Treatments and Medications For ADHD

[misty]

Charlie Girl.............Thread Started on Nov 19, 2005,


You need to go to the link here. This basically tells you what its about, but you can click on the things listed there and go directly to a specific article.


healthyplace.com/Communities/add/addfocus/medications.htm

Treatments and Medications
for Attention Deficit Disorder
medications

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD is often treated with stimulant medications such as Ritalin®, Dexedrine® and Cylert®. A recent study states that an estimated 3 million children with Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD are taking Ritalin® which is double the number in 1990. You will find information on how these medications are used as well as their side-effects. You will also find information on other medications used to improve behavior, mood and learning in children and teens.

Parents of children with Attention Deficit Disorder - ADD need to have full information. Alternatives to medication will be covered as well. A protocol for prescribing these medications is provided for physicians. The information is based on the latest research and guidelines related to the use of medications in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder.

Topics:
Stimulant Drugs
Overview
Mode of Drug Interactions
Contraindications
Drug Interactions
Side Effects
Specific Psychostimulant Medications
Ritalin® Dexedrine® Desoxyn® Adderall® Cylert®

Other Medications
Antidepressants
Desiprimine Anafranil® Elavil® Tofranil® Wellbutrin® Prozac® Zoloft®Paxil®

Neuroleptics
Haldol® Mellaril®
Mood Stabilizers
Lithium Eskalith®
Alpha-Andrenergics
Clonidine Guanfacine

Alternatives To Medication
Psychological Treatment Methods
Diet
Supplements

[shortney]

Thanks for the information ms.ADMIN. And may I add additional information about the treatments of ADHD? I know that medications are very important for people who has adhd but they should also consider alternative programs and therapies like counseling which include goal setting, organizing, scheduling and prioritizing. There is also individual therapy and family therapy, the family should be involve in the therapeutic intervention. And my favorite is the support group, the talk and activities really does help. And lastly the therapeutic schools that provides programs and education that meets their needs.

[andrea]

Hi, I am a new member looking for support and information on LD issues and ADHD. I have two boys who are showing signs of both learning and ADD symptoms. We are trying alternative routes as they are very young still. I am interested in literature regarding this line of study. Studies are showing that activities rich in movement and coordination (using both hemispheres, and stimulating the cerebellum) are great for ADD and LD concerns. I feel that if you are not yet comfortable in your own body, (sensory difficulties, clumsiness) how can you develop true potential and focus.

I am only mustering up ideas without proof, so I wanted to turn the question to those of you who are living with the issue to steer me in some direction.

I appreciate the feedback
Thanks-Happy New Year
Andrea

[charliegirl]

Welcome to our group Andrea! We have a great group here!


Are you looking for behavior modifications and natural alternatives to meds? My son did much better on Omegas. I respond quite well to caffeine and drink a lot of Mt Dew.

I'm sure the others here will be able to advise you on what did and didn't work for them. Also, if you read the threads in the ADHD board, we have quite a bit of information there.

What types of symptoms are your boys showing as far as ADHD and the possible learning disabilities? The more we know, the more we can address your specific concerns.

[andrea]

Thanks for the warm welcome. My boys are 7 and 9 and as polar opposite as they come. The only common thread is their inattention. my oldest son had some hyper activity early on. This subsided after the age of 6 and lots of DHA, Calcium Mag supplements. My younger had a low arrousal and not at all hyper. My older is hyper sensitive and my youngest hypo... the common learning issues are difficulty with visual memory skills, and overall reading problems. I feel that this alone impacts their ability to attend, being that they have to work harder at the task.
I m currently working with a vision therapist to see if we can build some of the pre-requisite ocular motor skills needed for reading. If that doesn't work I am on the medical trail for a safe med Tx. I have read lots on the subject and feel that i can only use it as an alternative if there are serious frustration issues. Its a scary feeling having to turn to medicine for the sole purpose of getting my kids through school. my personal belief is that so many of us got through and figured it out with out the assistance of meds....why can't our kids?

[jj]

Hi Andrea,
Just want to say hi and welcome you to our group.

It sure sounds like you have been doing your homework and have things as in control as you possibly can. I can't blame you for wanting to use meds only as a last resort.

Look forward to getting to know you.

[misty]

Jan 5, 2012 23:44:40 GMT -5 andrea said:

I m currently working with a vision therapist to see if we can build some of the pre-requisite ocular motor skills needed for reading.

Welcome to the group Andrea! My daughter , who is 17 now, did the vision therapy around the age of 8, before we even knew she was ADD. It helped quite a bit so I definitely recommend it as a first step. You might also want to have the boys tested for dyslexia or other language arts LD's. If they have a particular LD, you can get them an IEP with specific help to make learning easier. Aside from about 8 months, my daughter has gone through school unmedicated. She has a math LD & had a language arts LD (although she overcame that by age 12 or so). With the proper help, she does quite well.

[andrea]

Thats good to hear. My experience and research on vision therapy has been very positive so far. I do notice that if the students don't continues with a maintenance program the visual system does regress. I assess kids all day and find that many of the children with ADHD have difficulties with perception and visual tracking/scanning/ accommodation skills. This alone greatly impacts reading and copy skills. I think it makes a lot of kids look dyslexic. If they have ADHD on top of it, it causes lots of emotional distress.

I have considered getting my boys tested for dyslexia, I just don't get the feeling that the school districts fully acknowledges or understands dyslexia. It seems like it was a trend in the 80s and 90s and now we have moved on to ADHD, and autism to diagnosis. Learning specialists never use the term dyslexia anymore. I have done some of my own research on the subject but still am not convinced that it is a real disability, and not just a compilation of other issues combining into what we call dyslexia. (visual motor/perceptual, and auditory processing deficit ). I want to get to the route of the issue. What skills are missing, and how can I remediate those areas of weakness. (sort of a reductionistic approach) I also want to rule out plain old development. Some kids are true late bloomers. The definition of a disability is when it absolutely impacts function. I want to give the boys an opportunity to try and overcome their challenges with the proper supports before I start fitting them into some Diagnostic category.

What was once called socially awkwardness is now Aspergers and rambunctiousness is now noted as ADHD. I get that it exists, But being in the field I see the way doctors diagnose and am weary of the label unless a full battery of assessments are completed beyond a scale or two. Am I wrong? Feel free to put me in my place.