm not at all sorry how it ended up.

So sorry to hear about the scary meltdown, but it sounds like things worked out.

Did she go back to the same mood stabilizer and stimulant? The only change the was anti-anxiety med? It's so hard for us to figure out the meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was similar: we had added med after med to try to get more control over symptoms (ADHD, anxiety, mood) and weren't sure what was actually helping. We tried to taper off one or the other but then she would struggle and we'd stop. Then she went to a camp with insufficient oversight over meds and she forgot to take any of it for 10 days. Not doctor recommended, but it did give us the clean start we needed. After about a month off everything, we added back what we needed one med at a time -- slowly -- and she's now doing better than ever on three meds (two of the four she was on before and one new one).

That would certainly help with the summer timing issue.

How did she do during all of the transitions and month off? Was she struggling until you got to the new combo?

She did great at camp and for that month, I think likely because the meds have long half lives and so weren't totally out of her system (except for the stimulant, but ADHD is the least of her problems). Then, when we were on vacation, she had a massive meltdown that included threats of self harm -- we restarted the mood stabilizer immediately. A few weeks later when school started, we restarted the stimulant, and a little after that, tried a new anti-anxiety med (different from the two she had previously been on).

It could have been very bad -- and that one meltdown was scary and make me very thankful to have a very accessible psychiatrist -- but I'm not at all sorry how it ended up.

So sorry to hear about the scary meltdown, but it sounds like things worked out.

Did she go back to the same mood stabilizer and stimulant? The only change the was anti-anxiety med? It's so hard for us to figure out the meds.

Same mood stabilizer (miracle med!), different stimulant (but within the same class), and different class/category of anti-anxiety meds. And different school, which has also made a big difference. She is more stable, on fewer medications, than she had been for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child was similar: we had added med after med to try to get more control over symptoms (ADHD, anxiety, mood) and weren't sure what was actually helping. We tried to taper off one or the other but then she would struggle and we'd stop. Then she went to a camp with insufficient oversight over meds and she forgot to take any of it for 10 days. Not doctor recommended, but it did give us the clean start we needed. After about a month off everything, we added back what we needed one med at a time -- slowly -- and she's now doing better than ever on three meds (two of the four she was on before and one new one).

That would certainly help with the summer timing issue.

How did she do during all of the transitions and month off? Was she struggling until you got to the new combo?

She did great at camp and for that month, I think likely because the meds have long half lives and so weren't totally out of her system (except for the stimulant, but ADHD is the least of her problems). Then, when we were on vacation, she had a massive meltdown that included threats of self harm -- we restarted the mood stabilizer immediately. A few weeks later when school started, we restarted the stimulant, and a little after that, tried a new anti-anxiety med (different from the two she had previously been on).

It could have been very bad -- and that one meltdown was scary and make me very thankful to have a very accessible psychiatrist -- but I'm not at all sorry how it ended up.

So sorry to hear about the scary meltdown, but it sounds like things worked out.

Did she go back to the same mood stabilizer and stimulant? The only change the was anti-anxiety med? It's so hard for us to figure out the meds.

Same mood stabilizer (miracle med!), different stimulant (but within the same class), and different class/category of anti-anxiety meds. And different school, which has also made a big difference. She is more stable, on fewer medications, than she had been for years.

That's great. Thanks for sharing. We will discuss summer options with the dr.