ADHD / ADD Support Group

My 9 yr old son was just diagnosed in Dec. I always knew he was 'different' and was not surprized at the diagnosis. My husband was set on him never being on meds.
My son was starting to get picked on at school (adhd kids are sometimes not liked by other kids) and he was just way hyper all the time (ie hate to say - but it was driving me nuts!).....Well, he started on meds in December.....adderol gave great
results for a few weeks - but then he was getting 'very emotional' (upset, crying etc.) - We recently moved him to Concerta and he seems much better.

The way I look at it - if it helps them with friends and schoolwork - it would be wrong of me NOT to give him meds. It is funny how people consider 'mental' or brain differences as 'optional' treatements....but if a kid has diabetes, no one would ever hold back insulin.

We have seem dramatic results in just a few months.....he is having more friends over....and actually loves that he can concentrate much better - without that 'spinning head' feeling.

Go to you Dr. See what they say. Then, I would just try your daughter on some meds. You can always stop....and from my experience, the results are immediate

Thank you for for giving me such good advise a really just need to hear it from some one who is going through the same thing. In my family you just can't even mention you are even think about it cause they will make you feel like your just not a good mom and can't handle your child, my daughter's DR told me I should give her Strattera if anyone have any experience with med please give me any advise good or bad.

my son was in the initial drug study trials for strattera. The primary advantage: it is not a 'controlled substance', so the refills are easier. The side effects of being significantly sensitive to cold, and when the drug wore off, he HAD to lay down and sleep. It didn't matter if it was in the middle of the street. We have used concerta, concerta long acting, ritalin, adderall, and daytrana. We waited 7 months to get an appointment with the adolescent psychiatrist, WORTH the WAIT. As we explored all options, and have a combo that allows him to function, eat and SLEEP! Be sure to meet with whomever does the IEP (Individualized Educational Program) and get the help the laws require the system to provide. There are wonderful people in the schools who want to do the right thing. With the cuts in funds, and the increased numbers of kids being properly diagnosed-sooner, it can be challenging. And even if our beloved children were 'normal' it would be challenging. :)

Your not a bad mom if you give your kids medication to help them with. when my daughter was 3 she had adhd and i did nothing because i thought it was a stage she was going through.talk about hell on wheels for years. she is 12 now and not as hyper-active as before.
My point is i should of had her on meds when she was younger. I look back and think my gosh i went through hell.

I have five kids and teo of them are ADHD and let me tell you with eveything I deal with when they are not on meds I would go crazy. I don't think you are a bad mom if you get your kids on meds. You are trying to help your not trying to be a bad person. Wouldn't you do anything in this world to help them? I think we all know that answer and I think it is the right one. Good luck.

You are not a bad mom.I know that alot of people look down on those of us that give our kids meds but those same people have no idea what it is like to have an adhd child.They don't know what it's like to get notes sent home everyday or get called to the school for another conference about bad behavior.As far as family goes I finally got nasty and reminded them of just whose child it is anyway.

my 13 yr.old has been dx'd with ADHD he was 7 at the time no no no no do not feel like bad mom you are not that at all I was the same and I had to do research with out a computer. and let your family act that way if your mommy gut says hey something is not clicking have your child tested . my boy takes like 5 different med's in one day every day no breaks now he can slow down some if you ever need to talk just let me know . you are in my prayers focalin is a good med.for this don't wait please
mom93

I'm new here. I also did not want to start my son on meds and felt that I had somehow failed to be a good mom to him. The Dr. finaly convinced me, along with his worsening behavior and increasing problems with kids at school thinking he was "weird". We have just started him on Metadate. We have already had to adjust the dose. I don't feel like a bad mom. I have seen a glimpse of what he can be like if we get a medication that works well for him. However, could someone here give me some reassurance that this is not going to be a long drawn out process. I'm frustrated and don't really have any support here. No one that I know that has been through this with their kids.

You are definitely NOT a bad mom!! Believe me, my son has been on meds for over 4 years for ADHD. I told his doctor once that I didn't want to give it to him anymore and he gave me a pamphlet of all the problems that children who don't get treatment for ADD/ADHD have as adults. It really cleared things up for me! That list included: Inability to maintain stable relationships, Disrespect for authority figures, Inability to maintain a steady job, etc., etc, etc. So, don't ever think you're a bad mom for trying to help your children. If they've got a fever you would give them Tylenol or Advil to bring it down -- ADHD is a medical condition that requires medication, bottom line! Hope this helped you feel better about it.

We always said that if one, or both, of our younger kids had ADD or ADHD, we would never medicate, after all, we didn't medicate our oldest child. Alas, here we are years later, eating our words. It appears, that Rebecca, our 9 yr old, has ADD and Aspergers. We now realize that in order to deal with the Aspergers, we HAVE to get the ADD under control, and that means medication. Our stubborness on the issue of meds is, lets face it, all about us, not her, and she is the priority. So meds it will be. Do we have worries? You bet. After reading, I see weight loss is an issue with some of these meds. Rebecca doesn't have any weight to lose! (Oh, how I wish I had that problem) In the end, med issues are usually OUR hang ups. And, frankly, we need to get over ourselves. Do your research, talk to doctors, other parents and so on, and in the end, make your decision. Knowing that you have YOUR CHILDs best intrest in mind! That is all we can ever do as parents. Good luck.