For most people, a quick glance through my half open front door is enough to send them running down the street screaming. Eight children, fifty five arguments, jumping, yelling, hair pulling and a soccer ball or two whizzing past your face.
People always ask me “How do you do it?” My response is “A glass of wildberry, duct tape, and drugs.” I may be joking about the duct tape, but when it comes to the drugs that are prescribed for Joshua’s ADHD and Aspergers they have made a huge difference in his daily living.
The decision to put Joshua on medication for his ADHD was never an issue. The issue was his inability to swallow pills. The Dr. first placed Joshua on 10mg of Ritalin 2x a day. These pills were tiny and I was able to crush them in a spoon, pour some juice on, and Joshua would swallow it no problem. The effect was incredible, however, the downfall was with him having to take it 2x a day, this meant that I to go to his school at lunch time and give him his second dose. The other problem was that the effects of the medication lasted on average two to three hours, so by the time school was over, I was assaulted with verbal and physical assaults, and wild behaviour due to the medication wearing off.
As Rick Hodges points out in his article “Making Meds Work.” (ADDitude Spring 2010) it can take eight to ten weeks before the right dose of medication is determined and sometimes changes may need to be made. This was the case for Joshua. After about 6 months of his roller coaster ride we decided to try Biphentin a longer lasting medication, which is made up of granules that can be sprinkled onto apple sauce, or as Joshua prefers with juice on a spoon.
Once on medication, some Dr’s recommend that the ADHD child take a “Vacation” from them on weekends and during holidays. I know many families who do this and have no problems. We tried this approach and it didn’t work. We had more things broken, twice the amount of fights with siblings, and Joshua actually told me he didn’t like his behaviour when he was off his medication. That was all it took for me.
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Is your on medications? Does your child have ADHD? Do you take a vacation from them during holidays? Post your comment below and let me know what’s worked for you.
Until next time
Chantel, Momof8crazymonkeys
Ik ben het hier niet mee eens. Is namelijk echt situatieafhankelijk.
Zeer leuk stuk, deze site zou veel bekender moeten zijn.
I’m so surprised that they suggest a vacation – admittedly I know NOTHING about ADHD drugs but I know that I just forgot to take my antidepressants for 3 days and I’m a mess – I would think it would be such a challenge to go on and off. I’m a big proponent of meds for when they’re needed. To me that’ is what they’re for – I’m sure your son is 1000% happier when he can be calmer and more steady….
That is like my son – it gets way too overwhelming. I am glad to hear your sister has become so successful and able to manage her ADHD. This is what I am hoping for my son;)
My sister is 12 years younger than me, so we have more of a mom-daughter vibe than a sister vibe. She was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 4, and was medicated until she was 14. Weekend vacations from her meds did not work for us. She would sit on the floor and rock with her head in her hands because she couldn’t handle the mayhem going on inside her own head. At six, she told us her thoughts were like thousands of bees and her meds helped her understand them one at a time. You do what you gotta do, you know?
When she decided to go off ADHD medication she was already a writer and artist. Now, she wants to understand those bees all at once 🙂