my son takes concerta for ADHD,is it safe and are there others that have the same possitive effects but safer?
90944
This is a good question.  I can only tell you from my experience of taking this type drug for so long that for me it is worth it.  \n\nIt works great for me.  There are side effects but for me it's better then going with out it.
553756
Depakote is an anti seizure drug, but also acts accordingly with other medications. For instance, depakote and effexor xr is a popular mix. With a psychiatrists help, and also a monthly check-up with the regular Dr. To check your liver panel. (bloodwork) But, as said earlier, definately let a Doctor monitor your child. Also, depending on why this medication, there might be others that will work with the depakote. But, ultimately, you should be asking a Dr. this question, not yahoo answers.
391240
My son has ADHD and so does my husband.  My son was on Ritalin and we didn't have any luck, He is 18 now and hasn't been on meds sice age 13. he has a lot of anger and frustration issues but he self medicates with Skateboarding. He says it helps him to escape and slow his brain down. And get rid of his aggression. My husband is on Strattera and Except for having a daily throw up session he says it helps him to concentrate and focus on his job.
770401
The negatives you're hearing about usually come from an anti-medication contingent trying to instill fear that anti-depressants and ADD medications cause kids to commit suicide....those events only happen when you're not following the doctor's recommendations...like say, skipping the pill every so often.\nI'm on Concerta for ADD and I wish i had it when i was younger...Lord knows how much better i would have done in school.\nUsually, the people trying to make these meds look bad have some kind of "alternative therapy" they're trying to sell....mainly because they went to school for psychology and didn't do well enough to get an M.D. certification....hence, why they can't prescribe these pills themselves to anyone!
1186050
concerta thats what i use
1153161
I would have him evaluated by a pediatric specialty team at your nearest children's hospital or rehab center. My daughter was dx'd with ADD/ADHD/PDD-NOS and then High-functioning Autism by her ped and later by state funded physical and occupational therapists through early intervention. She was medicated at the school's insistence for ADHD. When that made things worse instead of better, we had her evaluated at our local pediatric rehabilitation center and learned that she was actually a perfect match for the symptoms/actions of Aspergers Syndrome and early onset bi-polar disorder. The reason the meds made things worse was that with bi-polar, you can't give just the anti-depressant, you have to do a mood stabilizer as well, or the manic symptoms will intensify and often times go out of control. Hope you find the help you need to help your child
959026
Caffeine is a stimulant, just like many ADHD meds.  I don't know about Concerta specifically, but Ritalin is actually a chemical derivative of caffeine.\n\nThe reason that stimulants help ADHD is that they increase the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the brain.  Epinephrine you might have heard of - it's also known as adrenaline.  Anyway, these two neurotransmitters are invovled in alertness and focus.  Higher levels help you focus better (ADHD or not).  Caffeine helps everyone focus, regardless of whether they have ADHD.  For that matter, so do the prescription stimulants used to treat ADHD.\n\nThere's nothing "metabolically different" about kids with ADHD, and caffiene is not having the "opposite effect" as it does on most people.  Caffiene improves focus and concentration for EVERYONE.  It's not acting as a sedative in people with ADHD, it's acting as a stimulant.  Stimulants increase the production of epinephrine and norepinephrine, which allow you to focus, and also improve impulse control.  It's the improved impulse control that lets you seem less "hyper."  For people who don't have any problem with impulse control to begin with, having more energy makes them more active, or "hyper," but it's not the same "hyper" as what's associated with ADHD.  The hyperactivity part of ADHD is more to do with a lack of impulse control than an excess of energy.  Stimulants fix that lack of impulse activity by increasing frontal lobe activity.  They do the same for people who don't have ADHD, but it doesn't produce a noticable change in behavior because they weren't deficient in it to begin with.
530929
there are no affects at all of add&#92;adha it is just the drugs the put you on that give you the long term effects like dexamphetamine is kiddy speed,\n go talk to a speed junkie and see how one of them has turned out
675233
I can't answer the herb question by may I recommend Strattera if he hasn't tried it.  My 14-year old is on the honor role, goes to bed on time, has several close friends and eats normally.\n\nPrior to 6th grade he was on stimulant types like Adderall, Ritalin and others that supressed apetite and made him scrawny and unhealty looking. They also made him moody and he fought taking them. Thanks to Strattera he has a great shot at college and a normal life.  I have no affiliation with whatever company makes it, it just has worked wonders for my son.\n\nIf you'd like to chatt offline I'd be happy to.
607714
yes... But PLEASE PLEASE be careful when giving him Ritalin... or other ADHD meds...  There are non-drugs you can get from the health food store to help calm them so they can do better at home, school, or where ever.\n\nThere was a boy, age 7 when he started taking Ritalin.  When he was 14, he collapsed and died of heart failure, determined to be caused by taking the Ritalin for too long!!   PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!  There are alternatives to prescription drugs for this!!!
437997
Hi, absolutely NOT. Seeing that it is a chemical stimulant the first person who answered yes would seem to be right, however, the intended desired effect on children is to increase attention and therefore side-effects such as tachacardia (heart racing or beating more than 100 times/minute) would not tend to produce this result. Also, recent studies have shown that sudden cardiac arrest (actual death !) can occur in some children and these symptoms should be brought up to your Doctor immediately. I am not trying to scare you but I have been in the pharmaceutical industry and these side effects have gotten alot of publicity lately. For most people adderall appears safe, but a rapid heart rate should be brought to the attention of the prescribing physician.
200161
www.chadd.org has a lot of info on ADD/ADHD and the positive effects of Ritilan (and other medications) when used appropriately\n\nGood luck on your report!
453430
Anything you take has the potential to affect your fetus. Some antacids are generally accepted as relatively safe to use while others are not. However, remember there has never be a study to determine if a given medicine is definitely safe or not during pregnancy in a thorough and rigorous manner. The best thing to do is to consult with your Obstetrician regarding which medications you can use if any, and even then, the less medication the better.
130390
I feel your pain, and share your view in general on medications. I have a daughter, now 8 years old who has ADHD. They told me when she was six that she needed to be medicated and I absolutely refused to consider it. I thought that medication was being used way too often and I was not about to put her on it. Well, things continued to get worse for her, me our family as we tried to control her behaviors without meds. She started losing her friends, doing poorly in school, and her brothers started to resent her for the behaviors she would act out and ruin our family outings. I finally agreed about 6 months ago  to try her on the lowest dose possible to try to make things a little better. Now, I regret not doing it sooner. She is by no means perfectly behaved or on task, but she is now able to do her school work with minimum redirecting, sustain friendships, and has control over her behaviors. This medication has not altered her pesonality or put her in to a dazed state like I thought it would. It really has just helped her to be able to live a more normal life. She still has her times when she doesn't want to listen, do homework and pouts or cries, but it is now within reasonable limits. I agree that medication should not just be handed out like candy, but sometimes the child really does need it. With proper monitoring and dosage your son should be fine. The only side effect my daughter has had is a little weight loss, but even that tapered off after the first 2 months. She is a much happier child now, and it is a much more peaceful house. I wish you luck with your son, and in making this decision, as I know it is a hard one to make. I fought it for 1 1/2 years. Good Luck.
501926
my son has adhd. you just need to listen to him. He gets soooo upset when you don't let him fully explain himself, even if your in a hurry...listen and validate his thoughts. Also just take time to sit and read with him, or talk about how he feels, what he's into and so on. I't soo tough. my son's 8 and has alot of trouble with friends in school. he's a good kid, they just need lots of love.
1075628
Many studies conclude that ADD/ADHD is hereditary, since several family members frequently exhibit the symptoms. Other studies on school drop-outs, drug addicts, delinquents and criminals indicate that a very high percentage of individuals with ADD/ADHD do not receive adequate help with their problems, become alienated, and turn to deviant behaviors.\n\nDRUGS  One of the first, and often the most avidly promoted treatment is stimulant. antidepressant or antipsychotic medications.  Schools often suggest a referral to a pediatrician for stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, Concerta, Dexedrine, Adderall, Metadate, Strattera, Focalin,  or Attenade; antidepressant such as Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft and more recently the antipsychotic Risperdal.
862913
ritalin, or concerta, foucus factor