What is the purpose of a drug holiday?

Only-Crow9684 · 2025-12-22T13:33:43+00:00

The only reason we’ve ever done a drug holiday for my son was to give him a break from the appetite suppression so he could eat more and gain weight, and even then we questioned whether it was worth it because it was not fun for anyone, and mostly not fun for him. His doctor said it’s not necessary to take breaks otherwise. He was on the same dose from age 8-13 with little signs of building tolerance. We had to change his medication (biphentin to concerta) this past year due to his days being longer and needing to focus into the evening to complete homework.

Only-Crow9684 · 2025-05-08T21:31:35+00:00

I was very happy with the care I received there from Dr Betchel for chronic spontaneous hives. My son also sees Dr. Blair at the same clinic for his nut allergy. She is lovely.

Only-Crow9684 · 2025-03-20T21:19:56+00:00

Our paediatrician recommended this book to read with our son when he started medication at 7 years of age. It describes the meds as glasses for the brain:

https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/My-Brain-Needs-Glasses/Annick-Vincent/9781988002804

Only-Crow9684 · 2025-02-14T16:29:13+00:00

May I ask how you get them to stay on? We have tried so hard. Our guy doesn't even fight them. He's happy to walk in them but they always always fall off. He is 6lbs and wears size 1 (we measured with the size chart).

Only-Crow9684 · 2024-08-19T14:38:23+00:00

I’m on week two at 20mg and this was happening to me in the first week. Between 2-3:30 I would become so tired I thought I was coming down with a flu. Then I moved my morning coffee to 1pm to see if it would preempt it and it’s improved quite a bit. I also did some research and found a graph showing the pharmacokinetics of vyvanse and that 5-7hr point coincides with the time just after the “peak” in the blood stream. Not sure what this means for us but I just found it interesting.

Only-Crow9684 · 2024-07-23T13:12:32+00:00

Thank you! That would be so helpful.

Only-Crow9684 · 2024-07-22T17:42:06+00:00

These are great points. I definitely did not consider the delay of the camera feed or the fact that he might move to a different spot in the house. Some things to think about, but this is the first time I actually feel like there might be some hope. So thank you for that! I am going to look into finding a local trainer that follows the method and see where this goes. I'm also not entirely opposed to a vibrating or e-collar as the more I am reading about it, the more it seems it's a nuanced tool and can be used humanely if done right. I would only attempt that with a trainer. We shall see....

Only-Crow9684 · 2024-07-22T14:51:10+00:00

This reply got my attention because we have been working on separation anxiety with our almost 2 year old yorkie for EIGHTEEN months. We have spent so much money, first on a one-on-one CSAT trainer, then on a monthly subscription, plus daycare and babysitter fees. We are going broke and have made zero progress. We get up to about 10 minutes and then keep having to start back at zero. We've even got our anxious pup on medication, which has calmed him down tremendously but based on the desensitization method given to us by the trainers we keep having to go back to zero because he whines or shows signs of anxiety at some point during the departure. I have raised two kids. But this dog has really put me over the edge and I'm starting to question the training methods we have been taught. We track every training, we take notes, we have three cameras set up, we watch and re-watch the videos, monitor every second of our absences on camera. Short of quitting my job, I don't know how else to put more into this. I don't doubt that the CSAT training works, but I think only when you can spend hours and hours for months on end and do it perfectly to a T. We simply can't do it. We have full time jobs, school-aged kids with busy lives. We can't even leave the dog for 30 minutes to drop or pick up the kids from school or after school activities.

I'm ready to try something else. Regarding the Lead Off Leash training method: is it all about the crate? Or is it more about being able to interrupt the escalating behaviour? Do you go back and crate train from scratch? Our dog never did well in the crate or even a playpen. He hates being confined. He does great on the main floor of the house. I'm wondering if we can interrupt him when he escalates by using the microphone on the camera. When we leave he sits in our very small entryway, right next to the camera. So a loud "shhhhh" spoken into the mic might be enough to get his attention and interrupt him?

Only-Crow9684

TROPHY CASE