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[quote=Anonymous]I am hesitant about ADHD medication and I worry that too many people just get a prescription with out the serious testing and evaluations.

When my son was in 2nd grade we had him evaluated for ADHD, his teacher kept pushing it b/c he didn't sit still in class, was always jumping around, vibrating in place, was always calling out answers (they were right, she admitted)and would get distracted and lost in a book for a long time), after talking with the psychologist, OT, and others it was determined he had ADHD, we waited, talked to the pediatrician, waited, and finally after the teacher and principal kept pressing, we medicated.

We tried lots of other stuff first, low sugar, clean eating, no artificial colors or flavors, very little TV, he had a good sleep schedule (10.5/11 hrs a night), lots of exercise, fish oil supplements, behavior charts.

My son had very bad reactions to the meds we tried over the course of a year (Concerta and a Focalin/ritalin combo).  He became moody, violent, manic, tried pushing me and his younger brother down the stairs on several occasions, he would have hysterical, angry outbursts over very small things, and was inconsolable and took hours to calm down,  he could not sleep and would cry, I am so tired, but my brain won't turn off and let me sleep.  Our home situation became unbearable, like we were living in a war zone.  He lost a lot of weight from his already slight frame, we had to give him sleeping pills so he could sleep, he wouldn't go out in the sun and only wanted to stay inside, by himself and play alone, which was completely the opposite of his personality.

When I mentioned these things to his teacher, she said, oh, but he is doing so well in my class, so it's worth it.  When I mentioned these things to the pediatrician, he basically said, that's not what is in the literature.

After one year of this I took him off the medication and went to a low carb, low sugar diet, strict consequence chart and managed it that way.  He did not get in as much trouble in school the next 2 years.

He is in 6th grade now, on swim team and an A/B student and is doing ok. He has a 504 plan that allows for movement, preferential seating and extended test time.

His personality seems a little bit altered, not the easy going kid he was, his sleep never got back to normal, he takes melatonin every couple of days.  
  
We will probably have to revisit the medication aspect right before high school, at least that is what was suggested by his 5th grade math teachers, but for now, no.

Also, I tried to live by the if he had diabetes, I'd give him insulin right?  But if anything that I was giving my child to make him "better" was destroying the great kid I knew, I would stop it and find another avenue.

Several of my friends kids are on medication for ADD/ADHD and they are not having the side effects my son had, do I think they are lazy parents? No, it's working for their child and their family and I am glad for them.
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