View Full Version : Autism Ritalin and Cannabis
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I wrote a recent article: Autism, ADD, ADHD and Marijuana Therapy, in which I reported that California Medical Marijuana doctors had reported successful treatment of such children with marijuana cookies and even by smoking marijuana cigarettes.
I received by email a mixed bag of responses from both extreme ends of the spectrum. One irate response even suggests I was a quack for recommending it.
I would like to reassure my readers that under Oregon law, to which I had to adhere, I neither recommended, approved nor prescribed marijuana despite what the New York Times printed.
The patients (99%) were using and wished to become legal. Oregon law requires a specific diagnosis of certain medical conditions, most of which such as epilepsy, require a specialist's diagnosis.
If that physician does not wish to sign the patient's application form for religious, moral, ignorance, fear of DEA or other reasons, the patient must find a physician willing to sign the application based explicitly on the specialist's diagnosis. I was one of those 2,699 physicians and I signed for about 5,000 patients.
All my applications were approved. I don't think any of us 2,600 doctors consider ourselves "quacks", progressives probably. At any rate, we have signed for 20 thousand patients.
Now getting to Ritalin which has been prescribed for these children since about 1970. I remember it and I said, "why would a brain stimulant be prescribed for a hyperactive child- well it worked! Amphetamine (Dexedrine) had been used before but that was grabbing a "tiger by the tail."
Ritalin was considered a junior grade stimulant compound to amphetamine and worked adequately for these children.
Medicine takers discovered and still consider that if one pill is good, two should be better and three or more better yet. Then there comes the tiger. RITALIN HAS CAUSED ABOUT 300 DEATHS FROM OVERDOSE.
The use of cannabis/marijuana, medical or for kicks, has never killed anyone and if anyone knows different I will gladly pay you $5.
Many parents have written in that marijuana cookies work great for Autism, ADD and ADHD and I am only the messenger By and large, the prescription drugs are minimally effective, have BAD side effects or may be deadly. Marijuana/cannabis will be the new drug for these children. Wanna bet?
************************************************** *****
Got a question or comment for Dr. Leveque?
Email him: Newsroom@Salem-News.com
Cranky
05-26-2008, 11:57 AM
The use of cannabis/marijuana, medical or for kicks, has never killed anyone and if anyone knows different I will gladly pay you $5
:D
bloody cheapskate
Ritalin is the last choice my doc had for my kid. He's on Flocilin (sp). Won't give him herb....I could only imagine what they'd do to me if they found out I did as an alternative. (fear yet again). But minimum doses of those chems and i hold his regemine and diet pretty strict. I give him enough that his grades are good and he's focused. But doc said he might be off of it by begin of his 1st grade year....or he could have to take it for a few years. Scary stuff givin yer kid a chem. :( Would feel much safer about an herb cookie...but we know how our govt. is. Shovel pills down but god forbid a plant.
I was adhd but just ad now..... second oldest boy is same and tried the Ritalin route for years... he always told us he hate'd how it made him feel even tho he did better at school and such... he made his own educated choose on treatment options when he turned 18 ;)
some day the govt will learn but till then.....:mad:
he made his own educated choose on treatment options when he turned 18 ;)
Yep but got 13 yrs till that day here :(
steve oh
05-27-2008, 08:22 AM
i have ADD , i was given ritalin as a kid and swiched to dexedrine in my teens (same time as i found mary jane) hiting the vape calms me down and is more controlable than taking dexedrine , it even helps with my concentration (beleve it or not) but they dont like it when you smoke in class or stink up the room so some times dex is needed......but taking a stimm is like drinking some mush tea you take a set ammount weather you need that much or not(at the time) and have to ride it out. when you toke you can controll the intensity and the ammount the effects do not last as long making it more controlable and feels alot cleener...........growing my meds is much eayser on the pocket book
it even helps with my concentration
It does me as well. Two tokes in the morning no more and i work very efficiently. Without too wound up and scatter brained here.
SmokinMa
05-27-2008, 12:52 PM
We've had tremendous results with ritalin for my ADD son, he's now 10.
Ritalin gets bad press mostly because it is older and more widely used then the newer medications.
One thing I actually prefer with the ritalin is that it works immediately and doesnt need a few weeks to begin to work. We don't have to dose him on the weekends, or school holidays and during the summer.
2 successful school years on a very low dose. 7 1/2 mgs.
My son loves school now and his self-esteem is thru the roof, so it's not all bad. :)
We've had tremendous results with ritalin for my ADD son,
thx for the input sis.... glad it works good for ADD and your son:D
I can understand a parents view on add/adhd/hd and know what it's like try'n to find the right meds for your child:mad: been there done that....
peace
RedEyezzzzz
05-27-2008, 09:15 PM
I know nothing about any of this but I'm kinda floored to hear that kids so young are being medicated. No offence to any of you cause like I said I can't even imagine what circumstances would bring you to that point.
Aren't kids just being kids & sometimes can have too much energy for them to go to the same beat of the proverbial drum?
Aren't kids just being kids & sometimes can have too much energy for them to go to the same beat of the proverbial drum?
yes red.... but adhd can be prove'n via blood test, but also know alot of kids don't meat the standards to warrant meds but still get them....
my mom says I marched to my own drum beat:eek:
Cranky
05-28-2008, 09:02 AM
interesting thread;)
me and the Mrs know thats somits up with are son.
he plays "pretend" alot...basicly plays with nothing there and beats his chest like an ape.
also has mood swings all over the shop and wets himself at the age of 7.
cunts say theres nothing up with him and hes a normal boy all based on reports from school.so he dont have a life outside school then huh????
also the headmaster of the school has a policy where they dont and wont check kids at school to see if their wet and in the report he did for my boy says he does not wet himself..
how the fuck would he know if they dont check??
we have family in the medical trade and alot just thought he was just abit wild and naughty at times until they seen a vid we took of him playing "pretend".now there all concerned and say there is deffo somit up with him...the nurse who said this also has an autistic daughter who s also in the medical game and she says the same...
for 4 years now we have had all doors slammed in are face...
fff
cranky
CylonBud
05-28-2008, 09:30 AM
Cranky have you thought to get other opinions or see a child specialist? :)
SmokinMa
05-28-2008, 10:05 AM
I know nothing about any of this but I'm kinda floored to hear that kids so young are being medicated. No offence to any of you cause like I said I can't even imagine what circumstances would bring you to that point.
Aren't kids just being kids & sometimes can have too much energy for them to go to the same beat of the proverbial drum?
I completely agree with ya. I have heard of kids as young as 3 being dx ADD/ADHD and medicated on these types of meds. :eek:
As a mom I was very reluctant to medicate. But we were sooo frusterated, including my son. A simple homework assignment would take 3 hours and always end in tears for the both of us. Each morning was a struggle to get him up and ready because he didn't want to go. His teacher tried a lot of different things trying to help with his focus. What was surprising thru all this was that he did great on his benchmarks and other tests, so he was retaining some of what he was learning. That summer we had him evaluated and got the diagnosis he was definately ADD, or rather ADHD without the H. :p Ritalin, at the smallest dose of 5mg was what the Dr gave us. Luckily it worked like a charm from the get go. :D
I've heard of kids having to try all sorts of meds until they find the right one. I am grateful we didn't have to do that. His dosage did increase this school year from 5mg to 7 1/2 mg, so now he gets 1 1/2 pills. I think to most, this dosage is still pretty small.
I wish I could show you guys my sons report cards. He is a new child. Getting him evaluated and medicated is one of the best things we have ever done. I am so so so proud of him. And his self-esteem shines thru. His report cards are straight A's.
I do occassionally ask him how he feels when on the meds. If there ever comes a time were he doesn't like the way it makes him feel then we will discontinue. I have heard the horror stories of kids and Ritalin and it does always stay in the back of my mind.
I hope as he gets older and more mature, he will find other ways to keep focused besides using medicine. But he's only 10. We might discuss mj use when he's approaching college. ;)
SmokinMa
05-28-2008, 10:10 AM
Aren't kids just being kids & sometimes can have too much energy for them to go to the same beat of the proverbial drum?
yes red.... but adhd can be prove'n via blood test, but also know alot of kids don't meat the standards to warrant meds but still get them....
I never knew a blood test could prove it. Wow. Learn someting new everyday. :)
For us, my son was evaluated by a child psychologist. He took a bunch of tests and his answers were compared to other kids the same age/grade. I also think the ammt of time it took was taken into consideration. The tests showed I had a smart boy with definate concentration issues.
Cranky
05-28-2008, 11:36 AM
Cranky have you thought to get other opinions or see a child specialist? :)
well mate its the so called specialists thats saying hes ok and from what Ive seen they base the outcome more on school reports...thats whats happened in are case like.
i mean he used to go see a doc for like 30 Min's every month for 6 months.if he wasn't in hyper/pretend mode then hes just a normal lad...he also wont play pretend in front of anyone bar me as he thinks people will laugh and make fun....so even he himself knows that its not normal in his own sort of way.
i basically let him play pretend and don't batter an eyelid where as other peeps in the family ask him awkward Q.'s about it....main reason why Ive been this way is cuzz i new i needed to open a new door...the big old TRUST door...now he don't see me as somebody that will make fun or ask q.s about it and cuzz of this i am the only one that he can talk to about playing pretend.
could go pretty deep into what he says hes playing and thinking when hes playing pretend but i don't think i wanna go any further on the boards with this than i already have.
the worlds gone tits up...fuck all is straight forward anymore...:(
ill sort me lad out like;););)
SmokinMa
05-28-2008, 12:08 PM
Cranky- I can't imagine how frusterating that must be for you.
Sounds like he has a great imagination. Does he have any creative outlets?
Vivid imaginations aren't always bad. ;)
Cranky
05-28-2008, 01:16 PM
hes very creative indeed ma...just went to make a brew and there he is,,playing pretend :) why dont yas go play on the first few steps on the stairs i said,nobody can see yas there...(dont like him playing in the kitchen,hot hot etc)
he reply's,i cant...i dont have a perfect straight edge that the worktop has and theres nothing where the freezer would be silly...
of course i said,,how stupid of me:)
crazy how things have to be so perfect in this little world of pretend....
attention to detail is mindboggling
cranks
CylonBud
05-28-2008, 01:56 PM
My kids play pretend now and then too but who knows maybe there is more to it with your son. He could also just use it as a coping tool if he has no other kids he can play with. Mine do this often when separated. Kids have great and powerful imaginations and are resourceful. My kids have had imaginary friends occasionally and that always creeped me out especially if the other sibling is not around. They would talk as if someone was there and respond/reply as if they heard an actual person. Creepy. Like talking to ghosts. What I say are just ideas and not judgments or answers in anyway. I'm no fan of specialists (especially in the mental sense). The only specialist I liked was my wrist surgeon after he rebuilt my shattered wrist from a car accident. Damn fine DR. I seen my fair share of mental specialist as a hyperactive attention disabled child of the late 70's and 80's. Except in my case it was the school system that called them out on me. My mother and father just accepted me the way I was. I was taught how to overcome the learning disability and through medication (Ritalin) was "settled down" made to pay attention. Was taken off of the drug in middle school and never had it since. Hated the way it made me feel and hated the school system for making me have to take it. Hopefully your son won't need such and maybe will sort himself out or at least have you there to help him when he needs. Sounds like you do that for him now. My prayers for him. :cool:
Mine had trouble focusing and controlling himself...he even said he coulnd't no matter how hard he tried. Whyt they didn't put him on ridelin. The flocilin they said might help with some of his "grief" that he went through...poor lil pup was kicked around there for a lil while, but I think I got him straightened out. I can notice very good improvements since being put on a 10mg dose of it. He does still beat to his own drum ;)
Lil gun hound and zombie flick connisour he is :D (and he has a green thumb should see his sunflower plant!!! :eek: )
he doesn't pretend tho...he has some vendettas that I have to keep in check. Didn't know little ears could hear through walls so well. :( sometimes I wonder if he is growing up too fast in the head. :confused: (he doesn't trust many people which is good and bad...but end of that tangent) (guess that what happens for a lil guy like that having to deal with adult chit.
But still read up on it and even try it myself any chem i give him first. I figure if my 180lb body can't hack it then his can't either. Call me wierd, but i won't give my kid anything I haven't tried myself to see whats up. Just me i guess. The Flocilin didn't do crap was like eating a sweetart. but for him does wonders. But it is a controlled substance and have to sign for it. guess it could be abused...but i sure as shit didn't feel nothing...ridilen on the other hand like eating ephedrine yuk don't see what the fuss is over that. ewww. Pills n me never got along good. Always gives me that med. feel in my gut...even asprin does it. Guess i'm just wierd. For the winter blues st. johns wort, need an extra boost in the AM one extra cup o joe. Need to chill n relax pack me a bowl...upset stomach...toke a bowl...headache...take a nap. Flu i love...keef tea with some brandy honey and a cin. stick and sleep it off. :D *honey makes it taste good, cin. stick takes bite off brandy...and the keef for aches n pains (thx CB for recipe)
becky420
05-29-2008, 12:48 AM
One of my Grand-O!-sons has Severe autism,
He is 6 tomo.(happy birthday , my grandest o boy!!) He doesnt talk, he doesnt cry, he doesnt express himself, he makes vocal sounds, he connects with the world by videos or telly. He has a book that he goes thur when he wants something like food , drink, go somewhere, he has to have 24 hr care cuz if he gets outside he is on the move he has "ran away twice" so he is classified as a runner,,cops have brought him home twice..not a good thing..My daughter has security alarms over every door and window. he sees a open door he is out of there! . he has said one word and its hello..awww its a start..when i left to come here he was a normal baby, till he had his MMR injections..thats when he got it..It is heartbreaking to see really.. I cried most days when i was home..
He loves "toy story" and the lion king.. he doesnt like the part in the lion king when the little lion(simba?) gets tricked up by his uncle lion in the stampede part (bless him) he covers his ears and runs around in circles till that part is over and makes a sad sound. He loves certain parts of toy story, and lol when he sees "woody" or smiles when he sees him. I bought him a woody doll from a major store that deals movie items from those movies (fred should know what I am talking about;) )And it talks..whne i call home He identifes me with the doll when i say "howdy partner" so if i dont say that on the fone he wont say (vocally) anything but if i do that he vocally goes off at me..He takes off the cowboy hat of the doll and tips it like a cowboy does and waits for some one to say howdy partner or theres a snake in my boot cuz he hasnt figared out how to tip the hat and pull the rip cord in the back to make the doll talk..I called my daughter today/tonight and she has told me that he has pulled the ripper out and is in morning.. and cant get over it..So we will have to go back to the major store and buy another one.
To put my boy to sleep, he has to take a sleeping pill.. otherwise he will be up all night. when he takes this pill he is asleep i mean asleep..I dont like that. I am going to have a hard time when i get home and have to get my boy to sleep.. i dont think i can give him the pill.. i will have to think of another way to get him to sleep with out the knock him out pill..I suppose its a blessing to my daughter, who has to deal with him and she can get some rest and know that he is "out " and she can get some rest.. but i am going to find it hard to give him the pill..there has to be some routine i will have to get him in..Otherwise he is up and on the move.. alarms set.. on guard whats he doing where is he going..Its really hard work, a life time of hard work
before you take your baby, or know any baby to the dr. and get injections be sure to ask the dr if the injections are safe such as MERCURY - FREE preservatives are NOT in it! save yourself heart ache..
Cranky
05-29-2008, 08:23 AM
i have a friend who's sister is the same way becks,she rocks all day long,cant talk,cant use her hands and needs help pretty much with anything and everything.
..all down to the mmr jab.:mad:
and the the fooks have cheek to go on about the long term side effects from cannabis use:rolleyes:
fact is half the shit we come into contact with these days we don't really know its long term side effects as half the shit just ain't been around that long in the first place for us to find out!
on that assumption it crazy to think that docs could in the future wont know what the fucks going on and whats causing what...
scary thought indeed
cranky
becky420
05-29-2008, 08:37 AM
and the hard part is the goverment says the shots are not what causes it
i call bullshit on it..
but they was quick to give him his S/S benfits..
they know..
and its amazing to see the charts on autism per state or counrty
some one is hiding it..Its the drug companys ..making the buck.. to harm innocent children..they didnt ask for it.. no one asks for it.. you dont see adults getting it, but then again the shots are over by then.. adults get the other addictions, or with drawls, illnesses from meds..
but what if mercury was in your meds.. how would you know? there not going to tell ya unless you ask.. but if ya dont ask you wont know..