Medication

[bhendri02]

Hello everyone,

My husband and I are thinking about putting our 6 year old on some ADHD medication. I am doing some research but I wanted to know if you guys could give me some insight if your children are on any medications and any side effects?

[Airica]

My oldest son has been on medication since he was 7. My middle son has been on some type of medication relating to his ADHD since he was 3. I had always been opposed to medicine until I saw how difficult it was for my own kids to function. Until my middle son started stimulant medication at 5, he was very difficult to manage (he's hyperactive type). Both my boys take Focalin.

My oldest (who is now 13) has decreased appetite during the day, but he makes up for it at night. My middle son (8) doesn't seem affected as far as his appetite. The biggest side affects we have seen is emotionally. When they start a new dose they are very emotional as the "come down" off their meds in the afternoon. For the most part, this has worn off.

[katcald]

My son, now 14, has been on ADHD meds (Methylphenidate- generic for Concerta) since age 6. It has been a godsend. His first grade teacher told me after a week he said to her “I can hear everything you say now.) we were lucky that the first drug we tried was always the case. The only side effect was decreased appetite. It’s been a constant struggle to get him to eat but now that he’s hit puberty he eats a ton at night after the meds wear off and while he is skinny he is tall so it hasn’t effected his growth. Good luck!

[PonderingPapa]

We started our son on medication shortly after his 6th birthday. It was prescribed by his pediatrician. We were given several options of "standard" medications and doses. We noticed a tic at the end of day one of medication one. The pediatrician prescribed a different medication which made him sleep about 18 hours the first time he tried it. When we complained, the pediatrician said that these were the standard medications and doses.

We ended up going to a child psychiatrist. Our son is small for his age and six is on the young side for most medications. The psychiatrist was able to prescribe the an effective medication at the right dose.

It's been a year now and the dosages have increased as he has grown. He can feel the difference when the medication wears off and everyone around can both see and feel it. He was surprised the first week that he took at his lack of desire to run wild.

He is still himself and still has a hard time being still at times and focusing but he knows he can do it. He just no longer literally bounces off the wall.