Help! Dealing with a child with ADHD

I have tried several medications , Strattera made her fall asleep, Focalin makes her grind her teeth and buh her eyes and clutch her throat while saying "Mama can you hear my heart ? " as I see her neck pulsating ....

I am also right now trying 'Bright Spark' from www.nativeremedies.com  ..it seems to be working much better than any of the meds, AND it's natrual. There are also other products to use to accompany the 'Bright Spark' 'Focus' I believe is one of them. I will be adding it to the Bright Spark in a week, having given  the Bright SPark enough time to see what it can do.

The kids really cant' help ALL of their behavior, but wiht your love and endurance , they can  get through a lot of them.

Good luck, stay strong

Well, it is a very difficult challenge to deal with ADHD. I have two ( also adopted) children with very severe forms.

Phew... we all deal with these medication issues. They are recommended  by the docs.  The needs are bigger and systemic. . ( think about how to categorize your child's actual ADHD syyptoms).  There are different types and severity levels of ADHD.  One size diagnoses just don't fit all. Medication is not the only path or tool.

It has been 15 years now of counseling, behavior modification and the same trials and errors about meds.

This is what worked best for me-- maybe some  ideas will click  with you too.

1) Be in charge of your child! YOU KNOW THE NEEDS_ THE DOCTORS RESPOND TO

  WHAT YOU TELL THEM!     

 Just  make a plan-- YOUR PLAN

2) Watch, plan and  be there! Example:  you know the behaviors, and when stress levels happen;  prepare for them. ( like all of us seem to have the after school "explosion"-- schedule a quiet time, talk WITH your child about their day, worries, good things and show that you care. This is very calming. The routine helps prepare for an outlet of the tense day events.- prepare a fresh snack and watch those additives..horror!

3)Don't expect one medication to do the trick. My success was actually removing all the stimulant ADHD meds-- they made her  a terror. Then the doc put together a "cocktail". Maybe you need a combination of  meds: we use Straterra, Clonodine,Zoloft. A combination of  ADHD focus, anti anxiety, an  aid for after school outbursts and better sleep.

4)  Build personal pride. The best solution  for us was (after the fundamentals); going hell bent after the right hobby, club or  a couple of good friends. There is a real problem with ADHD kids feeling like they are "BAD".  Seek  peers  who might even have similar issues, they can talk, compare notes and understand that they are not "BAD", they have an illness.

5) Get a respite. This is a tough job.  I dedicated all of my efforts to my children's success. I needed to take better care of me to be a better caretaker. Get away, get suppport and feel some relief.

Good luck. This is a journey, not one stop on the train.  Learn as you go and remember to accentuate the positive.

I have ADHD and have 2 girls with ADHD and one with ADD. The only child on meds is my 8 year old. She has been on stimulants non stimulants and nothing has worked for very long. We just tried a new medication and so far I am inpressed. It is called Vyvanse and she is on a second medication for "ticks" (Sort of like Terretz ticks) and they have gone away. She has come home with positive marks for almost two weeks strait. She usually only gets 1 or 2 a week! The second med is Guanfacine. She has only been on them for a few weeks but wow what a difference! She was on Strattera. That worked marginally for awhile but then the results were extreemly minimal. You could really see a difference when she was off it for a few days but it just did not fully do the job. Good luck! Every child is different and what works for one doesn't always work for another. I am blessed because she is a sweet child, no anger issues so I do not know if the meds help with any of that. Just don't give up. We only have them for such a short time although with ADHD a short time can seem to last forever!

My son started showing signs in 1st grade but not enough that we could do anything. By the end of second grade we knew he needed help. So over the summer we saw a Neurogist and started him on Strattera.  Non steroid med were recommended because he was seizure proned as a baby. We noticed mood swings all the time.  It was like a rollercoaster. Being a Mom they trust you the most so you tend to get the worst of everything. You see the anger, aggression, the tears etc. It was real hard.  We left the Neurologist and went to a Psychiatrist were she recommended higher doses of the Strattera. The neurologist would just not go any higher and recommended we see a Psychiatrist because he believed there was more then just ADHD.  After written test taken by us ( his parents) and his teacher - in fact there was more.  He also had a Behavioral Disorder.  His was Social Behavorial Disorder - His anxiety level was unbelieveable - the signs like nail biting, nervousnes, being uneasy, he was like a little adult - never acting like a child so worried all the time.  He would have these anxiety attacks and break down - would not talk to us just grunt. Would not open up.  He was angry, agressive, aggitated, unhappy, and so sad.  IT broke my heart!! He is such an intelligent child - above average but not consider gifted.  So he started meeting with a Psychologist and the Psychiatrist working out problems and talking about his fits he would have.  They have him on Strattera already then added Risperdal for his aggression.  Oh what a difference !!  The mood swings started to lesson and the aggression started to lesson.  Then our insurence changed and we had to change doctors - she referred us to someone in her other practice who really made a HUGE break through.  She started treating him for his Anxiety also.  She told me many children who have ADHD have some kind of Behavioral Disorder also. Anxiety tends to be higger also.  We don't learn to deal with things in life till we are 18 years old it is called being an adult.  So she put him on Zoloft.- FDA approved great for kids.  My son is 11 years old now and is finally a child. He is happy, healthy, playful, funny, his mood changes have come down a lot and not so crazy anymore.  We see the signs if a mood change occurs and try to fix the situation before it happens.  We talk all the time now and he is open - many times he will write a note if he doesn't want to talk that way we at least know.  I know she is only 4 years old but believe me check for behavioral disorder and she if something can be done or helped. I felt as if I lived in heck!! for years.  Now he is 11 yrs old in 5th grade - Honor Student for 2 1/2 years, learn to ride a bike at 10 yrs and is not so afraid or frusterated anymore.  A Good Psychologist will allow you to sit in every once in awhile and help both of you learn to be more open and communicate better.  Medication can be trying at times but sometime dosages are figure out especially when a child is growing.  Don't give up it will get better. It is worth it.

Your child could possibly have FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) that can be detected by testing by a qualified person (in order to get any kind of help later on).  We had our grandson checked for that, then we took him to a nurse-practicitioner who specializes in pediatric behaviors.  In addition to ADHD, FAS, he also has an Oppositional-Defiant Disorder and a possible Central Auditory Processing disorder.  She was the one who prescribed his ADHD meds, PLUS a sleep aid.  She said that ADHD kids are usually chronically sleep-deprived.  He is a much easier child to deal with; he said he feels better since starting this regimen.  The sooner you start on the behavior program, the less time the negative habits have to become "hard wired,"