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How do you know when or if it is time to put your children on meds??? Especially ADD meds?

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Tell us about your situation, maybe we can help you out, that is what I am here for . Though generally ADD meds are less risky then other types.

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"we never get respect ... never a fair trial
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"we never get respect ... never a fair trial
[swearing removed by lau] ... as long as we smile"
Im tired of smiling.

Vote for me in 2020

well, my son is 6 with AS. He is having lots of behavior problems in school and on the bus. His biggest problem is that he is in his "fantasy"world a large majority of the time and is being a "dinosaur." He claws, scratches, kicks and now spits. He does have trouble with focusing on doing his work and will refuse to do it even though it is all very simple to him---except the writing part, he has trouble with that and hates to do it. As the year has gone on his behavior has gotten worse. I really really don't want to put him on medication but I am afraid it is going to become neccessary and I don't know how to go about doing it. I know that sounds stupid and it is something I should already know about.

i'd start talking to your son's dr about your concerns.....there's only so much meds can do. it's possible that meds would not alleviate any of the symptoms he's experiencing.it's also possible that meds could really help~best to ask his doc

Hi there! My son is turning six on friday. He too as AS. Sounds like we are in the same situation. He hates going to school, gives everyone a very difficult time when I drop him off and it can be quite frustrating and heartbreaking. He too lives in a complete fantasy world. He thinks he's lightning McQueen from cars. I've devised a plan of give and take with him. He gets to watch a certain amt. of cars or play his cars video game for a certain length of time (using a timer) each day. I won't let him sit by himself all day and lock himself away in his cars world. He's been told that it's ok to be Lightning at home BUT when he goes out and especially in school, he is Ryan. If he can abide by this he comes home to his cars things and no problem. His behaviours have become increasingly worse in the last month but I haven't considered meds. I think he's stressed with the increased demands for socialization that he's having put on him. Kids in his class are slowly straying from the parallel play to peer play, work load is slowly becoming more demanding of him at school, etc. He's not getting the alone time he wants or is used to anymore and as a result we get behaviours. I always try to determine the reason for his behaviours before trying to change them. Then if possible we try to make accomodations to put him at ease and see if there is an improvement. I hope we never have to put him on meds. This is not a judgement against you, no two children are alike. I would talk to his doctor but seek alternative options and use the meds as absolute last resort. Good luck and let me know how he's doing!

You really need to examine the reasons for the "behaviors". My son is "classically" autistic and did a lot of the same things. I pulled him out of the last school and home-schooled him. His issues seem to be mostly grounded in communication problems and sensory processing. These can be addressed without medications. My son has just been recently placed in a new school where they are better equipped to handle him and make sure he knows what's going on.
Just because AS kids are verbal, doesn't mean they are able to communicate everything well.
We need to communicate clearly and effectively.

My son acted the exact same way when he was younger. The psychologists wanted him on Ritalin, I said no. We had a rough few years, but with the help of an extremely good speech pathologist and a very understanding third grade teacher, he made it through. He is now 13 and doing exceptionally well. None of the behaviors that set him apart before are evident now, except on occasion. Maturity, simply growing up, has helped a lot, too. Elementary school was quite stressful for him but middle school has been wonderful! He has progressed so much he doesn't even seem like the same kid! He does take a vitamin called Super Nu-Thera, which has always had a calming effect on him, but never any meds.

mumstheword, your son and mine must be twins! I do the same thing you do, he has to be Caleb the boy when he is at school and he can be a dinosaur at home. But in his head I think he is still being a dinosaur at all times! Funny thing though, my son loves Lightning McQueen too and he thinks that he is going to come here and take him for a ride, and he TRULY believes this no matter what we say. I am considering meds as a last resort, I do have an appt. to see his doctor next month and will mention his problems to her (she is on vacation right now and the other docs in the practice just don't know him as well as she does). I know school is stressful for him and the sensory issues are tough and I suspect the cold weather isn't helping because he is not getting his outdoor playtime and he truly needs that outlet!

oh yeah, and communication is a BIG problem with him. It's hard for other people to realize this because he talks----a LOT, and has an extensive vocabulary, he is in ST for enunciation (sp?) problems. Back before Christmas he had strep throat and he never told us he felt bad. He had it for so long that his lymph nodes were swollen up throughout his whole body!! ! He got off the school bus and was limping and wouldn't tell me why, he kept saying he was fine. I called school and talked to his teacher and we all thought he was being a dinosaur. I couldn't get him to walk "normal" and ended up having to take him to the ER, and that was how we found out about the strep! They said he probably had had it for 2-3 weeks. I felt so bad! He never told us his throat hurt or that he didn't feel good. His fever was never really high (and he is always hot to the touch) that we didn't notice (bad mommy award for me). So yes, he has communication issues!

my son's tolerance for pain is much higher than others, i think....he's had several instances where he's been in pain or felt sick, but won't say anything because he either doesn't experience it like an NT would,or because he just thinks i should *know* that he's sick.

I've wondered about that because he never tells us he doesn't feel good. But if he gets hurt visibly (ie. a cut he can SEE) he freaks out and wants to know when it will go away so he can feel "normal" again. He still wont wear a band-aid but I am sure that is a seperate sensory issue.