Teen athletes and ADHD medications

[Anonymous]

Our DC, who is a very competitive athlete (trains 12-15 hrs a week), recently got diagnosed with ADHD, the predominately inattentive type. I know that at some point very soon, we will need to make a decision as to whether to medicate or not. I have been reading about the side effects of the medications, many of which include fast heartrate, headaches, increased anxiety ... and wondering how that would interfere with their training.
I am not seeking medical advice but just interested to hear about the experience of other parents who have gone through a similar diagnosis with their teen athletes.
Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Why do you need to make a decision very soon as to whether to medicate? You can try other approaches (primarily behavioral and environmental) and see how that goes. There is no urgency to medicate unless you have exhausted non-pharmaceutical interventions and your kid is still a disaster.

[Anonymous]

I’m not exactly sure I understand the question but our ADHD kid medicates because it is required for them academically. Unless your child has a legitimate pathway to turn their sport into a long term sustainable career, you need to take the long view here.

[Anonymous]

We have found exercise has helped with ADHD more than medication. Just our experience

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have found exercise has helped with ADHD more than medication. Just our experience

Same. My teen athlete's inattentive ADHD gets better the more intensively he trains.

[Anonymous]

I was a previous poster and I agree that my kid’s ADHD is also helped significantly by intense extended physical activity. And that, along with all the other stuff you can do, is not enough for our kid without adding in medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not exactly sure I understand the question but our ADHD kid medicates because it is required for them academically. Unless your child has a legitimate pathway to turn their sport into a long term sustainable career, you need to take the long view here.

OP here. We are first trying to go with therapy/ coaching/ natural supplements route first to see if their academic issues will resolve before we try medications. I just wonder how medications will affect them physically when they train that intensely, especially when several side effects include elevated heart rate and blood pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DC, who is a very competitive athlete (trains 12-15 hrs a week), recently got diagnosed with ADHD, the predominately inattentive type. I know that at some point very soon, we will need to make a decision as to whether to medicate or not. I have been reading about the side effects of the medications, many of which include fast heartrate, headaches, increased anxiety ... and wondering how that would interfere with their training.
I am not seeking medical advice but just interested to hear about the experience of other parents who have gone through a similar diagnosis with their teen athletes.
Thanks in advance.

Then reject any medications that cause those side effects in your kid if you're worried about that. My kid has never had any of these side effects with their meds.

[Anonymous]

Work with the Dr. There are non stimulant medications also.

[Anonymous]

DC takes the medication in the morning. By the afternoon, it has mostly worn off…no issues with 3 hour practice. The trickier part is deciding whether to take it on the weekend/during tournaments. There is a trade off: attention span is better but appetite is lower (=less energy).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC takes the medication in the morning. By the afternoon, it has mostly worn off…no issues with 3 hour practice. The trickier part is deciding whether to take it on the weekend/during tournaments. There is a trade off: attention span is better but appetite is lower (=less energy).

We feel this too, the hunger/energy, but we try to pre-load a big breakfast before the meds.

[Anonymous]

It had no effect whatsoever on his sport. It did increase his overall anxiety, though, which necessitated an antianxiety medication. Still, what is the alternative if a kid has severe ADHD? None, based on our investigation.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who got set down by their sports federation because she forgot to declare her ADHD medication, so, if you think that might be applicable in your kid's situation, check the rules.

[Anonymous]

Depends what medicine your kids takes. If you don’t already give fish oil supplements you could try that or increase fish consumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our DC, who is a very competitive athlete (trains 12-15 hrs a week), recently got diagnosed with ADHD, the predominately inattentive type. I know that at some point very soon, we will need to make a decision as to whether to medicate or not. I have been reading about the side effects of the medications, many of which include fast heartrate, headaches, increased anxiety ... and wondering how that would interfere with their training.
I am not seeking medical advice but just interested to hear about the experience of other parents who have gone through a similar diagnosis with their teen athletes.
Thanks in advance.

Then reject any medications that cause those side effects in your kid if you're worried about that. My kid has never had any of these side effects with their meds.

Agreed, my kids has never had those side effects from meds and it has had no negative impact on their athletics.