ADHD medication experiences please

ByeBabyBunting · May 2016

we've been through so much with my 5yo. He's been struggling at preschool for the last year and a half. We've tried being strict and lenient. We've tried rewards and consequences. Diet changes, OT, counseling, strict routines,bed time adjustments. He's such a sweet, smart wonderful boy but no one at school sees it because he just can't control his actions. He hits and bites and lashes out with every minor conflict and he's missing out on participating in school activities because he can't sit and focus.

And so now he's going to kindergarten in September. Both the psychologist and our pediatrician are sure it's ADHD. The pediatrician thinks we'd should try meds now, get the right one and the right dose ironed out now while he's with teachers who will be able to gage the success based on their experience with him. Give him a chance to start kindergarten on a good foot.

I never thought I'd even consider putting my son on meds. I'm feeling so sad and conflicted. I'd love to hear other people's experiences, good or bad, with medicating for ADHD. TYIA.

daisy19782011 · May 2016

I don't have any advice, but wanted to send you supportive thoughts. I am a school counselor, so I see ADHD kids off and on medication. I understand your concern, and am so sorry you are having to make this difficult decision.

anna.oskar · May 2016

I have positives and negatives to share.

Negatives: I was a special ed facilitator for our "cluster" site which deals with severe behavioral (like desk flipping and suicide threats) children and also children with extreme physical or developmental delays. A few of these kids were ritalin zombies. Couldn't function independently, lost all their passion and personality when medicated, and just broke my heart with how "down" they always were.

Positive: My niece sounds a lot like your son. Fun, energetic, easily distracted, minor kicking, and just being what I termed "a highly energetic kid". By 3rd grade she was a mess. Falling behind in school, unable to focus on actual curriculum, and termed "the weird girl" for her less than socially acceptable behavior. I fought it in the past but gave in and allowed the medication. By day 4 she was coming home happy from school, schoolwork had improved, and the teacher's had glowing reports. When I asked her how she felt at school she told me "The classroom isn't as noisy now. I used to hear the clock ticking, and kick my desk, and everybody bothered me so I couldn't do my work but I can actually listen to the teacher now!" So it was the best and perfect decision for her.

westcoastfoodie · May 2016

I don't have any experience with kids and ADHD, but I can speak from personal experience with ADD. I was diagnosed as an adult because I didn't have the hyperactive symptoms of ADHD so I kept getting misdiagnosed. My doctor tried several different treatments for depression and anxiety and finally I changed doctors and my new one diagnosed me with ADD and put me on Adderall XR - as needed. So this meant that only on days that I worked I took the medication so that my body didn't build a tolerance. This diagnosis really changed a lot for me. My whole life I thought there was something wrong with me because I failed my classes, felt "unmotivated", spent every year in summer school, and really struggled. As an adult it effected relationships and my job. Once I started taking the medication, my life significantly changed for the better because I was able to efficiently do my job, which gave me more confidence and helped me in all aspects of my life.

That all being said, I am not for medication unless it needed and have struggled with taking the medication because I don't want to have to. I stopped taking it when we were TTC, I'm not currently taking it and do notice a difference. It's not an easy decision to have to make, even for just myself, and I'm sorry that you have to make that decision for your son. Sending you lots of support!

ladyshark311 · May 2016

I can speak from personal experience with my 7 yo Stepdaughter. Her Dad just flat out refused to believe she had ADHD but I was the one taking care of her all day and just losing my mind. She was behind in reading and math, constantly in trouble, had notes sent home every single day. Doing other behaviors like baby talk, masturbating, etc.

He did NOT want to put her on any meds at all and was legitimately beating himself up every single day that he was somehow a "bad" parent and went wrong somewhere. It took me about six months to convince him that she was suffering and that he was robbing her of a successful future if he didn't figure out what was going on and get her some help. I sat him down and said If your daughter had diabetes and needed insulin, would you give it to her? If she had asthma would you let her have an inhaler? When explained that way it finally clicked. She was started on the lowest possible dosage of Ritalin, she has not been a zombie and her appetite is fine. She's been on it for a month and she is now at reading level and math level, had only come home with one bad note All Month! She goes back next week because now that it's been a month I've noticed she's adjusted to it too much and she's going back to all her behaviors from before. It really takes trial and error to find the right medication and the right dosage and it will require a ton of patience and can be frustrating as well. She's in first grade and I'm honestly glad we started this early enough that I feel she will have a chance going into the next school years.

ByeBabyBunting · May 2016

Thank you so much ladies.

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