Which ADHD Medicine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not about to lecture you - my kid's isn't nearly "severe" and you have to do what you have to do, but I'm curious if you've tried extreme diet modification first? No sucrose, no corn syrup, no artificial dyes, nothing but protein in the morning, add a lot of fish oil.

I would TRY before I moved to the drugs. What's to lose?

A friend of mine who is in the neuro-industry says they are coming out with a study in the next 6-12 months that will highlight a clear detriment to receiving ADHD med at an early age.

Thanks for dropping a bomb. What does that mean? What is the "neuro-industry?" Does your friend work for a drug company or more on the natural side of things? What is an "early age?"

I know you meant to be helpful, but it's not helpful to say that and not say more. A lot of us have kids on ADHD meds and we worry about it. I'm sure any of us would use diet if it worked for our kids, but it doesn't work for every kid (and certainly not mine).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not about to lecture you - my kid's isn't nearly "severe" and you have to do what you have to do, but I'm curious if you've tried extreme diet modification first? No sucrose, no corn syrup, no artificial dyes, nothing but protein in the morning, add a lot of fish oil.

I would TRY before I moved to the drugs. What's to lose?

A friend of mine who is in the neuro-industry says they are coming out with a study in the next 6-12 months that will highlight a clear detriment to receiving ADHD med at an early age.

Speaking as a special educator, I can tell you that there are significant downsides to extreme diet modification for kids.

First of all, kids with ADHD often feel very out of control. They can't anticipate their own behavior, or predict adult or peer reactions to their behavior, so the world can feel random and disjointed to them. They often compensate by seeking control wherever they can get it. Taking away all of their control in another major area, what they eat, just exacerbates those feelings.

Second of all, kids with ADHD often feel like they're on the perimeter of the group. They may not have a lot of positive shared experiences with peers. The reality is that food is a big social experience for most kids, and one that kids with ADHD can often manage successfully. So, taking it away from them, and introducing a lot of adult control and intrusion, because many kids with ADHD will need adult proximity to control their impulses around forbidden foods, is a major social downside.

Thirdly, it doesn't work. The research says it doesn't work, and I've got 20 years of classroom anecdata to tell you it doesn't work. So, treatment is delayed for another 3 - 6 months while you "try" something that doesn't help, and the kid falls 3 - 6 months further behind, and becomes 3 - 6 months more frustrated, and does 3 - 6 more months of data to their peer relationships.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. The dr likes to start with Adderall and given DD's schedule she went with 10mg of the XR version.

Turns out DD is down to 43 pounds (constant moving?) so we will go back in 3 weeks for a weight check in.

The stuff about diet is interesting. But DD is a great eater and we don't have forbidden foods, just foods eaten in moderation. I would worry about turning a kid who eats everything into a kid who eats less variety.

[Anonymous]

Our psych said it's more important to watch that kids are growing taller, rather than to focus on their weight. She said as long as they're going upwards, they're ok. (ie skinny is ok if they get taller)

Just food for thought. Lol.

[Anonymous]

OP here - just wanted to thank everyone in this thread and on the board for answering our ADHD questions. We started meds today and I'm not entirely sure it was the meds but today was the best day our family has had in months. Our kid was delightful, thoughtful, made good choices, didn't talk nonstop and opened a book and read. She read! We didn't even know she could do it. It was awesome. We were so proud and she was glowing with each new "win" during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - just wanted to thank everyone in this thread and on the board for answering our ADHD questions. We started meds today and I'm not entirely sure it was the meds but today was the best day our family has had in months. Our kid was delightful, thoughtful, made good choices, didn't talk nonstop and opened a book and read. She read! We didn't even know she could do it. It was awesome. We were so proud and she was glowing with each new "win" during the day.

That's wonderful! Thanks for updating, OP. I'm an adult who's about to start medication for ADHD, and it gives me such hope to hear stories like these.

[Anonymous]

My son was like night and day the first day he took meds too. He finally stopped talking non-stop. He actually thought before he spoke (most of the time). I no longer cringe when he talks to other adults because he is able to slow down and think first. He was much less contrary and combative too which was a nice, unexpected side effect.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, our doctor had us start with only 5 mg Adderrall XR for a 55 pound kid with moderate/severe ADHD. That gets us to a tolerable level, so we've been sticking there, with an occasional 2.5 mg booster in the afternoon/evening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - just wanted to thank everyone in this thread and on the board for answering our ADHD questions. We started meds today and I'm not entirely sure it was the meds but today was the best day our family has had in months. Our kid was delightful, thoughtful, made good choices, didn't talk nonstop and opened a book and read. She read! We didn't even know she could do it. It was awesome. We were so proud and she was glowing with each new "win" during the day.

Great to hear OP!
Our DS started on 5 mg. adderall xr (we didn't see much change) and went to 10 mg within a month. He was just shy of 6 at the time.
Over time the Dr. altered the dosage and then DS moved to Vyvanse several years ago.
He doesn't eat much mid day, but is famished at breakfast and eats a lot. Same with later in the evening. He remains quite thin, but basically whever he is hungry, we feed him.