Not posted here before....

faerieflr · **Not posted here before....**

....my son has AD/HD. We have been going through the "process" for a year now. Ug. He's been on Metadate, Adderoll and now Straterra.

The Adderoll worked for a while and then took a big turn.

Now that we have been building up the Straterra in his system, it makes me grateful that there has been SOME kinda of buffer between the AD/HD and life. These last few weeks have stressed the family to the limit.

As bad as I feel for him, I am STRESSED OUT. I have a 10 month old too and my son needs me more than she does. It's hard to be needed that much.

Anyway, I just wanted to share. There are no support groups here. I wish there were!!!

desertmom · 04-16-2008, 03:25 AM

We'll be your support group! We have a lot of moms dealing with ADHD in their kids, and even a few who are also dealing with it in themselves.

My son tried Strattera back in December - it was our first round of meds. He's 8. Strattera made him grouchy and intolerant of everything, with no help in his focusing. The Dr. said it was obvious it wasn't for him and switched him to Focalin, which doesn't need to build up. Big difference. We have had to up the dosage twice (today was the second uppage), but are still low - 20mg, when his max is 60, based on weight. It's not perfect, and we have to make sure he's hydrated and not hungry, or the grouchiness kicks in. But I agree with the Dr.; with the other things he deals with, we really don't want to switch meds that can give him bad side effects, and the Focalin is helping w/out the side effects.

If you are interested, I also have a small list of books that was given me a couple of years back - I have yet to read them because I've been focusing on the Aspergers side of it, but it's on my agenda.

I have a two year old, too, and know how hard it is balancing both. DS turned even rowdier when I had dd. Plus he was starting kindergarten, so you can imagine how all these changes were affecting his home behavior!! My best advice is to find a mother's helper or babysitter to take each kid off your hands for awhile, then also to give you time w/ your dh and time ALONE! (Men don't get that concept - that we need to be alone!)

How old is your son?

stxmom · 04-16-2008, 08:49 AM

My DS (16) has ADHD, he is on Concerta 27mg, he started on a lower dose and we had to up it when he hit a huge growth spurt last fall.

It is hard to find the right meds and what works for one child may not work for another.

faerieflr · 04-30-2008, 08:27 PM

I think the hardest part is that I have no reference for his issues. I have depression, but because he's adopted, his issues are not in our family. I don't know if that would make it any easier...maybe harder! We are now weaning off Straterra and on to Focalin. No improvement yet.

I hope we find something soon!!!!

desertmom · 05-01-2008, 04:42 AM

So far the Focalin has worked for us. However, we started at 10mg, then needed to go to 15. He seemed to have developed a toleration to it or something, because he just wasn't focusing. He's now on 20, and there's been a huge improvement in his focusing. However, his sassiness and temper aren't nice to deal with. I'm going to be calling the Dr. this week about it because he wanted me to update him by phone.

Stay in contact w/your doctor on the good and bad of what you see. And stay with us!