Concerned grandmother:
“The clinical psychologist who is treating my grandson recently suggested Ritalin SR 10 Mg (Two tablets, one in the morning and one in the evening) I wanted to check with you whether it is safe to give it to him or should I stick to homeopathy and the right diet. I do not feel comfortable about given him Ritalin as there are many frightening side effects like sudden death or coma ( as mentioned in the internet ) What is your opinion?”
Leila:
“My opinion is that when it is really necessary it can be a life safer. However I believe once the decision to take medication has been made it should be accompanied with good diet – that means finding out what foods your child is allergic to and what has negative effects on his behaviour.
Then one has to look at his exercise routine. Is he active enough. It is very important that he gets enough exercise as it helps imrpove brain development and has many other benefits. Exercise should be interesting and fun. Outdoor events with family members are great way of getting exercise in as well.
A life coach is imperative. He needs to be taught lifeskills to cope with everyday challenges which will always be a challenge for him no matter how old he gets.
Routine and discipline that inspires and motivates is very important. Most children with ADHD suffers from a low selfesteem and the approach parents take makes a big difference in the world of a child who believe he is just not good enough. This is very serious and can make the difference between becoming a success one day or always struggling to succeed.
As far as the safety is concerned – as far as I know no long term studies have conclusively come up with statistics that proves anything. I personally believe not to be on medication for anything long term unless it is life and death. This is a decision every parent need to make as the medication has different effects on different children. I took the medication to see what effects it will have and I did not like the feeling of being someone else. I really felt as if I am not me. Very difficult to explain. However my son was on it for a month and it helped him to get a head start and then we phased it out again.
So there is no yes or no answer here. I think experiment and see what works. Be sure to understand that this is something he will live with for the rest of his life and he will always need assistance. Therefore I suggest lifecoaching and personal development on the top of the list of solutions.
There is no one solution for ADHD – it is multi disciplinary and takes hard work and dedication.