Ok so from the time my son was born he has had delays. He was born 4 lbs 10 oz. I carried him to 38 1/2 weeks. He was recently diagnoised and he has been on numerous medications such as clonidine, adderall, melatonin. He was taken off the clonidine because he woke up last May at 2 in the morning from a friends house and walked to my job to find me. Then he was put on the non extended release adderall but it wore off after 5 hours he would be jumping off the walls. Then he was put on a higher dose of the adderall and it was the extended release. He just recently came off that and is still on the melatonine for sleep. I feel bad because he went with withdrawals from the adderall and now the doctors, phycitrist and councelors want to put him on a cocktail meaning a few pills to help with his behaivor, his focusness, his sleep, and his over active hyperness. They have asked how I felt about riddalin and that's out of the question because of kids I've seen on it. I just feel like he is so young to be on so many meds and not to mention what they will do to him. Has anyone had to deal with something similar? It would be nice to know if there are other parents who are dealing with the same or similar?

I've dealt with these medications as a teacher. I've worked with students on and off their meds, along with making the transition to new meds. Yes, I have seen young children on these meds. How old is your son?

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Originally Posted by teacherjenn4

I've dealt with these medications as a teacher. I've worked with students on and off their meds, along with making the transition to new meds. Yes, I have seen young children on these meds. How old is your son?

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He's 4 1/2 years old. He's been on these meds since right before he turned 3 he started pretty young. His pediatrician and I were really scared starting him off at that age but his colorful words (swearing) hitting, biting, tantrums, impulsivity, behaivor including the not focusing and hyperness was the reason why. It was so intense and now that he is coming off the meds about a month now everything described above has intensed even more cause he is off the meds. But I feel bad cause he vomits and his bones ache and head aches and loss of apetite effects him tremendously. It sad to see him suffer.. id like to have an idea before he sees his docotor what a cocktail would consist of at his age. I have done a little research but only on the drugs that he's taken and the riddalin that they have thought about putting him on. Honestly I want him to be better focused in class and in all other areas but why does it have to be all the narcotics? Are there any herbal meds like the melatonin, that will have the same effect as the adderall?

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Originally Posted by tw_2008

He's 4 1/2 years old. He's been on these meds since right before he turned 3 he started pretty young. His pediatrician and I were really scared starting him off at that age but his colorful words (swearing) hitting, biting, tantrums, impulsivity, behaivor including the not focusing and hyperness was the reason why. It was so intense and now that he is coming off the meds about a month now everything described above has intensed even more cause he is off the meds. But I feel bad cause he vomits and his bones ache and head aches and loss of apetite effects him tremendously. It sad to see him suffer.. id like to have an idea before he sees his docotor what a cocktail would consist of at his age. I have done a little research but only on the drugs that he's taken and the riddalin that they have thought about putting him on. Honestly I want him to be better focused in class and in all other areas but why does it have to be all the narcotics? Are there any herbal meds like the melatonin, that will have the same effect as the adderall?

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Have you seen only one doctor? Has he seen a psychiatrist?

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Originally Posted by teacherjenn4

Have you seen only one doctor? Has he seen a psychiatrist?

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Nooooo.. I am very much involved and have my son in everything possible. He has an IEP in school. But as far as docotors. His pediatrician, his behavorial/developmental specialist, in home therapist, in home mentor, community mentor, in school therapist, behavorial specialist. Now he was in this program which also helped me cope with a child with disabilities and they thought he should see a psychiatrist because they may be better to medicate him rather than the behavorial/ developmental specialist but she has a great back round. We live in mass and both her and his pediatrician did all their learning through Bostons Children's Hospital and have many of years under their belt.

Please excuse me, and I don't mean to offend in any way, but I have some questions to ask, but I would like your permission to ask them first. Keep in mind that the questions may feel offensive, but they are not. They may help me help you.

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Originally Posted by J_9

Please excuse me, and I don't mean to offend in any way, but I have some questions to ask, but I would like your permission to ask them first. Keep in mind that the questions may feel offensive, but they are not. They may help me help you.

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Ok. But I don't know why they would be offensive when we are talking about my disabled son. If it is to speak badly about him then I would rather not hear about them

No, it's not to speak badly about him, but rather to ask background questions about you, dad, labor, delivery, etc.

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Originally Posted by J_9

No, it's not to speak badly about him, but rather to ask background questions about you, dad, labor, delivery, etc.

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Ok.

Okay...

Family history. Does anyone in the family have a history of mental illness?

Labor. Born at 38 weeks is considered full term, but how was your labor? How long were your membranes ruptured before you delivered?

Did you do any drugs or alcohol during pregnancy? How about Dad?

Were there any complications at the delivery?

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Originally Posted by J_9

Okay....

Family history. Does anyone in the family have a history of mental illness?

Labor. Born at 38 weeks is considered full term, but how was your labor? How long were your membranes ruptured before you delivered?

Did you do any drugs or alcohol during pregnancy? How about Dad?

Were there any complications at the delivery?

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As for mental issues, yes on my mothers side, depression, adhd, learning delays as for his fathers side none really.

As to the drugs never used a drug and alcohol none at all besides a glass of wine 2 times my whole pregnancy and bearly took tylenol.

Pregancy was great up until the last two weeks when they told me that my little guy stopped growing. I was induced and my water broke a 2 centermeters dialated. I was in labor for 12 hours and then asked for an epidural as soon as the pain was intense and it cause my blood pressure to sky rocket and his heart rate would drop and fade so because of the epidural I had to have an emergency c-section.

He stayed in the hospital for two weeks due to low birth weight, shakes and low blood sugar

How about your pregnancy? Were there any complications such as gestational diabetes? High blood pressure? What about your aminiotic fluid, too much or too little?

The medications your son is on should never be prescribed for a child his age, as far as I know. Granted I am a L&D RN and a well-baby neonatal nurse, but I can assure you that these medications are too strong for a child of his age.

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Originally Posted by J_9

How about your pregnancy? Were there any complications such as gestational diabetes? High blood pressure? What about your aminiotic fluid, too much or too little?

The medications your son is on should never be prescribed for a child his age, as far as I know. Granted I am a L&D RN and a well-baby neonatal nurse, but I can assure you that these medications are too strong for a child of his age.

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My pregnancy was great. No diabeties, no high blood pressure and aminiotic fluids were bad either. They actually said maybe I carry small but he my first. And I loved the nurses in the NICU, they were good to him and me as well. I also breast fed for 4 months

And your right that's why his pediatrician wouldn't prescribe him anything she did prescibe him the clondine but it was the lowest dose and he only took half at bed so he would get sleep cause he wouldn't go to bed until 2 am or sometimes later and then be up for school the next day at 7 so she felt this would help him so he would be over exerted. But we both felt the same about the adderall. I mean the extended release did a little something for him but he looses his apetite and he's already a tooth pick and he tells me his tummy hurts and his bones ache at bed time.. I know he young and when he started it right before he was three I was more nervouse cause he was even younger