Daughter Diagnosed with ADHD, any tips/stories with similar situations are welcomed?!

[addyy_e]

My 6 year old Daughter just got diagnosed with ADHD(combined type). She doesn't have any behavior issues, she's a sweet, well mannered little girl. She does have trouble focusing at school, at home she does a little better as she is an only child but I cant say I struggle with her AT ALL. I'm very hesitant to give her meds. She prescribed her 5mg of Focalin XR and I cried all day yesterday just thinking about it. I don't want my child on Medication forever! please help!

[Elijah1]

Read about your options and decide if medication is the choice at this time. Resources include Russell Barkley's Taking Charge of ADHD and the National Resource Center on ADHD at help4adhd.org. Would school modifications and behavioral incentives do the job by themselves (they are needed for any intervention). The medication leaves the body by the end of the day so, if it does not agree with her, any bad reaction is not permanent. If you don't like the effect of the medication, you can always stop it. We had good and bad experiences with a variety of medications but finally found a combination that was helpful. The bad experiences were temporary and left no permanent problem. Once you understand what is happening and the treatments, it is easier and less stressful to manage.

[addyy_e in reply to Elijah1]

Thank you! I gave her the first dose today, she seems to be fine thus far! Hopefully she won’t have any negative side effects!

[Elijah1 in reply to addyy_e]

Good to hear. See how she continues to do. One day at a time.