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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
What is the harm in trying meds and then stopping if they don't help?  Genuinely curious, since we are new to all this.

If you are against them, is it because you tried and they didn't help?  Or is there more too it?[/quote]

I am not "against them" and we may end up using them in the future. But we are trying absolutely everything else within our power because 1) my child has other issues, especially severe anxiety as well as sleep and weight issues, which are likely to make it impossible to use stimulants anyway 2) I have read numerous studies in the US and other countries that indicate that years down the road, there is little difference between the medicated and unmedicated ADHD patient 3) I have seen firsthand how incredibly complicated the medication question can be, especially with the "complex" kids like mine.

I have several friends and family members whose kids are taking medication for ADHD. In one case, the child has taken several medications. At the start, each seems to help a tiny bit, enough to put up with adverse side effects until, all of  a sudden, the medication stops working. They up the dose, the side effects become unbearable, and they have to switch the medication. They have now switched to a non-stimulant, which works a little for the impulsiveness but not so much for the attention... but this isn't a go-to gold standard med that has been used by children for years so they are worried about longterm effects. They have been at it for years.

Another child I know, a relative, started with a stimulant. It really worked for school/homework so they want to keep using it despite the fact that it has increased his anxiety and aggression so much that he now also has to take an SSRI and Risperdal (!) as well as something else for sleep. This evolving process has lasted years as well but instead of deciding that the side effects are not tolerable, they are adding medications to manage them.

I also know several people whose kids take a stimulant and it has helped and is no big deal. But those kids tend to be the less severe, not multiple diagnosis type. If my kid did not have multiple things going on, I might be more open to experimenting. But I think the medication question is much more complicated than trying and stopping.

Instead we have really radically changed our lives, my career, child's school, how much time we move and exercise every day, and added costly non-medical interventions like OT and neurofeedback. I am lucky to have been able to make these changes and am incredibly thankful that they are helping. I absolutely do not rule out meds in the future.[/quote]

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