Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Has anyone heard of Ritalin?

"Has anyone out there had any experience with Ritalin?  My kid's doctor just put her on it and I'd like to know about side effects, etc."



This is not an uncommon question in ADHD circles.  It's always driven me nuts.  Until I was preparing to blog about it.  I would ask anyone who reads this to please share it with whomever it may apply to.

My initial rant was about how annoying it was to me that people would put their kids on meds BEFORE asking around about the medication.  As I was thinking about how to explain why, it dawned on me that, generally, these kids are young.  Parents are young.  The situation itself is new, confusing, and quite possibly scary.  Plus the parent has had the Dr's reassurance that this is the right thing to do.  Who thinks to tell the Dr "Hey I'd like some reading material and some time to think about this."  That said, I really can't say I blame anyone, however:


THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SHOULD DO!  Advise your doctor (who should understand) that you'd like to see some research and get some reading material on the substance he wants to put in your kid's body (or your body, or whoever they want to take the pills).  Ask about side effects.  YOUR DOCTOR SHOULD BE THE MOST QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.  I'm not yelling, but if there's anything I want you to take away from this, it's that research is OKAY. 

When you go to the Dr. with an ear infection, the first thing they ask is if you are allergic to anything.  Why?  Because they are going to give you an antibiotic, and many people are allergic to Penecillin and/or Amoxycillin.  They want to avoid a reaction.  When you go to the dr. requesting advice on treatment for ADHD, who know's your kid better: you or the Dr.?  Be open about your child's energy levels, eating habits, etc, and be prepared to follow up within 3-6 months for a follow-up.  Why?  To avoid a negative reaction if possible, and to address any that occur.  Your doctor should show an ongoing interest in your treatment or your child's treatment.  This leads me to my next critical point:

DO NOT ARBITRARILY TAKE YOUR KID OFF THE MEDS.   Discuss this with your Dr.  Unless there is a dibilitating reaction, do not take your kid off meds without consulting the Doc.  Why?  Because the body can take time to adjust to new chemicals.  Initially, your kid could become downright mean.  Or stop eating as much.  They may seem like they've lost their personality.  Some things, like personality, are simply the trade-off for success in school, behavior, Etc., that you have to accept if medication is your choice of treament.  Use your judgement regarding what's acceptable in this regard.  Also, once the side effects lessen (yes lessen... they are not always a permanent thing) you may find that aside from the initial adjustment period, meds are like magic.  Most importantly, however, it's hard enough on a kid's body (or an adults) to BEGIN treatment with meds.  It's another complete set of complications and bodily adjustment when you take your kid or yourself OFF meds.  I've seen parents put their kids through 6 different meds in one year, trying to find the right one.  Of course none of them worked!  The body was still adjusting from the effects of prior meds when new meds were introduced.  This is not a rollercoaster of ups and downs, it is a downward spiral where the body becomes more and more out of control as it is pumped full of everchanging meds.


don't get me wrong, I am not against medication for ADHD.  I took Ritalin for ~25 yrs and could not have survived my twenties without it.  I was diagnosed as a child.  I was lucky to be put on a medication that worked the first time, and with immediate results, without having to try several different kinds.  When I stopped the first time, it was abrupt, my body responded poorly, and it was a quick trap that nearly ended any hope of success in life.  I struggled for a few years before realizing that I had become out of control and really needed help.  Going back on Ritalin was a rough ride at first, because I went immediately to the same dosage I had been on before.  After the initial adjustment, however (took a few weeks to stop getting shaky, panicky, and to get any kind of appetite back) I was able to stay focused and had the will power to stay away from the attraction of the less responsible lifestyle I had been previously drawn into. When I did finally stop taking medication for good, it was gradual, and I had monthly visits with my Dr to check not only my physical condition, but how the change was affecting my work and home life as I adjusted.  When things would get overwhelming, we would not lessen the dosage.  it took 4 or 5 months to completely ween me from Ritalin, and I have lived a fairly successful life since.  Granted everyone's situation is different, it's important to see how a change in meds can be done poorly as well as correctly, and the results of each.  Mind you, that was the same drug each time.  Who know's how different things would be if I had tried something different that I was not used to?

    I am a strong proponent of making an educated decision.  If you have concerns (Which you should), ask the pharmacist, the doctor, your friends etc.  Google is your friend.  A prescription doesn't have to be filled immediately after leaving the doctor's office.  Fill it later, or the next day.  Fill it Friday evening so you have time for adjustment before the schoolweek/workweek.

10 comments:

  1. My oldest daughter was on Ritalin. ..only for school...when she came down she was miserable and very moody. Crying..it was aweful for her...after two weeks I stopped giving to her. She struggled in school snd dropped out..at 26 is is going to adult ed at thr local collage in September to complete her education. Best choice for her..teachers need to be taught how to effectively deal with childern and teach these kids how they learn...instead of drugging them into submission. Far too many children are drugged.. I always ask the Pharmacist for drug advise as they know alot more about drugs....

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  2. I feel like the main thing medication did for me was to help me maintain a positive attitude toward my struggle, and coming off Ritalin (even just between doses) can be tough. I hope she does well with adult ed! I've known people who've gotten diplomas as adults and then moved on to graduate college, etc... Throughout the ADHD life, we don't realize that we are slowly adjusting to how the Normie world works. We do adapt to some extent (not always, but often) and I, for one, have found pursuing my education as an adult is much easier to stick with than as a twenty-something ragamuffin who just wanted to enjoy some freedom.

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    1. Wow...thax sounds like me talking.going back to school as a adult and then again in mid-life...was the best experience. ..and i enjoyed it....im proud of her...a single mom of 3. ..����������

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  3. Being an older mom, I am learning to use my instincts, backed by my OWN research, to make decisions about the medication road with my child. My questions are never that ignorant. If I have an internet connection, I can Google the damn question first. I had a effed up doctor put my daughter on a medication combination that could have killed her, only because she HAS to have her medication pulverized and mixed in jelly. I did my research, and regardless of my doctors opinion, decided to NOT give that medication. I spent months trying to get in to a new child psych (there's only 6 in my area, and they all have waiting lists at least 2 months long). In that time, I researched, and researched, and researched... I did discontinue 2 more meds (she was on 3 total) "against doctors orders", based on my careful observation of my child. Finally, when I got in to the 3rd psych, his words, "THANK GOD you did your research, and did what you felt was right based on the situation...this could have had a horrible consequence had you followed that doctor's order... that doctor is going to kill someone if she's giving a 38 pound 4 year old that much medication". I went back to my car after the appointment and bawled my eyes out. So yes, mom's are young..etc... and I'm an old lady and this isn't my first rodeo... BUT... everyone in the US has access to an internet connection (library, etc.), and can google the same damn questions that they are asking a bunch of strangers... So I agree with you. If I do ask a public forum a question, it's when I have hit the end of my rope, a doc is not available, and I'm looking for other ideas to RESEARCH. But, I can't judge those who post. At least these mom's dad's are asking the questions. Parenting my kiddos is crazy, and I feel like I spend my days protecting them from things that could kill them, and at the end of the day, if they are alive... that's a miracle. *LOL* Thanks for the post! This might inspire my own blog post in response. :)

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    1. Thats awesome...research research ask personal questions of people who have used or family member who has been on any meds...ask a pharmacist. ..research and follow your gut instincts��

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  4. I'm happy to be an inspiration :) I think I took it for granted that asking questions was even an option. There is an attitude of acceptance when it comes to a doctor's prognosis. People tend to forget, doctors are not necessarily parents. They are not necessarily speaking from experience. 9 times out of ten, when my Dr (who I love, by the way) gives me medical adivse, it's something he's printed out from another Dr.s research. That is how the medical field works. It's ok to question a doctor's decision because that doctor should never hesitate to provide their research and how they came to that decision. Now that I've experienced this, I realize just how sheisty some of my previous Doctors have been!

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    1. Lol... natural ADHD to question...ODD ..quest-tion forth��������������������live and learn to live ��

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  5. From a reader:

    Hi Andrew! First time reader/commenter (commentator? commenterer?) LOL!

    Kidding aside, good post and valuable lessons learned that others can use to better their treatment/child's treatment, too. I'm 42 and was diagnosed with ADD within the past 1.5 years. It's been helpful understanding the illness and explained different career choices I made previously. I'm on a low dose of Ritalin, which was prescribed more for the benefit it potentially would have to pull me out of the worst, deepest, pit of depression I experienced to date.

    I also have Bipolar disorder and HIV (diagnosed 10.5 years ago). So, I agree with you completely when it comes to advocating for yourself or your loved one. Doctor's are bombarded every day with legal, professional drug dealers talking about their wonderful new miracle drug. They don't have time, usually, to thoroughly review the research data, practice medicine, maintain licensing requirements, fight lawsuits, and maybe enjoy a personal life with their own family. I'm not giving them a free pass; just pointing out a few things we forget sometimes. Did I forget to say run a business, too, or wear the HR hat for their staff?

    After I was diagnosed with Bipolar followed 6 months later with HIV, I changed careers by taking an online Pharmacy Technician course, passed a national exam, and taught myself about the medications I was being prescribed. No, I don't encourage everyone to follow my path, but it proved valuable for me. It helped to understand the potential risks associated with taking 12 daily prescriptions to stay alive. It doesn't help and is not enjoyable to be very sensitive to most psychotropic medications designed to treat the illnesses.

    One thing I want to suggest, though, is to re-evaluate your stance on adjusting to medication. On one hand, you seem to say a person just needs to deal with the illness AND the often times disturbing & challenging side-effects associated with starting a new medication(s). On the other hand, you talk about how long it took to discontinue treatment. I think there is a middle ground everyone can agree upon.

    Doctor's want to get patients to the 'therapeutic range' as quickly as possible to provide relief. Most people buy into that idea because, who really wants to suffer or struggle longer than is necessary. What isn't discussed is the 2-4 weeks of hell the majority of patients experience trying to reach that magic level. If life is already difficult without the medication and a person is willing to endure the 'known' challenges, then we should be smart about introducing extremely powerful, mind-altering (yes, like 'illegal drugs' do) medications. Let's "ween them ON" the prescription. We should allow our bodies time to adjust to the medication by starting slowly, examine the results, and increase the dose - repeating until maximum dosing range is met, treatment is ineffective, or relief is experienced.

    Why is it okay to take time getting our bodies accustomed to the discontinuation of a medication, but not okay to be patient and allow our bodies time to adjust to a new medication?

    Being extremely sensitive allowed me the chance to work with my treatment team to start slow, examine results, and decide next steps that supported ME - not some average maximum dosing schedule. If I have to change providers because of insurance changes and the new physician wants to be 'top dog', I give them one chance to put their ego back in check and become my partner in treatment. If they do, great, if not, I end the arrangement and find someone else.

    Sorry for the lengthy response. Feel free to edit for space and content. I look forward to future posts. Take Care, Michael

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    1. Hahaha hahahahaha hahahahaha i'm long-winded.... everyone is different. ..different ways to do what best for youself. ..im on a med/counciling plan that works for my ADHD &:other issues. Like some autistic, dyslexic, PTS, bi-polar, OCD and other bonus prizes....its a gift

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  6. I am thankful for this reply for the perspective, as well as the fact that it points out something that I did a terrible job trying to describe, which is how tough it is GETTING ON a medication. Why not start slowly and gradually? This is an excellent point! When I first started, I was not taking the full dose I ended up with. they started small (I don't remember, but this is my understanding from talking to my parents, and may not be entirely accurate) and increased my dosage as needed. However when I started the Ritalin again in my twenties I immediately went back to the full dosage I had in High school, and it was pretty unfun. I decided on my own to tough it out, but wouldn't recommend it. While I stand by my initial statement to not be so quick to jump from medication to medication, and don't stop a medication simply because it doesn't seem to be working or the side effects are unfavorable, I left out a KEY option, which is to lower the dosage. Even before that point, however, it's a good idea to start small and build as needed. Michael this was very well put and I value your input. Thank you!

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