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Does it always come to medications?
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 385944" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>There's no medication that can 'fix' ODD. But depending on whether some factors such as anxiety or depression are involved, you can medicate for those.</p><p></p><p>As for ADHD - again, it's a matter of choice. Perhaps also a matter of degree. In our case, the ADHD was severe in the boys. difficult child 3 didn't seem so bad, but that's because difficult child 1 was so severe with his ADHD. We copped a lot of flak when we started difficult child 3 on ADHD medications when he was 3 years old, but it was almost miraculous in its benefits. Temple Grandin calls it the "Wow" factor. If you try a new medication and immediately notice a massive benefit, like Wow!" then clearly it's a good choice. But if you don't notice much change, if any, then yo need to consider if it's really serving any purpose.</p><p></p><p>There will always be those who will be critical. At a school function (end of year luncheon for parents who volunteered) I was sitting with some friends and a couple of other women I'd never met. One of these women turned to me (she didn't know me except as a friend of her friend) and asked me, "So how do you feel about those parents who drug their children into submission?"</p><p>I could have ducked it and made some non-committal reply, but I am basically an honest person. Plus I found her overly confrontational style of questioning to be offensive. I didn't take offence though, but I did stand up for my decisions. I replied, "If you mean, 'How do I feel about the use of medication in children with a carefully assessed diagnosis of ADHD, then it is a matter of parental choice. In our case, we chose to medicate and I was so delighted by the immediate and large benefits, that I stand by my choices retrospectively."</p><p>She went on to discuss her own (obviously negative) views, including her statement that she herself has ADD and self-medicates with caffeine. I said that in my opinion caffeine is a blunt instrument, compared to the much more carefully researched pharmacological stimulants which of course themselves are not perfect; but they are the best options we have. Besides, my boys react fairly badly to caffeine, we had to exclude it from the house.</p><p></p><p>It was a moderately warm discussion, but still polite. We parted on friendly terms, agreeing to differ. But I also was remembering what I had heard about her - a family member of hers was selling one of those herbal supplements of the "it cures everything" variety, that costs a fortune and probably does nothing useful. That family member had once buttonholed me about the medicating of my kids, and did the hard sell on me. Her comments were a preamble to another hard sell which thankfully I had prevented.</p><p></p><p>You are the parent. You get to choose what you want to do. What we found, was that medications for ADHD did help our kids (except easy child) deal with what COULD be helped, so they had less left over to try and compensate for. Once they coped better, they felt less stressed and in a positive feedback loop, they began to do even better. But some people choose not to medicate, so the child learns to adapt to what they have anyway. Is it better, or not? I can't tell you. All I can tell you, is if given the chance over again to medicate, I would do it in a heartbeat. Sooner, if possible.</p><p></p><p>Some medications were disastrous for us. Rebound on some stimulants can be a problem. Strattera (only tried on difficult child 3) was a shocker - difficult child 3 became physically violent with racing, uncontrolled thoughts almost to a psychotic level, within three days. We stopped the medications and waited while he sweated it out. We now have a system that works (with all three younger ones, although only difficult child 3 is still at home, the others are married) and we won't rock the boat. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.</p><p></p><p>I hope this helps.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 385944, member: 1991"] There's no medication that can 'fix' ODD. But depending on whether some factors such as anxiety or depression are involved, you can medicate for those. As for ADHD - again, it's a matter of choice. Perhaps also a matter of degree. In our case, the ADHD was severe in the boys. difficult child 3 didn't seem so bad, but that's because difficult child 1 was so severe with his ADHD. We copped a lot of flak when we started difficult child 3 on ADHD medications when he was 3 years old, but it was almost miraculous in its benefits. Temple Grandin calls it the "Wow" factor. If you try a new medication and immediately notice a massive benefit, like Wow!" then clearly it's a good choice. But if you don't notice much change, if any, then yo need to consider if it's really serving any purpose. There will always be those who will be critical. At a school function (end of year luncheon for parents who volunteered) I was sitting with some friends and a couple of other women I'd never met. One of these women turned to me (she didn't know me except as a friend of her friend) and asked me, "So how do you feel about those parents who drug their children into submission?" I could have ducked it and made some non-committal reply, but I am basically an honest person. Plus I found her overly confrontational style of questioning to be offensive. I didn't take offence though, but I did stand up for my decisions. I replied, "If you mean, 'How do I feel about the use of medication in children with a carefully assessed diagnosis of ADHD, then it is a matter of parental choice. In our case, we chose to medicate and I was so delighted by the immediate and large benefits, that I stand by my choices retrospectively." She went on to discuss her own (obviously negative) views, including her statement that she herself has ADD and self-medicates with caffeine. I said that in my opinion caffeine is a blunt instrument, compared to the much more carefully researched pharmacological stimulants which of course themselves are not perfect; but they are the best options we have. Besides, my boys react fairly badly to caffeine, we had to exclude it from the house. It was a moderately warm discussion, but still polite. We parted on friendly terms, agreeing to differ. But I also was remembering what I had heard about her - a family member of hers was selling one of those herbal supplements of the "it cures everything" variety, that costs a fortune and probably does nothing useful. That family member had once buttonholed me about the medicating of my kids, and did the hard sell on me. Her comments were a preamble to another hard sell which thankfully I had prevented. You are the parent. You get to choose what you want to do. What we found, was that medications for ADHD did help our kids (except easy child) deal with what COULD be helped, so they had less left over to try and compensate for. Once they coped better, they felt less stressed and in a positive feedback loop, they began to do even better. But some people choose not to medicate, so the child learns to adapt to what they have anyway. Is it better, or not? I can't tell you. All I can tell you, is if given the chance over again to medicate, I would do it in a heartbeat. Sooner, if possible. Some medications were disastrous for us. Rebound on some stimulants can be a problem. Strattera (only tried on difficult child 3) was a shocker - difficult child 3 became physically violent with racing, uncontrolled thoughts almost to a psychotic level, within three days. We stopped the medications and waited while he sweated it out. We now have a system that works (with all three younger ones, although only difficult child 3 is still at home, the others are married) and we won't rock the boat. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I hope this helps. Marg [/QUOTE]
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