Fair enough. Well, it's not like the first time I've been misinformed before. You're right. I don't know much about ADHD. However, I know about the programme I'm in, and I know what sort of effect it's had on me personally...given that ADD & ADHD are included in the things that it can treat (without drugs with widely varying negative side effects, no less), I just thought it would be a good idea to mention it. Your comments on the brain are interesting, and something that I shall follow up. After all...the more knowledge we open ourselves to, the better...right?
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ADHD, Treatment options?
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Hey man, I wasn't directing my comments to you. I was speaking to the pharmacy guy. I haven't read your post, since I wanted to vent my spleen lol!, but I will read it. I am, as I hope many parents would be, concerned about the longterm effects of drugs on my son, so anything that could be done without drugs is worth looking into. I have seen some kids who have had ADD, which is a subset of ADHD, and these kids were out of control. One mom of such a little boy told me they weren't going to medicate him. I was suprized. If that boy went to school acting as he did with only his mom and grandma around, he would be incorigable at school surrounded by thirty other little kids! There HAS to be some way to treat this disorder, and if meds are the way, it must be done. If there is another way, like I said, I will explore it. By the way, we are ALL misinformed, in varying degrees. Some just are more able to admit it.
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Gah! Cripes...sorry. Heh...I didn't realise. Serves me right for not paying more attention.
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lol! You DO have ADHD, don't you? Lol!! No biggy man, aint no sweat.
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I agree with wincubus. My son has ADHD and I have ADD and our doctors wanted to prescribe us medication. I opted not to. I have try alternative methods to medicine (against my doctors' suggestion). We are doing a lot better now - drug free.
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I'm happy that that worked for you, but I don't think it works for everybody.I have a friend who has two ADHD kids, and we've had discussions about it. The kids are on meds, but it's not a decision he and his wife made lightly. I asked him if it was really necessary, and he made a good case for them, in their particular case.
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I think what he is saying is that its misdiagnosed? or something along that line? I can belive that based on what I know about it and thats pretty limited to tell you the truth. My g/s so who lives with his dad was diagnosed with that years ago from what I understand. they opted to not jump straight to drugs but seek counseling and change from a general family doc to a specialist. as it turned out it wasnt a correct diagnosis for this particular case after seeing a specialist he was correctly diagnosed and with a few changes in teh way he studied and the way he was treated at home he turned around. Today hes pretty normal and gets good grades.Like I said I have no real grounds to speak on this Im just offering up a single example to try to illistrate what I think he meant by that post.
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I understand it doesn't work for everybody. My concern though is that doctors don't encourage other options before medicating their patients. When I opted not to use the meds for my (then) 4 year old, I was discouraged. I was even given a write-up on the controversies of my plan. I was told that it was going to be a very difficult and time consuming journey. These words came from 2 different trusted doctors. Luckily, I'm educated myself in this and have done some extensive research so I was determined to try the alternative methods first. If all else fails, if it means to put ease on my son's education and self-esteem, I'd medicate him in a second. However, after trying out these options, it worked for him.Doctors often do misdiagnose. They don't spend enough time to really assess the core of a problem - at least in my experience and experiences of those I've encountered. (I will give credit to those who do). There are so many other diagnoses that resemble ADHD characteristics but some of these doctors aren't specialized in knowing the difference. Often times they go under a generalized, common assumption.I've also come to these forums where a new member claims that s/he was just diagnosed with ADHD, and members are encouraging these people to look into various medications. Personally, I don't think that's morally right. There ARE other options, people just aren't aware what they are. If there's any way to work outside of that, I think people should be encouraged in doing so first. That's just my belief.
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I don't disagree with what you're saying. ADHD is not an acute problem with a fatal outcome; there is time to try diffent treatments. A non-pharaceutical solution is usually a good thing, although some herbal treatments have surprising and unpleasant side effects.What treatment did you find to be successful?
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Well... I'd say in the long run ADHD can be a great life detrement (if not fatal) if left untreated. I have a brother who grew up in a time when ADHD kids were just "bad seeds". He's a great guy with a terribly messed up life due IMHO directly to his ADHD tendencies.
That said....Medicine's for ADHD are NOT prescribed as a sole treatment for the issue but rather in relation to a much bigger program. School and family participation as well as the "adhd" child, along with medication can be immensely successful (17 yr old who went from a VERY aggressive child, through a program as described above is medication and assistance free in his Junior year). Currently we are working with our 11 yr old. Personally, I find that the general lack of knowledge and stigma that has been attached to ADHD has been very detremental in getting proper treatment.
* As a side note I feel the need to add that ADHD people are shown to generally have higher IQ's.