So many medications...what’s best?

[momconfused]

Help please

[Pennywink]

Unfortunately there’s no clear answer - what’s best for one person may be intolerable for another, and it’s really hard to predict besides just trying them out.

Most people with ADHD see benefits with stimulants (all of which are derivatives of either methylphenidate or amphetamine), though the trick is finding one with minimal side effects.

For people who cannot tolerate any of the stimulants, there are also non-stimulants like Strattera, guanfacine (Intuniv) or clonidine. They typically aren’t as effective, but can have milder side effects. (But not necessarily.) Some people also see great benefit combining a non-stimulant with a stimulant.

I’d recommend consulting your prescribing physician- they probably have an idea of what order they’d like to try the medications. Many people here have found a psychiatrist to be better equipped at finding the right medication than the primary care physician.

I did read a study suggesting kids & teens tend to do better with methylphenidates, while adults seem to do better with amphetimines - but this is a recent study and not necessarily a hard & fast, widely accepted rule or anything.

psychcongress.com/news/firs...

Sorry for the long winded post - hope this helps!

[Onthemove1971]

Welcome to the group!

We all ask ourselves this question at one point of the journey. Our journey started out with a pediatrician who gave us a single dose medication, at a low dose and it didn't really impact us after waiting and waiting. We then continued to have issues so I said (thinking oh, no not one more specialist!!) we would meet with a child psychiatrist. This changed our life as soon as we started on the medication.

I have learned it is not just about the type of medication, it is also the timing they take it and the dose. So I really let the child psychiatrist manage this so that it can be successful. There will need to also be changing when they grow or their body get used to the medication.

We all wish there was just a "ADHD medication for dummies", but there is not.

Hope these insights help..

Take care

[Janice_H]

Only the physician can decide which medication is best. There are so many options available, each with pros and cons. Each child reacts differently so it is hard to advise what would works best. You may have to try 2 or more before you find one that works best for your child. Be sure to note any side effects and report back to the physician who can adjust dosage amounts and times. It is rarely an instant fix.

[Laufer]

If you don’t have a medical practitioner that you trust to work through this question, find another! So far in the 6 years we have dealt with this, we have worked with 2 nurse practitioners. Loved them both!