adhd kid not wanting to take meds

[Anonymous]

Have you considered the patch? Ask your doctor for a trial pack and see if he will tolerate this over pill form.

[Anonymous]

He's 11. You take away the phone, the video games, the tv, the internet until he does what he is supposed to. He can decide to stop at 18 not before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If meds are so spectacular for her in terms of results - why doesn't she want to take them?

Usually kids don't want to take meds because of the side effects or because they don't like how they feel on them or because they don't think they help. But if these have been miracle drugs for her - what is her hesitation?

I am an adult with ADHD. I only sporadically take meds. I take them when I have a specific kind of task to do where I have to be focused for long hours at a computer / desk. For example writing a report or something. Otherwise I don't take them. But for me, they aren't miracle drugs.

groggieness and irritability with friends are the side effects. Teachers see a bit of that but like the results also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's 11. You take away the phone, the video games, the tv, the internet until he does what he is supposed to. He can decide to stop at 18 not before.

This. Natural consequences. If you don't take your meds, you are not in a position to be able to handle x y z.

Also have the doctor tell the kid to take the meds and why. Then it's the child not following medical advice, not what the parent is telling them to do .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If meds are so spectacular for her in terms of results - why doesn't she want to take them?

Usually kids don't want to take meds because of the side effects or because they don't like how they feel on them or because they don't think they help. But if these have been miracle drugs for her - what is her hesitation?

I am an adult with ADHD. I only sporadically take meds. I take them when I have a specific kind of task to do where I have to be focused for long hours at a computer / desk. For example writing a report or something. Otherwise I don't take them. But for me, they aren't miracle drugs.

groggieness and irritability with friends are the side effects. Teachers see a bit of that but like the results also.

Then maybe a med adjustment is in order? It could be worth trying this now while she is with teachers that know her. Either she is on the wrong dose (grogginess and irratibility could be she is coming down from the med too early, i.e., during the school day?)

[Anonymous]

Oops meant to say either on the wrong dose or the wrong med.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please see GrowNow ADHD and ADHD Dude, experts on ADHD and who can speak with expertise about medication refusal for kids with ADHD. And talk to your dr. Not other parents — they do not know what is best and I say this as a parent of a DC with ADHD. Listen to experts. As parents we have a lot of experience, but we are not medical experts.

If my child with diabetes said they didn’t want insulin, guess what: that’s not a choice that is medically appropriate. And neither is an 11 yr old deciding about their ADHD medications on their own. Have your child speak with their dr 1-1 for some autonomy. But not that they decided on medication on their own at this age.

If a child with diabetes doesn't take insulin, they die. The two things are not the same.

They need to understand what is going on from the child's perspective, and children do have choice and the right to consent to medical treatment if they are seem as competent and understanding of the risks, harms, and benefits. Few health care professionals will force (non life saving) treatment on a child who is refusing that treatment and able to competently explain why. Health care professionals will speak with the children involved. Additionally, ADHD medication is in pill form. Even if parents did decide to force medication, it is very hard to restrain and force a pill down an 11 year olds throat. And would really ruin whatever was left of any trust in that relationship.

+10000. So tired of this analogy. It is not nearly the same. ADHD is not life threatening. France doesn't even believe in treating it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's 11. You take away the phone, the video games, the tv, the internet until he does what he is supposed to. He can decide to stop at 18 not before.

This. Natural consequences. If you don't take your meds, you are not in a position to be able to handle x y z.

Also have the doctor tell the kid to take the meds and why. Then it's the child not following medical advice, not what the parent is telling them to do .

jeebus. that’s not natural consequences. that’s harsh punishment. natural consequences are the child getting bad grades, losing friends due to impulsivity, losing belongings …

[Anonymous]

For now, why don't you negotiate with DC on not taking the meds BUT, behavior modification techniques and "training" as work arounds? Sign DC up for online classes to learn coping skills, better focus, study habits, note-taking, etc. If DC is thinks they are old enough to refuse meds, then Dc is old enough to take some responsibility to learn how to deal with the issues caused by ADHD. And set times and rules for homework to be completed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is 11. Allow them some bodily autonomy. That is far more important than your desire to have "evenings go way easier."

Psych meds, including those prescribed for ADHD, are not baby aspirin. They are serious drugs. Your child is handling this in an advanced way, and you are wanting to undermine that to make your own "evenings" easier.

+ a million

Stop drugging your GD kids to make your own life easier. It’s sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's 11. You take away the phone, the video games, the tv, the internet until he does what he is supposed to. He can decide to stop at 18 not before.

I’ll bet there’s serious overlap between posters with the above attitude and people who think it’s okay to let kids younger than 18 take drugs to delay puberty…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's 11. You take away the phone, the video games, the tv, the internet until he does what he is supposed to. He can decide to stop at 18 not before.

This. Natural consequences. If you don't take your meds, you are not in a position to be able to handle x y z.

Also have the doctor tell the kid to take the meds and why. Then it's the child not following medical advice, not what the parent is telling them to do .

jeebus. that’s not natural consequences. that’s harsh punishment. natural consequences are the child getting bad grades, losing friends due to impulsivity, losing belongings …

I bed to differ. If can't function cuz not on meds, can't bring kid on outings, go to playdates. You sound like you are anti meds, that wasn't the question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is 11. Allow them some bodily autonomy. That is far more important than your desire to have "evenings go way easier."

Psych meds, including those prescribed for ADHD, are not baby aspirin. They are serious drugs. Your child is handling this in an advanced way, and you are wanting to undermine that to make your own "evenings" easier.

+ a million

Stop drugging your GD kids to make your own life easier. It’s sick.

stop with your anti meds agenda, these meds were prescribed by a doctor and parent is trying to follow medical advice

go take your anti meds lala land agenda somewhere else, this isn't a debate about your view on meds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He's 11. You take away the phone, the video games, the tv, the internet until he does what he is supposed to. He can decide to stop at 18 not before.

This. Natural consequences. If you don't take your meds, you are not in a position to be able to handle x y z.

Also have the doctor tell the kid to take the meds and why. Then it's the child not following medical advice, not what the parent is telling them to do .

jeebus. that’s not natural consequences. that’s harsh punishment. natural consequences are the child getting bad grades, losing friends due to impulsivity, losing belongings …

wow! Harsh. Maybe you need an anti-anxiety to deal with your kid. Taking away all things that make them happy to force them to take meds? You better start that therapy savings account. Your kid will be bringing this story to a therapist.

[Anonymous]

Feeling sleepy, disoriented, and angry at people I care about sounds much worse than having ok grades. You need to find a way to get these major side effects addressed.