Niece started adhd meds.

[JaniceT]

Hi, I'm new to this section and hope some could give me a deeper insight into adhd.

My niece is 9, she's been diagnosed with dyspraxia, adhd and a host of other items. She's been for a lot of different types of therapies. Recently, she's been prescribed Ritalin for her adhd as she's been so almost unmanagable and being asked to leave a few schools.

Could anyone tell me what to look out for on the effects of Ritalin? Many thanks.

 

[Adanma]

One major thing to look for is worsening behavior or no improvement. That would indicate a misdiagnosis. I hope thing start to improve for her!

Adanma

 

[JaniceT]

One major thing to look for is worsening behavior or no improvement. That would indicate a misdiagnosis. I hope thing start to improve for her!

Adanma

Thanks Adanma. It's been really hard for her. She's been asked to leave several schools. Her defiance is typical ADHD and a specialist from Sydney said that if her ADHD isn't under control, everything else will be difficult to treat. I'm hoping it'll get better for her too and that the meds work.

 

[natalies1982]

it depends on the dosage and what the medication is called as most have different side affects.

my son is 6 and is on Equasym xl the only side affect we have notiched is weihht loss with not being very hungry at lunch time

some can make the behaviour worse, some affects sleeping, appetite, weigth loss

good luck to ur niece i hope it works, we did notice the first 1-2 weeks of him being on the meds he did seem worse but once he settled on it he has been alot better at school

 

[JaniceT]

Thanks Natalies. I saw my niece yesterday and after a few days on medication, she's doing OK. she's on Ritalin slow-release which works for about 6 hours before it wears off. Her appetite has decreased but she's more calm and isn't jumping all over.

Do any of you know if in due time, the medication dossage has to be increased? Don't really fancy the idea of a young little girl having to up her meds every few years, if possible.

 

[louisechippy]

my son is 7 and is also on equsam xl he started off on 30mg but after12 months of bieng on it he had to be upped to 40mg x every child is differant and like all medications after a while some of us can become immune to them x

 

[Adanma]

janice: It is common to have to adjust the dosages upward over time. Is someone doing behavior modification therapy too with her? My son has ADHD secondary to his autism. Meds would make his autistic behaviours worse so his ADHD is being managed by therapies and A LOT of parental patience! lol!. Now he isn't as severe as your neice is from what I can gather so meds are likely worth whatever side effects she might have, but I would still see about behaviour therapies for her just so she becomes more self awware and is able to learn how to self edit at times. Please keep us posted on her progress!

Adanma