Help me decide if my 10 year old should use Ritalin

Concerta (other types of Concerta)

Controlled Substance: This drug is a schedule II controlled substance and is unavailable at drugstore.com.
Information on Concerta

Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects.

Controlled Release Tabs
Chemical Name: METHYLPHENIDATE (meth-ill-FEN-i-date)

Common uses
This medicine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant used to treat attention-deficit disorders (ADHD). It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Before using
Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you are taking a MAO inhibitor (e.g., furazolidone, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, isocarboxazid, tranylcypromine). DO NOT take MAO inhibitors within 2 weeks before or after treatment with this medicine. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin), medicines for seizures, depression (tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline), guanadrel or guanethidine. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. USE OF THIS MEDICINE IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have anxiety; tension; agitation; glaucoma; motor tics; seizures; history of narrowing or blockage of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines (e.g., esophageal stricture, small bowel obstruction); or a history of Tourette's syndrome. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you have history of high blood pressure, alcoholism, drug dependency, or mental conditions. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine.

Directions
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. SWALLOW WHOLE with a full glass of water. Do not crush or chew before swallowing. STORE THIS MEDICINE at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C), away from heat, moisture, and light. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, take it as soon as possible. Take the remaining doses for the day at evenly spaced intervals. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Cautions
DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or take this medicine for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS MEDICINE without first checking with your doctor. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using this medicine. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to this medicine. Using this medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. THIS MEDICINE MAY AFFECT GROWTH RATE in children. The growth rate of your child should be checked regularly while using this medicine. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include decreased appetite (more severe in children), stomach upset, difficulty falling asleep, headache, nervousness, or dizziness. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. Inactive parts of this drug may be passed in your stool as a harmless soft mass that may look like the original tablet. This is normal for this drug. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience a rash, itching, fever, joint pain, weight loss, irregular heartbeat, vision changes or blurred vision, seizures, involuntary muscle movements, or changes in mood or personality. If you notice any other effects, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

Drug interactions
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions

If you take too much
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include dilated pupils, vomiting, nervousness, agitation, twitching, tremors, flushing, sweating, severe or persistent headache, seizures, irregular heartbeat, dry mouth, and loss of consciousness.

Additional information
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor. DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. THIS MEDICINE should be used as part of a total treatment program for ADHD. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children.

181 posted on 08/27/2004 12:58:36 PM PDT by HawkeyeLonewolf (Christian First, American Second (Conservative Anti-Smoker))

To: Politicalmom

I could have written your post 111. People who have never had a child with this condition have NO CLUE what it is like. I know, I used to be one of them. :)

182 posted on 08/27/2004 12:59:48 PM PDT by MamaLucci (Libs, want answers on 911? Ask Clinton why he met with Monica more than with his CIA director.)

Stratterra is the first non stimulant treatment for ADHD, my nephew went the rounds with this, doc tried Stratterra on him and he is doing quite well.

183 posted on 08/27/2004 12:59:57 PM PDT by Delbert

To: CyberCowboy777

The point was the ignorance, not the racism. That may not have been the best comparison and it's too bad you felt it insulting.

I am glad there are newer, safer non-stimulant alternatives. They seem to have a great benefit. I would certainly try those before the ritalin. agreed.

To do nothing for a kid who needs it is ignorant.

184 posted on 08/27/2004 1:00:18 PM PDT by Fierce Allegiance ( "Stay safe in the "sandbox", cuz!)

Gee... Ritalin and Concerta are the EXACT SAME THING.

185 posted on 08/27/2004 1:00:19 PM PDT by HawkeyeLonewolf (Christian First, American Second (Conservative Anti-Smoker))

Drug therapy, especially for hyperactivity, should be the last resort. If you have not tried nutritional regimes, see a qualified nutritionist who has experience with behavioral problems related to food allergies.

186 posted on 08/27/2004 1:00:27 PM PDT by capitan_refugio

Great post subterfuge....I forgot about the government funding for this drug...very telling.

187 posted on 08/27/2004 1:00:34 PM PDT by all4one ("..a politician is to be judged by the animosities he excites among his opponents" Sir W. Churchill)

Exactly.

If I have money in my wallet and in the bank, I do not have a cash deficit.

If I can pay attention at will, I do not have an attention deficit.

188 posted on 08/27/2004 1:00:55 PM PDT by Xenalyte (Gimme a dollar.)

Experience is not empirical.

Hardly anyone has had a child with this "condition".

189 posted on 08/27/2004 1:02:30 PM PDT by HawkeyeLonewolf (Christian First, American Second (Conservative Anti-Smoker))

To: Fierce Allegiance

Few if any are suggesting that Joe do nothing. They may be suggesting something you disagree with, but that does not constitute doing nothing.

Who here has suggested anything that was ignorant; anything that is not being debated by the medical community itself?

190 posted on 08/27/2004 1:04:31 PM PDT by CyberCowboy777 (Veritas vos liberabit)

To: Joe Republc; alisasny

And do not trust anyone recommended by the school district nor trust the school shrink by allowing her to bypass you and talk to your childrens doc.

Keep in mind that a labeling of a child as ADD (and thus special ed) results in more money to the school, thus they have a vested interest in seeing children medicated. Also, the teachers are not their parents, and do not necessarily have a vested interest in their long term future, as opposed to having nice docile kids who sit in their chairs and don't raise a fuss. Also keep in mind that the doc they refer you to has to either give the diagnosis the school wants to hear, or stop getting referral $$$

I'm assuming that part of the reason for going to the pediatrician for an evaluation came from the school

191 posted on 08/27/2004 1:05:36 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (That which does not kill me had better be able to run away damn fast.)

My 16 year old son was on Ritalin while he was living with his mother. He came to live with me at 15 at which point I took him off the stuff. As a result of being drugged into submission by his mother for 10 years, the kid had no coping skills and the emotional maturity of an eight year old. After a year he has made up a few years, but still lags behind and has difficulty with his peers. Don't put the kid on the stuff, it chemically retards them. However tough it might be on both of you, give him the discipline he needs now and take another approach to managing the problem. Have him participate in a sport and adjust his diet.

Discaimer: Your kid might be one of the small number that can benefit from Ritalin. I just highly doubt it. The approach I have suggested causes no harm and costs nothing but time and attention.

192 posted on 08/27/2004 1:06:16 PM PDT by calenel (Peace Through Strength, and when necessary, Peace Through Victory!)

To: Corin Stormhands

" 1) yes he IS ADHD and 2) yes he could play Playstation for hours on end."

So, if he has an Attention and HyperActivity Disorder, how is he able to pay Attention to a video game and not be Hyperactive for hours on end?

193 posted on 08/27/2004 1:06:44 PM PDT by Blzbba (John F'in Kerry - Dawn of a New Error.)

I cannot pretend to know your son's true state, and thus will not tell you what to do.

There are some cases where ritalin or similar drugs are a good and necessary thing -- I know a few kids personally for whom it's a God-send. There are also a lot of cases where it's not needed -- diet, exercise, and maybe a change of environment might do the trick.

Get a third, fourth, and fifth opinion.

Also, I strongly recommend a trip to a good psychiatrist -- one whose job it is not only to understand brain function in this sort of thing, but also to see if there's something else going on. (We did this with our daughter, and it made a HUGE difference!!!! Sometimes it helps just to know what is going on in their minds, and in ours.)

194 posted on 08/27/2004 1:07:42 PM PDT by r9etb

I'm glad so many drug options exist which can save or make a big difference in peoples' lives.

This might sound simplistic, but does your boy watch t.v. and or play video games? TAKE IT ALL AWAY. I'm serious. See what kind of behavior changes he demonstrates after a week or two (when he stops whining and crying for the t.v.) I have noticed a big difference in attention span AND respectful behavior when contrasting children who watch t.v. or play computer games and those who don't. The constant passive stimulation seems to cultivate a short fuse and a short focus.

195 posted on 08/27/2004 1:08:17 PM PDT by Cinnamon Girl

"It is utterly counter-intuitive that a child who is capable of paying attention "for hours on end" is diagnosed with "attention deficit" anything.

By definition, if you CAN pay attention to something, you do NOT have an "attention deficit."

EXACTLY!

196 posted on 08/27/2004 1:08:30 PM PDT by Blzbba (John F'in Kerry - Dawn of a New Error.)

I see a lack of disapline, an over controlling wife. When he was 2 did he tell you what to do? He is a result of two people who created this problem. Its not too late, tell your wife to back off and trust your instincts. The kid is probably a normal kid!

197 posted on 08/27/2004 1:09:49 PM PDT by Old anti feminist

If you hate your child, then go ahead and drug him down into submission, but you might want to try some of that junk yourself to see what a gray nightmare world it creates for you.

Peace.

198 posted on 08/27/2004 1:09:49 PM PDT by broadsword (Let's respect "holy" Muslim sites like they respected those giant Buddhist statues in Afghanistan!)

So, if he has an Attention and HyperActivity Disorder, how is he able to pay Attention to a video game and not be Hyperactive for hours on end?

It's a different type of brain stimulation. NASA has even done research on "treating" ADHD with video games.

I don't know all the science behind it. I just know for some kids - mine being one of them - it was true.

199 posted on 08/27/2004 1:10:04 PM PDT by Corin Stormhands (John Kerry LIED and good men DIED for your right to vote against him.)

Hey Joe,

Here's my second post and $.02, so I'm up to $.04 ;-).

I won't repeat my earlier post, and this may be of minimal benefit to you, but our child had trouble reading until we used Saxon Phonics at home. Like I said, his Dx is Autism, so he's a little more severe that your child - well maybe a lot more severe - it just huts to say it, ya' know? < /tears >

Anyway, we used the home school phonics after he came home from regular school each night to help him catch up & keep up. He's a sixth grader this year, and we still do extra reading comprehension work at home. Hope this helps you or someone else.

FWIW, when people ask me who MY hero is, it's my kid. He has overachieved more than any single person I've ever personally met.

200 posted on 08/27/2004 1:10:10 PM PDT by handy (Forgive me this day, my daily typos...The Truth is not a Smear!)

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