Why do parents hate to medicated kids with serve ADHD

[Anonymous]

Paywall free article on polypharamacy in kids struggling with ADHD +

[Anonymous]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/health/adolescents-drugs-polypharmacy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.vk0.EzXd.EnWrrB2PvOL8&smid=url-share

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My long-time boyfriend had been medicated for ADHD as a child in the 90's, starting in elementary school. He often said that he credited that with laying the path to his future drug addiction. As an adult, he was still angry at his doctor for not telling him to avoid mixing coffee with Adderall, which he saw as the turning point where he started abusing drugs.

I know at least two other adults who have no thanks to their parents for getting them on stimulants as children.

That is a ridiculous excuse for addiction. In fact studies show that unmedicated adhd is at far higher risk for addiction

+1 C'mon. Anxiety, anger, & depression often accompany ADHD. Self-medicating those issues can lead to addiction. Blaming others for your own actions is a form of learned helplessness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You have nothing else to do other than watch instagram reels and then come to an anonymous internet forum to start flaming about it?

People have trepidation about giving psychiatric meds to underage children, especially when they don't know how side effects will unfold in each specific case. People have it hard having to parent SN kids in this society with little to no community supports and limited acceptance of neurodiversity.

ADHD specifically is often seen as a character or parenting failure because of how it presents. Not medicating or medicating can be judged by relatives, teachers, etc. Leave everyone be, their children, their choices, their social media feed (which is probably crafted to create outrage and increase views).

I agree until it affects other people. You have a right to parent your child however you please until it prevents my child from accessing a safe and appropriate education.

I was responding to OP who saw something on Instagram. But let's talk about your issue too. Likely, the school is resisting a revised placement for a child, who also has a right to FAPE. If there is a systematic classroom disruption they have to refer for a behavior consult, do functional behavior assessment and develop a plan how to handle and improve disruptive classroom behaviors. This requires school to do stuff, which is harder than not doing stuff. I've heard of many cases when until there was property damage, the school admin refused to lift a finger. So it's not just a parent who "refused" to medicate, it's also school that refuses to find appropriate supports and placement for a child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an educator who has had a lot of conversations over the years with parents of confirmed or suspected ADHD children about medicating versus not. In the no medication camp I’ve heard a lot of concerns about side effects and over-medicalization of “normal” behavior. Few folks seem to mention the possible effects of not medicating ADHD. I’ve also talked to a lot of parents who see their own behavior in their kids. If the parent was unmedicated for ADHD, they often believe their kid can also make it through “just fine.” Also, some folks just don’t believe that ADHD is real. They’ll debate you on the whole premise of the disorder. They see it as natural behavior, especially amongst boys. They may also refer to labels for this and other challenges as a “crutch.”

+1. I've seen this too as an educator. The wheels usually fall off in middle school especially for boys.

NP. That sounds dire - but how can parents know if this will apply to any particular child? Our oldest was recommended meds in 2nd grade. We declined. He is now a rising 9th grader and while ES had good and bad years, MS was much better. Our youngest was recommended meds in 2nd grade and started taking them but while they help with staying in his seat and doing seat work, they haven't fixed all (or most) problems. Not sure when he'll stop taking them but it'll be great when it happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an educator who has had a lot of conversations over the years with parents of confirmed or suspected ADHD children about medicating versus not. In the no medication camp I’ve heard a lot of concerns about side effects and over-medicalization of “normal” behavior. Few folks seem to mention the possible effects of not medicating ADHD. I’ve also talked to a lot of parents who see their own behavior in their kids. If the parent was unmedicated for ADHD, they often believe their kid can also make it through “just fine.” Also, some folks just don’t believe that ADHD is real. They’ll debate you on the whole premise of the disorder. They see it as natural behavior, especially amongst boys. They may also refer to labels for this and other challenges as a “crutch.”

+1. I've seen this too as an educator. The wheels usually fall off in middle school especially for boys.

NP. That sounds dire - but how can parents know if this will apply to any particular child? Our oldest was recommended meds in 2nd grade. We declined. He is now a rising 9th grader and while ES had good and bad years, MS was much better. Our youngest was recommended meds in 2nd grade and started taking them but while they help with staying in his seat and doing seat work, they haven't fixed all (or most) problems. Not sure when he'll stop taking them but it'll be great when it happens.

Poor impulse control that leads to fighting, property damage, or stealing means you need to rethink the no-meds approach. Some kids do learn to self regulate with maturity but the consequences get really serious really fast for the ones who don't.

[Anonymous]

I think there is way more pressure to medicate and what a bad parent you are if you don't. We started being pressured when child was in 3rd grade. DC also had complex medical issues that made DC not a great fit for the side effects. I am so envious of those people who can just take the meds without all the worry about the other medical issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was one of the anti-medication people, specifically because I worried about the long term side effects of being on medication. After two years of discussing it with my doctor and my child (who wanted the meds) we put them on the medication.

It is LIFE changing. I can't speak to the success others have had, but I regret every day we didn't have them on the medication before.

Best thing I ever did for my kid. It was life changing for him in a very positive way. To this day he feels bad (he just graduated from college) when he hears of kids whose parents refuse to medicate even if their kid is constantly having their self-esteem take a hit.

[Anonymous]

Like others on this thread, my son is autistic with ADHD and hasn't been able to tolerate any stimulant or non-stimulant ADHD medications. I wish he could and we've tried, but the side effects are horrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My long-time boyfriend had been medicated for ADHD as a child in the 90's, starting in elementary school. He often said that he credited that with laying the path to his future drug addiction. As an adult, he was still angry at his doctor for not telling him to avoid mixing coffee with Adderall, which he saw as the turning point where he started abusing drugs.

I know at least two other adults who have no thanks to their parents for getting them on stimulants as children.

That is a ridiculous excuse for addiction. In fact studies show that unmedicated adhd is at far higher risk for addiction

+1 C'mon. Anxiety, anger, & depression often accompany ADHD. Self-medicating those issues can lead to addiction. Blaming others for your own actions is a form of learned helplessness.

Exactly. Unmedicated ADHD is more likely to be associated with addiction problems. There's a difference b/w needing treatment vs misuse. check your ableism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was one of the anti-medication people, specifically because I worried about the long term side effects of being on medication. After two years of discussing it with my doctor and my child (who wanted the meds) we put them on the medication.

It is LIFE changing. I can't speak to the success others have had, but I regret every day we didn't have them on the medication before.

Best thing I ever did for my kid. It was life changing for him in a very positive way. To this day he feels bad (he just graduated from college) when he hears of kids whose parents refuse to medicate even if their kid is constantly having their self-esteem take a hit.

Eventually he'll grow up and realize his error, probably when he has kids of his own. Or maybe he never will, if he takes after his parents.

[Anonymous]

Agree the risk of addiction is greater without medication because they turn to self medication as soon as possible and its the first time their brains have ever been quiet so of course its addictive. Taking stimulants that are needed does not lend to drug abuse.

However, some families do have legitimate side effect issues and are unable to find medication that works. So that could be why. But I will never understand the parents who just refuse to try. Like, you know your kid has a medical issue and you know this medication helps most people with the same issue, and you just, wont try? I cannot understand that at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like others on this thread, my son is autistic with ADHD and hasn't been able to tolerate any stimulant or non-stimulant ADHD medications. I wish he could and we've tried, but the side effects are horrible.

Same here, but we have a girl. Severe inattentive ADHD, executive disfunction, ASD and depression. Meds have horrendous side effects, and she’s been on them starting at 7. We’ve never found one that is effective and doesn’t cause bad side effects. We’ve never found an ADHD med that is effective at all.

We are trying to wean her off now, and believe me I’m not happy about it. And I’m not anti-medication. I wish it worked like it does for others. Nothing seems to work for us.

[Anonymous]

I medicate my son but I hate the side effects. He is not gaining weight. He is anxious on his stimulants. He cannot be in school unmedicated but it’s difficult to put your kid through the side effects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was one of the anti-medication people, specifically because I worried about the long term side effects of being on medication. After two years of discussing it with my doctor and my child (who wanted the meds) we put them on the medication.

It is LIFE changing. I can't speak to the success others have had, but I regret every day we didn't have them on the medication before.

It may be “life changing,” but so are lots of other choices in life. Drugs do not work for everyone. And they don’t work long term for anyone.