ADHD: what made you decide to medicate?

[Anonymous]

I understand the struggle. Our DS was in kindergarten when he was diagnosed. He's primarily inattentive (not hyperactive) and has LD. For a good year, we tried behavior modification and supplements. For a 6 month period during that time, we also tried Feingold. We did them one at time so we could determine whether they were worth keeping up. For us, diet seemed to have no effect (other than when he was hungry his symptoms got worse) so we went back to a regular diet. Supplements (fish oil, attentive child, multi-vitamin) don't seem to make a difference either but they're relatively cheap and are easy so we keep doing them.

We decided to medicate because despite having an IEP, pull out services, OT, ST (private and school) and social skills groups, DS was struggling mightily. He was noticing that he was different and it was having an incredibly negative effect on his self-esteem. His inability regulate his emotions was also starting to have an major impact on our home life. He was like a time bomb. We began to dread family outings because he was all over the place, couldn't control himself and had frequent meltdowns. We weren't the only ones who didn't want to be around him and it was so very sad. It was especially difficult for my DH who had undiagnosed ADHD growing up. Watching DS struggle brought up very painful memories for him. So, we decided to try medications. It took some time and some trial and error but DS is doing very well on Intuniv (a non-stimulant).

I know we all struggle to make the right decisions for our kids. For us, waiting and trying other interventions was a good decision. If DS were crashing and burning, we would have started them sooner. If he was doing okay with non-prescription interventions, we likely would not have medicated. OTO, we would never have entirely ruled out medication. My brothers had undiagnosed ADHD, self medicated with alcohol/drugs and spiraled into depression and worse. Untreated ADHD has also impacted DH and our marriage. For us, the benefits of medication have greatly outweighed the side effects. That's us, though.

[Anonymous]

My kids are attention deficient. I've made the choice to detox their body/brain as much as possible instead of medicating. It's paid off. My DS, who was forced to sit in front of the class all the way through elementary school, is now an honor roll student in middle school....and no longer required to sit in front of the classroom.

There is a lot to be said about the foods they eat and supplements that can be used for detoxing the brain. This is a great alternative to medicating, especially if you're not comfortable with giving perscriptions.

[Anonymous]

Another off the beaten path suggestion, but worth mentioning:

Have any posters considered homeschooling? So many of these issues are NOT issues in a home setting; it is the school setting that is problematic.

Not that the child's needs change; they stay the same, but weaknesses can be helped and strengths celebrated. Several of my brothers were/are ADHD, though the diagnosis did not exist when they were in school. They were struggling so much in school, and the public system's only solution was tracking them in special needs, that my mother pulled them out. The one who was severely dyslexic in addition to ADHD, especially, had been categorized as borderline mentally limited and hopeless.

They are all professionals now. And the most hopeless case got a 4.0 in college and is a CPA now. Of course, he is still dyslexic, and has to work much, much harder at certain tasks that come easily to others, but after years of my mom's dedication to helping him find the right approach, he knows his limitations and refuses to accept them as such.

I am not being a Pollyanna in the slightest; I lived with my brothers, after all, and I know what their difficulties looked like up close. But give homeschooling at least as much a thought as medication. You might be surprised at the potential.

[Anonymous]

17:51 again. For us, ADHD wasn't just an issue for school, it extended across all environments. He couldn't keep his hands to himself during play dates, he couldn't regulate himself at Cub Scouts (attention, impulse, emotions, hands to himself, etc.). He'd meltdown any time he didn't get his way or if he lost. If he was in the least bit anxious about something (trying something new, going to the doctor, babysitter coming over, etc.) he was nightmare to be around. Yes, other kids get this way, too, but not to the degree DS was/is. He was always very contrite afterwards and very, very hard on himself. He would say 'there's something wrong with my brain' or that he's the 'worstest boy'. He always wants to do better but is unable to. I'm glad that diet and homeschooling have worked for some, it's not the answer for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:51 again. For us, ADHD wasn't just an issue for school, it extended across all environments. He couldn't keep his hands to himself during play dates, he couldn't regulate himself at Cub Scouts (attention, impulse, emotions, hands to himself, etc.). He'd meltdown any time he didn't get his way or if he lost. If he was in the least bit anxious about something (trying something new, going to the doctor, babysitter coming over, etc.) he was nightmare to be around. Yes, other kids get this way, too, but not to the degree DS was/is. He was always very contrite afterwards and very, very hard on himself. He would say 'there's something wrong with my brain' or that he's the 'worstest boy'. He always wants to do better but is unable to. I'm glad that diet and homeschooling have worked for some, it's not the answer for everyone.

Agree, and in fact, to get an ADHD diagnosis, the symptoms must exist in multiple settings, including school AND home.

[Anonymous]

My daughter also began to say there was something wrong with her brain. She was about 8 when she began to say this. We NEVER said this to her but she certainly knew that her struggles were internal and made her different. Very painful to hear.

[Anonymous]

PP here who mentioned homeschooling:

I did mention this in passing, but of course, children who have ADHD simpy have it. Not just during school, not just at home, not just with friends, but all the time. That is how my family members were, but homeschooling still offered several advantages: there were no social repercussions, no stigmas, and fewer external sources of conflict. Expectations for certain behaviors could be modified, whereas in an institutional setting, there are more normative requirements.

Several sources of conflict are avoided, or at least held off, through homeschooling. There are advantages.

[Anonymous]

I agree that homeschooling should be put on the list of ways to help your child. I have a friend (a teacher) who has homeschooled for years because her kids have ADHD. It just doesn't express as much at home. So much of public school is "crowd control." When her kids reach a certain limit, she can let them run around in the back yard for 20 minutes before tackling the next subject. It works for them. I think this is the philosophy at the New School (private) where they work in 20 minutes segments broken up with bursts of energy-releasing exercise/activity. Food for thought.

[Anonymous]

Correction: That is the Newton School, not the New School.

[Anonymous]

We started my daughter at age 71/2 when she was failing, could not read and had very high anxiety in a number of forums. It has taken 3 different medications, but I think we are there with Vyanse. Medication made a difference she was able to absorb so much more, but maybe even more importantly we were able to realize that she also has dyslexia because the distraction mask was removed. I second reading Judith Warner's We've got issues it is as good as it gets in understanding the issues of medication. I would also recommend Buzz My Year of Paying attention by Ellison. She has several chapters on her struggle to decide to give her son medication.