tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post4124031473617815839..comments2024-03-01T04:58:03.785-05:00Comments on Doctor Anonymous: Doctors Overmedicating KidsDr. Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05207266669522973903noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-18728976693963269322008-05-08T20:52:00.000-04:002008-05-08T20:52:00.000-04:00Anonymous: Where do you live that students must b...Anonymous: Where do you live that students must be treated in order to attend school? I teach in California, and I've never heard of such a law. Children are guaranteed an appropriate education, with or without medication. Only parents or legal guardians can control medication. I would never venture an opinion about whether a child should be on meds, as I'm not a doctor. The most we can do is recommend a medical consultation at a Student Study Team meeting.Devorrahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14542045173559671539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-30100242733421154912008-05-06T23:13:00.000-04:002008-05-06T23:13:00.000-04:00anonymous - that's a great point. I have that same...anonymous - that's a great point. I have that same discussion with educators all the time. THere are other ways than meds for these kids.<BR/><BR/>DA - I know you have strong feelings on this. This will serve you well going back to school.<BR/><BR/>MOW & Shirah - Good points. Those have become societal norms and it's a problem.<BR/><BR/>ELN - Thanks for sharing your story. It's great to hear a parent's point of view on this.<BR/><BR/>James - I am neither defending nor refuting this claim. I agree with Dr. Fassler who said in the article, "The more important question is whether or not the right kids are getting the most appropriate and effective treatment possible." I guess you can interpret that how you like.<BR/><BR/>Doctor David & ELN - FDA approval carries little weight with people in this country (reference Vioxx). So, more testing may not necessairly be good - especially given it's extended time and cost. But, if you have a kid suffering and all the approved drugs (presuming you still want to try meds) have not worked or had problems with, what is a doc to do? Good question.Dr. Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05207266669522973903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-63332202851754482462008-05-06T22:45:00.000-04:002008-05-06T22:45:00.000-04:00or perhaps drugs should be tested BEFORE they are ...or perhaps drugs should be tested BEFORE they are given to our children.erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311241010608452919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-48654412684196476742008-05-06T22:13:00.000-04:002008-05-06T22:13:00.000-04:00Dr. A,One important statement, made almost in pass...Dr. A,<BR/>One important statement, made almost in passing in your 4th paragraph: "... medicines that haven't been officially approved for kids," deserves mention. On the one hand, the implication is that the problem is worse than just "overmedicating kids" because the kids are being overmedicated with drugs not approved for pediatric use. The problem is, many, many drugs are never tested in children and never approved by the FDA for use in kids. But pediatricians HAVE to use drugs not approved by the FDA for kids, or many illnesses that are legitimately treated with drugs would go untreated.Doctor Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05561641468831789428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-38210037634025107252008-05-06T20:35:00.000-04:002008-05-06T20:35:00.000-04:00I'm confused. Are you defending or refuting the c...I'm confused. Are you defending or refuting the claim that kids in this country are overmedicated?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-53212807235515139532008-05-06T13:34:00.000-04:002008-05-06T13:34:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for the comments! I'll hopefully be...Thanks so much for the comments! I'll hopefully be responding to these soon (really busy yesteday and today)Dr. Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05207266669522973903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-76592218959295508532008-05-06T12:05:00.000-04:002008-05-06T12:05:00.000-04:00I personally would have to mention the idea that a...I personally would have to mention the idea that all these medication increases would have to do with the Autism epidemic. That's all doctors we've seen have done with my son who is Autism Spectrum. Since he was 5 he's been on 20+ kinds and combinations of anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, ADD drugs, etc. I would agree to it because he had to be able to go to school, and I was desperate. I wouldn't blame parents so much except for naiveness...for blindly trusting those in charge of our safety & health.<BR/><BR/>NOW, I've stopped listening to the doctors (that are rx writing maniacs), am finding new doctors who heal not medicate, and researched what will actually help my son. He is off everything except something to help him sleep at night and doing better than ever! Don't get me wrong, the behaviors are still there, but before he wasn't able to control himself. When he at times would be off of everything, I thought he had ADD...but now I understand it is his sensory issues that can look like ADD. Sensory issues need therapy, not meds. The meds never worked.<BR/><BR/>We are looking into helping him feel better - thru diet, supplements, and metabolism problems, etc....and I strongly believe all of these neurological problems are caused by diet issues (hormones - my son started going through puberty at 8!!!, pesticides, corn-based & gmos ) which lead to/combine with metabolism issues and toxins (vaccines, he was a mercury kid, and live viruses) before they have a developed immune system. <BR/><BR/>I didn't take this path at first, but when our developmental pediatrician still just wants to medicate his nutritional problems...that just doesn't make sense. And it's only because I'm lucky enough to be a stay at home mom right now that I've had the time to research this. <BR/><BR/>my two cents!erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08311241010608452919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-43475245399107851762008-05-06T06:06:00.000-04:002008-05-06T06:06:00.000-04:00@ my own woman -I completely agree with you. Pare...@ my own woman -<BR/><BR/>I completely agree with you. Parents' views on behavior modification are analogous to views of weight control - why maintain a proper diet and exercise regimen when I can just take a pill? We've become a society that can't function without instant gratification, but sometimes what is really needed is hard work and perserverance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-71947208470963910862008-05-05T19:48:00.000-04:002008-05-05T19:48:00.000-04:00Oh boy, am I about to make an unpopular comment. ...Oh boy, am I about to make an unpopular comment. It's ok, I can take the fall-out. I work in an ER where I see a lot of young children with "ADHD, ADD, etc on medications. The most popular answer I get when I ask why the medications for the ADHD, etc is the parent's response... "I told the doctor he needed it. He just can't behave without it." Now, there are probably kids that need medicated, I won't disagree... but some kids.... (ok, I'm ducking now) just need a good swift kick in the bottom and they need to know what the roles are.... "I" am parent, "You" are child.My Own Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08520236125332553784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-87904434191862416172008-05-05T15:40:00.000-04:002008-05-05T15:40:00.000-04:00I've really strong feelings on this issue ..which ...I've really strong feelings on this issue ..which has something to do with why I'm going back to school and going into child psychology.Dreaming againhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15717590226520457326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29955732.post-59337572335499375952008-05-05T10:03:00.000-04:002008-05-05T10:03:00.000-04:00My daughter and I are both ADHD. I've yet to read ...My daughter and I are both ADHD. I've yet to read a document that considers reprogramming our education system to allow for the "special" ways in which children learn. I find it astounding that children with ADD, ADHD, etc. MUST be medically treated to attend school.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com