Posted on 08/27/2004 11:41:39 AM PDT by Joe Republc
Best advice I can give you is to learn as much as you can about the diagnosis and the drugs. That's what we did with our (then) 4-yr.-old son when confronted with this 10+ years ago. The bottom line here is that the long-term impact of Ritalin on the brain is totally unknown. That's why, after 50 years on the market, the PDR still clearly states this fact. Any physician who tells you that they know Ritalin is safe is not telling you the truth. That's NOT what the PDR says.
An objective analysis of the ADHD diagnosis may cause you to question a lot of what you're being told.
DO NOT let school-based psychologists get involved in diagnosing your son. That mistake cost us years of grief.
10 years ago, we elected not to drug our son and to keep him in the public schools. It's been a long process, painful at times, but we've never regretted it. He's 15 now, an honor student and on his way hopefully to a happy and productive life. My wife and I are proud of him. We're proud of us, too.
Resource on Ritalin safety and side effects: Psychostimulants in the treatment of children diagnosed with ADHD: Risks and mechanism of action
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!
Who said anything about asthma? I'm saying ADD can be controlled by diet.
Get back on subject- We are talking about ritalin and "add" not cancer,Heart trouble and TB.
But in answer to You I will have to say that a rubber chicken works better than MOST doctors do, all they care about is the kick-backs for the "drug of the month"
"Perform this test. Set your son/daughter down in front of the TV with a video game (whatever the new ones are) and tell him he/she can play on it as much as he/she wants.
If he is still there playing the same game in two hours, he doesn't need Ritalin."
PLAGARISM!!!
See post #11!!
That's always been sort of the way I looked at it. I think that the "disorder" called ADD isn't so much a disorder as a different way and pattern of learning that is just as natural as the so-called "traditional" manner. All through history there have been people who had trouble paying attention in class, and it wasn't until (conveniently) there was a drug available to take care of this trait to make things easier on teachers. In almost every case of ADD I know of, the tests/diagnosis was initiated by a "teacher".
When you look at the curve of learning methods and behavior, you'll find that a huge percentage of the population have this trait. I am sure that there is a nearly equal distribution of people on the other side of "normal" that have intense concentration and focus (i.e. the opposite counterpart of ADD). In addition, if ADD were a disorder, why would people with this "disorder" also by typically accompanied by above normal IQ scores?
I noticed this in my situation immediate. One of the happiest days of my life was when our WITCH finally retired when he entered 4th grade. Was a very happy day for me : )) We had to deal with this woman for 2 long years and if she was qualified in her field she wouldnt be in some small school district.
Some kids have chemical imbalances that diet will not cure. To say all kids with ADD can control it via diet is hogwash. It just may be those kids who benefit from the diet change had allergies to those foods (sugars, food dyes, etc. that represented the symptoms as hyperactivity or decreased attention span.
My point is that some kids need the medicine. to deprive them of the meds they need is akin to depriving an asthma suffer of an inhaler.
Also read up on all the side effects. You may end up having to use 2 or 3 other drugs to deal with the side effects.
Ritilin is not a cure all and never will be. Perhaps it does work for some but I would think a very small percent.
From US Navy:
History of persistent ADHD is NPQ [not physically qualified]. Use of ADHD medication (Ritalin, Cylert, etc) after age 15 or current use of medication to maintain skills is NPQ, no waiver.
If I'm not mistaken I believe schools get a kickback on every kid they enter into a Ritalin program.....wouldn't be surprised if the same goes for any doctor suggesting a new patient.
ALSO it is very helpful to deal with the public school district by having an advocate with you at all times. Do you have a friend who is a teacher? These meetings are very nervewracking and you will need alot of support at them.
I didn't say only parents who used the drugs..please reread my post
yes you have a valid place here
I don't believe he used the drugs past the age of 15 but not really sure.
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