Topic : 09/28 Overmedicating America: The Cruise Controversy

Do you believe in God or some form of a higher being?   You can't see him but a LOT of people believe.    

So you can't draw blood and say "yes, this is ADHD",   LIVE WITH A CHILD THAT HAS IT,   you will be singing a different tune.   Using your logic I guess you could say that Parkensons doesn't exist, dementia, bi-polar, or any other type of illness.   You can outright SEE it in people but because there isn't a blood test its not really there.    

RR 

Please remeber that any drug can cause death. Any drug is dangerous. How many ppl every year are saved from depression/suicide compared to how many ppl have harm caused to them? The FDA makes studies public, but are we reading them? You must also too take into account the population you are woking with. Naturally there will be more instances of suicidal ideation in a group of ppl suffering from depression than in a group without! If you read other studies, there are more heart attacks in groups who take heart medications and have heart conditions, than groups who don't have heart conditions. I guess the bottom line is to be informed about what you are taking and what you are giving your children, and deciding if the risks outweigh the benefits. 

Karen

Not all diseases can be diagnosed with "blood tests" "MRI". Psychiatric diagnosis are determined by observed and described symptoms that are listed in a book medical proffessionals use, the DSM-IV, psychiatrists look for specific symptoms that are often grouped together, and form their diagnosis on this. Every recognized psychiatric diagnosis is in the DSM-IV, and the criteria for making this diagnosis. When it comes to treating a child for a chemical imbalance, the parents and Dr. must look decide if the benefits outweight the risks . If a child cannot concentrate, cannot sit still, cannot form relationships with others and it is determined to be a chemical imbalance not behavoiral problems, then what is best? It this child cannot sit still long enough, cannot concentrate he/she will not learn, and will not be capable of living a normal productive life.This child will be unable to form meaningful relationships with his/her peers and will be unable to meet his/her developemental tasks. As long as a child is strictly monitiored while on medication therapy, it could be a life saving difference. Why don't you read up on how drug companys test drugs. Don't knock drug companies- they are responsible for medictions that are saving lives. You should read more on the book I mentioned before, the DSM-IV and how psychiatric diagnosis are made. Maybe then you will have a better understanding on how psychiatric diseases are "proven". 

Karen

Maria talk to her mother and tell her what you have been told and then let her mom check the pills she should know how many Ritalin were there and if any were taken. My son was on Ritalin they give it on a  monthly supply and they will not budge on that thirty day limit. I wanted to refill his one time before I left for christmas to my moms and it was only two days early and the pharmacist said it could not be refilled till the date on the bottle because its a narcotic and you can't get it early. Talk to her mom because Ritalin given to that small of a child is dangerous. They don't even prescribe it for kids that young at least they didn't when my son was on it. He is now on Concerta instead which is a time release tablet.  

Please make sure your son recieves a thorough evaluation by mental health proffessionals. Your regular pediatrician really should not diagnose your child! Medication should be your last resort. My son began having problems at the age of 4, and it took about 1.5 years of therapy and various evaluations before a diagnosis was made. Do your homework- if a mediction is prescribed by a psychiatrists, read about the side effects and risks. Be an informed consumer, don't just listen to what other ppl have to say, read about the facts, and ask your Dr. and pharmacist! 

Karen Reuter, RN 

Ok I am going to respond to everyone of your comments: 

"What kids need these days are a...." 

"little more exercise"... my daughter was on the junior high basketball team. Her practices were 2 hours a day... two games a week. She also did a half hour areboic exercise every other day.  

She does not do either at this time because she is struggling with her depressive cycle of bipolar.  

"less video games"..... my daugher HAS NEVER been into video games or television for that matter. She does use the computer on an average an hour a day, to talk to her friends, I used the phone when I was a teenager but times have changed. I also talked on the phone a lot longer than an hour per day and still do.  

" less SUGAR ".... The only sugar my daughter gets per day is what is in one can of pop if she chooses to have pop or what is in fruits that eats. She does not eat junk food on a daily basis, those are treats that she may have on a weekly basis. I do allow her to have one can of pop a day but she usually drinks water with lemon. 

" parents who actually take an interest in their childrens lives.".... I am a stay at home mom and am available to her from the second she wakes up until the second she falls asleep. I do have one other child who is 3 but my 14 year old takes more of my time than the 3 year old. If you consider, homework, IEP meetings, therapy appointments, psychiatry appointments, bloodwork appointments, attention. That doesn't include driving her and her friends to the mall so they can see a movie, spending time with her doing mom/daughter things like going to the spa, going to have lunch, etc. 

So now what do I have to do?  I have and do everything you say needs to be done but she still has bipolar? Since you threw out these sugestions and say it will be a cold day in he** before your family member medicates I am just wondering what advise you have for me? After all these things you clearly state I should be doing, I am telling you I do them and then some but my daughter still is depressed, hyper, scared, anxious, has panic attacks, hallucinates(seeing things and hearing things) still has suicidal ideation, still self mutilates, still cannot focus at school long enough to do her schoolwork, when she is able to sit through class and try to do her schoolwork, usually she is in the office with panic attacks because of the phobia regarding school.  

So now that I have answered your "to do" list what should I do next?? 

Not to generalize, but let's be honest with ourselves for a brief moment. 

We have become a Mc Donald's society.  What I mean by this is we (the general populous) do not want to take the time to address the root cause of our problems.  We want someone or something to make it all better now!   

Our medical society is only catering to what we have requested. 

Seriously, when was the last time you took an active roll in your medical treatment by doing your own research?  Did you just fill your last prescription because you "trust" your PCP?  

Look back a few posts, we are even arguing about anothers position mearly because they are a public figure!   

Take charge of your life! Make your own "educated" descisions 

How many Mc Donald's are in your neighborhood? 

Beingme you do realize that every kid is different and that no two cases of ADD or ADHD are exactly alike right? So there for in a case of a child that has ADHD but not a severe case, yes you can control  it with the diet but when it is much more severe where the child cannot sit to even think about doing his homework then you need to go about things medically. I was a stay at home mom and I'm still a stay at home mom because of situations. I gave my kids attention all day long I read with them, I played with them and I took them on walks and to playgrounds read to them before bed. Attention has nothing to do with ADHD except in the part as the child has no attention span at all.