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I would like to know peoples opinions on carers who give there own children these drugs as I have met two so far.
At least 30 children have had psychotic episodes and wanted to kill themselves while taking drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to reports.
Documents from the Therapeutic Goods Administration outline the figures, Sydney's Daily Telegraph says.
One seven-year-old boy became so depressed while taking Ritalin in 2008 that he tried to commit suicide while an eight-year-old hallucinated that spiders were crawling up his skin after taking ADHD drugs.
The newspaper also reports that the overall number of serious reactions to ADHD drugs has doubled to 827 in the last three years.
However, the true extent of side-effects being experienced may be hidden because of doctors and parents under-reporting the impact.
Experts in children's health say there is a clear link between ADHD drugs and psychotic episodes in children, with boys said to be worse affected than girls.
My own child was diagnosed with adhd and given Ritlin at the age of 5yrs and I tried it for a couple of weeks with much insistance from the specialist and decided the side effects far out wayed any of the benifets.I did not believe my child had ADHD to begin with and I also did not feel drugs were the answer to his problems.I have met two carers to date that give they're children this kind of medication and feel that they shouldn't be carers.
Documents from the Therapeutic Goods Administration outline the figures, Sydney's Daily Telegraph says.
One seven-year-old boy became so depressed while taking Ritalin in 2008 that he tried to commit suicide while an eight-year-old hallucinated that spiders were crawling up his skin after taking ADHD drugs.
The newspaper also reports that the overall number of serious reactions to ADHD drugs has doubled to 827 in the last three years.
However, the true extent of side-effects being experienced may be hidden because of doctors and parents under-reporting the impact.
Experts in children's health say there is a clear link between ADHD drugs and psychotic episodes in children, with boys said to be worse affected than girls.
My own child was diagnosed with adhd and given Ritlin at the age of 5yrs and I tried it for a couple of weeks with much insistance from the specialist and decided the side effects far out wayed any of the benifets.I did not believe my child had ADHD to begin with and I also did not feel drugs were the answer to his problems.I have met two carers to date that give they're children this kind of medication and feel that they shouldn't be carers.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Carolyn Baldwin on -
Hey there Lara,
Could I ask why you have this feeling, re your comment about carer's giving their own children ADHD drugs.
I myself are not a big believer in giving or taking medications however there have been times were I have done, not ADHD medication because no-one in my family has behavioural problems, including myself so I can't make a comment about this medication or the need to or not to, use it. I guess as parents though, we do what we feel is the right thing for our children, determined by the advice available at the time.
Carol 8-)
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Permalink Reply by Lara Dormain on
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I guess everyone is entitled to do what they feel best for they're children.With the recent studies done on the medication I would not be giving it to children simply so that they are quiet and co operative. A lot of doctors prescribe these kind of medications simply because they can't be bothered to look into the childrens problems in more detail.I disagree with not so much carers or even parents giving they're children such medications but those who openly admit it is simply for they're own benifet and not the childs benifet.I probably haven't worded my blog correctly.I have a strong interest in the matter as I myself have three children,two of which have Aspergers and two of which were also diagnosed with ADHD and given medications to deal with they're behavioural issues.Firstly my eldest son had a disease called myelodysplastic syndrome which evolves into luekeamia and is a very slow boy and not at all hypreactive but was diagnosed after 5mins of seeing a nuerologist and put on dexamphetimines.The side effects of the drugs far out wieghed any benifets and the doctor who diagnosed him did no follow ups to see how he was going with the medication prescribed.I also had my youngest child diagnosed with adhd and prescribed ritlin and although it helped keep him calm and less of a hassle to deal with once again i felt the doctor was incorrect and again no follow ups were made and again the side effects far out wieghed any benifets.I believe and it has been proven that doctors too often precribe such medications and do not inform parents of the actual effects.In a recent study done on children on such medications was shown that children as young as 7yrs old had attempted to commit suiside and are having delusions as a result of the medication.As a mother and one who is studying natural medicine I am not opposed to anyone giving they're children teh correct medication but on the same token believe parents should gather as much information as possible on any medication prescribed to children.When a carer informs me that she is giving her child a medicine, that has such serious side effects,simply becuase it makes her job easier and does not benifet teh child as much as it does themselves.This I feel is wrong.If someone is going to care for my child I want to know they have the skills to deal with a child who has behavioural issues without having to give them medication.I can not trust that a carer who gives her own child the medicine to benifet herself to care apropriately for my child.Most carers I have met are absolutely wonderful and have many years of experience with children and often naturally good with kids.I just think that too many carers lack in qualifications as it isn't a requirement of family day care and that shows if you have to give your own child medication so you yourself can cope with they're behaviours.Its not so much the actuall medicine, as it is giving it to a child so one can cope themselves and not benifet the child.I want anyone caring for my children to be able to have the skills to cope with they're own children first.Again most carers are absolutely wonderful and i take my hat off to them as they do a great job and I couldn't do it myself.I get a little too pasionate sometimes about my beliefs and mean absolutely no offence to anyone.
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Permalink Reply by Carolyn Baldwin on
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Good morning Lara,
It appears you are not having much luck at all finding suitable carer's. I feel so sorry for you, how frustrating. Can I make a suggestion though, perhaps Family Day Care is just not for you. There is nothing wrong with that, I have met people for Family Day Care - the things that organisation stands for and people that are for Day Care Centre's with all they can offer. Give them a go, you may find them exactly what you are looking for, the first question I would be sking any prospective child carer though is, 'Does staff experience dealing with and managing....?'
I can see by your reply email that you are passionate about this subject because of your own experiences, you've obviously done alot of study into the subject and medication's and good on you.
The original blog I read of your's didn't have too many details, just asking for other carer's and alike opinion's on carer's that give their own children ADHD drugs and it didn't really go into too many more details.
It is eye opening to say the least, to hear that these carer's you've just met have openly admitted that they give their children these drugs simply because they themselves can't cope! ...
All I can say that in some Scheme's at least, they do a bit of a pshyc evaluation on prospective carer's, amongst many many things before they are invited to join. Can't talk for all Scheme's though but I will ad that since they are all governed by state government, I would suggest all Scheme's follow very similar guidlines!
Good Luck Lara. I'll keep my finger's crossed for you and that you find something to your liking in another area of childcare.
Carol 8-)
Lara Dormain said:I guess everyone is entitled to do what they feel best for they're children.With the recent studies done on the medication I would not be giving it to children simply so that they are quiet and co operative. A lot of doctors prescribe these kind of medications simply because they can't be bothered to look into the childrens problems in more detail.I disagree with not so much carers or even parents giving they're children such medications but those who openly admit it is simply for they're own benifet and not the childs benifet.I probably haven't worded my blog correctly.I have a strong interest in the matter as I myself have three children,two of which have Aspergers and two of which were also diagnosed with ADHD and given medications to deal with they're behavioural issues.Firstly my eldest son had a disease called myelodysplastic syndrome which evolves into luekeamia and is a very slow boy and not at all hypreactive but was diagnosed after 5mins of seeing a nuerologist and put on dexamphetimines.The side effects of the drugs far out wieghed any benifets and the doctor who diagnosed him did no follow ups to see how he was going with the medication prescribed.I also had my youngest child diagnosed with adhd and prescribed ritlin and although it helped keep him calm and less of a hassle to deal with once again i felt the doctor was incorrect and again no follow ups were made and again the side effects far out wieghed any benifets.I believe and it has been proven that doctors too often precribe such medications and do not inform parents of the actual effects.In a recent study done on children on such medications was shown that children as young as 7yrs old had attempted to commit suiside and are having delusions as a result of the medication.As a mother and one who is studying natural medicine I am not opposed to anyone giving they're children teh correct medication but on the same token believe parents should gather as much information as possible on any medication prescribed to children.When a carer informs me that she is giving her child a medicine, that has such serious side effects,simply becuase it makes her job easier and does not benifet teh child as much as it does themselves.This I feel is wrong.If someone is going to care for my child I want to know they have the skills to deal with a child who has behavioural issues without having to give them medication.I can not trust that a carer who gives her own child the medicine to benifet herself to care apropriately for my child.Most carers I have met are absolutely wonderful and have many years of experience with children and often naturally good with kids.I just think that too many carers lack in qualifications as it isn't a requirement of family day care and that shows if you have to give your own child medication so you yourself can cope with they're behaviours.Its not so much the actuall medicine, as it is giving it to a child so one can cope themselves and not benifet the child.I want anyone caring for my children to be able to have the skills to cope with they're own children first.Again most carers are absolutely wonderful and i take my hat off to them as they do a great job and I couldn't do it myself.I get a little too pasionate sometimes about my beliefs and mean absolutely no offence to anyone.
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Permalink Reply by Karen on
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Apparantly 70% + of children on Ritlin need nothing more than strong consistance parenting & management. Most of whom get neither. A 20 yr study in USA recently produced its results. 80% of children on ADD & ADHD mediation since childhood, reult in being hard drug addicts (eg: heroin). This is stonishing & concerning. There seems to be a pull in US away from this mediation yet doctors & parents find it an easy fix - zone them out to control them. Rubbish. I have worked directly with many of these children, with firm, fair, consistent discipline they can be 'normal, sure sometimes difficult, but certainly controlable. There are of course some kids that need the medication, these however are few. Congratulations Lara for caring for your child & having his best interest at heart.
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