Comments on: Do You Have an ADD/ADHD Medication Disaster Story?

By: Gunnar

Gunnar — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:47:10 +0000

I am so glad I found this post. I just had the same reaction in school on Ritalin, except I am a graduate student. I missed an entire day of classes before the effects subsided with what I called immediate ‘withdrawal’. Headache, feeling hot, clammy hands, and the sweats. It’s still not out of my system yet, but I hated it. I couldn’t comprehend what my professor in the first class was saying AT ALL! I could listen, but make no connections to the subject. It was like a nightmare, I can’t believe you lived that for 4 years. I am glad you didn’t kill yourself, I may have if I was forced to take this crap. Wellbutrin on the other hand, has been great. No side effects at all and I bounce back faster from my depression states allowing me to function better. Never again will I take a stimulate.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:51:34 +0000

No you are not crazy. I had the same experience until we found the right med and dosage. Very frustrating and frightening. Seems to me the doctors don’t tell the parents or aren’t aware of the side effects. Ive heard this from
Several parents of kids with ADHD. You’re not alone.

By: Dr. Kenny Handelman

Dr. Kenny Handelman — Sat, 14 May 2011 01:45:10 +0000

JD – when a child is bipolar, it is imperative to stabilize the mood first and then treat ADHD. So having a medication like Abilify to stabilize the mood is very important. When one is on a stimulant without mood stabilization, then there are often outbursts. What you are saying makes a lot of sense!

By: JD

JD — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:47:04 +0000

My 9 yr old daughter was previously diagnosed with early onset bipolar disorder, ADHD, and GAD. Had to change physicians because other physician was not available no real care or follow-up. New physician said that ADHD and Bipolar have similar symptomology and that instead of treating bipolar we should just treat the ADHD. My daughter was previously on 2 mg Abilify which we had requested to change because the meds are too expensive and we don’t have insurance coverage for psychotropic medication. New doc took her off of abilify and put her on methylphenidate for ADHD. We had been having a lot of problems with daughters behavior prior to new meds especially when we went off of Abilify. She was passing school and is now failing within 2 months time (the time it took to stop Abilify use). She has been on Methylphenidate now for 7 days. She is able to concentrate all right but only on throwing major fits about anything and everything. The first night she wanted to ride her new roller blades so bad she didnt sleep until 3 am. Thought that was a side effect of the meds but sleeping hasnt seemed to be a problem since. Teacher said Friday she did seem to be a little more focused. As soon as she walks in the door the tantrums begin and never end. She said she cant control it and started pinching herself trying to stop herself from freaking out. Everything I have read about treating bipolar kids with adhd is that you MUST treat bipolor first because giving a bipolar child a stimulant can cause them to have mania or even psychosis. I am worried this new Dr is one who doesnt believe in diagnosing bipolar in children. Has anyone else had the same issue with ADHD meds and bipolar disorder or am I crazy?

By: deb

deb — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:02:17 +0000

this is a response to Ange feb 16/10
can u tell me how it is going now with your son as my son 8 yrs old is also on Biphentin 15mg and is having very similar side effects. More verbal aggression, rages. He has been on meds since Jan 11 2011.

By: Neville

Neville — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:19:03 +0000

My Previous posts were overemotional. Stimulants can help but you got too keep routing and NOT too much. If you cant sleep 8 hours a day on them then its not working. Youl go down hil from sleep debt. Anyway. Where all diff. cheers

By: Candice Parr

Candice Parr — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:37:18 +0000

My daughter just lost custody of her two children to her ex-husband and mother-in-law who are wealthy. They used the excuse she was refusing to medicate her 7 year old for adhd. The only justification used for taking both children her little 3 -year old as well,was that and “Although this mother appears to be cooperative she shows an underlying mistrust of the two counselors, hired by the mother-in-law, the school, paid by the mother in law, and the mother in law. This mistrust was called subtle, only detectable in body language. Social services was not involved. Because the father was saying yes to medication he was cooperative.

By: angela

angela — Mon, 17 May 2010 03:01:34 +0000

I was diagnosed with ADHD about a year ago. I’m 38. I’ve been behind my entire life and remained that way on meds. But on Ritalin I could focus better some days w/less effort. However, after taking the meds for ~2 weeks the side effects got worse. That was with each of the meds I tried. With Focalin, which I tried last, it was the worst. I couldn’t remember what ‘normal’ felt like.

I would crash in the evenings and had a hard time doing anything if I didn’t have meds in me. With Focalin I was more anxious and depressed with every crash.

I’ve decided to live without the meds. Although, my ADHD is pretty severe. It’s discouraging to feel like I’ve seen a little what it might be like to be a person without ADHD (which is how I felt sometimes on meds), but then to realize the side-effects aren’t worth the benefits.

The meds. made me more aware of my weaknesses without them.

By: james B

james B — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:40:38 +0000

Hello
38 age I just beed diagnosed with ADHD. And I was given Ritalin Adderall Strattera. I have stoped the med because it made me fell like crap. 1. Never take med where you have sign waver that you might die or have hart attack pretty scary. 2. I read on lot of blogs that kids have full access to there med and they abuse them open your eye parents get off your lazy butt and give your child 1 pill and tell them take it front of you. I here some kids sell them, snort them, save them take like 4-8 pills at one time

By: Ange

Ange — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:24:37 +0000

My son age 7, has been on Biphentin 15mg for almost 7 weeks now. The first 2 weeks were great, he was finishing all his work in school and we didnt notice and side effects.

Well that first 2 weeks was such a tease. Since then we have notice and increase in aggression from my usually sweet loving son. He has had numerous incidents at school were he is also lashing out at teachers and other students. He has been assigned a TA to walk with him at all outdoor times, to insure the saftey of other students.

Lately he has not been doing much work at school at all, bringing home large amounts of un finished school work. So much that I actually havea stack sitting on my kitchen table, as I can only get him to do a little every night. At this rate he will never catch up.

He has had moments, were I am actually scared of his behaviour. Just a few days ago he became upset with our small dog, and actually started after the dog screaming he was going to kill him. I had to hold him back from the dog and get one of his brothers to take the dog to another room.

Sleeping has become a nightmare. Takes him anywhere from one to 3 hrs to fall asleep. His regular bedtime is 8:30pm on school nights. There have been nights when I will go up to bed at 11:30pm and he is still awake. He is also waking in the middle of the night, more often then he did before. Some nights he will be awake for hours, I hear him in his room playing.

I spoke to his teacher this morning and she too says she has notice no good changes in him. She is concerned about the increase in the aggression. Today is our appointment with Dr. Will no later today if my son is too continue on this medication or if changes will take place.