Ok, so you have reached a point where your child is already taking medication. My daughter
is on three different kinds. There are both good things and bad things. Most parents
have no trouble listing the bad things. Such as "I don't want my child all doped up" or
"the side effects really are worrying me", ect. I am sure there are dozens more.
Here is another list of some of the postive aspects of medicine:
Your child probably won't be on the medicine forever.
It will make it easier for your child's therapy to work.
It will help life become more managable on a daily basis.
Don't forget that there will still be issues and problems. There is no miracle drug.
With my daughter's ODD, she sometimes will completely refuse to take her medication.
So I have devised a few ways to get her to take the meds. So here is yet another list
of tips [this is the tips area right?]:
Do not physically try to force a child to take medication. That usually will
backfire, and rapidly.
Do be persistant. Sometimes I have to be repeatative, "Ok time to take your meds..." might
be said several times before compliance.
Set up strick quidelines: Know when it is time to take action. I will use my example to help
try to explain this. When my daughter is very defiant she will completely refuse to take
her meds, I will try just about anything with in reason. I will stay calm. Then if she keeps refusing
I will take her to the hospital. And she knows this. I will give one last chance (usually I will
give one warning..."You know if you do not take your meds then I have to take you
to a doctor in the hospital who will make sure you get the medication.") This is because
she can NOT suddenly stop the medication. So far I have not had to actually take her but she knows
I am serious.
Be honest. If your child asks questions about the meds, answer them honestly, even if
you don't know. Tell them you don't know but that you can ask the doctor and find out;
or if they are old enough, have them ask the doctor. There is nothing wrong with kids
asking questions. Plus the doctor probably has answer that is more geared for your child.