|
Ask the ADD Medical Expert:
Larry Silver, M.D.
More Fun Without Meds?
Q:
"My 18-year-old stopped taking his ADHD meds because his friends told him he was 'more fun' without medication, but now he's having trouble. How can I convince him to give it another try?"
A:
Make a list of the differences others perceive in him when he's off medication. Because it's never easy to convince a teen that his parents are right, solicit input from teachers, counselors, coaches, and so on.
Give your son the list, then let him decide whether the medication has a positive impact on his life. And you might mention his friends' comments to his physician. They may be right: If a stimulant dose is too high, it can "flatten" the patient's personality.
 2 Comments:
-
Posted by
vanna
-
Mar 9 2009 @ 1:00 AM
18 yr old "adult" being self destructive
My 18 year old is being very self distructive.
He spent about 3 weeks in juvinile hall in oct. 2008 and got out on his 18th birthday. He seemed to have learned a lesson while he was in there. He was very well mannered and respectful when we visited. When he got out we got him a car to drive around so he could go to school and find a job and maybe take a welding class (that he wanted to do). But 6 days after he got out of juvinle hall he got a DUI. He was suppose to go in Feb.2009 to do weekends at the county jail but he did not show up for it. He went to court on it and the judge reset the date to March 26th and reduced his fines from $1400 to $235..Don't know how he managed that! We kicked him out of the house in Dec.2008 because he was being very disrespectful to us and cussing at us, putting holes in the walls and stealing from out wallets while we were asleep. He now lives with his grandmother where he has nothing like he had at home. no more video games,or his own tv and computer and cell phone and driving privledges.
Now all he has is a couch to sleep on and whatever food is in grandma's cupboard and her tv and her computer. He stopped going to school and won't get medical treatment for his adhd and other mental health problems. He just hangs out at his friends place and smokes marijuana and drinks. My friends have told me they have seen him stumbling down the road higher than a kite. I am afraid that if he does not get help that he is going to end up hurt really bad if not dead. I don't know what to do since he is 18 and an "adult". I gave him a $153 money order to take to his alcohol program he is suppose to do and he said he lost the money order. i found out later from the post office that "he" cashed it. I feel very hurt and betrayed that he would do that. I wanted him to learn a lesson from being kicked out but it seems that he hasn't learned anything from it. He is still very disrespectful when he talks to us. He acts as though we are the cause for all his problems. It makes me very sad. Please, If anyone has any advice for me??I would appreciate it!
-
Posted by
SLee
-
Dec 30 2008 @ 6:33 PM
18 year old son/no meds
My son has chosen to go without meds this year and it has been a nightmare. He isn't doing well in school and he is terrible at home. He tells me it makes him feel different. I tell him what he's feeling is normal and that's what's different. He has been diagnosed with ADHD since he was in 1st grade. So we've been on meds since then. I can't seem to make him aware of the ramifications this will cause in his future. Unfortunately they are told that they are adults at 18 and believe me he has taken that to heart. I believe children with a learning disability and ADHD should not be considered an adult until much later. Thank you for reading my response.
Slee
|
|
|
|
|
