Vyvanse... it's a drug for ADHD.

We started Caleb on it Saturday. His attention span is nowhere in sight right now and he's totally hyper.

None of us have ever heard of it, but that's what the doc put him on. I've read the lit on it and it says it's only for about 30 days use if I'm reading it right.

I really hate to put kids on drugs but.... I guess there comes a time when you don't have a choice.

He even knows something is wrong. He told me, "Granny I just can't think good - I forget what I'm thinking sometimes."

The weird thing is he'll make 100 on a test and then make 50 on the SAME test the next time. And if you ask him "why" - he just says he already "knew" that.

Oh well, here's hoping that these pills do some good... Granny's gettin' too old for this.... :)

:-*

Barb - was Caleb diagnosed with ADHD?  Like you - I hate to see kids put on drugs.

One of grandsons was first diagnosed with ADHD and put on medication that didn't work for him - nasty side issues with it.

He has now been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome for which there apparently is no medication.

Good Luck with Caleb.
Hugs
Carol

Barb, by the middle of 1st grade my son Donny had a permanent chair in the corner of the principles office!!  Had him tested, got the ADHS diagnosis, and put him on Ritalin (reluctantly).

Side effects? 

1.  He didn't like it cause it ruined his appetite.

2.  By the end of 5th grade he was on Duke Universitys program for talented and gifted children.....between 6th and 7th grade and again between 7th and 8th grade, he got to attend a one week summer camp at Texas A&M, was assigned to his own room in the regular dorm, and got to choose from 5 different areas of study and attend a weeks worth of classes in that particular field!!! 

Would love to be able to tell you that the success continued but unfortunately he discovered the opposite sex in 8th grade, refused to take his meds, and everything went to hell in a hand bucket!! 

He turned 20 on April 25th and IMHO probably still could benefit from ADHD medication.

All that bein said, I think it has become a " go to " method of dealing with unruly kids by a lot of teachers which is sad. 

DD

Barb, it's Glaxo's version of 24 hour release adderall.

I'm surprised the kid can sleep.  Watch him carefully, when they put me on it I didn't sleep more than a hand full of hours for SEVENTEEN days - and that was adderall CR.

Both Andrea and now Ayden have needed ADHD meds, I've insisted on strattera both times, it's non stimulant and has worked wonders for both kids.  All 3 kids are highly intelligent, stimilutant meds for bored intelligent ADHD kids is not necessarily the way to go.

Did they do the testing for ADD/ADHD and if so did you also insist they do an IQ/Learning Assessment on him?  That could help you determine a whole lot.  Stimulant drugs are supposed to calm down ADHD kids, not hype them up. 

As with all new to the market drugs, Vyvanse is very new and may have unknown side effects.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Cat

I'll also add something.  Watch for him not eating.  I've had friends whose kids were on Adderall and they got skinny (I had a friend whose kid didn't gain weight until he took him off).

*Why* did they diagnose him with ADHD?  What were the guidelines they were using?  I'm with Cat here too, what other testing did they do?  My baby sister's oldest son was dx'ed with ADHD and put on Adderall (years ago).  COme to find out that he didn't have ADHD, but a specific learning disorder that is not normally tested for.

   ADHD and ADD is helped by stimulants. If the child becomes more hyperactive while on stimulants then he probably doesn't have it. Doctors will put children on stimulants to test the diagnoses of ADHD.

    My daughter had the same problem with tests. She is bipolar. Her psychiatrist finally found the meds to make her stable. When ever she has problems his response is to lower her meds. Finding a good doctor is very hard.

Paul

This is the third day and I"ve told his teacher to watch for any adverse signs. Over the weekend we didn't see anything unusual - he was his usual hyper self.

Maybe I was looking for "improvement" but he didn't seem to "argue" as much or fly off the handle as much.

He says food doesn't taste good (and this kid LOVES to eat). I'm watching that right now real close, but have had him on a high protien diet for several weeks now to "lose" weight, so .... He's eating - just not as large portions as usual.

I gave him his dose this morning about 5 a.m. and told him it would wear off before bedtime (mental trigger and all that - it was worth a try - he hates to go to sleep on a good day).

After homework this afternoon, I have some "manual" labor planned that include his 4-wheeler so he should be "tired" (hopefully) by bath-time.

His parents are in Shreveport for a few days with the baby so hopefully we'll have it under control by the time his mom gets back up here. - If the med works...

But the weird thing is the doc did not put a refill on it, so I guess after 30 days we go back in for whatever... I don't have a lot of faith in this doctor, (and neither does his other grandmother) - but I've bitched about him for 8 years and they're still going to him. Hell, I had to stomp my foot and MAKE him smell Caleb's breath to convince him that the kid's tonsils were ROTTEN and that he didn't need antibiotics, but needed his damn tonsils OUT!! Got the tonsils yanked - no more antibiotics or infections -- amazing!!!

But Caleb does have an attention problem -- he can jump from one thing to another in the middle of a sentence.. I don't even like taking meds, so I sure don't want him to take them unnecessarily, but if this will help him - welll.....

If ya'll got a prayer to spare  - we could use it about now...

Luv ya  BD :-*

ADHD Meds are never allowed a refill status.  You must get a written script each month.

Helps prevent the refills too soon, and them getting sold as street drugs.

Redd wrote on May 3^rd, 2010 at 1:07pm:

ADHD Meds are never allowed a refill status.  You must get a written script each month. Helps prevent the refills too soon, and them getting sold as street drugs.

A doctor's office will fax the prescription to the pharmacy at your request - but only once a month.

Opus wrote on May 3^rd, 2010 at 12:14pm:

ADHD and ADD is helped by stimulants. If the child becomes more hyperactive while on stimulants then he probably doesn't have it. Doctors will put children on stimulants to test the diagnoses of ADHD.   Finding a good doctor is very hard. Paul

Exactly!!

if it is truly organic and not just an issue of motivation such as the "gifted" child who cana't siot still due to being bored out of mind then it may help.
It is also important to have solid behavioral/educational support so that he learns the proper attending skills so that when meds to change, he may have better coping mechanisms.

good luck

E