Medication advice needed

My daughter is 8 and is diagnosed with OCD, poor insight and ADD. During the school year, she was taking both Prozac and Jornay PM(comparable to old school Ritalin but time released so you take at night). We had trouble filling it at beginning of summer, so we decided to take a break from the Jornay PM. We immediately noticed that she was a much happier child. Fast forward 3 weeks and we gave the Jornay to her before gymnastics camp 2 days in a row. Her compulsions increased tremendously and she was agitated, extremely intolerant to all noises, and I could go on. She needs to be on something for her ADD for school but I don’t want her to be miserable in the process. In my mind, the side effects are not worth the educational benefit at this point. Any advice on medications for ADD that have not exacerbated the OCD and do not cause extreme mood swings? TIA

Username: asyiavasyiav

Date posted: 1y ago

Definitely do not think she should take anything comparable to Ritalin, especially if she is much happier off of it. It starts off as taking it as a child but I work in pharmacy and see it first hand, she unfortunately most likely will be taking it for the rest of her life and be completely dependent on it. I would recommend stopping and seeing if there is other things that help her and avoid Ritalin or adderall related medications.

Username: 798emma798emma

Date posted: 1y ago

I don’t have suggestions as to where to go from now, but I do have some insight of a child’s perspective whose mother FORCED her to take ADHD meds (vyvanse first then focalin) and was MISERABLE. If your child is telling you they do not want to be on rx, or it makes them feel bad, please please please listen to them and discontinue use. I felt horrible (physically and mentally) for 3 years bc my mom wouldn’t change my meds or listen to me when I told her they made me feel bad.

Username: AnonymousAnonymous

Date posted: 1y ago

@798emma I am so sorry you went through that. I didn’t realize how it was affecting her so negatively until we took a break and then took it for two days in a row. It did help her in school so much so I have no clue where to go from here.

Username: NOhseedyNOhseedy

Date posted: 1y ago

I have ADHD and OCD and let me tell you I would much rather do extra work and deal with my ADHD than OCD try and focus on that first then over time you could try another med for the ADHD and see how it effects her

Username: JackieKJackieK

Date posted: 1y ago

My brother was diagnosed with ADD and had learning disabilities related to reading/writing. My parents ended up having to homeschool him as he couldn't get the special attention he needed in regular school and they didn't want to go down the Ritalin route. He has since graduated college and can competently read and write. I'm not necessarily advocating homeschooling as the only route, but are there options for her in school to help accommodate her ADD, could she get a tutor to help? I know in college my brother qualified for extra testing time due to his disorder. I would definitely not continue the meds if they're causing her distress.

Username: JackieKJackieK

Date posted: 1y ago

And while I don't have medication recommendations, but I know some tactics my dad used were flash cards with fun things on them (he did math but made the numbers different monsters to help my brother remember and he found a lot of educational games and the gamefying of the learning helped a lot, as my brother had no issues focusing on games. I know every situation is different but these things definitely helped my brother. I hope you find something that helps your daughter! ❤️

Username: austinp

Date posted: 5y ago

Recommendations on meds? Right now I’m on 30mg of Vyvamse because I also had slight ADD. I know there are better medicines out that are geared a little more toward OCD if anyone has tried and liked the results? I’ve been on lexapro that did nothing and something similar to Ritalin, but less strong, that gave me pains Just curious. Thanks :)

Username: oceanblue

Date posted: 5y ago

Anyone with ADHD that is, or was on medication for it? Has anyone found an ADHD stimulant medication that helps their ADHD but doesn’t worsen their OCD? ?

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 44w ago

9yo boy with OCD

My son has been diagnosed with OCD, but the therapist that we are seeing doesn’t specialize in OCD. They put him on medication that caused severe side effects. After we stopped the medication, they just seem to almost wash their hands of the situation. This is a center with therapists, psychiatrists, an inpatient unit, a detox, a built-in pharmacy, etc. Yet, they can’t help my child unles it’s through medication. I’m fine with meds if they improve quality of life, but they harmed my child when he tried their first line of defense med for OCD in children. The other meds are in the same class, and we just can’t risk what happened to happen again. Just a little while ago my son and his dad were playing a video game. I guess my son hit a wrong button by mistake. This sent him on a loop of having to reset the game a handful of times. He needed my husband to reset his end of the game too. My husband didn’t understand what was happening, and this led to more emotion and frustration from my son. At this point my husband is upset, so I come in to defuse the situation. I’ve learned that the calmer I am, the better. My husband is trying, but he gets overwhelmed with the behavior. This is our life on repeat. I am so afraid for my child. We need help. Does anyone have any advice in dealing with OCD in children. I just want my son comfortable and happy again. Thank you, Christine

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