Help me decide if my 10 year old should use Ritalin

[Joe Republc]

My pedetrician has just recommended that my 10 year old boy use Ritalin.

The issue of Attention Deficit Disorder has come up every so often throughout most of his life, but this is the first time our pediatrician says it's time to try medication.

What questions should I be asking?

What do I need to find out?

Any good resources?

Thanks,

-- Joe

P.S. My wife is in a hurry to do this, now that the doctor says so. I'm not.... my wife and I had some strong disagreement about this last night ;) When I ask around, it seems like men are less inclined to go for this than women.

[Quix]

YES! JIM DOBSON'S FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

has great resources on a long list of things, including this. He has a very balanced perspective.

[Quix]

Yes, it's a stimulant.

And, given the physiological feedback loops involved, when the child genetically/biochemically needs it--

IT DOES CALM THEM DOWN.

[Quix]

ABSOLUTELY.

[Doctor Stochastic]

The only good recommendation I've seen here is to get a second opinion. Free medical advice (like free legal advice) is only worth as much as you paid for it.

[Quix]

TRUE. Good insight.

[Politicalmom]

Thank you for your thoughtful post. : )

Can others FReepmail with questions, too? I often feel like I am groping in the dark trying to rescue the true essence of my son from something I don't thoroughly understand.

[Quix]

CONTRARY to your cheeky and mildly insulting post,

IT IS A GOOD CHOICE.

FREEPERS ARE FANTASTIC. THERE'S ABOUT EVERY KIND OF EXPERT--AND USUALLY DOZENS SUCH--HEREON--ON JUST ABOUT ANY TOPIC ONE WOULD COME UP WITH.

Here would be one of the first places I'd go with about any need, including simple prayer.

Sheesh.

This is a community. Community has benefits.

Sigh.

[Quix]

Honored to have the opportunity.

Thanks.

[Question_Assumptions]

I never claimed that it didn't calm them down and you'll notice that I didn't say that one should never use it. I know an adult with ADD. My point was that a lot of people seem to think that AD kids are too awake and that Ritalin is a sedative. ADD is more like your mind racing when you are too sleepy. Too many kids don't get enough sleep these days because parents (perhaps because they work long hours and want to spend time with their kids at night) don't seem to put their kids to bed early enough. If the kid doesn't have enough sleep, they can wind up with ADD-like symptoms and some parents have had some success with kids diagnosed with ADD by giving them more sleep. So my suggestion was to cut sugar and try more sleep before resorting to medication.

[ColdSteelTalon]

Well in my experience most ADD imbalances are really just a spanking away from being fixed.

[Gaffer]

Well now I know that at least two people on this thread knows where that "playstation" thing came from....and I didn't even read your posts....he he...... I guess Neal is good for something now and then

[Quix]

YOU HAVE VERY REASONABLE POINTS AND SUGGESTIONS, IMHO.

[beezdotcom]

So you have to make a serious decision about your life and your son's health and you go to a political web site to make your decision? Good choice.

He probably just saw someone infinitely wise like yourself spending a lot of time here, and figured, by gosh, here be geniuses!

[Old anti feminist]

My son who is 57 now, as a young boy, wasn't interested in school. His stepfather was so impatient with him it hurt me alot. Donny, built model airplanes, model cars, then go-carts. He had a heart of gold. I let him be who he was.. He had 20 yrs in the Navy, a whole yr, of cancer treatment for colon cancer, He is the wisest person I know. He beat the cancer so far. There is no way drugs would have helped him, just commn sense.

[bigjoesaddle]

. The electronic stimulation of the brain with video games is almost like a drug....and withdrawal sure seems to create ADD/ADHD symptoms.

I ABSOLUTELY agree. My son started having problems when he played video games. My sons teacher noticed within 3-4 weeks he started "zombie-ing out", the same time he was playing computer games and watching a lot of cartoon network.

This summer we stopped all games and restricted TV. He is doing much, much better.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Thanks Marie :)

[Leatherneck_MT]

Everyone I've ever dealt with that had ADD could concentrate on one thing to the exclusion of everything else.

That's one of the symptoms.


That's also a symptom of being Male.

[Old anti feminist]

The wisest post on this subject today!

[Leatherneck_MT]

lol thank you

[SwankyC]

My ears would get flushed purple after drinking coke or Dr Pepper. I was an incredible spaz after cheetos or doritos and the sodas.