Part 2: Lillian's Journey With ADHD And Concerta

Now that Lillian is on  Concerta for her ADHD, here are some suggestions that were told to us, so I thought I would share some information on  managing stimulants medication in children.

Firstly, Methylphenidate (Concerta) belongs to a group of medications called stimulants. It is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD.

How does Methylphenidate work?

It works by increasing the activity of the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) called dopamine, and to a lesser extent, norepinephrine. This medication activates areas of the brain that control impulsive actions, attention and body movements, thereby improving symptoms of ADHD.

How well does Methylphenidate work in children?

Methylphenidate does not cure ADHD. It aims to improve functioning by reducing core ADHD symptoms such as the inability to pay attention, impulsive behaviour, and hyperactivity. It can also help them tolerate frustration better and improve social and peer relationships. Overall functioning can improve substantially.

Managing appetite:

Stimulant medication strongly lowers appetite. So this is the best way to tell your child....hey do you know that the medicine plays a trick on your brain? It makes you think you are not hungry, but your body really is. If you don't feed it, you might get a headache, stomach ache, feel cranky and tired, so it's really important to eat. If you get a headache or stomach ache first thing you should do is eat or drink something. While starting treatment with a stimulant medication, some children will lose weight. So make sure you weigh your child on a regular basis and keep a close eye on it.

Managing sleep:

ADHD is associated with an increased risk for sleep difficulties, children with ADHD are much more likely to have difficulty turning their thoughts off and falling asleep. They may be more tired during the day even when they are active, and they may experience "restless legs syndrome" which is a feeling of needing to move the legs before sleeping.  Screen activities like watching television, playing on the DS, or computer games etc., should not take place after supper/tea. They are a source of bright light which suppresses melatonin, the natural hormone that produces sleepiness normally. ADHD children often have difficulty falling asleep and have a 90 minutes delay in the release of melatonin. gaming in particular tends to "rev" up the brain and has an addictive quality for many ADHD children, which not only makes it hard to turn the game off, but leaves the child highly alert and resistant to going to bed, so remove all electronics from your child/children at night.

General considerations:

Stimulant medication is usually started off in a low dose and increased slowly each week, which then results in a dose right for them. If your child is doing fine and having no response and no side effects normally the doctor will increase the dosage. If you get a dose in which your child is responding but also the side effects are causing significant problems, the doctor will either inform you that your child should stay at that dose until the side effect abates or lowers the dose.


So as for Lillian, she is having some decreased appetite and sleeping arrangements have some what changed as I have noticed it takes her longer to drop off. I have allowed her to gaze more during the day now, as her eating habits have never been great from day dot, and thus allow her to have a snack before bedtime, such as a few biscuits or even a packet of crisps/chips.


I hope I have been of some help to you out there with children or adolescents with ADHD

April

Part 1: Lillian And Her Journey With ADHD

Lillian was born August 2007 in Miami Dade, Florida. Lillian is of Haitian descendant, her birthing Mum was only 26 and an illegal immigrant to the USA. Long story short is that I've always wanted a 3rd child and always wanted to give an unfortunate child good foundations, which finally became possible in 2007.

Lillian has always been a difficult child...she never tolerated her milk, always threw up, was a real cry baby and threw major tantrums. It wasn't till preschool/kindergarten where Lillian's tantrums started to get out of hand and as new be parents once again we thought it was just Lillian being Lillian. Her span of attention started to wain and although she was very bright, she started to be overly excited and then towards the end of the night she was always in tears. To us this was normal and I just thought this was Lillian's makeup, especially since she wasn't from me...so I thought!

It has been a struggle, this is something I'm not going to lie about. The constant arguments, tantrums and even her lashing out on me, not just the once but a few times! I classed this as over spill tantrums, though once she lashed out at me I felt bitter and angry at her....why me I thought?! It wasn't till she was in grade 1 where the teacher told me that Lillian's behavior was uncontrollable...she was bossy, always wanted to be first, was loud, making fart noisy on her hands and just generally being naughty in school. Yet, she was head of her class in reading, speaking, spelling and when asked about completing any work her answer would be "I'm bored!"

She eventually skipped a year and went to Grade 3 but this current teacher noticed the same. Though instead of writing to us, she called us in for a one to one and informed us that she felt Lillian has ADHD. Lillian's teacher suggested her to visit a child psychologist and that the school would put Lillian's name forward for this. So, after a few weeks we ended up going and we listened to what the psychologist had to say about ADHD, though Lillian ticked some of the boxes but not all, she was indeed ADHD (these sessions with the psychologist where over months).

Lillian was put on a low dose of Concerta for one month and what a difference it has made. She has settled in class nicely, completes her work and is less argumentative, and the tantrums are now few and far between, though we still have the crying at nights if she doesn't get her own way. Her doctor has now decided to put her on a higher dosage, but we have to look out for sleepless nights and weight loss as that is one of the side effects. There is one thing that we both (Dave and myself) don't want her to lose, and that's her personality. Lillian is a lively little girl, full of joy, always singing and always wanting to make us happy.

I'm truly hoping that Concerta doesn't take that away from her.

A Little About Me!

Hello there :)

As my title says I'm 50 something.....I'm a busy person, have been really since young well since having children at a very young age of 19 then again at 23 yrs old. I have a boy and girl, Anthony is nearing 33 and Bell Aka Jessica is coming on 31. They are the best of a failed marriage, they are my life, they are my friends and best of all they are the best of me.

I have since remarried to a wonderful man namely David for 11 yrs now, my life with him has been full, we have moved twice since living in England, lived in Florida, now Canada. We adopted a baby back in 2007 from birth, Lillian is now 7 years old and a hand full, but that's another story. I'm a nursing student with just one year left of graduating in 2016. Dave and myself are still in the process of rebuilding this home which we purchased online while living in the states, that also is another story to tell.

So anyway; hopefully I will get the hang of blogging as I ponder through and get helpful hints of my daughter and who ever decide to leave a hint on blogging.

Thanks for reading, and as the saying goes: onward and upwards to a new beginning. :)

April