Considering to Medicate 15-YO DS for ADHD

[Anonymous]

I think we've been in denial (or hoping for a miracle) all this years but with his grades suffering (sophomore) and apparent addictions to screens, I feel it's time. I had asked his ped about it a year or so ago but she's not fully on board. i will go back to her again and try to get her support this time with new facts on grades and behaviors. If your DC started medication 'late' please kindly share your experience and what worked/didn't work. He's almost through puberty as far as I can tell, if it makes a difference. one of the reasons we didn't medicate was concern over possibly lost of appetite because he was skinny, but now he's at around 50%-tile in weight and eats a lot so that's no longer something that'd hold us back.

[Anonymous]

Your peed is right to be skeptical. Bad grades and too much screen time do not by themselves add up to an ADHD diagnosis. Think before you push to get him on legal meth.

[Anonymous]

My DS started late because he was always borderline in academic impact, self-regulated through very hard athletics (exhausted himself out of impulsive behavior, essentially), and we were reluctant to medicate. So far my only regret is waiting as long as we did. However, one minor advantage was that he was over 6' when we started so I was not as worried about impact on growth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your peed is right to be skeptical. Bad grades and too much screen time do not by themselves add up to an ADHD diagnosis. Think before you push to get him on legal meth.

Legal meth? What a hateful post. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Anonymous]

Try it now before he completely screws up HS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your peed is right to be skeptical. Bad grades and too much screen time do not by themselves add up to an ADHD diagnosis. Think before you push to get him on legal meth.

+1 on this, with a 15 YO DS as well, whose grades are not what they should be, has mild ADHD and spends way too much time on screens. But we will not give in to the medication alternative.

OP, what has marginally worked for us is forced exercise (building in running/ walking time every day, weight training class at school, recreational basketball built into schedule, etc.), being militant about bedtime and a structured schedule, even on weekends, and limited time each day with his phone and/or laptop. Also as much time as possible for other things he enjoys, e.g. going to sports events (either family or friends), church youth group, some family trips, etc. It's not perfect and we still clash too often over screen time and grades. But, I figure that's part of parenting.

The drugs scare the hell out of me and simply refuse to go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your peed is right to be skeptical. Bad grades and too much screen time do not by themselves add up to an ADHD diagnosis. Think before you push to get him on legal meth.

+1 on this, with a 15 YO DS as well, whose grades are not what they should be, has mild ADHD and spends way too much time on screens. But we will not give in to the medication alternative.

OP, what has marginally worked for us is forced exercise (building in running/ walking time every day, weight training class at school, recreational basketball built into schedule, etc.), being militant about bedtime and a structured schedule, even on weekends, and limited time each day with his phone and/or laptop. Also as much time as possible for other things he enjoys, e.g. going to sports events (either family or friends), church youth group, some family trips, etc. It's not perfect and we still clash too often over screen time and grades. But, I figure that's part of parenting.

The drugs scare the hell out of me and simply refuse to go there.

That’s your anxiety. The medical literature on the meds/therapy combo is sound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS started late because he was always borderline in academic impact, self-regulated through very hard athletics (exhausted himself out of impulsive behavior, essentially), and we were reluctant to medicate. So far my only regret is waiting as long as we did. However, one minor advantage was that he was over 6' when we started so I was not as worried about impact on growth.

I should add that we combined meds with therapy and behavioral intervention, but we started that before the meds.

[Anonymous]

I would get a new pediatrician who has a focus on kids with ADHD.

We moved and switched to a ped who has a focus on ADHD and it has been a lifesaver because before it took forever to get the right med combination when the aDHD meds were prescribed by a neurologist who was hard to get in to.

ADHD seems to affect my kids more than just being isolated so the switch to a ped who gets that has been phenomenal.

We started trying meds at 12 and it took forever to sort out which med combination, which dosage, etc. New ped had it all under control within a couple of months at 14 1/2.

We have ds eat a full big breakfast before he takes med in AM and then have a meal sized snack after school before taking second med for homework. At night he sometimes gets up to eat in the middle of the night. Before we were pushing so much he lost weight so if I had to do it over again I would have been on top of the weight and weight loss.

My advice is to not accept "good enough" with the meds. the improvement was unmistakable so we let side effects and just being better be enough, but it wasn't. Keep trying meds and doses. My friend has the same regret - accepting good enough just because it was better.

GL

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and mostly against meds because I think they are over prescribed. That being said, I’ve seen the difference in students in high school when they start treatment for ADHD and really need something. It has made a huge difference in some being able to focus in school and having positive relationships with both peers and teachers.

As a parent I also refused any type of medication for many, many years until failing grades, we had a child who hated school and was begging to please try something besides therapy. A low dose of medication made a huge difference and I regretted not trying it sooner.

[Anonymous]

^to add about appetite. DS only takes his in the morning. He says he’s not as hungry at lunch and I can tell since he’s not buying extra anymore and packing smaller lunches. He’s hungry again by afternoon and definitely eating quite a bit in the evenings.

[Anonymous]

I would get a full mental health evaluation and rule out other issues like anxiety to make sure you do the right meds. You should start with a psychiatrist not your ped. Most are skeptical to give it out.

[Anonymous]

I started meds at 15 and it made a world of difference.

[Anonymous]

Is there pediatric psychiatrist? Is this usually covered by insurance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS started late because he was always borderline in academic impact, self-regulated through very hard athletics (exhausted himself out of impulsive behavior, essentially), and we were reluctant to medicate. So far my only regret is waiting as long as we did. However, one minor advantage was that he was over 6' when we started so I was not as worried about impact on growth.

Wait, there's an impact on growth??? I have 13 year old and we are considering medicine for ADHD. I had not idea it would impact his growth.