ADHD Meds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did not medicate. I taught my child self-control. He was diagnosed 10 years ago, at age 6. I worked hard with him to teach him to channel his energies and to control them. ADHD is only a curse if you do not harness it. Think Ghosr Rider and his curse. What you perceive to be your curse could also be your greatest power. Six years after his diagnosis, the same psychologist who diagnosed him dropped ADHD from his IEP and told me that she would not have believed it was possible to teach a kid to control it, had she not seen him before and after. Parents medicate to make their lives easier, not their children's lives. I worked hard with my child so that he could be a success. He'll be 17 next month, he'll be completely finished with school before winter, he is working, managing all his own finances and his own personal business. I am currently only the driver, but he'll be moving to his dad's in a month, so he can fix up one of his dad's motorcycles and get his motorcycle license. Raising independent adults is the goal. The only thing I used to calm him when he started getting wild was coffee. It's the only ADHD med I approve of. Use honey to sweeten. Stay away from soft drinks, too much sugar. Give your kid lots and lots of work and play, keep them busy, they need to learn focus and self-control, or they will be handicapped for life. Don't create victims. Create warriors. Good luck. It can be done, I did it. Anyone who says differently is selling something.

You are an awful person for trying to demonize medication that has changed so many kids’ lives for the better.

Ego much?

NP. This board is relentlessly pro-meds for ADHD. This poster has posted before about their experience for themselves and their DC, very positively, but with some pushback.

FWIW, I have two kids with ADHD, one who takes stimulant meds and one who doesn't. The meds help with some issues and create others.

Well said. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The downsides posted by the last two posters are only for a certain class of medications. Not all have these side effects.

Another common warning is suicidal tendencies. Consumers have got to read the small print. This is critical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did not medicate. I taught my child self-control. He was diagnosed 10 years ago, at age 6. I worked hard with him to teach him to channel his energies and to control them. ADHD is only a curse if you do not harness it. Think Ghosr Rider and his curse. What you perceive to be your curse could also be your greatest power. Six years after his diagnosis, the same psychologist who diagnosed him dropped ADHD from his IEP and told me that she would not have believed it was possible to teach a kid to control it, had she not seen him before and after. Parents medicate to make their lives easier, not their children's lives. I worked hard with my child so that he could be a success. He'll be 17 next month, he'll be completely finished with school before winter, he is working, managing all his own finances and his own personal business. I am currently only the driver, but he'll be moving to his dad's in a month, so he can fix up one of his dad's motorcycles and get his motorcycle license. Raising independent adults is the goal. The only thing I used to calm him when he started getting wild was coffee. It's the only ADHD med I approve of. Use honey to sweeten. Stay away from soft drinks, too much sugar. Give your kid lots and lots of work and play, keep them busy, they need to learn focus and self-control, or they will be handicapped for life. Don't create victims. Create warriors. Good luck. It can be done, I did it. Anyone who says differently is selling something.

You are an awful person for trying to demonize medication that has changed so many kids’ lives for the better.

Ego much?

NP. This board is relentlessly pro-meds for ADHD. This poster has posted before about their experience for themselves and their DC, very positively, but with some pushback.

FWIW, I have two kids with ADHD, one who takes stimulant meds and one who doesn't. The meds help with some issues and create others.

I wouldn’t say this particular post was positive, though. They basically said if you can’t force your child to have self control, you’re “creating victims.” The implication was that other parents just weren’t trying hard enough if they couldn’t do what the poster had done for their own children. The tone was extremely combative and disparaging of other parents. Definitely not helpful to parents who may already be feeling like their efforts on behalf of their children aren’t enough.

[Anonymous]

Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

They can be . Whats casually shoved under the carpet because who wants to worry about that are the side effects.

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
Sleep problems.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Increased blood pressure.
Dizziness.
Headaches and stomachaches.
Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
Moodiness and irritability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

They can be . Whats casually shoved under the carpet because who wants to worry about that are the side effects.

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
Sleep problems.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Increased blood pressure.
Dizziness.
Headaches and stomachaches.
Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
Moodiness and irritability.

You mean withdrawal? Schedule ll for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

They can be . Whats casually shoved under the carpet because who wants to worry about that are the side effects.

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
Sleep problems.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Increased blood pressure.
Dizziness.
Headaches and stomachaches.
Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
Moodiness and irritability.

Except my kid has quite literally NONE of those side effects. I understand that other kids do, but this is why you try different medications if there are side effects that outweigh the benefits.There are also non-stimulant meds that work well for some people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

They can be . Whats casually shoved under the carpet because who wants to worry about that are the side effects.

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
Sleep problems.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Increased blood pressure.
Dizziness.
Headaches and stomachaches.
Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
Moodiness and irritability.

NP. How do you figure that dealing with the side effects of meds is the lazy way out?

[Anonymous]

We started our 7 yo on ADHD meds because it’s all insurance will cover. They consider therapy for ADHD in kids to be experimental. I researched myself when I found this out and it’s legit. That made a huge difference in my view about meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We started our 7 yo on ADHD meds because it’s all insurance will cover. They consider therapy for ADHD in kids to be experimental. I researched myself when I found this out and it’s legit. That made a huge difference in my view about meds.

That's so unfortunate! From what I understand, meds + therapy is best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

They can be . Whats casually shoved under the carpet because who wants to worry about that are the side effects.

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
Sleep problems.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Increased blood pressure.
Dizziness.
Headaches and stomachaches.
Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
Moodiness and irritability.

There are also side effects of having unmedicated ADHD.

[Anonymous]

(np) That's right-it's the one thing anti-med folks completely leave out. And I'm really not pro or anti in this forum. I believe parents need to make the best decision for their children whatever that decision may be.

However, it's completely ignorant to downplay the children who CANNOT function in society without their ADHD medication. My DS is extremely small for his age. Less than 1% across the board. My DH and I had to make a very difficult decision and take a calculated risk to medicate because my child could not for literally one minute (it was timed) sit in a seat during class. It doesn't even factor in the suffering he went through everyday because as he told us one night, "I have crazy brain. My brain goes so fast out of control I can't think." Why would anyone want to subject their child to that when there's a solution? And that's not even factoring in how we lived in a state of fear for his safety due to his severe impulsivity. Run into traffic-possible, jump off the top of a playground set-possible, drown in a pool-possible. It's beyond offensive for another parent to imply others choose to medicate out of "laziness" or because it's "easy." Walk a day in the shoes of a child/parent with severe ADHD-combined.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

They can be . Whats casually shoved under the carpet because who wants to worry about that are the side effects.

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
Sleep problems.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Increased blood pressure.
Dizziness.
Headaches and stomachaches.
Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
Moodiness and irritability.

Different PP with kid on stimulants for 10 years now.

Of this list, DS has decreased appetite after a large healthy breakfast, when he takes his medication. A light lunch. (see large breakfast comment). Mid-afternoon snack, hearty dinner and most evenings a second meal. He is on the thin side, for sure, though he exercises, walks miles, and lifts, so he looks like a seasoned runner.

Nothing else you mention (swept under carpet or otherwise). Every kid and every experience is different. Without meds, even with all the therapy, OT, diet changes, etc., my kid was counseled out of private and sent the the office most days of the week during the early years in public school. This was not due to lazy or lack of parenting. If your kid needs to wear glasses, it is not because you poorly parented their eyesight. Sometimes medication is just one part of the solution, side effects and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

They can be . Whats casually shoved under the carpet because who wants to worry about that are the side effects.

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
Sleep problems.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Increased blood pressure.
Dizziness.
Headaches and stomachaches.
Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
Moodiness and irritability.

Different PP with kid on stimulants for 10 years now.

Of this list, DS has decreased appetite after a large healthy breakfast, when he takes his medication. A light lunch. (see large breakfast comment). Mid-afternoon snack, hearty dinner and most evenings a second meal. He is on the thin side, for sure, though he exercises, walks miles, and lifts, so he looks like a seasoned runner.

Nothing else you mention (swept under carpet or otherwise). Every kid and every experience is different. Without meds, even with all the therapy, OT, diet changes, etc., my kid was counseled out of private and sent the the office most days of the week during the early years in public school. This was not due to lazy or lack of parenting. If your kid needs to wear glasses, it is not because you poorly parented their eyesight. Sometimes medication is just one part of the solution, side effects and all.

DP. That was our experience as well. Then DS outgrew it/learned from experience. What would have been better at the time was for the principal/administration (or even experienced parents on this board) to explain to us that that's not the end of the world or terrible or even all that bad. Kids can and do mature. Even/especially ADHD kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's also not demonize doing things "to make life easier." I wouldn't die without glasses, but having them makes my life easier. I buy vegetables instead of growing my own because it makes my life easier. We all do things every day that make life easier. There is no inherent nobility in suffering and effort.

So yes, we started my son on ADHD meds because it makes HIS life easier. Sure, it also makes my life easier to not have to worry about him getting kicked out of camp or not being able to read but that's a secondary benefit. Easy and lazy are not synonymous.

They can be . Whats casually shoved under the carpet because who wants to worry about that are the side effects.

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
Sleep problems.
Decreased appetite.
Weight loss.
Increased blood pressure.
Dizziness.
Headaches and stomachaches.
Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
Moodiness and irritability.

Different PP with kid on stimulants for 10 years now.

Of this list, DS has decreased appetite after a large healthy breakfast, when he takes his medication. A light lunch. (see large breakfast comment). Mid-afternoon snack, hearty dinner and most evenings a second meal. He is on the thin side, for sure, though he exercises, walks miles, and lifts, so he looks like a seasoned runner.

Nothing else you mention (swept under carpet or otherwise). Every kid and every experience is different. Without meds, even with all the therapy, OT, diet changes, etc., my kid was counseled out of private and sent the the office most days of the week during the early years in public school. This was not due to lazy or lack of parenting. If your kid needs to wear glasses, it is not because you poorly parented their eyesight. Sometimes medication is just one part of the solution, side effects and all.

We didn’t start meds until sixth grade, but I’ll say that’s how my child with ADHD ate before meds. It’s tough sometimes to tease out what is a side effect of medication and what may stem from the restlessness of the condition itself. He never could be bothered to sit still for a meal, was always go go go. At the end of the day, he’d finally listen to his hunger pains. I didn’t see much of a difference after he started medication.