My son has ADHD, he is 9 yrs but I count ourselves as 'lucky' as he was diagnosed at 5 after just a couple of weeks in school. It's not easy, he also has Dyspraxia. He is medicated and with a controlled drug, which is locked away in the pharmacy until I collect it. I have to sign for it and declare who I am when I pick it up. He also has to have checks once every six months to check that the medication isn't affecting his height and weight. There is something very difficult about giving your child medication that is treated with such caution.
But what is the alternative? Without the medication, people make judgements and can not see past the 'crazy' behaviour. The school say that without his medication, it's like 'flicking a switch'. We find the medication keeps my son calm enough to allow his wonderful personality shine through.
We are so dependant on it now, which is a worry. If we spend time together for the day, I don't medicate him (as a one off) however I don't let him play out with friends or socialise without his medication and it's hard to accept that my child has to take a pill in order for his behaviour to be acceptable. I just want him to be the same as everybody else. I'm worried that when he gets older he will forget to take his tablet and of the repercussions this may have on him and others around him.
I am a single mum and he has never needed much sleep (awake at 4:45am and will not sleep until 10pm) and the excercise he takes is relentless!! I know I have it easy compared to other parent with SN children and above everything that I have rambled on about above, I love him so much and totally unconditionally. I just want the best for him but I understand that social stigma and a little ignorance about the condition means that for now, we wil continue to medicate him and hope that the long term effects on his health, if any, can be overcome.
So sorry for such a long post and thank you to the OP for getting a discussion going on ADHD, I will read this thread with interest.