ADHD drugs for PDD-NOS | Autism PDD

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BTW Tenex did nothing for nick like giving him zilch I haven't heard anyone say that worked for them. Nick was on Straterra but it turned him greyish and he looked like he was on another planet so they took him off immediately.Medidate worked for about a wk with him but as I said we have always had to go back to adderrall and I'm not a big fan of anything else I've stuck to with what works ...for us anyway.Good luck just let them know it has these effects sometimes you got to play with the meds to see what they respond to.

And while I'm at it I just researched something that you may want to read ....read this of course all drugs have side effects but you should bring this up to your doctor about Tenex  as I said I haven't heard anything good about it but this should clear up any confusion.

 

www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2002/mar02.htm

 

hope that works b/c it wouldn't let me copy and paste but straight from the FDA scroll down till you see the tenex almost to the bottom of the page.

Nick has been fine with adderrall for years now and everytime they switch it to something else we always have to go back to adderrall he's on 30 mg which he does just fine with an seroquel at night.

Thanks for the info--we have an appt. next week--I'll mention that to the dr.

 

Okay so you'll tell me to shut up before the night is over LOL I found this for you.A lot better at explaining I am weary of drugs that are used for one thing and then have been effective for others.I don't like Tenex has been used for hypertension yet some doctors are giving it to our kids for ADHD which just creates another problem if you asked me b/c then what if they stop taking it then will they have to take a blood pressure medication b/c they have taken this drug? I sometimes think to myself do they play guniea pig (sp) with our children to see what does and doesn't work.I know i'm on a rant tonight but this just disturbs me and I'm not a doctor but I do not know why they would introduce trouble to the party so to speak.

Guanfacine
Brand Name: Tenex

Overview
Tenex is the brand name for Guanfacine, an antihypertensive medication. It is usually used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) but is also sometimes used in the treatment of ADHD, as an alternative to stimulant medications. When used for this purpose, it seems to decrease hyperactivity, but it does not usually increase attention span. This drug may be especially useful in children who have both ADHD and conduct disorder.

Why is this drug prescribed?
Tenex is used to treat:

  1. ADHD (not FDA approved, but generally accepted)
  2. mild to moderate high blood pressure (hypertension)
  3. heroin withdrawal (not FDA approved)
  4. certain problems in difficult pregnancies
  5. sleep disorders

Warnings
The safety and effectiveness of Tenex has not been well studied in children under 12 years old, and it is not FDA approved for used below this age.

Tenex is not likely to cause dependence, but suddenly discontinuing Tenex may cause withdrawal symptoms. Doses should be gradually tapered when therapy is discontinued.

Tenex may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Patients should not drive or operate heavy machinery until they know that Tenex does not interfere with the ability to safely engage in such activities.

For Pregnant or Nursing Mothers: In animal studies, Tenex did not cause birth defects in rats or rabbits. Tenex is unlikely to harm the fetus, but it should only be used during pregnancy if it is clearly needed. It is not known whether Tenex passes into breast milk, although it has been found in animal milk. Tenex is not recommended for breast-feeding mothers.

Contraindications
Tenex should Not be used for people with an allergy or sensitivity to this medication.

Precautions
Tenex may be used with caution in individuals with the following conditions:

  1. heart disease, recent heart attack, or recent stroke — Tenex could make these conditions worse
  2. kidney or liver disease — dosage may need to be lowered
  3. depression — Tenex may increase depression

Adverse Reactions
Tenex may cause the following reactions:

  1. dry mouth
  2. constipation
  3. drowsiness
  4. dizziness
  5. headache
  6. difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
  7. dry eyes
  8. nausea
  9. vomiting
  10. skin rash or itching
  11. fatigue
  12. indigestion
  13. diarrhea
  14. slow heartbeat
  15. decreased sexual ability
  16. unusual tiredness or weakness
  17. confusion
  18. mental depression
  19. amnesia
  20. liver toxicity
  21. leg cramp
  22. sudden high blood pressure (if stopped abruptly)

Interactions with Drugs and Other Substances
Drugs or substances that may interact with Tenex include:

  1. medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems — these medicines often increase blood pressure, and may decrease the effects of Tenex
  2. tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as Elavil (amitriptyline) — these medications can reduce the effects of Tenex
  3. Phenobarbital — can decrease the effects of Tenex
  4. alcohol or sleeping pills — may increase effects such as drowsiness and lower blood pressure further

Is there anyone who has found an effective drug for the ADHD aspect of our PDD-NOS kids?  We've had a cocktail of Tenex and Straterra and that has worked til this year.  Then, lack of focusing caused us to increase the Straterra, but he just got sleepy.  The stimulant drugs caused a marked increased in his obsessive behaviors, so they're out.  Ideas??

 

Hmmmm, My daughter has SID and shows signs of a form of Autism. When she was 4 I tried Straterra ng  it did not do anything but give her tummy pain. I don't beleive in meds after that for Austism. Have you to tried brushing or  hard input diet. I've been using those brushing and hard input . It has worked. amberwaves39278.3047337963We brushed for a long time, but it doesn't seem to make any diff now.  He's 9 and 97 lbs.  What is a hard input diet?  This is new to me.  Read about other diets--can't seem to change his diet from sugar foods, chicken nuggets, and pizza.  Doesn't throw fits until we try to introduce "new foods."I think it helps so far we have only been on it 5 weeks now. He's not moody! I got them at our health food store. I feel supplements are great since foods are geneticially done now. I just which it was all in 1 bottle.  I hear good about reliv's stuff also and that Se teachers sware by there stuff also. Good! We can't eat the amounts in foods anyhow! I loved body balance also until I learned about the metals in it. I love the glyco's also.  Try 5 htp this is for low seratonin levels which can cause attention issues. Daniel had his transmitter's tested which show this is low. We added glyconutrients for us both. Food based vitamins. We need a strong plant/protein based diet. Starches are a form of bad fats we need very little of. He does this plus b complex/valerian root and he is way better. His immunity is fine had tested also. He still has allergies though. O trans fats are best for us all.

Dear Daniel's Mom:

What do you think of the glyconutrients?  What do you see from it?

Heidi

I hear concerta is great for add/adhd it's 12 hrs. Daniel can't have fish oils allergic to fish. I love powder's and liquids cause you can hide them in drinks/foods. Clean your produce with a wash before eating them. You can wash them with the tea tree oil in water also. I have tried all the different ADHD meds for my 9 year old Autistic nos child.  All of them made him get mania.  They diagnosed him with early onset bipolar disorder and have him on lithium and risperdal now which has taken away almost all of his aggressivness.  We still can't find anything for his adhd though

Mania is linked greatly to MSG.  Digestive enzymes and taking away MSG, and giving minerals helps this.  For ADHD, give Cod Liver oil, enough to equal about 5,000IU of Vitamin A.  Nordic Naturals is the going brand due to it being filtered for toxins.  Note:  MSG is sprayed on nearly all produce, and added to nearly all packaged foods, including baby formula.  You have to web browse to learn all the names of MSG, such as "natural flavoring".  Gobs of Viamin C and little bit of zinc also helps decrease MSG.  Note:  Cod liver oil needs to be given at least 3 months and maybe years.

 

 

 

Heidi N- Do you work for a DAN DR ? I think its great to be healthy- I give my ds Codliver oil, Omega 3 6 9, probiotics ,magnesium and liquid B-12. I tried m b12 injections for 1 yr from a prominent DAN dR. It did nothing. The supplements I give him now-I cant say they are doping anything for certain, but I feel yhey are good for him and hisa immune system. My ds is on tenex and trilipata. These have helped him behavior wise. Not everyone has success with the ONLY all natural route. I always see you and a few others post the same comments about vitamins ....realize that your way does NOT work for ALL!!

No sure don't work for DAN.  But I do several hours of research a day, and visit about 10 forums daily on Autism and see what is working.

 

Has your son ever tried Focalin??...it worked for my 10 yr old...

[QUOTE=ann2boys]Has your son ever tried Focalin??...it worked for my 10 yr old...[/QUOTE]

 

We have not tried it yet but our pdoc has talked to us about it.  I'm a bit nervous because it does have 8% ritalin in it. 

My sister has an autoimmune disability and has been using this with great results.  It is known for helping attention in Autistic children too.  I'm going to start really researching it and will let you know if we decide to try it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&i tem=290147870240&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019

 

Hi Ann, thanks again for your reply, I am going to look up Focalin and the diet. My son Matthew also has sensory issues, he ate real good until the age of 2, then he just would not drink milk for anything and would only eat crunchy foods. I got him in a special education preschool this last semester and his ot really helped him, now he will eat a little mushy like pudding, maybe when school starts back up I can gradually introduce some organic foods and learn how to fix them. Thanks again for your advice. MissiH.My son (10 1/2) too has ADHD with PDD and OCD...we tried stimulants when he was 8 1/2 and settled on Focalin...it worked great...over time we tried the holistic approach and started herbs and diets and whithin a few months, he weaned off the meds...Feingold diet is a great one...I didn't believe that food would help him but I was amazed at how much preservatives and chemicals were playing into his symptoms...we dropped all the meds including clonidine (similar to tenex)

Dear forum members:

Learn from me.  My now 15 year old son was put on all those psych meds since kindergarten.  What I got was a sick child, always needing medication changes and adjustments, never improving enough to attend regular school.  Finally, when he was 14, I stumbled upon all kinds of info on the internet about causes and treatments, and now he is drug-free and in regular school for the first time in his life.  And its not just him, its happening all over.  My other children, whom I was able to treat at earlier ages, and neighbors and friends - all their kids getting well too.  Throw the drugs away.  They cause more damage and barely help.  Cod liver oil took away ADHD symptoms in at least 5 of the people around me.  Yes, it takes a while, but works and it does NOT do damage.  There are other things you can do as well.  Digestive enzymes, ginger root and cod liver oil has taken away most of the symptoms in my children, and all the children around me whose parents decide to do these treatments as well.  Save your child, give him stuff to help him.  There are more treatments I know of for further symptom reduction, but try those and be amazed at the difference. 

 

 

Groupie,

How did you make the transition from meds to natural foods?  Who prescribed the amount?  Cod liver oil?  Was it pill form?  How long before you saw a change?

 

Babs

Well, actually I had already started to eat healthy, like little sugar, no artificial colors, no preservatives.  Then I started learning this stuff.  So I tried my then 14 year old on digestive enzymes.  And then also I gave him a 550mg ginger root pill.  His symptoms decreased so dramatically, that I then believed that this stuff I was learning was real.  Thus, I started weaning him off of his meds, over a two-month period, very slowly because some psych meds can actually be lethal to take off of abruptly.  And wow, I was just amazed at what I saw everyday.  Anyhow, I then also started with other things, Epsom-salt cream, cod liver oil, multivitamins, multiminerals, probiotics.  I then got him a DAN doctor who said to give him B12 shots and Melatonin and just keep giving him all the other stuff I was doing.  I used various fish oil, cod liver oils.  I ended up using the one his DAN doctor recommended, Nordic Naturals Cod Liver oil liquid.  I just use the regular cod liver oil, and now give him  1 tbspn daily, but when I was giving him 1 tsp, it was still working dramatically for him (gradually works over time).  Anyhow, the diet was the last thing I did.  Of course its the most work.  I did research on why we should not eat wheat and dairy, and I was so convinced that we have never had it again.  None of us.  Anyhow, I did do it in steps.  I wrote down everything we needed to do, and just started buying different products at the store.  Rice milk instead of milk.  Cereals now only consist of organic rice crispies, organic Toasted O's or organic oatmeal.  And we just plain don't eat bread any more.  I thought it would be to tortuous to do, but we have been doing the diet for about 4 months, and everyone is so much healthier and happier, that no one cares about the changes.  The two overweight people are no longer overweight, the headaches are gone, and just about every symptom in my several special needs children were dramatically decreased.  We can think better, have loads of energy.  We are never going back; the rewards are too great.  I had two that were so full of symptoms (one adopted after I successfully treated my 15-year old) that they could not even be out of the institutions without psych meds.  I have another child (now 5), lost his speech at 4; speaks well as long as he gets his cod liver oil daily.    People at their school are just in shock.  They thought I was crazy when I was telling them this stuff, but after my children got well enough to attend regular school with no meds and no modifications, they started asking questions.  Now they think I am a genius, and not nuts anymore.  My advice: believe, research and try.  Oh, and I take everything I give to my children, to also further no how it affects them.  Well, I never took their psych meds, no thanks.  But, I still take all that stuff my kids take because is also helps me think and have energy.  May God guide you down the path of success.Adam does Adderral.  It has worked great for him.  I got this from my Aunt who is an OT and some from the school. The are 4-5 different  sensory diets. The one my daughter is on ....... "is heavy activities".  Keep in mind she can't do these all.
 Climbing a tree (she can't do)
moving furniture
lifting and moving firewood
carrying boxes
taking out garbage
sweeping/vacuuming (she can't do, hates vacuum)
carrying groceries
scrubbing floor on hand knees
digging garden
sand box
mt climbing (no way can't walk stairs with out falling)
climbing (she can't do)
bike riding (she can't do)
farm work
wheelbarrow (she loves)
crab walk (she loves)
 any animal walk
sled pulling
play ground equipment
swimming
sledding
 my favorite for her
I have her drag laundry baskets to the washer

 other ideas play- doh, toys, shaving cream with mirror,  bean bag  chair, sitting ball, fidget toys, heavy blanket (I hand made her one), body sock
Hi everyone, I have a 5 yr.old son diagnosed with Pdd. He has been on Risperdol for almost a year. We went from .5 to 1ml. He did okay for about 3 months then he started getting confused and really irritable, so I took it down a little and that seemed to help. I have now put him on Childrens DHA cod liver oil from Nordics Naturals. He has been on that for a little over 3 weeks, within the first couple days of starting it he was talking in sentences and seemed happier, now he goes through spurts where he screams and I can not get him settled down for bed, my peditrician wants me to keep him on the oil, because it is good for the brain, she also might put him on a small dose of Adderralxr, for his hyperactivity, she thinks he may be Adhd, does anyone have any thoughts on these meds or supplements. I would greatly appreciate any advice. Thankyou, Missi H.My son also takes Risperdal...when he gets to a certain level, he also gets very confused and sleepy...the dr has recommended a long acting one called Invega...we are going to try that...the tantrums and trouble at night are something that we saw after the drug had decreased in his system (maybe increasing it somewhere between 1 mg and what he's taking now)...Cod Liver Oil is great for ADHD and so is the Feingold diet it helps to decrease hyperactivity...we also take herbs from Dr. Christopher called Kid-e-trac and Mind Trac...these also help!!! My son used to take stimulants too(Focalin), but after diet therapy, he didn't need them anymore!! Hi, Ann Thankyou so much for your reply, I will look into that diet. I am worried about putting my son on 2 different kinds of meds, my peditrician assures me it will be fine. I do need to get him calmed down, he is always on the go, even with the cod liver oil. Can I ask if your son did okay on his Focalin when he was on it, is that in the same category as adderall? Thanks Missi H.

With food sensitivities, we haven't been able to introduce new foods to our little 9 year old.  He eats sugar foods, pizza, and nuggets.  I would love to try a diet like Feingold, but how do you get these sensory kids to eat healthy foods?  He won't even try mashed potatoes.  (he ate all foods before 18 months)

 

It takes time...but I think when you detox their system from all of the chemicals, they begin to eat better...I make alot of my own food and go shopping at whole foods..Hi Missy H:

Focalin is in a similar category as Ritalin...it is better than Ritalin though and my son tolerates it well, although not the extended release..he took it 4 x/day (short acting)...he had the greatest focus on this one and did Math for the first time well!!! We tried Ritalin first and then went to Focalin, so I don't know anything about Adderall...your dr is right...there is nothing wrong with being on two meds if that is what your son needs....soem children on the spectrum need a variety of meds and some need very little or nane at all...you could always try the stimulant and test out some diet changes and maybe in time, he won't need the med...the diet takes time to decrease the hyperactivity as the preservatives (Feingold) are flushed out of his system....we also eat all organic and use natural cleaning products and drink distilled water...

Let me know if you have more questions!!!
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