ADHD Medication - Bethel Park,PA

My middle daughter has Autism and bad ADHD and people told me not to medicate her, I listened to them and I wish I didn't . As the child's mom you have to do what you think is best. For us my daughter can focus, is calmer and is happier when she is on her medication.

Joanna
Mommy to Mara 9, Cate 7 and Olivia 6

I strongly recommend reading Delivered from Distraction before you make any final decisions. It is all about ADD and has helped me immensely!

Hi, there. I know this is a big decision and you are certainly not alone. I was a school counselor before a SAHM to my infant son..so I've seen a lot of this situation! Here's the great advice I heard from the psychiatrist in the school that I then used parents to help them make a decision: the brain is an organ in the body, just like the heart, pancreas, etc. And if one of those organs wasn't functioning completely normally, you wouldn't hesitate to provide the medication needed to help it, would you?

Hope that helps. :)

My daughter has ADHD as well. She is only four. So many people will tell you that you shouldn't medicate it but who would want to see their child struggle if they didn't have to? I've talked to many ADHD adults who were medicated as children. They all say THANK GOD their parents gave them medication- they would not be where they are today if they had not had it. They all agreed that school would have been almost impossible. I have also talked to ADHD adults who were not medicated and most of them wish they had been.

This being said, we have tried two medications with our daughter and did not get great results with either. The stimulant made her irritable and she didn't eat and the other made her lethargic. We are now trying every other possible approach including diet, therapy and OT and will wait to try medication again when she is older. It is important to understand that we were desperate for help when we tried medication because her severe temper tantrums and frustration intolerance often make her extremely difficult and emotionally draining to be around. I know she is young for medication.

The thing that is hard about medication is the trial and error process. It sometimes takes weeks for the side effects to go away. You may have to try several before you get the right one. What works for one kid may be terrible for another. Kids who are medicated (from what I've heard) have much better self-esteem because they are able to finish tasks and homework with gives them a sense of accomplishment and they are less likely to be disruptive in class and reprimanded for acting up.

Good luck!

I answered this question for another mom so am just copying you my answer. hope it helps
My son has had several different meds for adhd. He was started on ritilin. It was not a good fit at all. Made him very aggressive which up to that point we had never (and have never had again) had a problem with. It also made him very emotional and he cried a lot. that was never an issue before either. They switched him to adderall. which worked very good for about a year and a half. he took one before school and another at lunch time in order for it to work thru the school day. the only down side to that was he couldn't go to sleep at night. so then had to have a pill for that. I was not happy with that at all. he was then switched to a slow release form of adderall. THIS WAS A MIRACLE DRUG. lol He was on it for several years. It got him thru the school day and homework and then ran down before bed time. However over time it also lost its effectivness. When he was in 6th grade he was switched to Vyvance. THIS WAS THE SECOND MIRACLE. He was on it for about a year and a half. His grades improved dramatically his attention span was great. Last summer (end of 7th grade) he asked if we would let him try without meds. We agreed, doctor agreed and he is doing spectacular. It has been a year and he is on the high honor roll, joined the choir and the wrestling team. Just wanted you to know that your child going on meds now doesn't mean they will be on them for life. Some of the ADHD behaviors do get outgrown. Some don't. But the positives way outweigh the negatives. I swore I wouldn't let him be put on meds. And fought it for a year. But his kindergarten teacher told me at the time I have all the extreme kids in the district and your son is my extreme in the classroom. So glad I listened to the doctor.

D.,

ADHD is a medical condition. If this were a disorder that involved her kidneys you would not think twice about medicating her. She has a problem with the neurotransmitters in her brain, because the brain cells do not actually touch, we depend on chemicals to carry our thoughts as electrical impulses across that tiny space called a synapse. If her brain does not produce enough of the neurotransmitter, or if the receptors for the neurotransmitter does not function properly, that person has ADHD and has trouble paying attention and keeping track of things. Think about how difficult it would be to live this way...remember the last time you got up to get something and forgot what it was? Imagine if this happened to you over and over and over again all day long. It impacts every part of their lives and causes secondary depression and anxiety. Untreated, she is much more likely to become the wrong kind of statistic, illiterate, drop out, or even worse; a suicide.

ADHD medications really are wonder drugs. Not all of them will work for your daughter, and having a good prescriber is essential, as is the continuation of therapy with the medical intervention. Medication alone is never the answer, but please do not fall into the trap of thinking that medications will make your daughter either a guinea pig or a zombie; that is just bunk. If you try a drug and it does not help her, it is not the right drug, and that does not make all drugs bad any more than if one chemotherapy drug did not work on a particular cancer, all chemo would be bad. Really, if you insert any other medical problem into the rehtoric you read about unfounded fear of appropriate medical intervention for ADHD, and it just sounds rediculous, but we tolerate it for ADHD.

Listen to your doctor, and try what they suggest. Your daughter will likely need more than a stimulant at this point, now that anxiety and depression are part of the picture. This complicates the medication picture, and it would have been much easier to be dealing with only the focus issue to begin with. As you work through the issues, please resist the temptation to call it all off because stimulant meds will increase her anxiety, and other issues that you will encounter now that she has multiple issues. She still needs the medicaiton, and you will find the right balance.

If I seem blunt, I intend to be. Kids with medical issues all deserve appropriate treatment, and I just don't see the difference between one organ system and another, other that we, as parents insert our desires, beleifs and feelings into the mix . Give you daughter the best that can be offered her, which includes medical intervention for a medical problem.

M.

Well I have to disagree with those that say medication is the only way and you are depriving or making a child suffer without it. I have severe asthma, have had it all my life, was on meds for it since early childhood. It caused me to have difficulty sleeping, I now have problems with insomnia as a direct of taking this medication since childhood. It made me jumpy and hyper, all things my family was willing to put up with because it was necessary. As I got older and learned there are always alternatives to medication, I began to find some things to help myself. I still have severe asthma, but I no longer take medication for it. I still live with the consequences of having been on so many meds as a child. I do still carry a rescue inhaler, because I don't want to die should something happen and other methods not work, but I have not used it in years. I have found alternative ways of dealing with it. I believe medication should only be used if there is no alternative and death would result. Perhaps it is an unusual viewpoint, but I now suffer the consequences of medication being given. When I was in college, I was diagnosed with depression, was put on an anti-depressant. It made me worse, but the Dr.s kept saying it would work eventually. I lost 4 years of my life to that medication. Things that are supposed to help, may or may not, but the side effects are always there. My asthma meds helped, but the side effects were not worth it IMO, and I say IMO, because there will be many people who will disagree with me, my Dr. still says I should be on asthma meds, why? Because I have asthma, despite my not having a problem and having fewer problems than when on the meds. Now I am very diligent on my breathing exercises and I must do them daily, so in finding an alternative, you may need to more diligent or work harder than just popping a pill. I have chosen to home school my daughter with aspergers and provide her more social experiences than she could ever get in school. Most people think I am crazy, especially my family because I don't take the easy way out. Now I just want to say, that I do believe some people and families cannot choose what I have for whatever reason, and there is nothing wrong with it. I just for myself an my family want to avoid the side effects of medications. And the point I want to make is that there are always alternatives to medication, if you really don't want to go that route. It may be something like changing her schedule or switching schools or a whole new type of schooling. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know there are always alternatives!

As a mom to a child with severe ADHD (combined type), and cannot stress enough that giving medication a chance is one of the most important things you can do to help your child. The medications generally prescribed by a good psych are far less dangerous than the things that an ADHD child can do to themselves by not thinking and acting. If nothing else, you have the option to try the medication(s) for 30 days and then make a final decision - there is nothing in the world that say you HAVE to continue with it if it becomes uncomfortable for you. After my son's 3 day on medication (Adderall XR) when he was 6 (he is 10 now), I said to him "there's my boy - I knew you were in there somewhere" :)

As an aside, if you are truly contemplating meds, start now. My mom didn't start my brother on meds until he was 13 and what a mistake. It was simply too late in his case. He refused to take them and how in the world was she going to "make" him? If she would have started him when the psych told her to at age 8, he would have just considered it part of his life. Instead she waited until he was so far behind in school, he couldn't catch up - he hated school, he hated himself, and was generally a miserable kid to be around so he had no friends either.

Good luck no matter what you decide :)

I feel your pain as a mother and the decision to medicate or not. I too faced the same situation with my son. I tried everything(Feingold diet, no sugar, no dyes, no preservatives, all organic and then some) before coming to the realization that it was needed. I finally broke down and did what was best for him. I could no longer watch him struggle along with the sadness of it all. Children with ADHD want to stop being compulsive and out of control and can't not understand why they can't. Sometimes as a parent it is also difficult and frustrating when living with this to understand that as well. We just want them to stop but it doesn't work that way. Their brains are going at 150 miles an hour and they want off the ride but don't know where the eject button is.
My advice to you is start the medication and don't be discouraged if the first one doesn't work. It can be a trial and error type situation. Continue with the therapy as well, it really helped my son and taught him how to get himself to stop and think before acting. The combination of the two made a world of difference in his life. Good Luck to you and let us know how it goes. God Bless! :)

My husband grew up with his parents not believing that anything was wrong with him, and that he was just lazy only to realize in college the reason he never could sit still and do his homework was inattentive ADHD. He finally took medication (he is on Stratera, which I highly, highly recommend for all day control) and he is doing amazing. He wishes that someone would have helped him so many years ago. We have a young son who is likely facing the same struggles and while I, like you, would like to try everything else first I would not hesitate to use the medications if his self image, mental health and social life were threatened by his symptoms.

You know what is best for your daughter, and it really sounds like you have done everything you can. And always remember, if you try it and it still is not right for your daughter you can always stop the medication. Best of luck to you!

It is definately a hard decision to make but I am glad my son is on his medicine. It is the difference between night and day with the way he focuses/concentrates and acts. He is now 16 and we have tried to take him off of the concerta but he still needs it. He was diagnosed when he was in first grade and has been on meds ever since.

The way it was explained to me was that it was almost "cruel" not to have him on medicine. He would sit in class and not be able to concentrate and would go off task constantly, had a hard time sitting still and the teachers would complain. We have to remember it isn't their fault and it isn't something they can "control" by themselves. A big reason is self esteem. The more they struggle in school....the more they hate school and have a hard time making friends and it all seems to spiral out of control.

I hope this helps ease your mind a little bit. I know it is a hard decision and there are many people who are very judgemental about putting children on meds claiming that the parents "just don't want to deal with their child" but that is not true and you know from how your child is struggling that unless you have a child with ADHD, you can't judge.

My 8 yr old is ADHD and we finally decided that medication was what was needed. She takes 30 mg of Vyvance a day. The difference is day and night. She's able to stop and think before just doing. Now the behavior modification techniques we were trying before now actually work.

Her appetite did change for a couple of months when she first started the med but has since evened out. She wasn't as hungry as she usually was ate almost nothing but we kept things open so she could eat when she was hungry, dinner wasn't restricted to " dinner time"

Also we picked up the book, " The ADD/ ADHD survival guide for kids" it explains what it is and gives them coping techniques written so kids can understand it.

D.,

There's no reason for me to say the same things that everyone else has already said. All I can say is that I promise you that the first thing you will say after the teachers tell you what an AMAZING difference they see in your child's behavior is "wow, we should have done this before.". Even now, years after our child started ADHD meds, when he misses the occasional dose and I hear from the teachers about how "way off" he was, it reminds me that we've made the right decision.

Best of luck to you and your child. You're doing the right thing!

Hi D.,
Wow! I have read all the responses and have learned a lot more about ADHD. I have a 9 yr old son who is ADHD and an almost 15 yr old daughter who is ADD (attention deficit disorder). I will start with my son first. He was diagnosed when he was 5 yrs old. At first I just thought he was a normal boy, bouncing off the walls, so energetic, never stopped moving. Wore me out, that is for sure...A specialist that was working with my daughter at the time pointed out to me that is was possible that he was ADHD. So I had him examined and it turns out he was. He was put on medicine, concerta to be exact. Now here is my only issue with this med...He is still very active and never sits still. He constantly has to be doing something or he gets bored very easily. Now don't get me wrong, the meds have helped him in school. For the past 2 and a half years, his teachers have told me that they wished she had a whole classroom of kids like my son. He is very well behaved, polite, helpful and very very bright. I had a situation this past summer where his regular shrink moved away. So I had to go on the hunt for a new dr. Well we found one...and OMG what a nightmare. He completely changed my sons meds and needless to say...I was about to admit myself to the looney bin. He drove me absolutely crazy. This dr put him on straterra and I would NOT recommend it at all. My son was talking crazy stuff of killing himself and was doing stuff he never did. Here is one example: Where we live, there is railroad tracks close by...probably about 50 to 100 feet away up an embankment. We have lived at our house for 5 years and not once did my son ever think of going anywhere near these tracks. Well one day he ventured up to them. Thank god I caught him in time because if a train would have came by...well needless to say my son would not be here today. I was on the phone the next day to the dr. So they put him on Focalin...it did not work either...It was a complete nightmare. And this dr was a complete a** and wouldn't change him back to his other meds unless I agreed to put my son in counseling. So I agreed to this, but never set up the appt and that was the last time my son seen that dr. He now has a new dr and absolutely wonderful. I learned more in 15 minutes from this new dr then I had known in the 4+ years my son was on meds. One of the meds that the quack dr put him on is not even meant for a child to be on. It is for adults, usually the elderly. I flipped out. My son had to have complete blood work and an EKG. Well the results were not good...at some point my son has suffered a silent heart attack and he is only 9. He is now back on the concerta and doing very well. My suggestion to you is that if you decide to put your daughter on meds, make sure you request every 6 months a complete blood work test be done. Because the meds can have very harmful effects on the liver.
Now for my daughter...She is ADD and BiPolar along with Borderline Anorexia. So she has a shelf of meds to take. And I have read all the responses regarding the self esteem issues and difficulty in school. And sad to say, my daughter still suffers from all of this even with the medication. Don't get me wrong, it has helped her but I feel her seft esteem was so far gone before she started meds at age 7 that she has just not recovered from it. And several people have told her how pretty she is and we tell her encouraging things when she does well in school. But to her she has this doubt of believing in herself. She feels she isn't good enough. It is very hard at times for her as well as the rest of the family. She has done therapy and all those kinds of interventions. And the insurance only pays for so many sessions. She is a very private person and does not open up very well with people. I think she does this because she fears rejection. And she is such a lovable young woman. Would do anything for anyone.
But I agree with the other ladies...If you decide to put your daughter on meds and you do not like the outcome, you have every right to stop giving them to her but depending on what meds she is on and how long she has been on them and what dose...you just can't stop giving it to her...she would have to be weaned off of them.
I wish you the best of luck and if you need any other info, please feel free to contact me. I will do my best to help. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your daughter. I truly feel for you and know how hard this is.

P.

Medication made such a tremendous, life changing difference for our son. As soon as he started Ritalin when he was four (he was an extreme case of ADHD), his world changed. He's now able to control his body, he can focus, he's happier, he's pleasant to be around, he has lots of friends. Rather than being the "unteachable" boy who was kicked out of preschool, he's impressing teachers at age seven with how smart he is and he even won the school's responsibility award a couple months ago. I can't recommend ADHD medications enough. Our son is currently on a long-acting form of Ritalin called Concerta and is thriving.

Just keep in mind that it can take some trial and error to find the right medication. Adderall was a disaster for our son (went into rages as it wore off), so we stopped it immediately. The great thing with ADHD meds is that you can stay in control ... hate the side effects on day one, stop the med. (ETA: ADHD meds DON'T have to be tapered off of. Always ask the doctor about the specific medication, but stimulants can be stopped immediately. It's the non-ADHD medications used to treat this condition that have to be tapered off.)

Best of luck to you! Hope you find the perfect medication on the first try! When you do get the right one, your child's life will be transformed.

I don't have any experience with medication yet, but I think that you'll make the right decision for your daughter. I do know how frustrating it is to have a child who is miserable when they should be enjoying the best time of their lives. My son, who just turned 8, has anxiety, OCD and symptoms of ADHD. We've recently found that all his problems probably stem from Sensory Processing Disorder. It was great to find a source issue that we can start getting the right therapy for. Definitely check out this informative website: sensory-processing-disorder.com . It was very eye-opening for us. In the process of learning about his sensory integration issues, we realized that this is what my husband's had all his life. I think he was relieved to find out why he's always been so different (besides that he's extremely right-brained). SPD is just now starting to be more understood and recognized, so I want to get the info out there for all of us parents who are desperately seeking answers for our children. I pray that everything goes well for your family and that we can both have happy children soon!!
Please, send me a message if you'd like to talk more!

I have struggled with ADD/ADHD since a child... After change of diet, certain vitamins and counseling MEDICATION was the big changer! I could finally focus in class, I had more patients since the medication does help calm your senses down (as you know ADHD has very sensitive senses which get out of control fast creating everyday things difficult for a person with ADD/ADHD). I felt less sad and instead of hating school I enjoyed going because I was able to feel more in control... it took a few months after starting the meds for everything to balance out but once it did I felt like I was succeeding instead of drowning in school (still struggled with a few subjects but not everyone is good at everything).

I am not a big fan of medication, I avoid it and research other possibilities first before taking it BUT after trying those things and it dose not make a difference THEN and only then I am ALL for medication.

My physiologist told my parents that I will not make it through college so I should choose a different route... well thanks to meds I made it through 4 years of college receiving a BA in Arts & Theatre. I honestly think that with out the meds that graduating college would not have happened... I have never seen any side effects from taking ADD/ADHD meds (I stopped taking meds senior year in college, now 28 years old, took meds for 15 years).

I can see people's desire to not medicate, but sometimes it really is needed. My nephew was diagnosed years ago with ADHD. He does take meds and what a tremendous change. He did not grow as tall, one of the side affects (though by no means too short for his age-just not the height my family tends to have) and has a bit of a muscle issue (tics in his face)that will most likely go away as his meds are adjusted. Sometimes my bro skips his meds to see if there is a difference and he gets along great for a while so they have extended the time between doses. My nephew is a very good student and I think it has a lot to do with taking the meds and being able to sit through homework, and class instruction as well as studying. When the meds are visibly wearing off, he has a hard time relating to people and this could be your daughter's issue with keeping friends. Those with higher level of ADHD tend to not do well with a lot of people around for more than a little while. With kids, they don't understand that there could be an issue and how to deal with it so they write off the kid that has this problem. On the other side of things, I have a friend whose daughter is just mildly ADHD (HUGE difference in her behavior vs. my nephew) and she is not medicated. However, she does have to purposely focus and the teacher has to remind her to pay attention. She also gets special counseling so help cope with things. She does homoework in 15 minute intervals since she cannot sit long enough at one time to do all of it. She is currently in 5th grade. My nephew is in 6th grade, on meds since 1st grade. It is thought he may be able to get off of them when he gets to high school though it will be gradual to make sure stopping is the right thing to do.

As a HS teacher I can tell you that getting a child on the right medicine (not every medicine works the same for everyone) can make a HUGE difference in the class room. Both academically & socially.
I would recommend trying it for a year. If you don't like the way things turn out, you can always stop.
Best of luck.

Hi D., My son age 11 started Vyvanse about 2 months ago for inattentive ADHD, I was reluctant to use medication but decided that it was in his best interest. We are having such a good experience with the medication. We started at a very low dose and worked up to the dose that was right for him. In the first few weeks he did have a decreased appetite and increased insomnia (he has a history of insomnia since being a toddler). I made sure that he got a big nutritous breakfast before the med started to take effect. Warm milk and melatonin 1/2 before bedtime is providing great relief from the insomnia.(if you consider melatonin check with the MD for proper dosing and approval first). He is now taking 30mg Vyvanse and his appetite is normal, he is doing great in school and at home. He has thanked me for pursuing a diagnosis and treatment. He told me that he doesn't feel "stupid" anymore!

My daughter who is 8 years old also has ADHD hyperactive/impulsive when she was 6 or 7 we tried medication with her and did not have such a great experience, we tried the daytrana patch which caused skin irritation. Then we tried Focalin which caused increased agitation. We decided that at that time medication was not the best option for her. She is doing great in school and has not had any problems socially, most of her problems are behavioral and we manage them and it is getting easier as she gets older. We will see how things go; Maby when she is older medication will be an option.

My husband has been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD as an adult and he will tell you that not being treated for the disorder as a child has had a very negative impact on his life. Although he is very intelligent, he struggled through school, low self-esteem, always felt "different" like something was wrong with him, did not achieve to his potential, and I can go on and on....He is now being treated with medication and feels like a different person, his memory has improved, he can get his thoughts together, socially more comfortable and starting to live to his potential.
Best luck to you

My son has ADHD combined and an anxiety disorder. He was diagnosed last November and just turned 7 last week. We went straight for the same medication my husband is on (with a lower dose, of course) since they are 2 peas in a pod. After the first day on Adderall, he told me himself that he liked school now cuz he could be nice to his friends. By the 3rd week, I was getting emails from his teacher telling me how hard he was working and what a good boy he was. I knew that boy was in there, now everyone else can see him too.

My sister was diagnosed with it when she was young too. The medicine she took was Ridalen (not sure if it's spelled right) The only side effect we didn't like about it is she stay 60lbs for 3 years in a row. I'd talk to your therapist or who ever you see and explore your options since I am sure now they have better meds. Since my sister was diagnosed like when she was 5 or 6 and she's 17 now and I am 22. Hope this little bit of info helped.

We had the same struggle with our 6 year old, and everyone I spoke to with an older child who went through this recommended starting the meds sooner rather than later to prevent the issues that you're seeing your daughter develop. One friend who waited until 8th grade to start her son on meds has major regrets about not starting him sooner, emphasized the psychological damage from him having become known as "the annoying kid", struggling getting along as a family for so many years, etc. Meds are not magic, but they help. We see the biggest difference in the hyperactivity in our son--but he's only 6.

Family Focused Wellness
Lancaster, PA
Enhancing lives one family at a time!!
Please seek out assistance like this; otherwise your really asking for trouble as a teenager and young adult; I have alot of life experience with this.
I for one, was in a Physical fitness type therapy, Horseback riding and I started at age 8 actually!!! it helped calm me, helped me focus and I was able to sleep (insomnia problems). I did much better in school and had alot more confidence!! I also looked forward to it at the end of the school week.

I didn't choose to medicate, my daughter is now 15. She still struggles in school and I have to monitor her progress often. I've wondered sometimes if I've made the right choice... Here are a couple of negatives for NOT medicating: #1 She has the self image of a non achiever, she assumes she won't do well. I have to encourage a lot and point out her strengths. #2 Things got MUCH tougher in junior high, and now high school. So, if your daughter is having trouble now, when she is in jr. hi and has 5 different teachers and moves to a new classroom for each subject, it complicates ADHD issues. My son is younger and doesn't have these learning issues. What I have noticed is that a kid decides pretty early in life if they are an achiever or an under-achiever. That is probably the hardest thing for me to see about my daughter, the discouragement with school, and what is now a habit of not pushing herself because she does not expect success. I can't say I regret not medicating her, she is very sensitive and has had an irregular heartbeat, so one of my worries was that she would have one of the more rare medication reactions. Just thought I'd give you some perspective, good luck.

Huge pat on the back for getting the diagnosis through an experienced psychiatrist vs a regular doc during a 10 minute visit that too many parents do, unfortunately.

Huge pat on the back for doing your research and leaping before thinking.

If think why you're seeing more problem now is that the ADHD is now conflicting with normal puberty problems, which combined will make each worse. So medication can help. Discuss the options with the pscych doc on which meds would be best for your daughter and do start with a low dose, as I'm sure they will. Talk to her about everything as well. She may fight you on it because ADD/ADHD has a negative imagine. But remind her that ADHD is a medical condition like any other, and it's not her fault. She won't be on meds forever and if she works with the meds and learns the skills to keep her organized and on task she can come off the meds long before she gets out of school. The parents, child, doctors and teachers need to all work together to make this a success so do talk often with the teachers and come up with the best plan for her and adjust as often as needed.

My 23 year old was on Ritilin. My 14 year old is now on Concerta. I have a feeling that one of my triplets may end up on something as he gets older. We shall see and I'm not worried about that right now as he's only 5 and in preschool.

Keep up with the counseling, especially after the meds are started so they can see any changes they come.

K. B
mom to 5 inlcuding triplets

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Hi, D.:

Have you looked on the web www.CHADD.org

Contact your local chapter of Attention Deficit Disorder. Good luck.
D.

My 7yo dd has adhd amonst other things. idk what medication your dd is on but what my dd is on doesn't help her stop and think before she acts. She is still impulsive. it does help with the mind clutter though.
My 14yo also has adhd and said her meds weren't working, so her meds were increased. She has a med check on this tues. Everything seems ok so far.
Both of my girls are on Straterra if that helps.

I don’t have experience with ADHD medications myself, but I work in social services in adult foster care and do a lot of research in this area. Multi-vitamins can be really helpful in managing ADHD. While psychotropic medications may be a solution for some, you may want to look into alternative treatments first. Almost all of our residents are taking multivitamins to maintain overall health and mental stability (I use that term lightly).
Also, there is a supplement call ProVex Plus that is made from grape seeds that is recommended to help people diagnosed with ADHD. Here is some information I found:
Researchers have found that in addition to strengthening your blood vessels, proanthocyanidins can attach themselves to important proteins, enhance visual acuity, and promote smoother skin.*
ProVex Plus contains a potent source of proanthocyanidins—standardized grape seed extract in a patented, chemical-free system that uses no sulphur dioxide that some people are sensitive to.
Proanthocyanidins, the active ingredients in ProVex-Plus, are found in grape seeds. These unique compounds help strengthen blood vessels. They also act as antioxidants to fight free radicals and contribute to your overall health.* (Free radicals are destructive molecules that can damage your cells.)

ProVex-Plus also contains ginkgo biloba, sourced from an ancient plant that helps you maintain mental sharpness and proper blood circulation. The last ingredient in ProVex-Plus is bilberry extract, a cousin to the blueberry that helps enhance night vision.*
A third solution is an herbal supplement to treat the anxiety rather than the ADHD. Its called Luminex and it contains natural ingredients like St Johns Wart, griffonia seed, folate, and vitamin B12. Its not recommended to be taken with other medications, but it may be another alternative to psychotropic medications. I was treated for anxiety last year and have found that Luminex has been more effective that the prescription medication my doctor prescribed.

My thoughts will be with you and your family. I understand this is a very difficult decision for you. Let me know if you have any questions.

You've done your due diligence. Trust the professionals who are working with your son. I know several families (responsible folks who weren't looking for a pill to fix all their problems) who swear it saved their kids, their marriage, their family. You can always take her back off of it, but you owe it to her to get her the help she needs!