Decision to medicate

[Numberate]

Hi, I wanted to share my experience for anyone out there who might be on the fence about medicating. I am not a doctor or an expert. I’m just sharing my personal experience. My son was diagnosed with severe ADHD, anxiety and OCD. They also recommended further testing for Autism spectrum disorder. The reason why we got him tested is because from early on I always had this gut feeling that something was different. Academically he excelled but his a lot of his behaviors were symptoms of ADHD. With his diagnosis, I was against medication. But with research and time I realized that impulse control truly requires medication. He was 8 and we had him on Focalin xr and it made a big difference for him. It was still him but slowed down to where he could better regulate his emotions and move past things. Unfortunately we stopped due to his appetite. He was already thin to begin with and I feel like I wasn’t proactive enough in finding a remedy for that side effect. Flash forward to now with him going into 6th grade, we started noticing his behaviors again. While his peers matured, he struggled. So then I made the tough decision to medicate again. I even posted on here not too long ago about it. He is back on Focalin xr and now he is able to really communicate how he feels about it. Some things he has said:

I feel like my brain isn’t moving so fast.

I feel less angry.

I feel like I am able to think before I say something I don’t mean.

One of the things he said that has stood out the most is:

I like my medication. It’s really helping me.

So for anyone on the fence, I’ve been there, too. Seeing him happy, makes me happy and puts my mind at ease that we made the right choice. Thank you to all the support in this community and to anyone looking for a positive medication story, I hope you come across this!

[Onthemove1971]

We are so happy for you and your son. Your message means a lot to those who are struggling. Thanks for giving us an update.

We are always here to support you!

[Numberate in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thank you! I wish there wasn’t such a bad stigma associated with mental health issues and disorders. It is so misrepresented and because of that, so many refuse to get the help they need. This community has helped so much! Hoping to spread much needed awareness.

[Trying1978]

Thanks for sharing!

I think the more lived world narratives we read, the better. There's so much information out there that it gets kind of abstract after a while & it's nice to see individual experiences...

I was really wary of meds for my son (6.5 yo) but they have helped so much. The main issue is the one you mention. He's very active & athletic but just burns so many more calories than he consumes. But, on balance, everything is so much better with the Ritalin than without. I've finally started noticing more of that "paradoxical" effect this summer, too, where he'll be really loud/wild/nonstop talking/cannot pay attention & then focus & quiet a bit after the meds.

I'm new here so I posted about this a lot last week, but our main challenge has been finding time to do the exercises the therapist gave us in the summer, as he's now aware enough of the situation to not want to do them in front of his sisters (& I usually have all 3 of them together).

Anyway, I'm glad to read your post; I expected the worst with Ritalin but our experience has been pretty positive so far (which doesn't mean anything about anyone else's, though!). Keep it up!

[julieboolie]

My son just started taking Focalin today. I am very hopeful it will help slow him down a bit, but not change who he is. I am encouraged after reading your report! He turns 6 tomorrow, I'd love to give him the gift of less anger and more focus!!

[Numberate in reply to julieboolie]

Good luck on your sons treatment journey! Keep a journal and write down everything from the time given, side effects (ie head ache, hunger, sleeplessness, anxiousness …), pros (being less triggered by things that would normally make him up set, focus, less impulsive) … journaling his medication helped me land on Focalin after trying adderall and Concerta. It still suppresses his appetite a bit but I am on it with shakes and protein bars as in between snack fillers and sides. He still gets upset but is not as easily triggered and doesn’t hold onto it for so long like before. You probably know your son best so you should be able to spot changes, good and negative. I hope things work out for the best and know that this community is always here to support!

[Blessed33]

do you mind do say the dosage of the Focalin XR ? Does your son takes any medication for OCD as well? I am asking these question because my son is 10 years old and has the same issues ( adhd and ocd) and it is taking a lot of time to find the right dosage of Focalin XR that will work for him.

[Numberate in reply to Blessed33]

I know that medication and dosing depends on the individual taking it but my son started on 15mg and is now on 20mg. We made the mistake of taking a break due to mom guilt and we both realized that he really needed it to help with his emotions and impulsive behaviors. The break was a result of him talking about his lack of appetite. But for some reason, going back on it, he has had zero issues. In fact I’m thinking that it was just a thought he was fixating on because the dr mentioned it when we were going up in dose and my son did not like the idea of that. Be sure to meet with your ped or psychiatrist and they’ll help to find the right medication and dose. Also, remember that medication helps with symptoms but doesn’t take them away completely. My son still has challenges while on medications but there are areas when I see that his medication helps greatly. Good luck!

[Lion_Creek]

My daughter just started on Focalin XR a little more than a month ago and this has been our experience as well! She is relieved to not be scolded so much at school and she's able to focus and participate better in everything. And our family is functioning so much more smoothly! It's really reduced conflict, but she's still the same bright, sweet kid. Really hopeful this continues and that side effects don't become an issue. I'm so happy for you and your son, too!