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More than four years ago‚ Nicholas was diagnosed with Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder‚ “a chronic condition that affects children’s learning‚ ability to regulate their behavior‚ social skills and self-esteem‚” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Lisa Manton said she and Joe tried everything they could to control the situation without medication.
“The decision to put him on meds was hard because he was so young‚” Lisa Manton said of her now 9-year-old son. “We didn’t want to do it right away.”
Manton said she didn’t get a lot of sympathy from some relatives and acquaintances‚ even though they witnessed his hyperactivity‚ short attention span and how he would keep moving his hands and feet whenever he got nervous.
“I stopped telling people after a while because I would get such a negative reaction from people‚” said the Franconia resident. “They hear ‘Ritalin’ and freak out and say it’s such a horrible thing‚ that it’s a cop-out.”
But the Mantons went the medication route when Nicholas began to endanger himself by climbing atop the refrigerator‚ unlocking cabinets‚ and getting into the knick-knacks around the house‚ Lisa Manton said.
“The only milestone he reached before the medication was going from crawling to walking‚” she said.
Although Nicholas experienced some initial side effects‚ such as getting sweaty and flushed the first week‚ he was able to reach milestones like being potty trained and taking the time to talk and express himself.
“He was almost instantly a calmer kid‚” Manton said. “He was able to relax for the first time since he was born.”
Nicholas now is a straight-A student.
In the last eight months‚ however‚ the Mantons had to change Nicholas’ medication.
He now takes long-acting Ritalin once per day‚ instead of taking the medication four times per day.
Nicholas also takes Risperdal and Zoloft because he recently was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Dr. Surya Gupta‚ instructor in child neurology at Temple University Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia‚ said physicians tend to monitor children on medications based on their indications and side effects. Gupta said it’s important that physicians work as a team with parents and school officials‚ who tend to have more time to observe children.
Manton said Nicholas has frequent checkups to ensure his weight doesn’t dramatically drop; that his heart rate doesn’t accelerate; and blood pressure doesn’t rise – all of which are possible side effects of taking Ritalin.
“He was thin to begin with‚ but then I became concerned because I’ve heard that with Ritalin you don’t eat‚” Manton said. “But Nicholas eats.”
In fact‚ at his last checkup‚ Nicholas was doing fine. He is 4 feet 6 inches tall and is the same height and weight as 95 percent of male children his age‚ she said.
Michele Harris of Lansdale said she did a lot of research before she and her husband‚ Charles III‚ decided to authorize doctors to put their daughter‚ Katlynn‚ 7‚ on the narcotic drug Adderall XR for ADHD on April 15.
Before the medication‚ Katlynn fidgeted‚ she would swing her legs back and forth‚ she hit her brother for no reason‚ was easily distracted and got up in the middle of class and left if the subject didn’t hold her interest.
She also didn’t get along well with others and her report cards stated she “needs improvement” in all subjects‚ Harris said.
Before Katlynn was diagnosed with ADHD‚ school officials wanted to put Katlynn in class with special-education students and told her that Katlynn probably was having difficulty adjusting to kindergarten.
Harris said she knew better‚ and waited six months for an appointment to have her daughter diagnosed by a specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Harris said she decided against Ritalin for Katlynn after learning of its side effects and seeing how little it seemed to help children she knew growing up.
“I also knew herbal medications were an option‚ but to me‚ that just doesn’t cut it‚” she said.
Because Katlynn “always ate like a bird anyway‚” Harris said she makes sure that her daughter eats. Adderall tends to be an appetite suppressant‚ Harris said. It also keeps her awake at night.
Katlynn is doing well on the medication‚ Harris said. Her grades have improved‚ she has more friends and she grew four inches in one year.
“Everybody thinks she’s a whole new person‚” Harris said. “Granted I agree that she’s a little young to be on medication‚ but it helps.”
Gupta said any medication could cause a problem at any time‚ which is why he said it is important to start out with small doses and titrate up as necessary.
Katlynn started at 5 milligrams and now takes 20 milligrams per day.
“She’s a completely different kid now‚” Harris said.
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