ADHD medication for school?

[3Kids3]

My DD is in year 5 and has a diagnosis of ADHD and Dyspraxia. We are considering offering her medication for school only. Previously, we have been resistant to the idea because of the side effects - poor sleep, weight loss, mood instability and not much research on long term impact on the brain. We also researched and discovered that it only works for about 2-3 years, then doses need to be increased significantly.

Does anyone have any direct experience with their own children being medicated for ADHD? Did it help at school?

Her behaviour at home is manageable. Therefore, this is just to help her concentration during lessons as she is falling further and further behind her peers which is really impacting on her self esteem.

[Foxy800]

My daughter is on medication for adhd. I generally give her on school days and not at weekends. I also only give it to her in the holidays if I can see it is needed. Hope this helps you.x

[WhyDoesEveryoneHateMe]

My son is on medication too. We medicate for school days only or days in the holidays/weekend where it is needed.

It is well monitored. He has weight height and blood pressure check ups every six months. Re the sleeping, well he doesn't anyway so we haven't had to cross that bridge! although we are conscious if we haven't given it by a certain time he will be up all night!!

[Indantherene]

I have a DS in his 20s who has been on medication since he was 7, and a 7 yo DD who has been on meds for almost a year.

DS is almost 6ft tall and built like the proverbial, so the meds have had no impact on his height/weight. DD lost a lot of weight when she first went on it because she isn't hungry during the day. We've sorted it out with lots of extra food after school.

For both the meds really helped at school. It enables them to concentrate and to get their thoughts in order - I believe it shuts off all the distractions in their head. Certainly school noticed the difference, and could always tell the days we'd forgotten the tablets in the race to get out of the door.

[Foxy800]

My daughter is also monitored every 6 months and wasn't sleeping properly before she was on mess.x

[Foxy800]

Med's even!!!

[3Kids3]

Thanks so much. The replies are really helpful. It sounds as if everyone has found the medication to make a positive difference.

Has anyone had a different experience?If so, what were your concerns? I just want to ensure I make a fully informed decision.

[3Kids3]

Just one other thing - does anyone know why there are no schools which specialise in ADHD alone, considering the number of children who seem to have this diagnosis? Is it something yo do with co-morbidity? If so, Lots of schools seem set up for ASD which also seems to frequently have co-morbid diagnoses. I can't seem to work this one out!

[ChowNowBrownCow]

My ds has asd and adhd. He like your child has fallen further and further behind at school. Socially he struggles as he loses interest in others, can't remember rules of games etc. today is the first day of taking meds for adhd. I feel sad, defeated , guilty I have put him on meds when he thinks he's fine. I am keeping a diary to spot any changes good or bad. I am worried I'm doing the right thing. But that's part of having children- making decisions based on what you know at the time and hoping for the best. The meds are not a miracle drug, but along with other therapies at homed and school, I hope they improve things for him. I will let you know how it goes over the next couple of weeks.

[TwoLeftSocks]

DS has been on meds on school days only since Easter and is doing okay with them. He takes a slow release tablet before breakfast, which tides him over till about 4pm.

He went up from the starter dose to the typical dose a couple of months ago and it has affected his appetite at lunchtime, however he eats like a horse in the afternoon/evening and weekends and is happily gaining weight and height.

If you're concerned, have a good chat to the teacher, they're your eyes and ears for off-typical behaviour at school. I e-mailed DS's teacher a copy of the meds data sheet and outlined the main potential side-effects, and catch up with her on a regular basis.

It's also worth starting the meds during one of the school hols/half term so you can see how they work out.

Hope your DS's meds go okay, ChowNow. If it helps, I was a bit of a wreck starting him on his meds (gin came in handy) but it's made a big difference to his concentration and he's much happier with his own work than he was a year ago.

[streakybacon]

16 year old ds has been on meds for ADHD since age 10. He's home educated so medicating just for school doesn't apply - he's never had a break and his consultant doesn't think it's necessary. Dosage has increased as he's got bigger. He's never had a problem sleeping and although his appetite isn't huge, he eats reasonably well and we make sure he has lots of healthy snacks available to top up if needed.

It's not magic though, and there are still deficits. It's worth bearing that in mind so you have realistic expectations of what improvements it can make to focus and concentration. It won't 'fix' her, but it may improve her executive function enough for you to work with her on management strategies. ADHD meds work best in conjunction with other tools, but it's not very effective on its own, iykwim.

[3Kids3]

Thanks streaky. That is a good point to remember. Did you use CBT or any other form of psychotherapy?

The holiday idea is also good twoleftsocks. I will bear that in mind.

Good luck chow now and please do let me know if it helps.

Think I will make an apt. With the GP and see how it goes.

[streakybacon]

I probably would have, had there been anything like that made available to us. But we were dismissed by the NHS (file closed without telling us, no dx) and we had to go private for assessment and dx, followed by medication. We certainly couldn't afford to go down that route privately.

I just do my best for ds in the absence of any professional intervention. We're lucky to have the meds, tbh, but nobody else wants to know so we're pretty much on our own.

You'll probably have to go back to the consultant psych to get medication prescribed in the first instance, rather than your GP. They can issue repeats but the instruction has to come from the psych. GPs aren't qualified to prescribe, iirc. Good luck.

[TwoLeftSocks]

In terms of anything else, we've been going to a parenting course that's run locally by one of the ADHD nurses and volunteers. It was something we got referred to when DS got his dx and it's been really useful for behaviour strategies. There might be something like that near you, though I really don't know how variable it is across the country.