I have 2 kids with adhd i did choose to put my son on meds but my son ONLY takes them at school i DO NOT medicate him on the weekends nor do i give it to him through the summer at all i ONLY give it to him when hes in school and that keeps them from adapting to the lower dose medications which causes them to have to change meds or up their dosage on their current meds all the time. So yes you should get your son tested and talk with his doctor make sure medication is the best thing for your child not for his dad or his teacher but best for your son himself your dr can tell you if there are better options to at least try for your son before having to put him on a medication long term… good luck…
By law, at least in my state, schools are not allowed to do things such as recommend meds (as some have said happened). Schools cannot diagnose ADHD because ADHD is a medical condition and schools aren’t medical professionals.
To the OP, mom, I would say this:
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Take your son to the doctor, perhaps a developmental pediatrician. They are a little more specialized than your pediatrician and deal with conditions like ADHD.
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Nobody really wants to medicate children, but your son can’t focus and he can’t help it. Would you tell a depressed person to tough it out and hope that was enough?
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Drug holidays…it’s when you only take what you need when you need it and not when you don’t. (So only for school)
I have a 20 year old who still has ADHD. We medicated him when he was 6 because he couldn’t sit still and he wasn’t learning. We tried different meds until we found the right one. It was clearly hard on him. One night my son was supposed to be doing homework and I walked in to find him distracted. His meds had worn off. He got up on his bed and started jumping punctuating each syllable with a bounce. He ended up crying while telling me “I” “just” “can’t” “fo” “cus”.
He’s 20 now and stopped taking his meds. They helped his brain at a time when he needed help. Your son’s teacher is giving him tools to help him self regulate, but maybe your son needs more.
I have 4 kids. The youngest are twins. One of the twins was a bit difficult to handle when younger. His teachers recommended he be tested every year from 3rd grade on up to 8th. We did not. In 9th grade he decided to take JROTC as an elective and has been excelling academically since. He didn’t need to be drugged, he needed more physical activity during the school day to hold focus in the classroom. Schools have taken away “gym” class (the way it used to be anyway). It’s now called “Physical Education” and in our school it’s not “physical” it’s about learning about how movement can benefit not actually moving…. So IMO. If schools would allow kids to be more active during the school day, kids would work out a lot of that pent up energy and would be able to focus better when “in class”.
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I had two kids with adhd n used meds right along with therapy. My oldest child came off meds when he was old enough to drink coffee n it seemed to help alot but find out works for u n ur child…
I think of little children like puppies, kittens and ponnies They need to stretch,jump and run. They are growing their muscel s and bones need all this movement. It is also good for their minds. Sometimes I think medication is more for teachers and sitters. We have a problem with obesity in children and becoming lazy. These are my thoughts I raised 3 children. What would you think if your puppy layed all day? I would feel there was something very wrong just like a child who has no energy. Kids aren’t out side any more to burn off all their energy so they can also sleep well at night.
Props to this teacher for working with him trying to find ways to help! I would definitely get him tested to see what is going on. Medicine doesn’t have to make them a zombie if it does it is too strong. Find something that works for him 
good luck
My son was evaluated at 6. We did not put him on meds. We did change his diet. Took red dye out completely. He was a completely different kid! As he got older we kept him busy with sports and school and extra curricular ideas. He is 20 now and contemplating trying meds.
Get him diagnosed so he can get a 504 plan or IEP and more help in school. He doesn’t have to have medication if you don’t want it. My daughter has adhd and thus has helped her a lot.
My mom refused to medicate me, and I in turn refused to medicate my oldest. It ended up being our last resort in 7th grade and so great for my kid that I deeply regret waiting so long.
I’m both an ADHD mom and a child therapist. Get him tested and then do some therapy for yourself and him together and get him an IEP at school. I would never recommend nmedicating a child younger than 8-10 without an extreme circumstance. Try all other routes first but if they do lead to medication you will know you did everything. In the end advocate for your child, by all means hold him accountable but find out what he is able to control about his behaviors first.
So I have ADHD 
so does my son who is 7. I started medicine when I was 10. He started when he was 4. He was the same in school constantly in trouble because he could not be still. I chose to medicate because I know what it’s like living with ADHD. If taking the right medicine your child will not be a zombie lol my son still gets in trouble for talking in school. He is a social butterfly. 
now you can go without medication too if you have time to take him to therapy often. They can teach him skills to help. Or you can do both. I was on medicine from 3rd grade till I got out of college. Never became addicted. Never Zombied me. Now I live without it. So it is possible to be productive and still without the medicine. It’s harder for children through because they have not gained control of their emotions. That’s why therapy helps. Either way or whatever you decide to do it’s not anyone else’s business if it helps your child. also shot out to his amazing teacher. Talk about above an beyond.
My son was considered Severe ADHD he was on medications was seeing 8 different doctors/therapist. But what I learned on my own is what ever puts a normal person to sleep will hype him up and whatever hyped us up would put him to sleep. So I gave my son coffee. But once son turned 18 he refused medication. He is 27 today and has settled down a lot. He is married to his high school sweetheart and they have my grandson. He’s still ADD just not hyper much.
My son was diagnosed a month ago. He s 9 and was in trouble every day. We medicate. Whole different child. Amazing difference.
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My son was 5…his kindergarten teacher said she was on the fence about his behaviors, because at 5, it could be ADHD and could just be a maturity issue. So we waited. It got worse…in 1st grade, a teacher asked if he had been tested…we waited again. 2nd semester of 1st grade, teacher at that point was CONVINCED. So we had him evaluated. ADHD combination type is what they said. Started medication…made a complete turn around…grades thru the roof…never got in trouble. Honor roll and special recognition awards every year. Was NOT a zombie…best decision We ever made.
I did not want to in the beginning but the school kept complaining about him n final time was if we dent take him to psychiatrist then he can’t go back to school. So we took both my boys to doctor to get re-evaluated and I asked them both do you need anything do you think you need help they both agreed they did and they told the doctor their feelings after that I knew they’ll be okay because they agree they need help so I found out they both had ADHD on top of other diagnosis.
We had our soon on all sorts of meds and I regret it everyday. He was 10 years old and still wearing a size 8. He would take meds at 7 am and not be hungry again until nearly 10 pm. I dig and researched. Those medications are no more than stimulants of the central nervous system. So is caffeine. We took him off the meds and put him on mountain dew a few times a day. He started eating again, was doing his homework and getting by. He’s 38 now, works behind a water well drilling rig and is super smart. Most times they have high iq’s. Try everything before meds. Now, he won’t take a pill for a headache. He hated the way it made him feel and he hallucinated alot depending on which medication. Good luck and I hope you find your answer. Also realize, these children learn differently. They know the answers usually but slowing them down to put pen to paper can be difficult. The caffeine does the opposite in them than what it does for us.
My dgtr was 5 when we got her tested. She was struggling in school, and we were told she was in danger of being held back. She is a twin so that was not an option. We chose medication because mental health is just as important as if she had a heart problem. If bc of her ADHD, she felt less than others or a trouble maker, that could lead to more serious issues down the line. She has excelled at school since medication. Her personality did not change at all. She is still hyperactive but able to focus when she needs to. Her teacher chose a reward system instead of punishment and it has worked marvelously for behavior improvement.
All 4 of my kids were and/or are medicated. My girls have ADHD, ODD, anxiety and depression; my boys only have ADHD. My 20 and 18 yr olds are no longer taking meds, by their choice as they are legal adults. But my 11 and 9 yr olds are. They also all had or have IEP’s at school. The good thing about what my kids are on is they only need to take it one time a day (mornings) and only Monday through Friday. Weekends and summer they are off the meds. I have not had any calls from the school about ‘disruptive behavior’ since they have been on meds. It works for us. Oh and their dad was against it too until he noticed the calls were not as frequent.
A counselor once said you wouldn’t hesitate to get glasses for your child to help him/her in school and to see. That is what ADHD. medicine does. It helps him to get thru life. And you are right, it takes the right counselor, medication and dose to work.
My son was diagnosed when he was 5 in kindergarten and yes we chose to medicate. It was the best thing for him. Keep in mind, it’s not a cure all and you have to find the medicine that works well for your child. There can be a lot of trial and error. We found one that worked well for him and didn’t suppress his appetite as much as some other ones. But none we tried made him a zombie by any stretch of the imagination. He was still him, personality wise. He could just focus on what he needed to. He just graduated from high school. He takes it every day because he doesn’t like how he feels without it and he can’t really do anything so he gets frustrated easily without it. Medicine may or may not be the best fit for your child but don’t rule it out completely, keep an open mind with all options. Do what you think is most beneficial to your child. I also have another son who was diagnosed with it and refused to take medicine. He didn’t graduate but he’s still doing well for himself working. He’ll be 25 this year but I think he has struggled much more because of it. He was diagnosed much later at the age of 14 where it was much harder to reason with a teenager and try to get him to do what’s best for him. He was also much more aware of side effects of meds and wasn’t willing to try different ones to find what worked best for him. I really think if he had it would’ve been so beneficial for him and he would’ve finished school. Add/adhd was less heard of back then. So it was harder to recognize.
I did choose to medicate but if I had to do it again I don’t think I would. I would try other methods first more natural methods if possible.
Be failing as a parent as it’s Wrong not to help him, given the exceptions the teachers have already accommodated him on…unless of course you and dad are going to take over home schooling him/his education…follow the lead or take your own new path but Do Not blame teachers or torture the class by doing nothing.
Kids are not cookie cutter, they are unique. You know your kid, do what is best for them. But whatever you choose, don’t be guilted.
In my experience, dad’s never want to admit there might be something off with their child. Talk to a doctor and talk to them about therapy. Teachers thought it was ADD for my son but a therapist was able to diagnose and help him deal with his issues. Always good to look into.
CBD DROPS. First make sure child is getting enough sleep. If it’s hard for him/her to sleep I’d start with sleep medicine. Then for day time I’d do CBD.
I have twins who have ADHD and decided to medicate them but once my twins hit puberty it calmed down a lot and now they are able to self control and have been off medicine for a year now. Dont get me wrong they have there days but they r doing a lot better
Testing typically is just a series of questionnaires. Then medication is not a “one size fits all” solution. What works for one child won’t necessarily work for yours.
My oldest was diagnosed with ADHD at 4. We started with Ritalin, and pretty quick we noticed we couldn’t do it because he was getting way too emotional in the evening. We then switched to Adderall, and that worked for a few months before we reached max dose with no benefits. Long story short, we’ve been through just about every medication available for ADHD, but his teachers in elementary school could always tell a night/day difference on and off the meds. He’s 14 now, and just recently he decided to try going off the meds. After a couple months he decided he still needed it because it was too hard to focus without it.
His father has always been against medication as well, but I’ve done what is best for our son.
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Have you asked his pediatrician about occupational therapy? My #4 guy who is 5 has been going for a while. It has been very useful for techniques to help him recognize when his body is having certain sensory needs to help stay calm. And has helped him be more self aware. My 15 year old (#1 ) has been on IEP and stimulants since age 8. It helps but I do think OT could have served him well had I known about it 10/11 years ago.
My oldest daughter has ADHD and she takes medication it helps calm her down
If he had a broken hand you wouldn’t even think about it, right? ADD & ADHD are real and deserve the same attention because just like a broken hand they have the ability to interrupt daily life if ignored. As a teacher and mom I suggest that you get him evaluated. Once that has been done you might want a second opinion to confirm or deny the results and take it from there. I think most parents refuse to believe that something could be wrong based on what we all know are society stereotypes. The stigmas attached to a diagnosis. But mental health is part of your overall health and we all want our kids to be healthy! Nowadays there are lots of treatment options to consider so just take it one step at a time and get him evaluated. It could be through the school system even. Sometimes we have to make tough choices but if he needs treatment, delaying it will only affect him. Good luck momma
3 of my 5 kids have/had adhd. All 3 were medicated. 2 of them only needed it for focusing. Made a huge difference in being able to retain information and understand and one needed a 504 plan. My youngest is 5 and has had behavior therapy and had to switch preschools. He was put on medication and he went from getting “in trouble” everyday to occasionally. He is more able to follow directions and make better choices. And yes preschoolers all get in trouble and make bad choices and he still does It’s part of learning however for any person who has a child with adhd and teachers know there is a difference between a child with adhd and a child who misbehaves because they are a child. I’m sure the teacher is NOT lazy or doesn’t want to be bothered. I’m sure she has seen and knows the difference. It sounds like she made as many modifications as she could for your child and I think for your child’s benefit it is worth getting him evaluated and discuss the options with your doctor.
You and your husband are not medical professionals, you should trust their judgment.
Instead of medication give him soda. It has the same effect
I recommend cutting out sugar completely and giving him a productive way to release energy over medication that makes him into a zombie.
Get him tested my son was tested around that age. His teacher was the one who saw his behavior because he has a son who is ADHD.
We put my daughter on meds when she was 6. It’s not a cure all but it does help focus her more and calm her behaviors some. We also have a behavior plan set up in school and the teachers have been good with her and following it. We had to try a couple meds though before we found one that was right for her. So what you think is best for your child and not what others think would be best. Remember your the parent. I hated the thought of my child being on meds so young but in the end it helps her so I put my feelings aside when I saw the improvement in her behaviors
There are special diets that can help. But they are alot of work. No preservatives. Just do All your research and you will find the right fit for your family
One of our kids has been diagnosed Adhd and O.D.D. He has a non-stimulant medicine called Guanfacine. It doesn’t zombie him at all
Yes I did but as he grew up he learned his trigger points now hes 28 years old and hes a great young men
My daughter who will soon be 11 has adhd and she wasn’t focusing in school and was hyper and has mood swings this began in 3rd grade when the teacher started sending letters home daily saying in her own words” your kid was acting up being a brat again, you need to control her so she can do better in school “ so we set up a meeting with the teacher face to face and ended up changing classes and having the doctor evaluate her and was put on adderal rx and has been taking it everyday since and I swear she’s also bipolar because her mood swings but they won’t put her bipolar meds and doctor says it’s part of her adhd you have to deal with it
We medicated our daughter at first but after going through multiple medications and them stop working after 6 months to a year this past December we decided to no longer when her teacher was still having issues with her in class with her on the last medication she was on before she stopped
My son is severely ADHD and medicated, he is not a zombie, he is able to focus and concentrate easier now and doing better in school has helped his anxiety about school tremendously. I understand that medication is not appropriate for everyone but it has helped my child massively and for that I am grateful.
My son was diagnosed at 6 we chose not to medicate until he was 12 and school issues became a problem, when he began to ask if he was just stupid. He’s a grown man now and has served our country and now serves our community as a first responder. So I believe you have to do what you feel works best for your child at the time.
Yes I medicated my child and we have used a dozen different medicines to which none of them really help…
I decided to not medicate at least just yet. We tried a medication before but it made him so lethargic I couldn’t do it.
I sat down and talked to my son that we needed to work on paying attention and follow rules etc. the doctor recommends this medication or we can try to work a little harder.
Michael decided to work a little harder (we also have receptive expressive disorder as a diagnosis along with adhd) I took him out of public school this school year to focus more on therapy and homeschooled. Which seemed to be the best decision for Michael. He has done leaps and bounds this year and even says he is ready to go back to school.
We went from being escorted to class by the school officer, attempting to run away at gym and crying whenever he got home, to being able to tell me what’s wrong what to work on, be able to focus and do math with no help, wanting to go back and make friends and learn.
You have to do what’s best for your child and what you are realistically able to do.
You got this momma!
Test 1st. If diagnosed you can then research best therapies cause sometimes meds help them faster during the behaviour therapy. ( they can focus and learn their triggers / tolerance levels )
I would say the teacher was doing everything she could and used many tricks of the trade to help without a proper diagnosis and without requesting meds ( some teachers suck and demand meds or child be moved elsewhere)
When my son was younger, he was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD … At first we did the medication with my trials and errors … They had a substitute teacher to assist at school as well as a special classroom when he felt overwhelmed … My son was on a special diet and counseling … As he got older, he refused to take the medication for he did not like how it made him feel
My son needed it. His quality of life was at risk . It helped him so much. He took it till freshman year in high school. He still has it even at 37 but he controls it.
Meds help some kids not all I gave the meds without teacher knowing and when I inquired there was not a change
Yes medication allows for education or your child will fall behind.
Medication can be a lifesaver for these kids. Not medicating your child (if that’s what they need)and having expectations for them to do well with this diagnosis is like expecting a 1 legged person without the right equipment to walk, beyond unfair and in the long run could potentially cause more problems, self medicating when they get older, emotional harm, confidence harm, not to mention the huge kick to their confidence. My girls dad was/is against medicine as well but that for me was not an option to stop them from getting what they needed. My oldest daughter is now going into 8th and qualifying for enriched English class for the second year and Spanish honors, it’s a game changer what these kids can do when they get what they need. We as parents can’t not let ignorant comments about medicine stop us from getting what our kids need, medicating kids with adhd is not what it used to be.
Medication might be a big help to him. A bit of advice: if a medication doesn’t feel right, he could need a lower dosage, a higher dosage, or a different med. Don’t give up if one medication doesn’t help.
All three of my boys have it and medication is necessary. It helps them focus so they are able to participate and learn. Without it they struggle. Their teacher will actually contact me and say did so and do not get their medication today
I was diagnosed with adhd as a kid and was put on medication. I would say it helped me and I don’t remember any side effects. I actually wish I was still on meds now because it would help me with studying. When I got older I was put on different meds, it did help but had a certain routine and dose that did not fit with my life style at the time ( I was in college). So I stopped taking it because if I took it too late I couldn’t sleep or if I doubled the dose at one time it made me feel jittery. I would take them again as an adult if i had a more structured sleep pattern. I am a person who tries not to take pills for things if I can help it.
We’ve had the same problem with our son, now almost 12, the teachers did the same methods with our son, he has ADHD and ODD, strict schedules, and a lot of repetitive motions so to speak. We do have him medicated, we started with a lower dose of a medication (there are many to choose from) take your time with choosing one if you choose to go that route, but we give him breaks on the weekends as it does tend to change his appetite( he’s already such a small child) and messes with his sleep. It’s a rough road I’ll admit, but if you catch it soon and learn to target key behaviors that cause him to have “episodes” and what you can do to bring him from these episodes the better.
Start by taking any food away that has red dyes in it. I have 2 granddaughters with ADHD. Red dye can make them hyper. And believe it or not Coke Cola will calm him down. She gave a can of coke to Alice prior to school and it helped. She is now on medication that helps tremendously, take a bit to get dose right but it has helped in school a lot.
My son takes his medicine on school days only. His PCP and I talked about and I wanted him to be himself also and not always on medicine.
Adhd isn’t something talking will do… it’s a chemical unbalance in the brain… my 6 year old has it… it took me a while to get on board… I dont have my son on high meds… my son takes guanfacine… all it is is a blood pressure medication
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All 3 of my kids have adhd and they are all on medication my kids were not zombies and they all improved immensely with there grades and behavior. My daughter is 22 and shes been on ritalin since she was 5yrs old and my other daughter and son are 13 and 10 and they are on concerta
My daughter is 30. Still takes her meds on workdays. Masters degree. Certified in her field. Started on meds in 8th grade.
My 7 year old daughter does. No medication as of right now. We set goals and she is doing good without medication so far
It could also be something he’s eating or drinking, my grand daughter couldn’t drink juices because of the dye or color they put in mostly everything… My friends son couldn’t eat or drink anything that had red dye in it like, juices, ketchup, bbq chips, bbq sauce, ketchup chips ect, once they were removed from his diet he was able to function like the other children. First thing doctors will say is ADHD or autism then he’ll be put on drugs for life, I’d play around with what he eats first before going straight to medication which he may not need.
Both my two oldest kids were medicated against my better judgement when they were in kindergarten and 1st grade. Every medicine they were on had so many problematic side effects like it turned my oldest in a great kid at school but as soon as she got home all she wanted to do was sleep. The younger one was only medicated for a short time before I yanked him off it because he wouldn’t eat more than 3 bites and go to bed. He lost 15 lbs that he couldn’t afford to lose kind of thing. They are both now fully unmedicated and one is in an interventional class in 7th grade because the school refused to work with me with her until we moved to a smaller school district that actually cares. The younger one is top of his class now. You can learn how to deal with ADD and ADHD. But you have to do what is best for your child.
I didn’t get tested until I was an adult and had the same issues as a child that I still do to this day! Medication would have helped me be so much more successful in school as a child and helps me sooo much to this day at work!!
Meds are worth it!!!
I didn’t want to medicate either of my sons to begin with but it has actually helped them both!! They are both honor roll students!!!
We did not with our oldest . There are some things you can do . A cup of coffee in the morning. A Mountain Dew for lunch . The caffeine content calms hyperactive kids . This is short term and will not last . Teaching meditation to learn to focus for long periods. There are other things . My younger children ( all of my kids have a attention disorder) were on meds . My hyper active daughter was on the highest. I would ask the teacher if they had a little girl in there class or Daffy Duck . If I made it to sixth period that was good. If I only made it to third period we would talk to the doctor. All and all it was very difficult for my first. She struggled all through high school. And now is on meds . My younger kids started college classes in high school. And now are in college. Only my younger daughter is still on meds and doesn’t feel she could do college without them . There are scholarships for ADH kids . I recommend meds from experience. Both for you and the kids sake . They gave come a long way from Ridellan .
Did I write this?
this is exactly what my son has gone through. only difference is the teacher and counselor said its boys and they grow out of it by 3rd grade. 3RD GRADE!!!
he is in second now still has a daily behavior chart.
Little Brother is in Kindergarten and showing same, and has all those interventions, even had to spend .ore than half the year in a half say program they made for him.
Some kids take time.
Get tested first. It all starts there. My son was 8 when he was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD. Honestly, I was very concerned about the meds. I really didn’t want them at first, because the first batch made him extremely sleepy, the second made him wild…which with his ODD just made everything worse. Finally, we were able to find the right medication for his ADHD and it worked!! He can focus so much better and can keep on task and not fidget as much. The ODD however caused him to refuse to go to school. After doctor recommended therapy, it was discovered that some of his anxiety and ODD symptoms had stemmed from Covid. Hearing certain family in complete panic about COVID had caused him to fear school. Turns out…other children were also in the same situation. As far as ADHD, every child is different and you will have to find what works for your child. “Running out there energy or playing it out” was absolutely laughable with my son, because they already have enough energy as children to start with…throw in a little ADHD and that quadruples. However, some have stated here that it worked for them and that’s great. It doesnt work for most though. The meds were a God send! Not because it made it easier for me, but because it made it easier for him…sometimes you have to try different kinds and dosage until you find the right one. I had that fear of what if it makes him into a zombie and he just walks around on autopilot and then it did…but we regrouped and went on. Don’t turn away from a medication unless it just truly doesn’t work. But I know you feel as my son had been the exact same way in class. Find what works for your child and follow. For those who may be facing a child with ODD…which often makes ADHD a million times worse, I find distraction works best. If I see him getting frustrated or angry…I ask him to help me do something…cleaning a room that might not even need cleaning, we do it together and he forgets why hes even angry, playing a game with him, coloring or drawing with him…folding laundry, anything that keeps him focused on something other than the anger. It works!! This also can help with a child frustrated with ADHD. It’s not easy, but I know you’ve got this!!! Get the test and go from there. Also, remember, medication takes time to fully integrate into the body…take one does or a week won’t help…you have to keep taking it unless its causing sleepiness or sluggish behavior. You will find your way through this!
My niece had a lot of issues and is a different child now after medication, for the better.
I have taken ADHD medication since I was 9 (now 32) and truly would never had finished school without it. I wouldn’t be able to get through a day of chores without it to this day. I get so easily distracted and the medicine has been a life saver. My daughter just recently started taking a lower dose and we are seeing a big improvement. For both of us it was a process of finding the right prescription and dose but if you keep at it and find the perfect combination I promise it is so worth it. It’s scary to put your child on medication, i was terrified because I know how much I hated some of the ones we tried before finding the right one, but at the end of the day I know I made the right decision to help myself and my daughter.
I grew up with adhd. I still have it as an adult. My parents medicated me. Medication turned me into a zombie. And into a completely different person. To this day I will not take medicine.
I work in therapy and also had some experience with working with children as well. I would definitely try therapy and see where that goes. Also it’s important to have your child outside and playing and not just inside playing on his video games. Need to set strict boundaries. It’s difficult especially when they are young. A lot of trial and error. Only downfall about medicating kids is it decreases their appetite. Before medicating your kid I’d get more than one opinion…
My son is 8 with bad anxiety and ADHD. He only shows symptoms at school. Hes on concerta. Its very mild. I only give it to him while at school
My daughter is 15 was diagnosed at 6 her school wanted her medicated .i didnt so i moved her to a stiener school where they didnt have to sit at a desk all day and she thrived .too many children are over medicated these days .some children just have more energy than others and at 6 years old should not be expected to sit still for hours on end
In 2001, my son was in kindergarten. I assumed he had adHd (H capitalized on purpose!! ) I just didn’t think he would need meds so young. His teacher would call me every day to tell me what impulsive thing he did. We had a meeting in October and they wanted me to pull him out and try again next year. But as a single mom, I couldn’t afford another year of daycare, so I told them he would be staying and we would repeat kindergarten if necessary. So far all the papers he had brought home had 1 blue (favorite color) squiggle on them. I took him to be evaluated. The doc told me he had never seen a child MORE hyper. In a 30 min oberservation he had done 55 different things. The school told me he was too young to medicate. But I was at a loss of what to do. So I filled the RX, and gave him 1 (4 hour short acting ritalin). Sent him to school without telling them what I did. That night the teacher called me and said “I dont know what you said to Killian today, but he was a perfect angel!” Also, his paper for the day was a booklet they were to color and staple. 8 (quarter) pages. Each page colored with multiple colors IN THE LINES. I am sure I did the right thing. He is now 25 and a draftsman. He had a lot of anxiety as a kid, acute as he got older. But from his perspective, he said he felt less anxiety when he took it vs when he didn’t. Over the years there was a lot of dosing adjustments.
First get your child evaluated. When you take him to the doctor, dont just go to a regular doctor or a pediatrician but one that specializes in social behaviors, like ADHD and autism. If they recommend meds, ask questions on any worries you might have, like side effects and so forth. A good doctor will start off with the lowest dose possible and goes from there and the child should be weighed at every visit too, that’s important for proper doses per weight. Every child is different, don’t go by someone telling you what they did and you should too mentality. For my experience with my child, he was in preschool and he did just about everything your child did. The teacher told me that he was getting further and further behind and it was frustrating for me since I was told he had a high IQ. I took him and he was diagnosed with ADHD. Two years later, he was diagnosed with high functioning Autism. He’s almost in high school now and I still have to give him meds so he can function at school. Like I said, my son is similar to yours but he’s different too. Don’t worry about others that will stigmatize you if you medicate your son, they are not in your shoes and it’s none of their business. Good luck with your son.
Sounds just like my oldest… we would have to go get him everyday almost around lunch time cause they could not deal with him… he would lose focus extremely easy that he wouldn’t learn anything… has to repeat kindergarten because he failed everything on the report card and his attendance wouldn’t allow either… now I am also adhd and parents as well as I were against the medication… ( bio dad was against it and gave me hell about it every single time he could…) my dad talked to a Dr he trusted and he said the medication has come ALONG way! So we tried it… it took some Finagling to figure out his correct dosage he would need… Dr started him on only one 10mg tablet… small dose… but after a few mo ths we got it to where he needs to be at… fast forward 7 years… hardly ever did I get calls from the school, got student of the month, and his grades are all A’s and B’s is much better himself… he told me he doesn’t like how he feels without the medicine ( we tried one year to do medicine only for school and took him off during summer vacation… 2 weeks later was back on it) he says he can’t think straight and wants to be able to focus on 1 thing and not 5… so for me it was for the better and he is much happier…
We tried but she started losing muscle mass and never tried again.
finding the right med and dose to helptakes time but if your child had a heart problem you would get the meds right?
I chose not to. I did a lot of reading on how to handle it without meds. A strict schedule is needed for everything they do. Anything that shifts that schedule may trigger an outburst.
A time for burning off energy us a necessity.
I also learned red food dye does not do well for ADHD, ODD, or ADD. And I learned it’s in EVERYTHING.
Hes 19 now and doing fine. He knows how to deal with life.
I had 2 foster boys with simular problems. Tbe first thing I tried was fish oil. Tbe youngest one almost got kicked out of kindergarten so I relented and put him on meds. He was so much better we had him for another year, when he left and went home he tomd him mom tbst he needed those meds so he couns think he saw tbe diffrence in himself enough to know they were working. Brother on tbe other hand tbey did not help him at all.
Sounds just like my son 23 years ago & I’m proud of how I handled it today.
I fought to keep him off meds until he was 11. He was a bright kid so he was bored.
I only put him on it bc he was having issues with friendships & his self esteem.
They started with ritalin, didn’t work.
They put him on klonopin, made him a zombie. Lastly, they put him on adderal.
When this decision was made, I sat down with my son (at that time, there were children mixing alcohol with these drugs & depression made them suicidal; I was terrified.)
So, I sat down with him & had a heart to heart being he’d been through enough & old enough to understand. I told him that this was temporary, like a bandaid. I said that this is only to help you learn what normal feels like so you understand. When I take you off, I expect you to maintain your self control. Well, after 9 months, it worked! My son is now 34 & a true success story. He’s a professional with a promising career & I couldn’t be prouder. He has thanked me for walking the line with him, caring enough to help him, yet knowing how to teach him as well as taking him off it before it affected his adulthood and career choices. One proud Mom here. I’m not saying this works for all, but I’m glad I advocated, stayed on top of it, had higher expectations, paid very close attention to & bonded with my son. I wish you the very best
We tried but after two different ones with negative reactions we never did again. It either is a God send or it’s horrible…I don’t believe it’s for everyone…it surely wasn’t for our child
Testing would be the first step… my kids dad was against testing, for similar reasons, it was not until his mother spoke with him about the issue …preferably a psychologist or psychiatrist…had mine tested at 2… possible autism…no meds allowed for that age… started behavioral therapy… yearly tests, also physiology/physical (eyes, ears, allergies, etc) dietary addressed (seems both my kids were sensitive to red dye in foods) there’s a lot of steps you can try before meds…mine was and is on meds (since age 5 and is in 30’s) I am not all for putting every kid on meds…each child is different and there are steps and practices you can take…just have to be proactive…
No… Totally disagree to put my son on any meds… Hes 14 now and he grew out of it…
My mother was a SPED teacher for over 30 years. She would give them a cup of strong coffee. It’s weird but it worked with a majority of her students. I always wondered why she made a pot of coffee and just left it every night.
Both of my kids ar ees medicated. I put them both on because 1) my son was bad! He was struggling, throwing his shoes at kids, flushing eggs down toilets at school, just on the go. But once we got the correct meds and correct dosage & in therapy, he has grown so much. You take him off, he just reverts to his old ways. Nope! 2) my daughter was so distracted by things. It’s like she was off in lala land, but she was completely opposite of her brother (shes the oldest though which is weird!). She was excelling in school but distracted. We put her on the meds & she actually did better than anyone. Shes in the 99%tile for reading and math, 4th grade level. She was in the 94th at the beginning of the year & with meds she was in the 99%tile.
Meds do help. You have to keep on it to make sure his meds are correct & the right dosage. & consistent work at keeping him on task.
My boy is on Strattera for his ADHD but I’m working on getting him off of it and will just be using CBD oil.
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Sounds like the teachers need to be schooled and better trained in how to handle a child with adhd!
Yes when you choose to not medicate an adhd child you are hurting him. Parents know how to handle a child with attention peoblems but when you put them in a class with 27 other kids it is cruel to them. I had a dr explain to me that my sons brain worked so fast he would need 5 pairs of hands to keep up. Its not about making it easy for the teacher or yourself its about allowing your child to focus enough that he can learn and take things in one thing at a time. My son was in 7th grade (now 32) when they finally diagnosed him and he thanked me. Over the years with maturity he has learned to control it to an extent. My advise try it. Would not allow them to medicate him to the point of being a zombie but enough he could make friends do his school work and play sports
Try taking him to get tested maybe some consoling maybe that help maybe he don’t have it n just trying to get attention in some way not saying you don’t give him enough try that before giving him medication n if that doesn’t help try other things sometimes talking n punishment don’t help
It’s hard cause every child is different.
My biggest thing with my child was to try other avenues. Talk therapy to learn self-regulation and coping.
Diet with no dyes and low sugars.
Positive reinforcement techniques as a parent and that expectation put on teachers
Exercise and a ton of it!
Even with all that in place, my child had improved but needed to still improve to be truly productive and at peer level—my child STILL struggled
So I finally went with medication. And it is night and day. I keep everything else in place, plus the medicine and it’s been the best choice ever.
Take the non-Medicine steps. We tried for 9month with the non-medication supports before we added the medication. Days my child doesn’t take medication is totally obvious too. It is most needed to support my child. The non-medicine supports we believe help and hopefully take over as she gets older but for now, medication is what she needs.
My nephew just needs little distractions and lots of physical outlets to balance.
Every kid is different. Trialing a medicine won’t hurt either. Doctors are very willing to give a medicine a try for 30days. This medicine took 1 week before we started seeing amazing results but we think that’s cause of the non-medicine supports too.
I have ADHD and my teachers always urged testing and then after testing medication lol. My mom refused. It honestly made things really hard for me, eventually I found ways to “help” myself… I do wonder at times at how much easier my life would have been or how much potential was wasted. Even without medication I managed to graduate with high honors and get a nearly full academic college scholarship. I think the things the teacher is doing is great, my teachers made zero accommodations and I would get written up for wanting to lay down on the floor to do my reading versus sitting at the desk. Part of his problem could be boredom, if the material isn’t challenging enough for him, or the opposite (he’s getting lost and finding ways to entertain himself). I would go ahead with the testing and then pending recommendations from pediatricians, go on to have a meeting at the school. They might have other resources if you feel strongly on avoiding medicating or maybe there’s different meds from when I was a kid that are “more gentle”. I know some schools have paraprofessionals that work more one on one or in small groups in certain subjects that might make all the difference for him.
I did. He excelled with the meds and when he was old enough to decide if he wanted to take them or not we respected his wishes and took him off.
I was like him as a child so was my partner and brother everyone thought we had ADHD, we didn’t we have learning issues and instead of being embarrassed at school cause we could spell right or read properly we would muck up cause I would get us out of it… Maybe look into that before meditation…
Yes and it has helped. Without out I don’t think my son would get through school.
I do not medicate but I also homeschool I was told by the teacher back in first grade she didn’t have time to deal with my son so I made the time and he is now going to 11th grade
Firstly, sounds like you have a great teacher working with you. That is priceless.
Hubby, not so much. "Just needs a talking to "? Does he get involved at all or just expect others to set boundaries and routines?
Secondly, everyone freaks out over med’s. They are not meant as a cure or replacement for behaviour correction. It is a tool to enable your child to gain effective habits and learn - nothing more. If they become zombies, then you’re over dosing them.
No meds will be effective unless you also introduce cognitive behaviour therapy and not just you, everyone your child associates with… it’s about consistency.
My daughter was diagnosed at 5, meds for 3 mths on 3 off for 18mths because it was affecting her growth.
Her school was wonderful. They introduced cognitive behaviour therapy to the whole school - consequences etc.
That school went from a high bullying rate to receiving a Governor’s Award after 2 years because everyone was treated the same.
Final words, no 2 children are the same so be open to trying a few things to get the right strategy for your child.
Develop a network of like minded people who will provide the same expectations and boundaries for your child.
The teacher sounds like a great start so approach the school, the parents association - there will be other ADHD kids there so it’s in the schools interest to work with you.
Coupled with cognitive behavior therapy meds will make a huge difference!
focus on your families food choices…watch the Netflix documentary, The Magic Pill