Re: Has anyone used Ritalin or Adderall with their ASD child?

[Guest guest]

We tried Adderall, and it was an AWFUL experience. My son became very combative, and it was hard to control him. This was the total opposite of the child we started out with. I called the Dr in tears after 2 days and said I would never try it again. Adam takes Focalin now, and we have had very good results. I'm sure every kid reacts differently to different drugs. Possibly lots of parents found Adderall to be helpful, but it sure wasn't for my son! Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008.

[Guest guest]

I started using Vyvanse for my son. His teachers and I call it the Wonder Drug!!! It was like a whole new kid!!! I tried Adderall as well, did not work @ all. Vyvanse is a fairly new drug. I needed a pre-auth from his doc before the insurance would pay, though. I would say his fits and outburts of anger decreased about 75-80%!!! kellie0406@... wrote: We tried Adderall, and it was an AWFUL experience. My son became very combative, and it was hard to control him. This was

the total opposite of the child we started out with. I called the Dr in tears after 2 days and said I would never try it again. Adam takes Focalin now, and we have had very good results. I'm sure every kid reacts differently to different drugs. Possibly lots of parents found Adderall to be helpful, but it sure wasn't for my son! Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best 2008.

[Guest guest]

I did not have any luck with the stimulant drugs (e.g., Ritalin,

Adderall, Daytrana). They made my child very agressive. We now use

Strattera. It has helped him; however, my understanding is that

Strattera is not as effective as the stimulants.

Take care,

Debbie Z.

[Guest guest]

We used Adderall 5mg XR with our son who has ADHD and Asperger's. I understand it was more for treating the ADHD symptoms. It worked wonderfully for him from the 1st grade to the 4th (then he entered puberty, and all changed). What we noticed was that he was able to stay focused most of the day, and he was definately able to draw while on Adderall (he draws like a color/copier machine). When we took him off the Adderall, he could only scribble. He told us that the "blue pill" (Adderall) "made his brain stop jumping around". However, he had to stay on the low dose of 5mg XR (time release 2.5mg each time), or he had overdose symptoms. Our doctor worked with us and allowed us to stay on the low dose because it was best for him. Every summer we sent him to summer school for the first two weeks on the medicine, and took him off the last two weeks (informing the teachers what we were doing of course), and all but the last summer, they saw a HUGE difference within a few days and we started again after the two week period. This past summer, they did not see a difference with him off, and he said he feels better off and he definatily has a better appetite (but remember, he entered puberty and all has changed). Now, even being off the Adderall, he is able to continue drawing like a color/copying machine.

Hope this helps.

Carol Get the Moviefone Toolbar. Showtimes, theaters, movie news, more!

[Guest guest]

Ritalin and Adderall gave my daughter some unpleasant, socially

unacceptable side affects like biting her fingers & picking her nose.

Although as far as attention span goes, Adderall seemed to work the

best. The Daytrana patch seemed to work for awhile; now my daughter

says she can't tell the difference whether she's using it or not. We

tried Strattera some years ago, and that didn't seem to help, and if I

recall it made her a little crazy. The only thing we haven't tried is

Foacalin and the new med someone else mentioned, Vyvanse.

Coincedentally we're going to the doctor today to discuss all of this.

A mom in our Asperger's group vouched for Nordic Naturals fish oil

capsules so I'm considering this also. I might be ready to try some

alternatives to prescription meds.

Theresa