Hello Everyone

[mamalauryn85]

Hello,

I'm Lauryn, and I recently joined this online forum. I am a mother and a woman in long-term recovery. I have been dealing with various mental health challenges, including ADHD. About a year ago, I enrolled in college, so I started taking medication for ADHD, which has been incredibly helpful. Before my current medication, I had tried Vyvanse, but unfortunately, it led to some severe side effects for me, including weight loss and concerns about my health. As a result, I had to discontinue Vyvanse.

Recently, I took my youngest daughter for an ADHD evaluation, and she was also diagnosed with ADHD, similar to me. Her doctor recommended a mild stimulant called Focalin for her treatment. This medication seems to be a newer option, as it wasn't available when I had considered it for myself in the past. My daughter is only 6 years old, and to say I'm not a little worried about the medication because it's a stimulant, I would be lying. I have sat up for days on end doing my research about all the different meds, and how they could affect someone her age negatively. I'm looking for some feedback from other parents that they are ADHD, and your child is too. I am confident in deciding to try at least, and we go back in a few weeks to check in, so I will keep a close eye on her. I want others' stories on this.

My partner (her stepdad) is trying to say absolutely not to meds, and at this point, she's my daughter. I want to do the best I can for her. My dad was also anti-mental health meds, so growing up, I never understood why I always felt so different. The doctor did discuss the very few non-narcotic options, but I personally am not a fan because I have tried all the non-narcotics they offer. They weren't successful at all. I know I need my Adderall to concentrate on schoolwork and make it through these busy days. She is also super aggressive with me, kicking, hitting, and /or screaming at me. I need a change badly. I love her so much, and it's hard when the other person isn't being nice.

I'm grateful for the support and insights I've gained from this forum, especially as I navigate the challenges of ADHD as both a parent and an individual managing my condition.

I look forward to engaging with this community and learning from others' experiences.

[Stressedandstriving]

Hey mamalauryn85 - boy, you sound like me a few years ago. My son was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD at 7. I too was very nervous about medication. I don't even take Tylenol unless I REALLY need it and my kids only take homeopathic cold medicine, etc. At the same time, he was suffering academically and the school environment was very hard for him, and not doing anything didn't feel like the best choice for his future.

Our pediatrician prescribed Focalin. Our son has been on it for 6 years now and he's now old enough to talk about it and feels it's really important for his success. He describes it as his brain being filled with 50 television shows, all playing at the same time. The medicine mutes most of the stations so he's just dealing with 2 or 3. It was such a great description for me to understand what this condition feels like and what this medicine does - maybe it helps you or other parents too.

He takes it before we drive to school, it kicks in about 45 minutes later and it wears off in about 8 hours. He doesn't take it when he doesn't need it.

He's a straight A student now and is able to function where he otherwise struggled. It's not a magic bullet - our son still has some challenges socially and in very intense situations like academic competitions (I wrote about it in a post several weeks/months ago). BUT - it hasn't changed his personality in any way and I don't see any other side effects.

Every kid is different and your daughter may have different challenges or reactions, but hopefully our experience gives you another data point as you make your decision. Good luck!!

[GrandmaHubbard]

My son took Focalin for several months last year—5mg extended release. He’s 8 and has an adhd/generalized anxiety diagnosis with the primary symptoms including emotional outbursts and an inability to focus at school. These symptoms were dramatically improved on a low dose of Focalin with very few side effects (temporarily decreased appetite and some sleep difficulties for the first month + grouchiness in the afternoons as the meds wore off).

We were completely anti-pharmaceutical and terrified of starting our son on any meds a week year l ago. We had a million reasons for feeling this way, and although I continue to hope he’ll be able to get off of the meds entirely, he’s doing so much better now.

Here’s the important thing: we didn’t realize how much he was *suffering* until we saw how much better he felt on the meds. In other words, we had no clue how much he was struggling until he experienced the more functional relationships & ability to focus that we’ve found are so much more possible with meds at this time.

Ultimately we found that instead of the Focalin, another approach worked better for him (12mg Zoloft). As it turns out, improving his anxiety and ocd was the biggest factor hindering his emotional regulation and focus. Fortunately the Zoloft has worked really well at the lowest dose.

Mom guilt is huge and these decisions really feel impossible sometimes. Sending words of support and encouragement!

[Parenthelpadhd]

It sounds like you already know what to do Just follow your heart on this when it comes to your daughter. The medication makes such a huge difference. Try listening to the Hubberman podcast in regards to ADHD medications, super informative and also gives some insight to kids on medication and their life later on as an adult vs. those who do not medicate early on in childhood. Good luck! You are not alone and none of this is easy.