more then half my family on ritalin?

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> Our Challenging Children (gifted, ADHD, sensitive, defiant)

More then half my family on ritalin?

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amother

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 12:05 pm

ds #1 is very adhd - it took me years to accept and finally almost too late put him on ritalin which is a lifesaver.

fastfoward a few years - 1st grader is having a lot of trouble in school and learning to read. The school requests we get her tested. She starts ritalin and is reading in 1 day - it's a lifesaver for her in school.

we learn more and more about ADD - dh with many difficulties finally accepts that he is ADD - he starts ritalin and turns from against it to pro it when he sees how it helps him.

We have 2 more appointments waiting for the neurologist for 2 more children I highly suspect can be helped in learning with ritalin.

Then I go to parent teachers conferences and dd (who I thought wasn't add and just dreamy) - they want her tested as well.

not sure what the point of this is but I am overwhelmed!

amother

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 12:17 pm

3/4 of my immediate family are on medication for ADHD, and more in the extended family on the side of the ADHD parent. Not so surprising, as it seems there is a genetic component. Things will get easier once a medication regimen has been started. It will be overwhelming in the short term, but hang in there!

greenfire

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 12:36 pm

it happens - my only advice is to make sure doctors are really diagnosing each individual without jumping to conclusions that one person is adhd - let's prescribe this one with ritalin too

good luck

seeker

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 1:33 pm

On the bright side, none of them will have to feel inferior or weird for having this condition - true no one should theoretically but many do because the fact is that it is something different. In your family it'll be normal!

morah

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 1:41 pm

ADHD does have a major hereditary component. My kids are too young for it to be relevant yet, but I could be you in a few years. My husband has been taking Ritalin for more or less the last 20 years. I'm bound to have some kids with it. BH I am aware of this now and am keeping an eye as they grow.

amother

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 1:48 pm

[humorous, don't take offense] My question is how do you feed all those on meds? DH is on concerta and has NO appetite, it is so hard to meal plan! He gets munchies at midnight but it means I don't like to make hard-to-reheat foods like fish or omelets. It's also kind of a downer to make lunch or dinner and he doesn't really have the appetite for it.

I'm also guessing my kids will have it, and will look out for signs as they get older.

imasinger

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 2:04 pm

3 of my 4 kids have ADHD (and 2 of those are also on the spectrum). We have quite the pharmacopia.

It happens.

Meals are a bit weird in our house, but I have to pick my battles.

amother

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 2:57 pm

I totally understand where you're coming from! I have 4 kids on ADHD meds. I have also heard that there is a genetic component to ADHD so it makes sense to have several children in one family with it. Don't be overwhelmed - recognize that BH with the medication they can be successful. I'm so glad that medication exists!

amother

Tue, Nov 18 2014, 3:05 pm

Welcome to child rearing 2014! I have 3 out of six on meds for all sorts of psych and learning issues. I'm glad these meds are available. We are good friends with the local pharmacist!

amother

Wed, Nov 19 2014, 4:47 am

thanks your making me feel better

dh is add, now that I know more about it I'm sure my father is adhd (never treated) and I have adhd siblings

but I'm scared everyone will be adhd.

I have appointments now but I have a feeling the dr. will want to try medicine

based on symptoms and family history

amother

Wed, Nov 19 2014, 5:28 am

There is a lot of overdiagnosing! ask many opinions...

amother

Wed, Nov 19 2014, 7:45 am

The most important thing is to accept them foie who they are including their quirks.
ADD children become the big machers of society- once they survive the school years

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