Reply to ADHD - what are the odds she won't need meds?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]TBH, medication is a huge help if you can find one that works.

Don’t be afraid to try. Discuss with psychoatrist - there are many options. The main class of meds used for ADHD are stimulants, and they can be tried for a day and discontinued immediately if they have any negative side effects.  The half life of stimulants is very short, which means that they don’t have effects that last days and once you stop them they are pretty much completely out of your system. If the stimulant is too high or an extended release your DD might be too stimulated to sleep. OTOH, by addressing her ADHD, she might be able to better stick to routines that help with sleep or be able to do homework more consistently and remember to turn it in and not worry about those things before sleep.

Also, there are other classes of medication that are NOT stimulants. Atomoxetine, for example, is not in the stimulant class.  It is an SNRI shown to be effective with ADHD.  It is thought to tamp down the DMN network of the brain which allows the brain network focused on task completion to operate more effectively.  Tamping down the DMN can help diminish rumination, which may be a reason why your DD can’t fall asleep.

Also, there are many other aspects of sleep which should be investigated - sleep apnea?  anxiety?  And there may be other things that can help with sleep - exercise, early morning light, melatonin, magnesium, etc.

Your kid should be fully evaluated by a psychiatrist who can help you discuss options and do med trials.

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the research shows that there may be short-term benefits of meds, but not long-term. I don’t say this to challenge/criticize anyone who found meds helpful for themselves or their child. but rather to reassure OP that she has a reasonable basis to choose not to medicate. [/quote]

I'm not sure this is true. I've seen at least two researchers (can't find the links now) that cited studies that showed kids who took meds in childhood actually saw a reduction of symptoms as adults. Definitely something you might want to look up or ask your health care providers about. But overall, a lot is going to depend on your child as to how well she can manage on her own and how the meds hit her.

FWIW, we have tried several meds during elementary, but still haven't found the "one," as my kiddo is so sensitive to the side effects, that we can't get to a dosage high enough to see any benefit. After a lengthy break where we focused on behavior management and therapy only, we're trying again now with the methylphenidate patch, which he's been able to tolerate better, but it makes him sleepy, so not sure if we're just substituting one focus issue for another.[/quote]

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