[mellisa]

Hi this is my 1st time here, my 6 year old was diagnosed with adhd in January, started all kinds of testing in October. He started on the adderal the end of Jan. 5mg then 10mg. we didn't see much improvement only a bit more aware of whats happening around him. His anger then increased terribly, so his doctor wanted to try prozac or a high blood pressure med and myself being anti-med was a little freaked out and told him he was scaring me so he then neglected to send me the script and by the time I reached him again I wasn't so sure about the prozac so he started telling about 4 or 5 other drugs we could try and we came up with the risperdal. After doing some research I was very reluctant to try this with him, I decided I would on his winter break so I could monitor him myself. I see no improvement at all , if anything I believe he is more easily angered. He hates school, he cannot tell me 1 letter of the alphabet bt sight, He knows all his numbers . He always needs to win at any game we play or he gets angry. He has gone from a loving child who tells me he loves me all the time and I'm his best friend to telling me he hates me. I'm devastated I want so much to help him but I don't know where to begin to help him to relax and enjoy himself. He just doesn't know how to be happy. His teachers are wonderful and trying so hard to help him. His teacher thinks it might be anxiety, he likes routine and gets upset when it changes. He has 2 older brothers and a younger sister. The boys fight like any other siblings would but he absolutely can't stand his sister who is three years younger. I never thought he would hurt her but now he's to the point where he will hit her or push her if she bothers him. He's always been able to play by himself, he is not bouncing off the walls he is very mellow. Since he started school it has been a nightmare for him and me. I just want him to be the happy 6 year old he should be and want to do things that 6 year olds do. Does anyone have a similar experience to share with me I'm desperate to help my child. Also any info on drugs that might help him and his anger. I feel like their is no help, my husband unfortunately is in denial and tells me to leave him alone.

[howieh123]

Originally Posted by mellisa

Hi this is my 1st time here, my 6 year old was diagnosed with adhd in January, started all kinds of testing in October. He started on the adderal the end of Jan. 5mg then 10mg. we didn't see much improvement only a bit more aware of whats happening around him. His anger then increased terribly, so his doctor wanted to try prozac or a high blood pressure med and myself being anti-med was a little freaked out and told him he was scaring me so he then neglected to send me the script and by the time I reached him again I wasn't so sure about the prozac so he started telling about 4 or 5 other drugs we could try and we came up with the risperdal. After doing some research I was very reluctant to try this with him, I decided I would on his winter break so I could monitor him myself. I see no improvement at all , if anything I believe he is more easily angered. He hates school, he cannot tell me 1 letter of the alphabet bt sight, He knows all his numbers . He always needs to win at any game we play or he gets angry. He has gone from a loving child who tells me he loves me all the time and I'm his best friend to telling me he hates me. I'm devastated I want so much to help him but I don't know where to begin to help him to relax and enjoy himself. He just doesn't know how to be happy. His teachers are wonderful and trying so hard to help him. His teacher thinks it might be anxiety, he likes routine and gets upset when it changes. He has 2 older brothers and a younger sister. The boys fight like any other siblings would but he absolutely can't stand his sister who is three years younger. I never thought he would hurt her but now he's to the point where he will hit her or push her if she bothers him. He's always been able to play by himself, he is not bouncing off the walls he is very mellow. Since he started school it has been a nightmare for him and me. I just want him to be the happy 6 year old he should be and want to do things that 6 year olds do. Does anyone have a similar experience to share with me I'm desperate to help my child. Also any info on drugs that might help him and his anger. I feel like their is no help, my husband unfortunately is in denial and tells me to leave him alone.

Can you let me know if you were able to manage your son's issues and/or what therapy route you followed.

We have a 6 year old that we have had great difficulties with finding the right combination and he cycles quickly when he is stressed.

[ARTIST658]

Hi Mellisa,

I'm certainly no expert on these things, but having two children with ADHD, I have learned just enough to get me into trouble... Their symptoms are being well treated, after they have had to endure being the guinea pig when other medications failed.

My best advice is to explore something other than Adderall. My son developed the same anger issues whenever he had this type of drug therapy - and they passed when the drug was removed. There are safer drugs than adderall, I'd do some research on this site, if I were you. Adderall is a stimulant - speed, in effect. I would not start treatment on a 6-year-old with such a powerful drug, personally - not when other non-amphetamine drugs are available and effective.

Incidentally, keep in mind, adderoll is also a medication that can stunt a child's growth if used over any length of time. On top of that, it is habit-forming. That means he can't just stop it suddenly; he'll need to taper it off under medical supervision.

To stay this course, you're inviting a situation where doctors will continue to add prescriptions to take care of the side effects from other drugs, until your son is so medicated, you won't know what is "him" and what is the "drugs".

My son (now 13) takes strattera, another common ADHD medication, which is NOT a stimulant like speed. For his mood issues, he takes Wellbutrin, which not only helps with his mood, but also with his focus at school. This has been his "formula" for over a year now, and so far, so good. My daughter takes Wellbutrin and Clonidine, another medication for ADHD which is quite safe. Clonidine was originally designed for help to lower blood pressure, and then found to help ADHD.

It may take some exploring to find what works for your son, but please do not accept a situation where the drugs are making him and you miserable. That's cruel for both of you. If your doctor is unwilling to try something else, maybe it'd be wise to consult with another.

God bless,
Ruth