Common Stimulant Medicines:
Ritalin
Daytrana
Concerta
Adderall
Dexedrine
Stimulant Side Effects (Most Common):
Decrease in appetite
Problems sleeping
Stimulant Side Effects (Less Common):
Racing pulse
Stomachache
Irritability
Crying
Depression
Agitation
Headaches
Tics (abnormal face movements)
What if my child is not eating enough because of their medicine?
Stimulant medicines
can make your child less hungry. If this happens, give your child a big healthy
breakfast before they take their medicine in the morning.
Reference:
National Institute of Mental Health. (2010). Mental health medications. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/NIMH-Mental-Health-Medications_45027.pdf
Disclaimer: All content in this blog is informational only. It should not be used to make changes in the medical treatment of your child. Alway consult your child's physician before adding or changing any medicines.
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteLee (2013) stated that there are six components to consider when creating a blog: context, audience, purpose, channel, noise, and feedback. Intended messages that participants send to each other should be clear. These messages could be distorted due to participants’ beliefs, feeling, and attitudes. According to Lee (2013), “Evidence-based writing calls for a clear and credible presentation of the writer’s claims and evidence to the target audience” (p. 246). Do you think your presentation was credible and clear? I do!
Gunelius (n. d.) stated that the use of white is typically considered to be a symbol of purity and cleanliness. The use of brown can evoke feelings of durability. The author stated that it could also be perceived as dirty, and that caution should be taken when using it. Do you think these are the emotions/feelings you are trying to convey? I really liked the background you chose. I think it makes everything stand out in a good way.
Culbertson (2011) stated that an effective blog has content that is compelling and causes the reader to take action in some way. Do you think that your blog will cause the reader to take action? I definitely think so!
I have several nieces and nephews with ADD and that take stimulant medications. One of my nieces was basically starving and could not sleep and had to be taken off the medication. It seems to be a fine balance. I liked the layout, content, and graphics of your blog. Thank you.
References
Culbertson, M. (2011). Five ways to critique your blog. Retrieved from http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/five-ways-to-critique-your-blog/
Gunelius, S. (n. d.). The meanings of colors matter in web design. Retrieved from weblogs.about.com/od/blogdesign/tp/How-Color-Psychology-Affects-Blog-Design.htm
Lee, C. (2013). Teaching evidence-based writing using corporate blogs. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 56(3), 242-254. doi:10.1109/TPC.2013.2273117
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see the value of this blog for parents. Especially if they are new to medicating their child. Teachers may benefit as well from reading this blog. My daughter teaches elementary students and she has several students over the years who require medication.
Dawn
Dawn, does your daughter being a teacher, feel like the medication is a help or a hindrance for the child's overall well-being? I ask, because my nephew always struggled in school and I'm not sure if the medication really made a difference in his life or not. He's done well for himself now, but with a lot of help and coaching from family.
DeleteGayla,
DeleteActually, she sees a difference in many of the children on medication. She tries to communicate with the parents to let them know how their child is doing in case the medication needs to be cut back or retimed. She doesn't jump to the conclusion that children should be medicated and will try behavioral efforts, but she believes some time the medication is warranted.
Dawn
Dawn,
DeleteDoes your daughter think the incidence of attention deficit is increasing or are we just more aware of the problem?
Sue
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic. My nephew was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and he struggled throughout school. He was on medication which made him focus, but he didn't like the way it made him feel. So it was a struggle with taking different medications. Having blogs like this for parents to read, learn and express concerns is such a great support system and outlet.
I agree. I have a niece that has struggled on and off for years trying to find the balance between efficacy and side effects. Hopefully one day the medications will not be so difficult to manage.
DeleteSarah, I think that most parents don't realize the new set of challenges that they will face once their child is on medication. They think that all of their problems will be solved once the medication has started.
DeleteHi Victoria,
ReplyDeleteI believe that your blog content is very appropriate for a site. I additionally agree with Dawn that this would be a good place for elementary teachers as well as parents. My 8 year old daughter was diagnosed last year with ADHD, however her problem mirrors more impulsivity, rather than hyperactivity or focusing. She performs well in school in all areas including behavior, but at home she tries to act as if she is "running the show", she can be impulsive with not thinking about her actions or words before she reacts. I have been back and forth with the idea of requesting medication, but have reservations. She already has trouble staying asleep without any additional stimulant type of medication. With your knowledge on the subject, what are your thoughts about having children drink coffee in the morning? I have heard that that can be effective for calming an already stimulated child.
Hi Kristen-
DeleteThanks for your comment. It might be helpful for you to know that there are physiological differences in the brains of children with ADHD as opposed to the brains of kids without ADHD. The right prefrontal cortex, the globus pallidus, and the caudate nucleus are smaller in the ADHD brain (Dopheide, 2001). Also, it is suspected that people with ADHD have overactive dopamine transporters. When thinking about how the brain has so many differences, it helps to demonstrate why some children really seem to need medicine in order to function well. The hyperactivity and impulsiveness is something that is difficult for the child with ADHD to control, not because they aren't trying hard enough, but because their brains are actually different. That being said, I think it might be beneficial for your daughter to be evaluated by a psychiatrist. An accurate diagnosis is key, as the impulsiveness alone doesn't necessarily mean that she has ADHD.
I have heard from parents that coffee can be useful, but I don't how effective it really is. I found this website that might be useful: http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/caffeine-and-adhd#5
Dopheide, J. A. (2001). ADHD part 1: Current status, diagnosis, etiology/pathophysiology. Retrieved from http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/418518
Hi Victoria,
DeleteMy daughter has seen a psychiatrist, with not success. Her Dr. was the one who diagnosed this, but she did not have capability to order any meds. I was actually told to have her checked for bi-polar disorder. Her attitude and behavior can be out of control.Thank you for the information, I will check into it.
Kristen
You're welcome. I will plan to post about medicines to manage symptoms of bipolar disorder and other mood disorders soon. In addition to medicine, I think that "Collaborative Problem Solving" is very useful for children with problem behaviors. I will plan to post on that as well. This is what my webinar and poster will be about.
DeleteVictoria,
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog site and the information there. I have nephews that are on different medications for attention deficit. It helps me to be informed and prepared when they come to visit.
Sue
Victoria,
ReplyDeleteYour topic is informative and should benefit parents that need additional support with their child's diagnosis. I have coworkers that are dealing with their child's behavioral problems due to ADHD. They are determined to maintain a safe and appropriate outlet when their child is disruptive. Good luck on your blog!.
Yes, this blog can be for both parents and healthcare givers. Consistency is the key to keeping a child with ADHD on track.
DeleteLinda,
DeleteMy co-workers keep their children on daily schedules which they feel decrease potential outbursts.
ADHD is difficult for a parent to deal with if not adequately supported. Just being started on medication isn't enough. Behavioral therapies as well as education support are equally important. It is vital for any physician working with these patients to keep careful f/u records and prescribe appropriate therapies.
ReplyDeleteAs an inpatient pediatric nurse, when severe illness comes along these meds/behavioral therapies are often forgotten and sometimes rehab is hindered. I agree physicians who prescribe the meds should attempt to follow up with these patients when possible.
DeleteVictoria,
ReplyDeleteI think this blog is a great way for you to use your professional clinical experience to help guide others to the resources and help they may need.
Great job!
Lynette, I totally agree with you! I wish this blog had been available when I was going through the turmoil of dealing with a diagnosis I knew nothing about.
DeleteVictoria I really like not only the layout of your blog but the content. I think its very user friendly and I like how you have the information in bullet form. I also like how your references is a direct link that way I can easily view it if I wanted to, great work!
ReplyDeletewow! good job! lots of interesting content. I really like how you including information that would be understood by all types of people. Like how you said "racing pulse" instead of "tachycardia" I think this really opens up who your audience could be.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the lay terms are great. It can be easily understood by the general public.
DeleteI agree that the lay terms are great. It can be easily understood by the general public.
DeleteVictoria, this is an IMPORTANT topic to discuss. In this day and age when attention deficit diagnosis are made daily, or parents feel that they have a disorder because they have a lot of energy, or their child's teacher made a comment, it is important to discuss the side effect of the medications used to treat these disorders.
ReplyDeleteI also think this is an important topic. What I'm amazed at though, are the sheer numbers of people who say they have ADHD and take medications to treat. I know of at least fifteen nurses who openly discuss this on my unit. Sometimes it appears to be an excuse for sub-par performance. As you said, sometimes children are placed on these strong medications just because they need an outlet for energy. I think that would be a great topic to discuss on a blog like this.
DeleteMarissa,
DeleteI agree that this topic has become so important and the diagnosis appears to be made more and more and even in adults. It would be helpful for all involved to know the side effects of these medications.
Your blog looks amazing. The information is interesting. As a mother of a son who was said to have ADHD when he was 11 and prescribed the meds, I would choose any other route of treatment now. I whole-heartedly wish the doctor would have done more than just prescribe medication. My son looked depressed when he was on the medication, not to mention the physical sickness. It totally changed his personality--to the point we just stopped the medication. I am thankful for the sakes of others that you include actual therapy. When I look at pictures of my son during the time he was on medication, I still see sadness in his face. He is 21 now and I am so thankful that he came through those years. I hope with more informed nurses that we can help educate parents better and more thoroughly than just being over-zealous about giving medicine. Great post...and I really like how you made this site look. It is very inviting, especially for such a sensitive topic for me.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite blogs so far. The look, color scheme, and theme really caught my attention. The topic is so interesting as well. I can see where this could be a helpful resource for patients and families looking for answers. There are so many treatment choices available but often, doctors have preferences which might not always be the be option. A site like this can at least help people find the right questions to ask in order to ensure that the best treatment is available and provided. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI like the set up of this entry. It has the drugs listed in a simple to read list and can be read in just a few minutes. As a mother of a child formerly on this type of medication, I appreciate the ability to get the information I need quickly, but thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteI like the set up of this entry. It has the drugs listed in a simple to read list and can be read in just a few minutes. As a mother of a child formerly on this type of medication, I appreciate the ability to get the information I need quickly, but thoroughly.
ReplyDeleteAs a mother of a son with ADHD and who once took Ritalin and Adderall, I saw what the medications did for him, he was better in school, but didn't eat and was so moody at home. It made him better at studying, but irritable at home, which we dealt with for a while, but I stopped the medications during the summer to help him keep his appetite and gain some weight. We eventually gave it all up as school became too much. But I saw where the medications had it benefits. Wish this blog had been around then, when I knew so little of what was going on with him.
ReplyDeleteMy sister went thru this with her son also. It was a constant battle at home. You are a true angle to have cared for a child with ADHD. I am not sure I have the patients to deal with it every day.
DeleteAngel,
DeleteMy sister is going through this with both of her boys. They seems to be better while taking it. How is your son without the medication?
Sharon
Thank you so much for your comments. I will plan to address the different questions brought up in my upcoming posts. Please continue to ask questions! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
ReplyDeleteChildren are being diagnosed with ADHD all the time. I have mixed feelings about the treatment for this disorder. I think that your site is an excellent topic for a blog. The site put together. I like how you identified who you were, your intent, and the links to more information. Great job.
Sharon
Unfortunate, there are more children being diagnose with this disorder. I have not personally experience it but this blog gave me insight.
ReplyDelete