ADHD and addiction to prescription meds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try taking the meds yourself and then you can decide if it is something you want your kids to be taking daily.

This is crazy ignorant. Stimulants create a sense of focus and calm in those of us with ADHD. Some people with ADHD get sleepy after coffee. It's crazy how much stigma and ignorance there is surrounding ADHD when I feel like depression and anxiety started getting attention around the same time but people don't get so fired up about treatment for those disorders.

Also, OP, your child has a far less chance of getting addicted to illicit, unprescribed drugs if their ADHD is medicated. People with ADHD self medicate with alcohol and drugs because life is generally overwhelming for us if we are not treated. A non-harmful dose of a stimulant under the care of a doctor is far, far better than leaving someone with ADHD to their own devices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20 doesn’t sound high to me except that it does seem high to start. Most psychiatrists will start with a low number (probably more like 5 or 10) and then move up gradually until you see a positive difference. If you see negative side effects, you stop increasing and maybe back track.
My kid is on a much higher dose but it took a while to get there. His sibling is on a much lower dose but has milder symptoms, better coping mechanisms and some other health issues we are working around so she just takes a small amount as sort of an assist for her coping strategies.

This is OP.
I read all the helpful posts and experiences above, including this one. Thanks so much for taking the time and sharing. Knowledge about others’ experiences is empowering - I can ask doctors the right questions with more knowledge. And also just know we are not the only ones going through the struggles of determining what’s the right support. One thing is clear - it is going to take time to identify the med and the right dose.

Recurring message from here and outside:
Effects on appetite should be handled by ensuring large meals /menus that the child loves to eat before or after meds effects are kind-of active; e.g. big breakfast and big dinner are critical, as lunch appetite may be suppressed due to meds.

Crowdsourcing here IS helpful. I have a couple of friends only with ADHD children, and some of their messages are echoed here but also complemented with more info. All of it is food for thought and helps informed decision-making and navigation of challenges.

Again, thanks all for taking the time and sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try taking the meds yourself and then you can decide if it is something you want your kids to be taking daily.

This is crazy ignorant. Stimulants create a sense of focus and calm in those of us with ADHD. Some people with ADHD get sleepy after coffee. It's crazy how much stigma and ignorance there is surrounding ADHD when I feel like depression and anxiety started getting attention around the same time but people don't get so fired up about treatment for those disorders.

Also, OP, your child has a far less chance of getting addicted to illicit, unprescribed drugs if their ADHD is medicated. People with ADHD self medicate with alcohol and drugs because life is generally overwhelming for us if we are not treated. A non-harmful dose of a stimulant under the care of a doctor is far, far better than leaving someone with ADHD to their own devices.

This is OP. Agreed. It makes a lot of logical sense why adhd and substance abuse may be correlated in some instances. You explained it so well; I did not think about this issue from this angle earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Certain stimulants have been shown to increase risk of psychosis and mania at high dosages, so it’s important to utilize other strategies in conjunction with medication to avoid having to increase dosage. However, ritalin did not seem to have this issue in the studies.
https://www.sciencealert.com/high-doses-of-adhd-drug-can-cause-serious-side-effects-study-warns

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/09/high-doses-of-adderall-may-increase-psychosis-risk/

OP here. Thanks. This why I started the thread to learn up more. Talking to the forum participants is helpful, despite misunderstanding and angry posters. You can spot easily who is talking from their real struggles and experiences and just want to share as an act of kindness. I appreciate this.

To those accusing me in anti-med, etc, read ‘dependence’ and ‘adverse effects’ sections. Of course, the info makes any parent cautious. In our case, we are still pushed to take our chances and try it out, as therapy alone did it work…

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482451/

[Anonymous]

*… did not work.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t read all of the replies but have two kids in late teens on ADHD meds. One also has ASD and ARFID-like eating. It affected both of my kids appetites but only early in the day. Didn’t make them more picky at all.

For one of ours, ADHD meds did not work at all. Tried many and they didn’t have the desired effect and made her irritable.


For the other, it made a big difference.

I agree with a few of the other posts that addiction is less likely with properly medicated ADHD. I am a recovering addict and this was a concern of mine too. Now, having had kids on meds for several years (they are both now in their late teens) I think that I had untreated ADHD and that is part of why I turned to substances. My kids have not had drug problems. The older one drinks socially I think, but I cannot imagine in a million years she’d take her ADHD meds more than prescribed. She doesn’t like the way she feels even to take a booster, and is very serious about making sure she takes them on time, etc.

[Anonymous]

Find the one food they can tolerate that is high in protein and always have it in stock. Encourage eating in the morning before meds kick in. Supplement with vitamins.

For us it's deli turkey on a croissant. It's eaten for breakfast and it's eaten for dinner/ after school. Lunch is usually skipped.

Even for dinner, DS fights me and says he's not hungry, but after he takes a bite or two his appetite returns. It takes a lot of self-awareness and mom awareness in the beginning. Don't forgo meds because you worry about appetite. It will all settle and work itself out.

[Anonymous]

Our DC takes stimulants for ADHD - and is a VERY picky eater. Appetite suppression as a side effect refers to the suppression in the middle of the day when the medicine is "on" - for us - lunch is more of a snack - and they make it up at dinner or with an added pre-bed snack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t read all of the replies but have two kids in late teens on ADHD meds. One also has ASD and ARFID-like eating. It affected both of my kids appetites but only early in the day. Didn’t make them more picky at all.

For one of ours, ADHD meds did not work at all. Tried many and they didn’t have the desired effect and made her irritable.


For the other, it made a big difference.

I agree with a few of the other posts that addiction is less likely with properly medicated ADHD. I am a recovering addict and this was a concern of mine too. Now, having had kids on meds for several years (they are both now in their late teens) I think that I had untreated ADHD and that is part of why I turned to substances. My kids have not had drug problems. The older one drinks socially I think, but I cannot imagine in a million years she’d take her ADHD meds more than prescribed. She doesn’t like the way she feels even to take a booster, and is very serious about making sure she takes them on time, etc.

Thanks so much for sharing. I keep reading all posts.

Today was one of the harder days. Some days feel like you hit the wall.

[Anonymous]

Adult on meds - I am no more addicted to my meds than I am addicted to wearing my contacts - life is just easier and more pleasant when I use those tools to adjust my natural state. I wish I had started meds as a child or teenager. A lot of late diagnosed adults go through a period of mourning when they finally find meds that work and realize all the lost opportunities, stress, struggle, and feelings of failure that may have been different if we had meds and supportive parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adult on meds - I am no more addicted to my meds than I am addicted to wearing my contacts - life is just easier and more pleasant when I use those tools to adjust my natural state. I wish I had started meds as a child or teenager. A lot of late diagnosed adults go through a period of mourning when they finally find meds that work and realize all the lost opportunities, stress, struggle, and feelings of failure that may have been different if we had meds and supportive parents.

Thank you so much for sharing. This is what I keep hearing here and in other sources (lost time perspective). I am glad you figured things out.

Long road of trial and error ahead for us. I found and booked therapy to complement meds. But my son complained he did not want to eat his lunch ‘for some reason’ and he is on the adjusted smallest dose of Ritalin… breaks my heart even though I understand you have to ‘move’ things around with food planning.

[Anonymous]

ADHD is so tough. If you have it or you are helping someone with it, you are not alone. Wishing you all the strength and patience in the world.

Closing this thread. Thanks so much everyone!