Madeline’s neurologist prescribed Strattera a couple months ago to help control her ADHD. We started her on a night time dose and gradually increased it before switching her to a morning dose because it has a side effect of stomach upset. I was thrilled that it was working to calm her down and help her focus. It also chilled out her tics. She occasionally complained of a tummy ache but didn’t seem to have any other undesirable side effects. I thought we were smooth sailing until I found out she had stopped taking her pills.

I pulled out the couch to plug in my laptop. To my surprise I found ten yellow and white capsules on the floor behind the couch. I give Madeline her medicine every morning except on the weekends. I didn’t pay any attention to if she was actually ingesting them.

At first I was pissed that she was deceiving me. I couldn’t help wondering what else she is doing that I’m completely oblivious to. I was also angry that she would hide pills with a toddler in the house that puts everything but food in her mouth. But then again Madeline is only nine and I guess she doesn’t think of things like that. I was still pissed at her. It was a good thing that she was in bed for the night when I made this discovery. Sleeping on it gave me a chance to calm down. I wasn’t so mad anymore by morning and I had to chuckle to myself about how I did something similar when I was a kid. I hated meat and vegetables. My mom made me eat both anyway. When my mom wasn’t looking I would put the detested food behind the stove or under my bed or the couch. In my childish mind I thought I would never get caught but eventually did when my mom would finally figure out where “the odor” was coming from. I’m sure Madeline thought she would not get caught.

I asked her if she had any idea what I found behind the couch. She gave me a completely puzzled look until I told her what I found was yellow and white and in the shape of a capsule. She tried to hold back her nervous smile. I reminded her that she can’t hide anything from mommy because I will always end up finding out. I asked her why she stopped taking her pills. Turns out they were giving her more tummy aches than I was aware of. I gave her a quick lecture on how dangerous it was to hide pills because our pets or her younger siblings could have gotten a hold of them. I also reassured her that she could tell me anything and that I would be understanding. We kissed and made up.

I was going to leave her off the meds for the summer but her anxiety has increased over the last couple of days. She’s becoming fearful at night time and has been climbing in bed with me for the last two nights. I don’t want her anxiety getting out of control like it was last summer. I discussed this with her and she agreed to trying the pills at bedtime so she will sleep through the tummy ache. This time I watched her swallow the pills. So we’ll see. I do hope she will be able to tolerate them through the night. The other ADHD meds really aren’t an option for her because they will most likely make her tics and anxiety worse. I hate that she has to deal with this at such a young age.

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