Anyone have kids with ADHD or ODD?

AliandTrev

My son has ADHD, he was finally diagnosed in 1st grade after a horrible year. He started Concerta at the end of the year but after a couple weeks we discovered it wasn't for him. He started hallucinating and it made him even more hyper. Over that summer we tried Straterra (non stimulant) and it was like a completely different kid. 2nd grade went better than I ever expected. I went from getting 3-4 calls a week to none. Around the end of 3rd grade the Straterra dose he was on wasn't helping anymore so we tried upping it which made him mean and moody. We tried Metadate and Intuniv but neither worked for us. Metadate made him uncontrollably wild and Intuniv made him a Zombie. His Dr and I decided to give him a medication break over that summer and decided to give 4th grade a shot with no medication.

Now he is in 5th grade and we still are not medicating. He does have a few ADHD related issues he needs help with and we have set up a 504 plan in school for that. I am not against medicating him again if it becomes needed again but for us a few years maturing and learning how to deal with it and diet changes has really helped.

Don't let anyone make you feel that you need or don't need to medicate. It is different for every child and every family. Feel free to friend/msg me. I know what a long and hard road it is. I tried my best not to medicate, I tried supplements, diet change, chiropractic, etc to avoid medicating. However my son was suffering so that was when we started trying medications. Just because it is needed now does not mean it will be needed forever although it very well may be.

sarahrbraun

My son was just diagnosed with ADHD and ODD and they are wanting me to put him on Ritalin and Concerta. I am nervous and have my reservation about putting my son on drugs such as those. Anyone here have similar childrens issues?

What is ODD? Do you mean OCD? I'm not trying to be cheeky by asking. I think medication for OCD is a good idea. I've been taking it for two years and no longer have any symptoms.

ODD - Oppositional defiant disorder

OCD - Obsessive compulsive disorder.

ODD is a little more controversial - some mental health practitioners believe it's just a label to put on someone who stands up for what they believe in.

I have a kid that stands up for what he believes in. I would never medicate him for it - I would rather focus on him learning acceptable social rules but always standing up for what he believes is right. The trick is to make sure that he's good at heart and believes in the right things.

There is a difference in standing up for what you believe in and beating the s**t out of me because I said something as simple as get ready for bed.

I've been beaten by a 7 year old. It's sad that I am sometimes afraid of my own child. This isn't "standing up for what you believe in". Being hit in the face by a ruler is painful and it happened to me a few days ago.

yeah my mom would have KILLED me if i did that. i'm not exaggerating either . i got a strong bank hand ONCE for saying something nasty (never aid anything again) so i can only imagine what would have went done had i have hit her. i may have had ADD but i was smart enough to know that some *kitten* just cant be done unless i was ready to meet my maker.

seriously though, just cus your your kids have ADHD and ODD doesnt mean you cant teach them discipline. I know people will say it's different for me because I was a girl, but one of my aunt's had 3 BAD behind boys with ADHD and ODD and even THEY knew better than to screw with their mom like that.

When the child has ODD (and there are different levels) there is nothing you can do to discipline the violent outbursts, they are not "present" when they do it. The feel extreme remorse after they calm down. They are mad at themselves for not being able to stop before it goes to far. If I try to discipline my son during a violent outburst he gets more violent. I have been told to take him straight to the hospital or call the cops for help.

THIS^^^ I have been literally throwing my child on the floor and SITTING on him to restrain him for the last 11 years. If it was a matter of discipline, don't you think he'd get sick of kissing the rug every time he decided to raise his hand to me? Or being handcuffed and thrown in the back of a cop car and cussed at would have scared the piss out of him and made him SWEAR he would never do it again?

when these kids rage, it is a full scale psychiatric melt down. You can look them dead in the eye and see that your child is NOT *there*...it looks like something out of the exorcist when my son melts down. He is SIXTEEN and the last melt down he had he BIT me before I could shove his face in the floor--the bruise lasted 2 weeks.

loubeth22

Reading this all is a bit shocking. I understand there are different levels of ADD and ADHD etc but I've never been in contact with these extremes.

I have ADHD, and quite strongly too. My doctor explained that I am high level ADHD without going up into the extremes and no mention of ODD. I was diagnosed at 16 when an extreme allergy to codiene put me in a position that my doctor though I was either repressing some major trama or I was being abused. (Codeine stops my digestion from working in case you were wondering)

At the time I had somehow managed to gain a place in the higher ed class (I ranked 22 out of 631 students in my year), I was attending music and drama classes out of school and I was working with tutors to improve my already awesome marks. We had one ADD kid in class who managed to scrape in at the bottom rank as he was marked less harshly. He used his ADD as an excuse to why he couldn't be bothered doing the work. When I was diagnosed I shot him down hard. He didn't appreciate his free ride through school being challenged. I'm now 22, have a good job in accounts, have left home and am in the proccess of building my own house with my partner.

Because of my age and circumstances I was not medicated. Thank God. You can function and function well without medication if you understand what is happening. Like someone else said, when I can't focus I have coffee, usually iced. My office think I'm a bit dramatical because I get distracted easily and love to laugh and joke but none of them belive I have unmedicated ADHD. I can scare people with the fact I can and will hear a problem and by the time they finish talking I have thought of and discarded more than half of their solutions and come up with one that will work and does. This is basically effect of ADHD - super fast thinking which leads to being distracted because this is all very boring and by the time eveyone else had caught up you've been napping for 15 minutes.

If your kid is old enough to understand what the medication is for then offer it to them. If they don't want to take it then manage it in different ways, although if they are violent enforcing the medication could be in everyone's interest as long as it works. If they aren't violent and cannot see the benifits of using the mediction don't force them. there are far too many perfectly normal kids out there on pills they don't need.

niceMarly

My youngest was diagnosed with ADHD at four and has been on Ritalin since that time; I am firmly convinced that he would never had completed grade school without the meds helping him focus. He is now in his last year of high school, with a 89% average. We also tried behaviour modiification therapy with little success. When he was fourteen, he was diagnosed with Aspergers, a high-functioning form of autism.
One morning when he was in second or third grade, we forgot his medication. I got a call from the school that he was in the principal's office because he was jumping up and down (during a movie) and trying to climb the walls. He kept running away from his teacher; she said it was like he was stoned on uppers! My point: the Ritalin helped him focus enough to get through the school day.
Whatever you choose I have only one piece of advice: NEVER give a kid Ritalin after 7 pm!! He will not sleep and be up most of the night! Trust me, I learned this one the hard way!!! lol

jkandktmom

My son was just diagnosed with ADHD and ODD and they are wanting me to put him on Ritalin and Concerta. I am nervous and have my reservation about putting my son on drugs such as those. Anyone here have similar childrens issues?

What is ODD? Do you mean OCD? I'm not trying to be cheeky by asking. I think medication for OCD is a good idea. I've been taking it for two years and no longer have any symptoms.

ODD - Oppositional defiant disorder

OCD - Obsessive compulsive disorder.

ODD is a little more controversial - some mental health practitioners believe it's just a label to put on someone who stands up for what they believe in.

I have a kid that stands up for what he believes in. I would never medicate him for it - I would rather focus on him learning acceptable social rules but always standing up for what he believes is right. The trick is to make sure that he's good at heart and believes in the right things.

Clearly you do not have a kid with ODD. When your child is bashing your head into the wall chances are he isn't just standing up for himself.

cakelady69

I have 2 children with ADHD and one without. Feel free to email me for info. I can explain about doing a certain food diet to see if it is a food interaction that is causing these symptoms. I can also explain the meds. we have used and tried. One of my children has other things going on along with the ADHD. I can explain those too, to see if that info would be helpful too.

zenchild

I have a question about ADD. I've thought for several years that I may be ADD. As a kid I did fine in school because if I heard something once I could remember it for a test. It didn't matter if I was spacing out or reading a book constantly. I wasn't disruptive and I was getting top grades in honors classes. A few months ago I went on a half dose of phentermine for 2 months. It was amazing. It didn't make me energetic but for the first time in my life I could focus easily and get so much finished. It was like putting my brain on a leash. My husband said it was fantastic. Then I looked up all the reasons it's prescribed and it's sometimes used for ADD. I have an appointment with a psychologist next month to discuss my history and my symptoms and we'll figure out where to go from there.

My question: Do any of you know anyone who self-medicates in an unusual way? I can read for HOURS. I speed-read and will tear through a normal book in a day. In grade school I would have a book at home, a book in my bookbag (to read on the bus) and book at school. I could go back and forth with no problem. Reading is the only way I know to get my brain to shut up a bit.

b00b0084

My son was just diagnosed with ADHD and ODD and they are wanting me to put him on Ritalin and Concerta. I am nervous and have my reservation about putting my son on drugs such as those. Anyone here have similar childrens issues?

What is ODD? Do you mean OCD? I'm not trying to be cheeky by asking. I think medication for OCD is a good idea. I've been taking it for two years and no longer have any symptoms.

ODD - Oppositional defiant disorder

OCD - Obsessive compulsive disorder.

ODD is a little more controversial - some mental health practitioners believe it's just a label to put on someone who stands up for what they believe in.

I have a kid that stands up for what he believes in. I would never medicate him for it - I would rather focus on him learning acceptable social rules but always standing up for what he believes is right. The trick is to make sure that he's good at heart and believes in the right things.

There is a difference in standing up for what you believe in and beating the s**t out of me because I said something as simple as get ready for bed.

I've been beaten by a 7 year old. It's sad that I am sometimes afraid of my own child. This isn't "standing up for what you believe in". Being hit in the face by a ruler is painful and it happened to me a few days ago.

yeah my mom would have KILLED me if i did that. i'm not exaggerating either . i got a strong bank hand ONCE for saying something nasty (never aid anything again) so i can only imagine what would have went done had i have hit her. i may have had ADD but i was smart enough to know that some *kitten* just cant be done unless i was ready to meet my maker.

seriously though, just cus your your kids have ADHD and ODD doesnt mean you cant teach them discipline. I know people will say it's different for me because I was a girl, but one of my aunt's had 3 BAD behind boys with ADHD and ODD and even THEY knew better than to screw with their mom like that.

When the child has ODD (and there are different levels) there is nothing you can do to discipline the violent outbursts, they are not "present" when they do it. The feel extreme remorse after they calm down. They are mad at themselves for not being able to stop before it goes to far. If I try to discipline my son during a violent outburst he gets more violent. I have been told to take him straight to the hospital or call the cops for help.

THIS^^^ I have been literally throwing my child on the floor and SITTING on him to restrain him for the last 11 years. If it was a matter of discipline, don't you think he'd get sick of kissing the rug every time he decided to raise his hand to me? Or being handcuffed and thrown in the back of a cop car and cussed at would have scared the piss out of him and made him SWEAR he would never do it again?

when these kids rage, it is a full scale psychiatric melt down. You can look them dead in the eye and see that your child is NOT *there*...it looks like something out of the exorcist when my son melts down. He is SIXTEEN and the last melt down he had he BIT me before I could shove his face in the floor--the bruise lasted 2 weeks.

It is 100% true!!! When my son has his violent episodes his eyes are so dilated they are pure black. My son is not in there, my son is completely replaced by the rage that he can't control. I have seen the switch happen both ways. When he calms down there is so much sadness and remorse because he knows that something bad happened and he couldn't stop it.

Whitezombiegirl

I got my ex diagnpsed with ADHD at the age of 30. He was on concerta XL. I just could'nt deal with it- it was too emotionally brutal. We split up after 7 years. I feel for anyone who hsa to deal with it.

Whitezombiegirl

I have a question about ADD. I've thought for several years that I may be ADD. As a kid I did fine in school because if I heard something once I could remember it for a test. It didn't matter if I was spacing out or reading a book constantly. I wasn't disruptive and I was getting top grades in honors classes. A few months ago I went on a half dose of phentermine for 2 months. It was amazing. It didn't make me energetic but for the first time in my life I could focus easily and get so much finished. It was like putting my brain on a leash. My husband said it was fantastic. Then I looked up all the reasons it's prescribed and it's sometimes used for ADD. I have an appointment with a psychologist next month to discuss my history and my symptoms and we'll figure out where to go from there.

My question: Do any of you know anyone who self-medicates in an unusual way? I can read for HOURS. I speed-read and will tear through a normal book in a day. In grade school I would have a book at home, a book in my bookbag (to read on the bus) and book at school. I could go back and forth with no problem. Reading is the only way I know to get my brain to shut up a bit.

That doesn't sound like ADHD to me. I'm a trained teacher and I have expereince of this. Reading is usually hard for suffers. My ex actually cried the first time he was able to read a page after getting his meds.

drailine

My son is now 18; and was diagnosed with both ADHD and ODD years ago. The ADHD diagnosis I totally agree with. He has been tested three times by different specialists and the outcome has been the same. He has been on various meds throughout the years; but the one that has helped him the most (and that he doesn't fight me about staying on) is Focalin. The ODD diagnosis I do not agree with and I myself argue about that one. Don't let them automatically diagnose your child with that, especially if he/she is having issues in school. A lot of times they diagnose kids with that because the teachers label them as "problem children" because they aren't paying attention (which is his ADHD). My son has always been taught that respect is given where respect is gotten, and when he feels he's being disrespected (regardless of who it is), then he speaks up for himself. I have been to school on his behalf plenty of times over the years due to the actions of teachers and principals (and have gotten a few fired for the way they've spoken and/or treated the kids). Look further into the reason they are labeling your child with ODD before you allow them to try to "treat" it PLEASE!

KarenAnnne

I don't have children with it but I work with children every day with ADHD, ADD, and ODD. In the elementary level, its hard to watch a child suffer with these symptoms and not get treatment. They tend to lose out on education because they can not focus or concentrate. We never like to see a child "drugged" up but we have seen amazing transformations with just a little medicine monitored by a doctor. The child actually seems happier to have more control of themselves and in turn they become successful students.

sarahrbraun

My son is now 18; and was diagnosed with both ADHD and ODD years ago. The ADHD diagnosis I totally agree with. He has been tested three times by different specialists and the outcome has been the same. He has been on various meds throughout the years; but the one that has helped him the most (and that he doesn't fight me about staying on) is Focalin. The ODD diagnosis I do not agree with and I myself argue about that one. Don't let them automatically diagnose your child with that, especially if he/she is having issues in school. A lot of times they diagnose kids with that because the teachers label them as "problem children" because they aren't paying attention (which is his ADHD). My son has always been taught that respect is given where respect is gotten, and when he feels he's being disrespected (regardless of who it is), then he speaks up for himself. I have been to school on his behalf plenty of times over the years due to the actions of teachers and principals (and have gotten a few fired for the way they've spoken and/or treated the kids). Look further into the reason they are labeling your child with ODD before you allow them to try to "treat" it PLEASE!

I honestly am not sure ODD and ADHD should even be mentioned in the same sentence unless you are saying a person has both disorders. ODD is a whole different disorder! Here are the cliff notes from WebMD:



It's not unusual for children -- especially those in their "terrible twos" and early teens -- to defy authority every now and then. They may express their defiance by arguing, disobeying, or talking back to their parents, teachers, or other adults. When this behavior lasts longer than six months and is excessive compared to what is usual for the child's age, it may mean that the child has a type of behavior disorder called oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).

ODD is a condition in which a child displays an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, hostile, and annoying behavior toward people in authority. The child's behavior often disrupts the child's normal daily activities, including activities within the family and at school.

Many children and teens with ODD also have other behavioral problems, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, mood disorders (such as depression), and anxiety disorders. Some children with ODD go on to develop a more serious behavior disorder called conduct disorder.

Symptoms of ODD may include:

Throwing repeated temper tantrums
Excessively arguing with adults
Actively refusing to comply with requests and rules
Deliberately trying to annoy or upset others, or being easily annoyed by others
Blaming others for your mistakes
Having frequent outbursts of anger and resentment
Being spiteful and seeking revenge
Swearing or using obscene language
Saying mean and hateful things when upset
In addition, many children with ODD are moody, easily frustrated, and have a low self-esteem. They also sometimes may abuse drugs and alcohol.

My 16 year old has 3-5 of these "symptoms" but I believe they are as a result of his mood disorder-NOS and his autism, not ODD--Although I probably would not argue if they tried to give him this label. He could not go to a mainstream school from 7th grade until the second half of his 10th grade year. He went to a special charter school for kids with emotional and/or legal issues. He got daily group therapy. In a normal school setting he got so overwhelmed that he would lash out violently at students and teachers! In 6th grade he assaulted his one teacher who out weighed him by 150 lbs ( my son was about 60lbs and the teacher was a 200lb ex-football player), then in the principal's office he tried several MORE times!! That is NOT normal 12 year old behavior, even for a 12yo with ADD or ADHD.

opuntia

I have a question about ADD. I've thought for several years that I may be ADD. As a kid I did fine in school because if I heard something once I could remember it for a test. It didn't matter if I was spacing out or reading a book constantly. I wasn't disruptive and I was getting top grades in honors classes. A few months ago I went on a half dose of phentermine for 2 months. It was amazing. It didn't make me energetic but for the first time in my life I could focus easily and get so much finished. It was like putting my brain on a leash. My husband said it was fantastic. Then I looked up all the reasons it's prescribed and it's sometimes used for ADD. I have an appointment with a psychologist next month to discuss my history and my symptoms and we'll figure out where to go from there.

My question: Do any of you know anyone who self-medicates in an unusual way? I can read for HOURS. I speed-read and will tear through a normal book in a day. In grade school I would have a book at home, a book in my bookbag (to read on the bus) and book at school. I could go back and forth with no problem. Reading is the only way I know to get my brain to shut up a bit.

That doesn't sound like ADHD to me. I'm a trained teacher and I have expereince of this. Reading is usually hard for suffers. My ex actually cried the first time he was able to read a page after getting his meds.

I would add that I was similar as a child - reading all the time, very quickly, with hyperfocus, and remembering everything I read, spacing out and still getting top grades. And I have a very fast-thinking mind which seems to hop around all over the place, and reading is the way I get it to shut up. I don't have ADHD, but I do have Asperger Syndrome. Not saying that everyone with these behaviours has Asperger Syndrome, of course - but if someone were describing those behaviours to me, I would wonder if they were on the autism spectrum rather than wonder if they had ADHD. However, personally, I would not self-medicate, particularly not on an amphetamine-type drug, because my body is very sensitive to what I put in it, and seems to respond more strongly to drugs than is normal.

I do know someone with ADHD who self-medicates though - she has Ritalin, and only takes it when she needs to focus on something, in order to get her work done more quickly and efficiently. But in general, she doesn't read easily, and doesn't remember details at all, and didn't get good grades at school. The behaviours you are describing don't fit her at all.

broox80

I am a case worker in a facility for kids with varied disorders and mental illness. A lot of my kids have ADD and ADHD. Our psychiatric Dr. really closely monitors the kids on Meds to make sure they have proper dosages. If this is done, the kid gets relief from symptoms and at the same time avoids the zombie state!! If you do decide the medication route, make sure the doctor frequently monitors the dosage!! Good luck to you!!!!

steph124ny

I have a child with autism and ADHD. Honestly, for us.. it was as simple as this...

If your child cannot function in school and home without being happy.. if the child is disruptive, if its something that bothered you enough to go to the doctor about it...

and you DONT put them on the medications.. then you arent giving your child the best life they can have.

Would you refuse a diabetic insulin? Its a disease, treat it.

Just my opinion, but my daughter was diagnosed when she was 5.. shes 15 now and there is NO way she could even consider college or hold a job without her medication.

Ditto...except it is my son and he is 16. He can't function in school without his meds. He takes Celexa for depression and Strattera for his ADHD.

Ayla70

I have a child with autism and ADHD. Honestly, for us.. it was as simple as this...

If your child cannot function in school and home without being happy.. if the child is disruptive, if its something that bothered you enough to go to the doctor about it...

and you DONT put them on the medications.. then you arent giving your child the best life they can have.

Would you refuse a diabetic insulin? Its a disease, treat it.

Just my opinion, but my daughter was diagnosed when she was 5.. shes 15 now and there is NO way she could even consider college or hold a job without her medication.

^^ This...

It's all about quality of life. The child's and the people around the child. Don't deny them medication if it improves, or gives them any sort of quality of life. Just make sure you monitor any side effects.

(Mother of almost 20 year old with ODD, ASD and ADHD) :flowerforyou:

waronmyfat

ODD yes but he hasn't been officaly diaognosed with it but hes not on any medication of any sort, we just changed his diet, routine and implmenented sports .. i just sent him to live with his dad and he's improved 110% .. i pulled my hair out, cried wandered WTF i was doing wrong.. he'd seriously have fits of rage throw chairs across the rooms, ignore you say hurtful things hit you.. I did what I could and decided he needed his dad and he's completely done a 360

squishycow7

My little brother takes Concerta. It's helped him a TON-

he used to be in special ed. for his reading/writing, and 1 year on Concerta and he's out and in his first year at college!
he never used to have any friends (literally) because they found him annoying, now he has a bunch and he is drastically happier.
he's actually a functional employee at work (I used to be his supervisor)

I know the idea of behavior changing drugs is scary but I can't support it more. He was so miserable before and, frankly, irritating- this has changed his life for the better.

Mindythegreat

I have a child with autism and ADHD. Honestly, for us.. it was as simple as this...

If your child cannot function in school and home without being happy.. if the child is disruptive, if its something that bothered you enough to go to the doctor about it...

and you DONT put them on the medications.. then you arent giving your child the best life they can have.

Would you refuse a diabetic insulin? Its a disease, treat it.

Just my opinion, but my daughter was diagnosed when she was 5.. shes 15 now and there is NO way she could even consider college or hold a job without her medication.

I have a 14 year old daughter with PDD-NOS and ADD...and we feel the same way. Meds are definitely improving her life.
Took a few tries to get the right ones, but she's living life much better these days.