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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sonya on August 15, 2005, at 13:49:17
My 25 yr old son recently told me he's having difficulty at work understanding what coworkers are saying to him because he gets too distracted. He said he now realizes this happened frequently when he was in school and the teacher was talking, he'd zone out and end up studying on his own to learn what he could've learned in class if he'd paid attention. Fortunately, he's pretty intelligent so he managed to succeed in school and also does well at his current job as a systems analyst.
But he now thinks he's had attention deficit disorder all his life and thinks he may benefit from a drug for ADD. I'm worried about him taking amphetamine-like drugs because I have addiction issues and he may have inherited that from me. He's also like me in that he's fairly anxious, always biting his nails.
I recommended he see my pdoc for a diagnosis and medicine, but now I wish I hadn't. Maybe I should've discouraged him from considering taking anything?
I'm just so worried he'll become addicted.
Posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 9:46:31
In reply to Need advice re: son with ADD, posted by Sonya on August 15, 2005, at 13:49:17
I'd let him see the pdoc. He can sort out all the complications. Anxiety itself can cause those things, and the pdoc won't necessarily accept his self diagnosis. He might try him for something that helps anxiety first.
At any rate, your son sounds frustrated, and it would probably be better for him to get professional help than to decide he needs to self medicate.
Posted by Sonya on August 16, 2005, at 10:09:26
In reply to Re: Need advice re: son with ADD » Sonya, posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 9:46:31
Good advice, Dinah. Thank you.
Posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 10:51:31
In reply to Re: Need advice re: son with ADD » Dinah, posted by Sonya on August 16, 2005, at 10:09:26
It's hard when it's our kids. We don't want them to suffer. Period. So it makes figuring out how to help harder, because there usually isn't a "no suffering" alternative.
Posted by Sonya on August 16, 2005, at 13:38:51
In reply to Re: Need advice re: son with ADD » Sonya, posted by Dinah on August 16, 2005, at 10:51:31
I guess it just scares me to refer him to my pdoc when I'm not totally confident in his skills. Here's an example and it just happened an hour ago...I spoke to Dr. C about my taking hydroxyzine to help me with withdrawal symptoms from Seroquel. Dr C wanted to rx me Ativan (a benzo). Now, if he'd pulled my records before calling me, he'd see that I have a history of benzo abuse and an OD on benzos. So why on earth is the man offering me benzos? When that kind of thing happens, it destroys my confidence in him. Or am I being too judgemental?
Should I really be referring my own son to him?
Posted by 10derHeart on August 19, 2005, at 12:32:01
In reply to Re: Need advice re: son with ADD » Dinah, posted by Sonya on August 16, 2005, at 13:38:51
Hi SOnya,
Maybe not. I won't comment on his competance - or lack thereof - but what you described is a little alarming.
From another angle, and from an adult diagnosed with ADD (my own self-assessment was right on) 3.5 years ago at age 42, I have a special interest in posts re: adult ADD.
My two cents on ADD evaluations is to have him go to someone who specializes and/or is VERY experienced in diagnosing ADD in adults. Seems to me overall, psychologists are best, but that's just my impression, not based on anything scientific, just lots of chatting with other ADDults online and lots of reading.
I think pdocs...unless they have trained and educated themselves in this (and some certainly have) can really fall into the habit of diagnosing-by-medication. You knoe, give the drug, patient feels better = they have ADD. <sigh> This happened to me, but in my case, all worked out for the best. I did/do have ADD, started on a low dose of Ritalin, and started to respond right away. Voila. BUT, that's fairly backwards. There are detailed questionnaires for your son, and close friends and family members, as well as some other tests (e.g., look up TOVA, if I recall correctly, on the Web) that should be done, prior to prescribing. Not to mention a thorough interview with the provider (not 10 minutes!) in order to observe your son's demeanor, body language, speech pattern, etc.
I've found a combination of medication, education and therapy for the ADD symptoms that interfered with me accomplishing things at home and at work, and caused me to feel inadaquate, frustrated and hopeless about *being* an adult, are reduced by about 75%. Not a bad result. Some people never feel the need for any meds, as things like meditation, relaxation techniques, life-coaching, etc. can work amazingly well alone.
Maybe search out someone who specializes in this? I've found online resources are abundant, for self-tests, lists of providers, support, information....
I'll just to throw this in, too. IF he has ADD, and IF he ends up trying meds, there is Strattera, which is not in the stimulant class. It's only been around for less than 3 years, so I understand some people are afraid due to lack of available studies re: safety from LT effects, etc. Also, even on the main PB board here, there are those who felt bad on it, or more often, found it useless. But for me, it's been a mini-miracle and I swear by it.
Some folks with mild ADD, or certain forms, have been helped by a low dose AD alone, too, even though that is not the first choice for ADD. I was on Prozac for depression prior to diagnosis. It helped with some symptoms by itself, and was a good combo with Ritalin. I just discovered later that, for me, Strattera alone was/is even better.
It's wonderful you're out there caring and helping out your adult son. I have a 23-year old daughter, so I can relate :-) Hope it all works out for him - getting understanding and relief from ADD can be a wonderful thing.
Posted by Sonya on August 19, 2005, at 14:14:57
In reply to Re: Need advice re: son with ADD (a bit long) » Sonya, posted by 10derHeart on August 19, 2005, at 12:32:01
Thanks for so much feedback. I printed your post and plan to read it to my son. I'm also going to suggest to him that he see someone who specializes in diagnosing ADD rather than see my pdoc.
Thanks, again.
Posted by 10derHeart on August 20, 2005, at 18:37:11
In reply to Re: Need advice re: son with ADD (a bit long) » 10derHeart, posted by Sonya on August 19, 2005, at 14:14:57
So glad if I could help a little.
Maybe it would have been, at best, a little weird for him to go to your pdoc anyway? Would he even allow it? Well, I suppose, depending on whether you do therapy w/him, or just medication stuff.... I was just trying to imagine me and any family member going to the same pdoc....interesting...:-)
Feel free to Babblemail me if you'd like maybe some links to websites I've found helpful, or book recommendations, etc., to pass on to your son.
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