Medication for adhd

[Alemanmar]

Hello everyone!!my 7 year old just diagnosed with ADHD about a week ago. His pediatrician want to him medication right away . I’m not really sure if that’s what I want to do for him right away. Any thoughts ??? Thanks

[Pennywink]

Welcome Alemanmar!

I remember when we were first diagnosed, it was both a relief & a very confusing time. It feels like a 5 min exam that immediately leads to medication & not much else. So I definitely get your hesitancy. So first, I recommend just taking a deep breath and joining with your partner to learn all you can about ADHD. Don't let anyone force you into medication before you ready.

Here are some things that really helped me wrap my head around things when we first received a diagnosis for my son last year just as he turned 6:

- Speaking with the school psychologist

- All About ADHD by Thomas Phelan

- Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson

- The video below, and just about anything by Russell Barkley

I believe about 80% of people with ADHD do see improvement with stimulant medication. That's a crazy high number - no other mental health issue has a treatment option with that high of a success rate. So it would almost be medical malpractice for your diagnosing physician to NOT at least mention them. It took us almost a year to really see that the benefits could outweigh our fears - and now that my son is on medication, we wouldn't go back.

Hope this helps - and feel free to search our forum & let us know of any questions you have!

- Pennywink (formerly rckline)

youtu.be/SCAGc-rkIfo(Not working as expected?)

[anirush]

A lot depends on what problems he is having. We hesitated to put my older grandson on medication trying supplements , rewards. When he continued to struggle and get in trouble in school that's when we decided he needed help.

He is now 14 medications have changed over the years but he is in an honors program in school.

You need to talk to teachers and the doctor about what problems he is having to decide if it's necessary to use medication to help. Good luck.

[jam1959]

When my daughter was diagnosed in Kindergarten I asked for medication immediately. That was because she was struggling so much with impulsivity she was unable to participate in a lot of class. She was ok academically since she is smart and it was only Kindergarten but it would have been so hard in each subsequent grade. I think it really depends on the behaviors and the degree they are impacting daily life. It will not hurt if you ask your doctor to wait on meds and see a specialist for behavior issues. If you are in the US summer is almost here so you have some time to see a specialist and make decisions before next school year. Good luck!

[Dsmith05]

I did not not want to do the meds either. I waited until the end of Kindergarten when he was almost 7 (summer birthday). The reason I did was because of a lot of school pressure. He was suspended a few times due to aggression and his impulsiveness was so bad he would run out of the classroom a lot. So I decided to do it as a safety concern.

In 2nd grade, age 8, the side effects were really bad and he was asking to not take it anymore. So we stopped. Yes there was some decline in his behavior at school but in a lot of ways he had matured. He is able to focus and sit sill while doing things. He can do the mindfulness exercise now that he couldn't when he was in K. His main issue now at school is his defiance, refusing to do the work.

We do supplements, behavioral therapy, and mindfulness. He is also on Intuniv(blood pressure medicine). I, also, have extra school like-ish exercises that we do at home not really for the academics but for the practice of following directions. I am angry that I felt bullied into medication. So make sure that is your decision.

Summer is nearly here and at that age kids can mature a lot in a few months with the right support. I will not do stimulants again unless he when he is a teen asks for them. But am not worried at all about academics.

Good luck on your journey and remember to do what you feel is right for your son and you!