Doctors today like to push medications on children. On the off chance that you actually find a doctor who doesn't, congrats to you! lol
Anyway, what would you allow your child to be medicated for and what wouldn't you?
ADD & ADHD - This is a very over used diagnosis in my honest opinion.
Sometimes kids are hyper, sometimes they're always hyper, sometimes they're cool, calm, and collected. Sometimes kids will actually have a problem and can not control this, but sometimes they really just need to get outside more often and burn off the steam built up in them.
Adderall and Ritalin are among the top used medications for ADD and ADHD from young ages to teenagers and even some young adults. In the teenager and young adult phases, alot of these kids become addicted and use the medication when they shouldn't. Some use it to help them study, some use it for the "high".
Most ADD and ADHD medications are Stimulant medications. These often can cause your child to be focused or even more hyper to begin with. There are other (few) medications used that are not stimulant medications as well. They have also used depression medications, such as Wellbutrin to treat ADD and ADHD.
As well as medication there are behavior therapys available to help your child out.
Anxiety & Depression in children, teens, and young adults - In teenagers Depression and Anxiety are among the top diagnoised problems. But, there is also a growing number of smaller children developing these disorders. Kids get sad, teenagers get sad, some go "emo" and are ALWAYS sad, or act sad. Sometimes the whole depressed scene is cool when you're a teenager. Always wear black, never smile, cry alot, write some crazy depressing poetry. When do you find out if the depression is real or just a role the child wants to play?
In young children, they can have their feelings hurt and they can become depressed for a few days. Some get over it, some don't. When they don't it can be a real issue of depression.
More often than not there is usually anxiety with depression or visa versa. (In my own case, Anxiety actually depresses me sometimes..) Kids can be scared, but sometimes when they are having random outbursts of fear for no apparent reason these can be full blown anxiety or panic attacks.
How would you treat it?
There are medications used to treat depression and medications used to treat anxiety.
I take both - I have a medication that I was put on for depression (zoloft) but it's also an anti-depressant. At one point the doctors upped the doses so much that I couldn't stand the side effects and decided myself that I wanted off of it. I half think I'm doing better now on 25MG and still tapering off than I was at such a high dose.
Wellbutrin,
Zoloft,
Paxil,
Prozac.
Lexapro.
Are all commonly known anxiety and depression medications.
There are also medications used just for anxiety such as Ativan or Clozepan or Xanax. These medications are very addicting and can be used the wrong ways as well as lots of other medications. I was put on Clonzepan (a stronger version and longer acting version of Ativan) and Ativan for my anxiety and seizure control. I had to stop the Clonzepan because of side effects but am on Ativan every 8 hours. I've learned when I don't take it I get anxiety attacks pretty badly until I do take it.
When these medications are ended - especially if suddenly - they can cause severe withdrawl. The first time I ever got off Zoloft I was at 75MG and just stopped taking it. Withdrawls are not a good thing to go through and in most cases you end up having to go back on one of these medications just to stop the withdrawl. Ativan is going to cause me more anxiety if I were to stop it suddenly, so I have to wean off it when I can get off it.
There is also counseling or psychologists out there for depression and anxiety. Especially handy for children who love to talk or love to draw.
What road would you take with treatment of these disorders?
What about children with season allergies, asthma, chronic ear infections, or other common childhood illness? Would you medicate or find an alternative?
I know as far as chronic ear infections go sometimes treatment is best left without medications except for pain medications such as ear drops or OTC pain killers. Antibiotics can actually stop working and when you need them for an illness such as strep, your body will become immune to it.
I used to be on medication for everything known under the sun. I didn't like it and it's not a very pleasent way to live. Now all I take are my asthma prevention medications, seizure prevention medications, and am working to get off of anxiety and depression medications.
Are you proMed or against it? How would you choose to treat common illness?
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Comments (33)
wow...i never thought about all this stuff..but, your rite its always 1 pill or another
@thesexydevilgirl@xanga - Yep, pretty much most doctors find a medication to "cure" everything but our bodies usually build up a tolerence to it eventually.
THANK YOU MOMAROO!
I am more natural minded. I used to be over-medicated and over-treated for so many things, especially chronic ear infections. Meds would sometimes work in the short term but it seemed to me that in the end, they only made things worse. My husband and I have started regular care with a family chiropractor and I cant even begin to tell you how much our lives have changed. There is so much to chiropractic care that we never realized would be affected. This is the first time in my adult life that I havent had constant sinus infections, allergy problems or earaches. Ive also seen a major decline in my blood pressure readings, which is something Ive battled for the last few years. Our son is 6 weeks old and had his first adjustment the day after he was born, on a house call from our chiro. Our chiropractors promote natural living methods, and I would likely consult them for non-emergency issues long before a medical doctor, because I dont want our kids to be over-medicated and over-treated as we were. I think we will take things on case-by-case basis, but we will definitely try natural methods before jumping to medications and quick-fixes (this include over-the-counter meds).
@DirtyAndShaken@xanga - YES!! I AGREE with you Full heartedly!
I also see a wellness chiropractor and before was over medication on everything from asthma to allergies, to seizures, and each infections. Since seeing my chiripractor everything has decreased and have been over all more healthy. I consult him about everything and anything before going to my medical doctors.
There is alot of "trendy" disorders?diseases among kids/teens. ADD and ADHD among the most common. I have said it for years, most kids who are diagnosed are just hyper kids and the parents don't want to deal and doctors who write too many prescriptions. I have alot of experience with teen depression, and it's very hard sometimes to tell when a kid is being a normal teen, emo, or if something is wrong. I do wonder about small kids being diagnosed with it, one child I know who was at 6, turned out she was just very sensitive, nothing actually wrong with her.
I think that it's is best to not put kids on medicine that they don't need, try and find alternate solutions first.
@prettyboy78@xanga - Right on. Alternatives are the best way to helping. Most medications for this disorders and illnesses, diseases, whatever they are to be called, just end up making the child, teen, adult, feel worse in the end because of all the horrid side effects most medications have. If you find an alternative route weather it be counciling, psychologists, spending more time with the child, letting the child out more often, chiropractic care, herbs, natural supplments, things that don't have horrible side effects.. Alt routes are usually the best to take.. Atleast when it comes to the more commonly and dare I say "minor" illnesses of childhood things.
But see here is the thing.. my daughter has ADHD.. I request her be tested the correct way. Not just a dr. throwing pills at her. (I am adhd. I am one of the few who was tested for 6 hours over 3 days) to make sure I had it. Anyhow. Since I refused to medicate. Her teacher refuses to help her in anyway. We have since removed her and now homeschool her. I do not medicate her at all. I don't think she should. She needs to relearn her behaviors. What happens if she is an adult with out medical insurance and can not get her meds. She will not know how to control herself. (been there) any how I totally agree with you.. great post.
O I would like to addd. That not every parent can homeschool. So they are left with out a choice. medicate or the school will not help. They will not come out and say it but that is the case with my daugther and some other people I know. (Not saying all schools are like that but a NC school and a KY school are)
@opster25 - Wow, it's really horrible that the schools did that! That is more than likely against actual state school laws and should be reported to heads of the schools or school district if possible. It's not right that people refuse to help out because they are not on medication. They probably refuse because they don't want to deal with a "hyper" or hard to concentrate child. I'm glad you chose not to medicate. :)
@Lighthouse_Oceanlover@xanga - It is also hard to prove that they did. I mean it is a he said she said. NC told me it was to close to the end of the year to issuse an I.E.P. (because I refused the school to test her and wanted it done right. And went to a netural place to have her tested. ) And Ky there are just a bunch of..stuff I can not say here. But thanks.. She is excelling now and it helps that she has mommy to "try" to relate to. I understand her cause I have been there. But it is illegal. But again proving it. But o well I don;'t have to deal with it yet. We have not gotten a new dr. here but they better be on board or I will find a new one. I have learned the hard way not to stand up for my kids.. Well now I am post stealing... Sorry.. I will take my vent to my own blog.
I was misrible from the time I was in fouth grade. I now know I have anxiety dissorder and it was probably because of my moms behavior when i was little and getting bullied for being unnurally skinny. My mom was one of those if you don't stop crying I'll spank you moms... I did the goth thing... I still do. I did the SI thing.... I haven't done it for awhile... I don't take meds because my doctor doesn't know some tings about me. He just thinks I'm shy ad have some wierd phobias. I know should tell him about everything but stuff just gets stuck in my throat. As for if I have kids and they go through this... I don't know. I' probably put them in therepy.
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@sick_of_dreams@xanga - I have been in counciling and seen a psychologist for my issues with anxiety and deprression and because I used to self injure.. I don't reccomend the Psychologist becase they are usually med pushers, but counciling isn't a bad idea to help concure all these issues.. Even writing to one rather than talking, which isn't unusual, helps alot!
@opster25 - You're not poststealing.. I love hearing from others and their own personal experience. It's what blogging and asking opinions is for. As far as proving things go, I know how that is with one of my doctors and a hospital and they completely lying to us recently but with no way to prove it we can't do anything about it and when we can't prove things people just get away with it without any adverse effects, it's just not right.
@asa - If I knew what that said, I'd reply :(
I am extremely anti-medication. Pschiatrists, psychologists, etc. only exist to provide jobs for people and to lock up those who are not like the quote-unquote "norm". I'll give you all one example right now: in the fifties, gays and lesbians were sent to mental hospitals for the sole purpose of being gay or lesbian. Does anyone think homosexuality is a mental illness now? No! A generation or two from now, all this crap every. Single. Person. Is being dignosed with will be considered non- existant or at the very least not something to be medicated or locked up for.
@Lighthouse_Oceanlover@xanga - thanks :)
@opster25 - Maybe it is allowed in NC because my best friend was told the same thing about her son. He is already in special classes for his Aspergers and has an IEP, but they still said they wouldn't allow him in school unless she medicated him.
What bugs me about her situation is, if the parent instinctively knows there's a problem and the teacher simply puts a name to it, then maybe the kid needs help. But when the parent is surprised by the teacher's request...maybe there's something else going on at school that's causing him to act differently there.
As a former elementary school principal, I am quite aware that attention difficulties are just the tip of the iceberg. ADHD children can't filter out distractions, finish tasks on-time, use their memory optimally, etc. A pill doesn't teach these skills.
My wife and I opted to use cognitive training for our son, Alex. We used Play Attention (www.playattention.com) and ADHD Nanny (www.adhdnanny.com). We've been very successful with these approaches. We also changed our parenting skills with great success.
It's just important to know that medicine teaches nothing. Parents and teachers must actively participate to help change a child's life.
I'm aware that 1 - 4 months of academic achievement are lost over the summer by the average student. It was far worse than that for our son, Alex. Thus, we began the next year with a big deficit. Not anymore!
@Alynn820@xanga - It is illegal if he has a IEP they have to follow that to a T. I would have them seek legal action after the school.. Nc or not a IEP is nation wide. They have to help that lil man. I think it is just wrong. Hints my kids are at home with me.
@john - my daughter does the same thing. the end of K she was reading at a a first grade level. And when she started school in the fall of 1st grade she tested "behind" which is why we do year round homeschooling now.
My brother is one of the minority that has adult ADHD. He could have been a poster child for the disease/disorder. He was medicated as well as my parents using other non-medicated treatments. He, as a child and teen, honestly needed the medication. As an adult, he still has difficulties with his ADHD. He is in the army and is no longer medicated. But at times it can be a bit overwhelming for him. He would not have been able to do without meds as a child though.
For my children, it would depend on the individual child and situation. I can't say what treatment I would use without seeing the child in the situation. I have done different types of treatments with colds, sore throats, etc. It just depends on what is going on.
I am anti-meds in cases of ADHD etc. in most cases, because I believe that people really can get around those with proper technique and teaching. Medication for these can have some bad effects; I have a friend who took some anti-depressents at the same time as ADD meds, and she always sat and looked bored and kinda zombieish. She's switched meds since then and is more normal now but certainly hates taking them.
Oftentimes, too, people with something like ADD or depression use it as an excuse for their behavior and, once they know they have it, don't try to get around it. Instead, a diagnosis should be a reason to try HARDER.
Now, in the cases of allergies, etc., I'm pro-meds, unless an alternative works better. Netty pots work to clear the nasal passages but are apparently really gross to use and I'd assume somewhat messy. Using saline drops or meds is faster and works fairly well in most cases. And for menstrual cramps, I am SO pro-meds it's not even funny. Because heating pads and ice and bananas and chocolate and other natural solutions do not work for me. Advil liquid gels WIN. Besides which I always react well to medicine. Benadryl only does its purpose when I take it, and never makes me feel sleepy or twitchy. :D
@a12906@xanga - Some people really do have issues and talking out with a psychologist ect will sometimes help those. My talking to a councilor has helped me more than any medication has. I think the medications and the ones who push the medications are wrong in what they do. Those who try to help through alternative routes, are actually here to help us,
@Alynn820@xanga - children should not have to be medicated in order to go to a thing that is a right such as school. Teachers sometimes, in my opinion, don't want to deal with the challange of a "different" child.
@john - I'm so glad you've been able to help your son through alternative routes. You are absolutely right that medication teaches nothing except for maybe self addicting behaviors with medications.
@wolfpack - Yes each child and each case differ. You would be surprised how well a child or teen or even adult could thrive without medication that all felt was needed though. I'm glad your brother sounds like he's got his life on track without medications and movin on up.
@Sirius_Fan_Girl@xanga - There is always a way to get around one illness or another. ADD and ADHD are usually medicated just to calm the child down and do what they did to your friend; the whole zombie thing.
As for allergies, colds, stuff like that, I take medications for my asthma and on occasion for my allergies because if I don't it will effect my asthma then I would HAVE to be on medication that doesn't agree with me for a few weeks just to live or risk end up getting hospitalized with a tube down my throat, no fun, really lol.
I've also discovered through using my chiropractor though, that he can help my asthma, allergies, colds, sore throats, earaches and infectsion, ect, just through getting adjusted on time. If I ever ask him what to do for a certiain infliction he is usually right there ontop of it helping me in anyw ay possible. I love him! lol
Glad to see this thread! A neighborhood playmate of my kids was given Ritalin at school for ADD although it's doubtful it was ever clinically diagnosed, just one doctor's opinion. His mother complained that it had a ricochet effect after he got home from school and the med wore off. He committed suicide at age 21. I've known those with depression, bipolar, Asperger's, etc., was caregiver for my husband, my mother, and a Vietnam amputee over a span of 15 years.
My late husband had brain damage from breathing chemical fumes as a painter and some meds that others can take without undue effects were bad news for him. Soma (Carisoprodol) caused radical mood swings and Vicodin gave him hallucinations.
A belief in alternative medicine has run through my mom's family for generations. One gr grandmother of mine was a midwife in Dakota Territory, nursed families when there were diphtheria and typhoid outbreaks and other illnesses. Now my daughter is taking a distance learning course to become an alternative care advisor and her next one will be for becoming a Master Herbalist. The house lists with the weight of reference books.
I subscribe to a daily newsletter from Health Sciences Institute in Baltimore and Red Alerts are common about prescription medication recalls and information about dangerous combinations of drugs. The website is: http://hsibaltimore.com/. They have an online forum called Healthier Talk and the section for this topic is: http://www.healthiertalk.com/mental-and-cognitive-health.
I don't think there can be any dispute about pharmaceutical companies lobbying FDA to get drug approval. Studies can be faulty or slanted or damaging information can be withheld. If only men are tested, there is no information about how hormonal differences can lead to different reactions for women. Drug company reps will supply doctors with free handouts for their patients which are usually given to those who have trouble paying for their meds making those patients. the poorer among us, the guinea pigs. Are there kickbacks or other perks? I wouldn't bet against it. Is there accurate information about how many die or have life-long suffering before a bad med, like Vioxx, is recalled? I don't know..
I think the public's only recourse is to get informed, do the homework. Knowledge is power.