Medications for a 4 year old with ADHD?

My son has been acting out in school and while I know that is normal to an extent it has been getting worse. He hits children repeatedly and has started telling his teachers he wants to hit them or shoot them. He doesn't have guns, not even a squirt gun. He doesn't watch violent cartoons or anything worse then disney channel. I'm not sure where he got the shooting idea or why he is constantly hitting. He can never sit still or concentrate to do his homework. (He is in preschool and has some homework). Now i've taken him to a child psychologist and they are going to test him for the ADHD, but they are already talking about putting him on medication. Can anyone recommend a medication that wouldn't hurt my son. I was on ritalin for ADD as a child and it worked for me, my grades got better and I was able to concentrate but it turned me into a zombie. I don't want that to happen to my little boy. Besides his concentration issues and the problems at school he is a very bright sweet child and I don't wanna loose that. Any suggestions?

DO NOT put a 4 year old on medication for ADHD.

My sister had ADHD as a child and they wanted my mom to put her on Ritalin but my mom was highly against it. So every morning she would let my sister have a cup of coffee with a bit of sugar in it before school, and it calmed her down.

See sections 22 - 25, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris Give him 2 Omega 3 fish oil supplements, daily: (certified free of mercury) it is best if consumed with an antioxidant, such as an orange, or its FRESHLY SQUEEZED juice. If vitamin E is added, it should be certified as being 100% from natural sources, or it may be synthetic: avoid it. Go to www.mercola.com SEARCHBAR "krill oil" (superior to, but more expensive than fish oil) & ADHD.

I was in the same boat with my son, and the behavioral methods found in this article really helped him. He is like a totally different kid now - it is amazing.

http://www.hearts-and-kisses.com/attenti...

if your son wants to like kill people...i'd rather have him as a zombie cause if it worked for you it should work for him.......... do it be a good parent god dammit.

sometimes something as simple a coffee or sugar help to calm down an adhd child. sounds weird but if theyre adhd it usually does the opposite as it would to other children

Hi Brianne:

First, I must advise you to ignore anyone who said anything about this being a discipline issue, as well as anyone who said not to medicate him or to put him on coffee; while it is true that coffee works very similarly to the medications available (calming effect on people with ADHD), it is not a valid treatment option for someone with a real, proven brain disease. If your child has ADHD, and it is significantly impairing his schoolwork, then medication is often a good option. It might also be a very good idea to compliment any medication with therapy, social skills training and school based interventions. It sounds as though he might have both ADHD and possibly a conduct disorder, or it could be normal developmental processes at play. Discuss these concerns with a doctor you trust and, if you're not satisfied, get a second opinion.

Ritalin (methylphenidate HCl) is still a very good choice in terms of safety. Newer time-released options are a better choice, like Concerta or Ritalin XR, because they last longer and tend to have milder side-effect profiles. The "Zombie" side effect you mentioned you had as a child may have been an issue with the dosage, or a transient side effect; it may or may not happen to your child, and it tends to be relatively rare in the stimulants if the dosage is adjusted appropriately. It may occur and go away with adjustment to the medication, or it may not; you may need to try multiple medications before you find an ideal fit, or you may not. It varies.

Strattera (atomoxetine HCl) is a newer medication that works very differently from Ritalin and stimulant medications. It works on a brain chemical called norepinephrine, as opposed to dopamine which the stimulants work on, and it may be a good option to discuss with a psychiatrist.

Medications for ADHD have well evaluated safety profiles; side effects are usually mild and temporary. The first line of treatment, for good reason, is a time released version of Ritalin such as Concerta; it works well and is generally very safe for acute treatment of ADHD and even Conduct Disorder comorbidity.

Also something to keep in mind: medication is one treatment option. If he is displaying both ADHD and Conduct Disorder (CD) symptoms, you need to ensure therapy is integrated as well. Find a psychiatrist that you trust to guide you through this process.

Good luck to you.

I would very highly suggest reading the book, "Allergies and the Hyperactive Child", by Dr. Doris Rapp, used online booksites. You will get tons of information. Additionally, if your son eats peanut products, peanut butter, anything with peanut oil in it - cut it out of his diet, entirely. This made such a big difference with my son. It ended the temper outbursts. Then, find a time to calmly sit down and talk to your son. Ask him what things bother him. Try to get him to give you as much detail as you can, and then try to think of ways to help him with the things that are bothering him. Help him think of other ways to solve the issues so that he can begin to problem-solve, even in these instances. Please, do get the book, even if you have him diagnosed. Cut out sugar, soda pop, sugary drinks, candy, cakes, cereal products, etc. from his diet, too.

ADD is an excuse for poor behavior and lack of discipline. A good *** whooping will benefit him more then being medicated with amphetamines (Ritalin).