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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
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OP: It sounds like the meds have really worked well for your DS and family. If you don't mind me asking, how did you overcome the concern of risks around schedule 2 drugs, addiction issues, and medical links of stimulants to bipolar depression, anxiety, and hippocampus deterioration (alzheimers)? My DH is in the medical field and also has great concerns over introducting a stimulant to a developing mind and the long-term effects which are largely still unknown. If meds were to produce the effects that it sounds like you've had for our son I must say I would adocate for it still. You just have to be comfortable (or at least willing) to take the risk.[/quote]

Yes, it is a risk.  I'm not sure what you're asking about schedule II drugs?  I believe my DS's doc told me that kids with ADHD who are treated with the appropriate meds are less likely to self medicate with other drugs.  Addiction to stimulants?  It is out there, but DS has been off the meds periods of weeks at a time with no withdrawal symptoms, so if that is what you're asking, it hasn't shown up here.  DS was on Concerta which worked well for concentration and made his anxiety about 100X worse, so we tried another med.  I feel pretty confident that he is under the care of a psychiatrist right now (he also does therapy with DS.  A rarity, I know) who is not going to let bipolar symptoms slip by.  Hippocampus deterioration?  I have to say I don't know anything about the correlation between stimulants and alzheimers, but I'll like to know more about it.

Also, my BIL is a pediatrician at that big university in Palo Alto, so we had access to developmental pediatricians and psychiatrists there in addition to the people we consulted here.  Hearing from a lot of experts made the idea of meds seem easier.

Every drug is a risk.  And you always hope the benefits outweigh the risks.  So far the benefits have far outweighed the risks.  DS is a smart, sensitive kid and it was very troubling for him not to be able to do schoolwork like the other kids.  He goes to an independent school and they have been great about accommodations (uses a laptop, extra time for testing, nothing major).  The willingness of the school to work with him and small classes have played a huge part in his success.  We have always talked openly with DS about his focus issues.  We've always made sure he had physical outlets -- he did tae kwon do and now he is on the track team and the cross country team.

Starting meds seemed like stepping off a cliff, but once we did, it worked so much better for him.  Meds aren't for everyone and I have days where I feel guilty that I have to give him meds and can't make it better on my own.  He is my primary concern.  Things in our house have gotten much better since he started meds which has been wonderful, but we didn't medicate him because it would make it easier for us.

You might want to look at Judy Warner's book "We've Got Issues."  She started with the idea that kids are over medicated in this country (and I know there are lots of kids like that), but she reached a very different conclusion about meds by the end of the book.

I wish I knew of a therapist to help you.  My own therapist was very helpful when we were discussing meds for DS.  I know she regularly consults with Children's on a number of child life issues.  ADHD is difficult for both the child and for the family.

I wish you luck.

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