A bit of piece in the house

[Momof2]

I took my daughter to the Dr yesterday and asked if an evaluation would be appropriate due to her behavior. I had tried everything with her but nothing worked. We couldn't even go out to eat at mc ds' she would run around and yell and throw fits when we tried to discipline her. She would fight all day with her brother and destroy the house as fast as I could clean it. While at the Drs' office she destroyed the room in the matter of 30 minutes. The Dr. said yes that she saw very strong signs of ADHD in her behaviors. The Dr also said we could try her on adderall xr to see if it helps her behavior.I will be calling to set up her appointment for an evaluation on monday. I am not the type who medicates their kids every chance I get but I was at my wits end. When I say I tried everything I mean everything. So I agreed with the Dr and my daughter had her first dose this morning. There was a major change in her behavior. She is a totally different person. She listens now. This is the first time in a long time that there has been very little fighting between her and her brother. My house has not become a disaster area today. The biggest mess today was when I made lunch It has been great. Like I said I'm not big on meds but I think Hubby and I made the right choice.

[SageMother]

More people should hear about your results. Too many, who are not in the situation that you are in, condem medication for children outright, without understanding why the medication is needed.

Your experience illustrates that fact more than any other explanations might.

[jtee]

I agree with SageMother, some health problems, mental and physical require medication to help make life more manageable for a child (or adult).

I don't have any specific experience with kind of problem, however I do believe that some children are born with a chemical imbalance (birth defect?) in their brain that can trigger various kinds of problems, and only proper medication can resolve this imbalance. In such cases, no punishment or other postive\negitive parenting methods can influence a child to change their behavior because a child with a chemical imbalance does not have the ability to control their behavior.

And children with behavior problems as result of a chemical imbalance are at extreme risk of child abuse, not because the parent is a bad and\or abusive parent, but the parent looses control of themselves in their endless attempts to deal with a child that is out of control day after day after day. Even great and very loving parents can do unspeakable bad things they never thought possible in their effort to control a child with a chemical imbalence.

I do have a concern that medicating children is a slippery slop. Some adults think\feel prescription drugs can solve many, if not all, of their aliments. I am very concerned that like minded adults will give a normal child drugs just to make their job as a parent a little easier. I suspect this already goes on far more than anyone cares to admit.

[Kaytee]

I agree also, but I do think that kids are overmedicated today. Parents do tend to run to the drugs as soon as their is a problem. Not everyone and not even you. Just some parents do run to fast to medications of all types. How many times do you hear of kids on antibiotics for ear infections, ehne 90% of ear infections are viral. Things like that bother me
If you have truly tried everything and your child is out of control still, then maybe your child NEEDS the medication. Iam no way against medications. Hope that makes sence

[Momof2]

I am also against over medicating but if you knew my daughter before the medication and after you would agree that the right choice was made. She is so much more able to control herself and is a lot happier. She looks so much less frustrated and stressed out from fighting herself. She is now able to make good choices and is happier about herself. We went out in public the other day and it was great she sat at the table and there was no fighting her at all. As far as the overmedicating I agree to many parents think a pill or liquid is the cure all for their childs behavior. This is the first time that I have allowed anything like this in my house. I even refused when the Dr. offered benedryl several years ago when she was having problems sleeping. the only other meds i have is to treat asthma and fevers. Even in treating fevers I try other methods of lowering them before relying on medication.

Other parents of ADHD kids feel free to contact me it would be great to know others out there who I am on the same road as.

[Kaytee]

I am so glad that everything is working out for you!!! Keep us updated on how it continues

[Teresa]

Glad to hear that things went so well on her first day with meds. The same thing happened to us with my daughter. We spent years trying almost everything in the world...behavior modification, organic remedies, diet changes, etc. When we finally put her on meds, over my objections, the impact was just AMAZING....and I don't regret it a single day.

I do agree that ADD/ADHD is overdiagnosed, and children are overmedicated, but for those who really need the meds, they are truly life savers.

[tater03]

I am so glad that things are working out. I think that each individual child is different and that the parents of the child and the peditrician are the only ones that should say whether or not the child need to be medicated. In your case it sounds like this is the best course.