Medication difficulties.

[JsMum]

Just before J started his residential school his psychiarist precribed him Concerta xl as he has ADHD/ODD however J refused to take it, in the past J was on Ritalin but it was difficult to give him the dose due to irratic routine at the time and he als expreienced side effects and it was stopped but when he and me continued to have difficulties with his behaviour and so we tried again, but he has consistantly refused to take the long acting drug Concerta xl.

 

Js Anxieties are throw the roof at times and his behaviour is clearly a barrier to learning/socialising at the moment and we want to look at trying medication, but how can we get J to take it if he point blank refuses.

 

His behaviour is a real risk to himself and others and I am really struggling to keep him safe, it has got to a point I can no longer care for him long term, he is at times dangerous due to his violent reactions.

 

He is 13 and a half now, just about the same hight as me and definately stronger than me, I can no longer restrain him, I am having to back off for my own safety when he reacts to consequences, at resi school the staff can restrain him, but at home I can not, so I feel at a loss what to do, after a particular scarey episode in the spring bank holiday I took him to an emergency GP and only recently we have a CAMHS appointment.

 

If Medication is agreed that it is worth trying again how can I get J to agree to take it?

 

J really doesnt like loosing control and power and he said on Ritalin he didnt feel in control or right, he just didnt like it, I understand Concera xl is the same as ritalin, just longer acting, so he is going to feel pretty similair isnt he, I researched Straterra and I was scared off with the suicidle thoughts, but Im wondering if strattera is worth a trail? I dont want to get desperate that I will try anything especially if it contributes to Js difficulties.

 

 

Do any of your children take medication and if so how do you get them to take it?

 

JsMumx

[Stella63]

Hi Jsmum,

 

AJ was prescribed Strattera when he got his ADHD dx - the doctor wouldn't give him the others because they have a street value and he had started smoking weed by then. The strattera definitley worked, it is slow release and builds up over a period of about 6 weeks. You might find this may work better as there are no immediate changes that J would feel. We never had any issues with suicidal thoughts but obviously each child is different and that is a risk you would have to take. We noticed gradually that Aj became calmer,started giving more eye contact and just seemed happier in himself.

 

It didn't last of course as he then stopped taking it and used weed as a way of self medicating which he is still doing.

 

Also, have you considered Prozac for the anxiety side of things? OJ has been on it for 3 years now and although the anxieties are still there, they are more manageable and he is more in control of his emotions.

 

Hope this helps - if you want any more info, let me know.

 

Stella xx

[Enid]

HI,

Also had this problem, try bribery...... my J gets his spending money weekly, what he gets depends on how he behaves/takes meds etc. he is now on strattera, and its working well, much better than the ritalin/concerta xl. the days he refuses it, I grind it up and put it in his hot chocolate and before any one reports me!!! I have told both CAHMS and SS that I do this. Like you I struggle to control his violence and both me and the littles are at risk, when he is lovley, he is LOVELY, he wants to be home and we want him there, if I have to resort to this to achieve that, thats how it has to be. sending you support J`s mum, we do seem to be following a similar route with our boys, mine is nearly 15 now, and MUCH bigger than me, 4 staff at school struggled to control him the other day and phoned me to ask how I cope!!!!!

[SuzyQ]

Hi Guys,

 

My DD is now on strattera, has been for a while, her attention span is still pants, she is on risperdone too, she refuses meds and also stores them, so the school now have to check she has taken them, with the risperdone they wanted the velo tab things but the gp refuses due to expense so now she has the liquid....she can't store that!!!

I dont know if the strattera is working she has had an increase in it recently and is on 120mg daily.

She is now 16 in a 52 week placement and she too is big and strong, it can take alot of staff to hold her, in the hospital last year it could take up to 10 staff!!! she is 5'9 and weighs about 15 stone, so you can imagine the power!!

 

She was suicidale before and self harms badly, but ....i havent noticed it getting worse, if that helps? I dont know, my DD is also obsessed with drugs she cannot get any where she is luckily, and when on home leave she is always with me...again luckily.

Good luck with it, for anxiety citalopram in small dose can work, again everyone is different and things work differently for each individual.

 

Suzy