4 year old was diagnosed with ADHD! Help Please!!!

Question

My son was diagnosed with ADHD. The doctor wants to give him a drug called Methylin in liquid form. 50cc dosage first thing in the morning. I have had an evaluation done on him by a doctor at the local child development center and from the reports and questions , myself and the teachers had to answer she also said ADHD.

I do not know what else to do. I am so so scared of giving him meds at 4 the school, doctors, etc have no other alternatives.

If anyone out there can help me please email me at [e-mail]

Thank you

Answer 1

Prescription happy doctors are FAR too common. Children are being diagnosed left and right with every disorder under the sun.

Is it to the point where he NEEDS medication, or would a more active lifestyle wear him out enough? Getting your child on medicine should be the LAST resort.

Answer 2

you have other options and one of them is to get a second opinion. a good doctor will observe him in natural enviroment to see how he does and it may be that he just needs some tweaking in discipline and some outside play.

there isnt much info here as to how he was doing but dont feel like this is the only avenue for you. become an advocate for your child and dont let the doctors and teachers push you into something like this without getting proper education on it first.

Answer 3

Sorry, but I think ADHD is WAY over-diagnosed these days.  In school, the teachers need all kids to be the SAME.  Those with more energy, spirit, creativity (and some who have discipline problems) are encouraged to be drugged up to bring them to the same level as everyone else.  Your child will have to live with his "inattention" for as long as he lives.  This is how he is.  It is not bad.  However, the public school model does not allow for children like this.    I would not drug this kid up.  I would homeschool him and teach him in the manner that is best for him.

Answer 4

You do not have to put your child on medication - you have other options, diet, yoga, ...have you taken your son to an eye doctor? there  are eye issues that present just like Try getting lots of fresh air and running around - tat might help with the focusing.

Answer 5

I don't see how they could diagnose that at such an early age.  

Seriously.  Giving medication to a behavior problem without trying alternatives is always the doctor's answer for everything.  The doctor's get kick backs from the meds they prescribe.  

Have you tried cutting the harmful cleaning chemicals from your home?  Have you tried changing his diet?  

I knew kids who had "ADHD" and they got straightened out really quick when my father in law was around.

Answer 6

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 6 years old. I didn't take any medication for it. My foster mom did however make me take the flinstone vitamins. She also made me eat lots of dairy cheese and milk mostly. It didn't bother me too much.

Answer 7

Back in the day children were hyper if they were active kids that couldn't sit still.  Today they all have ADHD and get drugged for it.  Come on people, get a new doctor, don't drug your child for being a normal kid.  They are 4 years old they are supposed to be all over the place, it is called playing and being a child.  Take him to the park, run him until he can't run anymore and then repeat the next day.  You are the parent you are the one that makes the choices.  Take control back.  If your child is in daycare get him out, change your priorities in life and find a way to let him be a kid without being drugged for it.

Answer 8

You have to be careful here. First, I am 33 year old guy who definitely has ADHD as a child. My parents would not give me meds because back then it was not the norm to give a child meds such as Ritalin. Now the spectrum has changed, there are so  many different types of meds and it is the norm for parents to talk about meds.

I went though all the way though school, college, and even graduate school without a drop of meds to help with the ADHD. I did struggle at times, if I had better concentration maybe I would have gotten a B instead of a B- but all in all I made it. A few years ago, I was at a dinner sponsored by a pharamecutical company. My mother in law is a doctor so he tool us all to this dinner. It was about ADHD and int the meeting I started feeling hostile towards my parents. My life could have been so much easier if I just had something to help me. I am now on Ritalin, and am doing fine.

You have to make a decision. Unfortunely there are no medical tests to truls diagnose ADHD is it just a series of questions and if you fit the profile you are somewhere on the spectrum. You do have alternatives, he is four years old. I would have to think most four year olds are hyper, or cant concenrate. I would wait a few years until he has more come into who he is going to be as a student. At this point he really does not need to concentrate, unless he is so hyper that he is not sleeping or harming someone.  

Answer 9

You have to really be carefulwith stimulant meds and young children

try a behavior modification plan first

If he is in a daycare program he is not required to sit for long periods like when they go to school maybe you should hold off on the meds.

I thougth that they only gave them to child over 6.

the school teachers want them on meds to make their life easier but you have to really research that drug and maybe get another opinion from another doctor so that your son's health does not decline,

is his day care big and over-crowed?

Meds can cause heart conditions, turhets and all sorts of problems and it interfers with eating which ADHD kids really need to have good nutrion and sleeping which they also need tons of even thought they think they don't.

try another opinion there are also parent avocate groups that can help you with more in formation, look on line in your area

try more food with omega 3 in them and a mmultivitamin

yogurt, fishes, whole gains and less sugar items more protein, eggs, chicken, peanut butter

try water or reduced sugar drink, no high sugar fruit drinks no sodas or ice teas until they are teens

breakfast in the mornings always

try a regular bed time 7:30 if he has to wake up early and no tv or video games in the room if they are in there he will not sleep

two things to keep in mind when the teacher say he doesn't listen or he throws or whatever he is 4 not 14 and he is also a boy.