|
|
Post by cheermom on Aug 8, 2005 6:57:40 GMT -5
has anyone taken their child off meds for the summer and then kept them off for school and were able to do so with success? Its been a week for us and he really is doing quite well. i am sooooooo afraid for school and if he can handle it without meds.
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Aug 8, 2005 7:32:46 GMT -5
Hi cheermom and welcome  It depends on the child. Paul never took meds in the summer....week-ends...etc but school was another ballgame!!!He needed his meds for school for focus.School settings are a lot different than being at home. That is my opinion but every child is different. |
|
|
|
Post by vickilyn32 on Aug 8, 2005 8:34:24 GMT -5
Dan also never takes meds during school breaks, but really needs them to focus during school. We have tried twice now to go without meds, and it was terrible. With meds last year was the best ever, and we are looking forward to this year. He will be in highschool now, so he really needs to be able to focus. btw he as been on meds since 2nd grade.
|
|
mothercat
Member Emeritus
With a little luck and a lot of Gods help anything is possible!
Posts: 1,468
|
Post by mothercat on Aug 8, 2005 8:37:57 GMT -5
Every child is different but I will say that every year we go thru the same euphoria where we truely think that maybe Jared wont need the meds. It seems that the first few weeks of school aren't much except review of the previous year...it is after that when you will see the need for meds come on strong. (atleast we do) Our Doc waits until a few weeks to have the teachers fill out the first connnors...he says they dont get a true measure of the probs till then.Kinda like having a new job..its fun at first but once you get used to it ...you dont really want to get up and go every day. ;D But as Linda said...every child is different. Jared is only on meds for school and has been off meds all summer due to weight issues...but will be back on them for school. There will be no euphoria about meds at our house this year as I can see that he needs them. Good luck with your child.... |
|
|
|
Post by kstquilter on Aug 8, 2005 11:05:15 GMT -5
i have to agree with the others that school is a whole different ball game. maybe if your child continues to do well during summer and vacations, maybe schools meds could be altered and could eventually be given less often? maybe. but you're the only one who knows your child. discuss it with the teacher if you think there may be problems.
i'd be afraid to try out the school year with no meds. can set a bad precedent for the school year with new kids who won't understand.
good luck.
karen
|
|
|
|
Post by finnmom on Aug 8, 2005 23:27:49 GMT -5
Welcome, it´s nice to see new people in here  As for your question, I have to agree with other´s, school is an other ball game all together. My ds is on med´s schoolday´s only, never on holiday´s, weekend´s etc. But he does need his med´s on schoolday´s, it´s so much better for him, he feel´s he can concentrate so much better with med´s, homework´s are much easier to be done..... If you feel confortable of his succes without med´s then why wouldn´t you try.... you could go back with med´s if needed, but..... how does he feel? Have you asked him.... sorry I cant remeber if you said how old he is, is he´s old enough I would listen to his idea´s too.... |
|
|
|
Post by catseye on Aug 9, 2005 9:32:40 GMT -5
You know your child the best... It is worth a shot, after all meds can be brought back in, and some of them work instantly (not sure what medication your son is on)...
My sd we were kinda forced last year to start her without medications... She lost her only friend, received a bus suspension, and hit the teacher all within the first week of school... YEP MEDS HERE WE COME!! LOL
cat
|
|
|
|
Post by camismom on Aug 9, 2005 10:51:56 GMT -5
I agree with M/C... we have had a couple incidences in the past where Cami has decided she wants to see how she does off her meds. She thinks she is old enough now to handle herself without. She sees herself at home since she too only takes her med on school days and she sees she is fine. So we will flatter her a week or two. Both times it has only taken that long for her to see that school is a whole new "ballgame". At home there is nothing pressing that requires her "unwavering" attention. At home she is not under a timeline to get things done. Once the grades started falling from unfinished classwork, once she started seeing she was getting in trouble for talking out impulsively, she saw she needs the meds still. At least for now. We never give up hope that her day will come, but not yet. As has been said, all kids are different and you could be surprised. Just be prepared if the surprise doesn't come quite yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by cheermom on Aug 9, 2005 13:11:24 GMT -5
I know what everyone means!!! my son is 11 and starting middle school so I am really hesitant about stopping meds for school. I am actually more concerned socially then academically. What do guys think about lowering the dosage instead of eliminating med all together. Do some children need their dose DECREASED as they get older instead of INCREASED? Any insight would be helpful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by milesofsmiles on Aug 9, 2005 13:53:11 GMT -5
Cheer, My only advice would be to consult your childs doctor for advice. Every child reacts a little differently to medicines. Your Dr. knows your son's history. Personally, when a dose of medicine was too low, or too high, my son would get physically and argumentivly violent. It was like not enough, and his body felt weird, and too much amplified the weirdness (in his words). In some cases, kids grow into their grown up roles and don't need as much or any medicines at all. Miles |
|
|
|
Post by finnmom on Aug 9, 2005 23:29:17 GMT -5
Cheer, in here doc´s think that at the certain age (usually after child get´s over 11) kid´s dont get the benefit´s of the med so much anymore, they kind a grow to be able to contrl their behaviour by themself´s...  I hope so. Good luck for your try!!! |
|
|
|
Post by AnneM on Aug 14, 2005 12:18:45 GMT -5
cheermom and welcome aboard!! I totally agree with everyone else who has said that this varies from child to child ... HUGELY!! ... Some kids can cope very well with "school only" medication and others really don't and they need it for the holidays as well ... As for the question of giving it up altogether ... (my son is 17 and he is now finally off meds) ... his Doctor says that by around age 16 you can THEN really start to tell whether they will continue to need meds into adulthood or whether they will not ... Before this it isn't possible to gauge it ... I also would suggest CAUTION in "lowering" the dosage that your son has been prescribed.... I have heard and read from other's various experiences and some doctors opinions .. that lowering the dosage is totally futile ... BUT if you find your son is in ANY way "zombified" by the recommended dosage THEN I think is the time to realise this is tooooo high!! ... BUT if the recommended dosage is not zombifying him (and it SHOULDN'T!) then you have the "right amount" for him... IMHO to "lower" the "right" amount would not be a good idea!! My son didn't even start concerta until he was 13 ... (he was late in being diagnosed) ... IF he hadn't had this medication however throughout his teenage years things I honestly believe "could" have been very different for him ... At age 13 things were NOT good at school ... but when concerta was introduced things improved pretty dramatically.... I personally would tend to err on the side of caution here ... at age 11 your ds still has the most " Difficult" years of school still ahead of him!! (ages 13-15 notoriously being the toughest) ... and as I already said that was the age that my son really, really benefitted from meds ... We have also been very very lucky in that at age 17 he is finally functioning well without his meds ... but at age 13, 14, 15 ... NO WAY!!! I wish you lots and lots of luck .... I know sooooo well that medicating our kids is NOT something we want to do ... we ideally want them to function WITHOUT meds or on a lower dose than the doctor prescribes ... but please just bear in mind that the toughest years (school wise) ARE yet to come! 
|
|
|
|
Post by cheermom on Aug 14, 2005 14:43:57 GMT -5
thanks anneM. I totally hear what you are saying. He told me the other day he has outgrown ADHD. He wants to try to start school without it, and if he is having a problem he can just go right back on it. I still do not know what to do but I am not obsessing about it. I think I will make a last minute decision. Today he is playing golf with my father-in-law. the first time without meds, so we will see how that goes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Linda on Aug 14, 2005 15:30:30 GMT -5
You do not outgrow ADHD especially at your sons age. Some of the symtoms lessen as they get over because by then they have learned new coping skills.
|
|
|
|
Post by cheermom on Aug 14, 2005 15:35:35 GMT -5
I just spoke to my in-laws and they said they didn't see any difference on meds or off. I don't know how to explain it all. I think since anxiety was his primary diagnosis and his anxiety is under control maybe his adhd has diminished. who knows
|
|
