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Post by Honeysmom on Feb 1, 2004 12:17:14 GMT -5
I am curious, if your kids skip a day on meds do they complain of a headache?
Since I started Adderall, and I know this is probably what Honey will go back to in a few weeks I wanted to try some of the things that I did with him to see how I feel. I thought that way I maybe I could understand some of his behaviors better. We used to give him a break from his meds here and there, and I know some of you swear by them. So I tried it myself. The result was a terrible headache, not to mention I wasted a whole day fooling around!
I makes me wonder if my body is getting addicted to this. More imprortantly it makes me wonder how Honey felt when we stopped his meds all together. Our ped. doc. said stop so we did. Did he get a headache? Should he have been on a step down plan? Just curious if there are any thoughts on this.
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Post by JulieinSC on Feb 1, 2004 15:15:32 GMT -5
My now 12 year old son has been on either Ritalin or Metadate CD since 3rd grade. He only takes the meds on school days, or when he has a lot of homework (a homework dose). He is off all meds most weekends and during vacation. I've asked, and he says that he doesn't have a headache when he's off meds.
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Post by Dad2Brooke on Feb 4, 2004 14:38:20 GMT -5
Brooke is on Strattera, and on the one occasion I forgot to give it to her, she complained of headaches for that day and the next.  |
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Post by swmom on Feb 4, 2004 14:55:59 GMT -5
On Adderall, we always had headaches. On Strattera, rarely.
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Post by Honeysmom on Feb 4, 2004 15:05:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the info...as long as I take it I don't get one. In fact, I have a history of headaches and it seems to make them better. But if I forget or take it late, watch out, here they come....
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Post by sierra on Feb 4, 2004 18:44:58 GMT -5
Li'l Sprout used to complain of headaches after or even during his real tear 'em up tantrums back around age 5 to 7. I figured they were tension headaches. Once he'd calm down the headache would usually go away. Sometimes he'd need a little tylenol. He wasn't on medication at all.
If I'd been more educated about ADHD and comorbids and things that masquerade as ADHD I'd have probably worried about seizures. But he wasn't diagnosed at that point and like I said I figured they were tension headaches.
Does Honey have more of a tendency toward tantrums when he's not medicated? Li'l Sprout would scream I have a headache in the middle of his tantrums sometimes. It's not something we'd miss if he were getting headaches these days.
Sometimes a headache is just a headache but with our kids it's a little scary to assume that.
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Post by Honeysmom on Feb 4, 2004 20:03:12 GMT -5
Sierra, Honey does not get any headaches, I do. I don't think he has ever had one. My DH has had one headache (hangover) in his whole life!
It would make me wonder also if my ds got a Headache close to a temper tantrum. I would also guess it was tension. Does he still get them or no? If I get really upset, with crying and the whole bit then I will start to get one. Those are not too bad. Pretty dull in fact. If I get a migraine I am miserable for a long time. Sometimes as long as a few days at a crack. If I don't catch it immediately I will go to the ER if it doesn't let up within 16 hours, or I see double. They will give me demerol. I will sleep for a day and it will be gone.
Honey has never had a seizure, but my little one has. She has a disorder, and I can't spell it right, but it is an involuntary response and she will hold her breath in response to fear, pain, or frusteration. Then she will start to pass out and have a seizure. She is getting much better with it now that she is older because I can try and calm her down before it gets that far. I am an expert in infant/toddler seizures and rescue breathing. Thank God for the Red Cross!!!
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Post by sierra on Feb 4, 2004 23:42:35 GMT -5
He doesn't get them anymore. Either I don't make him that mad anymore or it's what I suspect. His tantrums are a lot more strategic than they used to be. Means to an end, the little cuss.
My headache problems are one reason why I can't take stims. Help at first, like coffee, then would become triggers.
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Post by LitlBaa on Feb 5, 2004 0:47:06 GMT -5
I didn't even think about Katie's headaches caused by skipping her meds! She will (sometimes) not take her Strattera when she's spent the night at a girlfriend's and has been up all night giggling and eating popcorn. By the time I get her home, it's past noon and she's already tired and cranky and usually has a headache.
Come to think of it, she had headaches all weekend because I hadn't called to refill her prescription because no one told me it was empty (thanks, Hubby!) so she was taking some leftover 40 mg instead of her usual 60 mg.
Thanks for the info. I'll keep a closer eye on the headaches.
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Post by Honeysmom on Feb 5, 2004 10:07:41 GMT -5
No caffine = big headache!
I decided to get all healthy on myself about months ago and cut out all soda, sweets, and sugar. It was awful. I resorted to caffinated water! Now I just have a cup of that flavored coffee and move on to crystal light.
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Post by sierra on Feb 5, 2004 10:57:43 GMT -5
If you want to stop caffeine intake but get a bad headache if you miss your morning fix then you have to reduce slowly. Figure out how many caffeinated drinks you have per day and when. Look at sodas, teas as well as plain old coffee. Even sinus meds can have caffeine in them. Then you cut back slowly.
Caffeine headaches can be fierce. And once you figure out the problem, just chugging some coffee doesn't fix you up. Can be hours before you feel right again.
I remember chaperoning a kindergarten summer program field trip where I missed my morning coffee. Headache didn't hit til 3 hours later. And man was I in the mood to be shepherding around a half dozen 5 yos!
That was the first time I ever had a caffeine deprivation headache. Memorable.
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