New ADHD meds

by pksped

Jun 20, 2011

Every once in a few years, I get a student who has been prescribed ADHD meds. I realize that prescribing it for younger students is highly controversial; I'm just curious what the newest names in ADHD medications are right now.

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judy5ca I, too, am torn on the medication issue. Philosophically, I dislike long-term medication for children. However, like Teri, I've had a student who simply could not function without medication. He was ADD and sat as if in a coma. While other students wrote for 30 minutes, he maybe got a couple of letters of his first name on his paper. And it wasn't ...See MoreI, too, am torn on the medication issue. Philosophically, I dislike long-term medication for children. However, like Teri, I've had a student who simply could not function without medication. He was ADD and sat as if in a coma. While other students wrote for 30 minutes, he maybe got a couple of letters of his first name on his paper. And it wasn't that he didn't want to do it. Thankfully, his parents trusted me as I'd had his 2 big sisters. I called them in after the first week of school and said, "I have never said this to a parent before, but please, take this child to the doctor right now." With medication, he was a new student: productive and capable.

Now, he was clearly ADD. I do wonder why the parents of ADHD kids (and I had one last year who, as a 5th grader, had zero impulse control) are the most resistant to medication. What do you think?

Judy

On 6/20/11, Teri wrote: > On 6/20/11, Janine Spiess wrote: >> On 6/20/11, pksped wrote: >>> Every once in a few years, I get a student who has been >>> prescribed ADHD meds. I realize that prescribing it for >>> younger students is highly controversial; I'm just curious >>> what the newest names in ADHD medications are right now. >> >> >> The newest medication that I am aware of in called Intunive. >> Other than that one, most are the same as they have been. >> >> Yes, medicating is controversial but as a parent of an ADHD >> son medicating was necessary. The constant class disruption >> was affecting all the students. We resisted at first but the >> pediatrician explained that without the medicaiton he wouldn't >> be able to control his actions enough to learn appropriate >> behavior. Many kids want to do better but can't do it >> themselves and this leads to even more behavior issues. >> >> Each situation is different and parents have to make the >> choices. Hope this helps. > > This is a very controversial subject. I've heard compelling > arguments for both sides. I've had students in my classroom who > literally could not function without medication (ADD--spent the > class time staring at the ceiling tiles unless I stood right next > to him all the time). On the other hand, I've known a couple of > families with ADHD students who totally changed how their family > ate--eliminating ALL artificial preservatives from their diet. > They even went so far as to bake their own bread. Their children > stopped showing any symptoms of ADHD.

Jun 20, 2011

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I was the doctor's worst nightmare I was the special education teacher, and behavior modification supervisor. I suspected in kindergarten that there was something off. I had the school psych write up an observation. Started behavior modification techniques including changing diet, sticker charts cubes etc. In 1st grade continued with the charts, cubes etc since they worked well with...See MoreI was the special education teacher, and behavior modification supervisor. I suspected in kindergarten that there was something off. I had the school psych write up an observation. Started behavior modification techniques including changing diet, sticker charts cubes etc. In 1st grade continued with the charts, cubes etc since they worked well with him (much to the teachers dismay). All while the dr told me "he will grow out of it." Finally pressured the dr to look at all of the evidence (2 1/2 inch binder) full of rewards, consequences, observations, and behavior charts. She did not want him to put him on any medication because "there are no educational side effects" in other words he wasn't failing. Bothering everyone around him wasn't good enough for her. Finally put him on medication half way through 2nd grade and everyone is finally able to see how amazing of a child he can be. On 6/20/11, judy5ca wrote: > I, too, am torn on the medication issue. Philosophically, I dislike > long-term medication for children. However, like Teri, I've had a > student who simply could not function without medication. He was ADD > and sat as if in a coma. While other students wrote for 30 minutes, > he maybe got a couple of letters of his first name on his paper. And > it wasn't that he didn't want to do it. Thankfully, his parents > trusted me as I'd had his 2 big sisters. I called them in after the > first week of school and said, "I have never said this to a parent > before, but please, take this child to the doctor right now." With > medication, he was a new student: productive and capable. > > Now, he was clearly ADD. I do wonder why the parents of ADHD kids > (and I had one last year who, as a 5th grader, had zero impulse > control) are the most resistant to medication. What do you think? > > Judy > > > > On 6/20/11, Teri wrote: >> On 6/20/11, Janine Spiess wrote: >>> On 6/20/11, pksped wrote: >>>> Every once in a few years, I get a student who has been >>>> prescribed ADHD meds. I realize that prescribing it for >>>> younger students is highly controversial; I'm just curious >>>> what the newest names in ADHD medications are right now. >>> >>> >>> The newest medication that I am aware of in called Intunive. >>> Other than that one, most are the same as they have been. >>> >>> Yes, medicating is controversial but as a parent of an ADHD >>> son medicating was necessary. The constant class disruption >>> was affecting all the students. We resisted at first but the >>> pediatrician explained that without the medicaiton he wouldn't >>> be able to control his actions enough to learn appropriate >>> behavior. Many kids want to do better but can't do it >>> themselves and this leads to even more behavior issues. >>> >>> Each situation is different and parents have to make the >>> choices. Hope this helps. >> >> This is a very controversial subject. I've heard compelling >> arguments for both sides. I've had students in my classroom who >> literally could not function without medication (ADD--spent the >> class time staring at the ceiling tiles unless I stood right next >> to him all the time). On the other hand, I've known a couple of >> families with ADHD students who totally changed how their family >> ate--eliminating ALL artificial preservatives from their diet. >> They even went so far as to bake their own bread. Their children >> stopped showing any symptoms of ADHD.

Jun 20, 2011

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pksped (OP) Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I will read up on some of the new meds available.

Jun 20, 2011

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SDteacher I'm glad to hear that the medication did help you. It's true that every child is different, but it sounds like you were doing everything you could to help him. I'm amazed that your doctor was so reluctant even with all of your evidence!

On 6/20/11, I was the doctor's worst nightmare wrote: > I was the special education teacher, and beha...See MoreI'm glad to hear that the medication did help you. It's true that every child is different, but it sounds like you were doing everything you could to help him. I'm amazed that your doctor was so reluctant even with all of your evidence!

On 6/20/11, I was the doctor's worst nightmare wrote: > I was the special education teacher, and behavior modification > supervisor. I suspected in kindergarten that there was something off. I > had the school psych write up an observation. Started behavior > modification techniques including changing diet, sticker charts cubes > etc. In 1st grade continued with the charts, cubes etc since they > worked well with him (much to the teachers dismay). All while the dr > told me "he will grow out of it." Finally pressured the dr to look at > all of the evidence (2 1/2 inch binder) full of rewards, consequences, > observations, and behavior charts. She did not want him to put him on > any medication because "there are no educational side effects" in other > words he wasn't failing. Bothering everyone around him wasn't good > enough for her. Finally put him on medication half way through 2nd > grade and everyone is finally able to see how amazing of a child he can > be. > On 6/20/11, judy5ca wrote: >> I, too, am torn on the medication issue. Philosophically, I dislike >> long-term medication for children. However, like Teri, I've had a >> student who simply could not function without medication. He was ADD >> and sat as if in a coma. While other students wrote for 30 minutes, >> he maybe got a couple of letters of his first name on his paper. And >> it wasn't that he didn't want to do it. Thankfully, his parents >> trusted me as I'd had his 2 big sisters. I called them in after the >> first week of school and said, "I have never said this to a parent >> before, but please, take this child to the doctor right now." With >> medication, he was a new student: productive and capable. >> >> Now, he was clearly ADD. I do wonder why the parents of ADHD kids >> (and I had one last year who, as a 5th grader, had zero impulse >> control) are the most resistant to medication. What do you think? >> >> Judy >> >> >> >> On 6/20/11, Teri wrote: >>> On 6/20/11, Janine Spiess wrote: >>>> On 6/20/11, pksped wrote: >>>>> Every once in a few years, I get a student who has been >>>>> prescribed ADHD meds. I realize that prescribing it for >>>>> younger students is highly controversial; I'm just curious >>>>> what the newest names in ADHD medications are right now. >>>> >>>> >>>> The newest medication that I am aware of in called Intunive. >>>> Other than that one, most are the same as they have been. >>>> >>>> Yes, medicating is controversial but as a parent of an ADHD >>>> son medicating was necessary. The constant class disruption >>>> was affecting all the students. We resisted at first but the >>>> pediatrician explained that without the medicaiton he wouldn't >>>> be able to control his actions enough to learn appropriate >>>> behavior. Many kids want to do better but can't do it >>>> themselves and this leads to even more behavior issues. >>>> >>>> Each situation is different and parents have to make the >>>> choices. Hope this helps. >>> >>> This is a very controversial subject. I've heard compelling >>> arguments for both sides. I've had students in my classroom who >>> literally could not function without medication (ADD--spent the >>> class time staring at the ceiling tiles unless I stood right next >>> to him all the time). On the other hand, I've known a couple of >>> families with ADHD students who totally changed how their family >>> ate--eliminating ALL artificial preservatives from their diet. >>> They even went so far as to bake their own bread. Their children >>> stopped showing any symptoms of ADHD.

Jun 20, 2011

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Dr worst nightmare My son is on focalin and has also been on metadate. Feel free to email me if you have questions. My son has been able to do an amazing job articulating how he feels and what it does for him. On 6/20/11, pksped (OP) wrote: > Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I will read up on some > of the new meds available.

Jun 23, 2011

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