Can anyone talk to me about side effects and benefits of ADHD meds in kids?

[nightwebs]

DD13 is soon to start meds for ADHD and the psychiatrist discussed the potential side effects of these which we understand. For those of you who have DCs on the meds, did they experience any side effects upon starting them and how long did they last? Also, how do you feel that the meds overall helped them with their ADHD symptoms? Am feeling anxious now we're at this stage and hope there isnt too much for DD to contend with here.

I hated/hate the meds. I hate how life presents without them more. I've been thinking about your op. Imagine how a glass of wine at a party can loosen you up, the meds seem to tighten up thinking in an opposite way. My child's life experience is 100 per cent improved because of the meds.

I think this so how I feel.

I wish the world was a place that accepted my DS as he is, without needing meds. Unfortunately it isn’t. I don’t think many parents feel really happy about giving their child medication - but can often see the huge difference it makes. For some reason it seems more difficult than saying giving medication for a more obviously physical illness - say diabetes - and I’m not sure why ( and also why so many other people feel very free to give their opinion to you on ‘medicating’ your child). But ADHD can have hugely damaging impact on individuals. I didn’t feel I could withhold the chance of trying it from my DC.

Then again even if the world was more accepting I don’t know if my DS would want to take the meds anyway - he says he likes the break from his ‘noisy’ head.

But I don't think any world would manage accepting adhd. The time blindness or incessant going on and on. It seems to turn the volume down so you can hear words, instead of noise. It's been life changing, in a good way.

Why would you want the world to accept your DS as he is? My ADHD is volatile, lacks focus, struggles with everyday life. That’s pretty shitty for him

My DS’s ADHD

I think that even if the world 'accepted a child as he is', this wouldn't negate the impact on that individual. If you can't focus and take in information in the classroom or you can't settle to complete a task, then despite your intelligence, you are not going to achieve in the way you should. I have been so struck with one child's phenomenal progress with some standard adjustments such as seating position, some breaks, check ins, peer support and some TA support in certain lessons plus medication in school. On the days when the medication has been forgotten or missed for some reason, the child has been incapable of accessing the curriculum.

DD is 16 and so old enough to articulate her own experience clearly. She really appreciates her medication and feels that she enjoys life more while taking them - to the extent that she no longer wants to have rest days from them.

However, she was very carefully graduated onto them by the paediatrician, with a dose that increased very slowly over several months so that we know that she is at just the right level which lets her do her best (her grades went up 20% with meds) without feeling stifled.

I probably have ADHD too, but not so extreme and self-medicate with caffeine. If I don't have coffee after lunch, I do nothing useful all afternoon. So I completely understand why she would rather be in control of her brain than not.

And to answer your question specifically - appetite went down but we just front load at breakfast and supper and she eats less lunch. That's pretty much the only side effect - except coffee makes her jittery.

But she started at exactly the same age and it has been transformative for DD, both socially and academically.

As a woman diagnosed too late (31) I honestly think you are all doing such a wonderful thing getting your kids diagnosed early and getting them medicated. I know my brain is fully developed, but my first tablet changed my life and made me realise what I was missing all those years ago. They will all have a great start with support like this.

Reading up on ADHD has made me realise I very likely have it too - I started primary school in the early 80s and was classed as lazy and a daydreamer, I never met my potential, that's for sure.

DDs psychiatrist told me that by late teens, in around 60% of people the symptoms can diminish to such an extent that they don't really impact the person's life anywhere near as much. I'd say I was one of those lucky ones (except if I'm under extreme stress, I become a different person completely and things start to fall apart).
Thank heavens for greater knowledge and understanding of this condition!

DDs psychiatrist told me that by late teens, in around 60% of people the symptoms can diminish to such an extent that they don't really impact the person's life anywhere near as much.

what he is actually saying there is they learn to mask in order to fit in. That’s not a good thing and is part of the reason so many neurodivergent adults struggle with mental health

Preteen on guanfacine. Helps his mind quieten so he can focus on school. He has anxiety and realised it was give him a sense of fearfulness to where he was afraid to try things. We’re going to see if he can swap to something else as that factor stopped him being able to participate fully in his sport and other things. He can feel when it wears off in the afternoon.
He has a morning coffee that helps him too.
He is painfully underweight and can’t seem to put any on so need to check with his neuro about that also.

Overall it’s very helpful and we can tell when he hasn’t taken it as he is very scattered and emotional

Ds 11 on Equasym xl 20mg.

its a fairly low dose and we haven’t seen appetite problems (he is a hearty eater tho so it might be harder to see)

i have nothing but good things to say about it. He didn’t like the way it made him work harder at school, but it’s really really helped w friendships and school work. And feelings.

DD has been on meds for about 18 months. Initially Medikinet 20mg, moved to Equasym 20mg and now on 30mg.

She had minimal side effects, her appetite reduced for the first few weeks but we just made sure she had a good breakfast and dinner (the appetite suppression mainly hit her at lunchtime when the effects of the meds were at their highest).

I still feel we have some tweaking to do dose-wise, but so far they've really helped.
Her focus is much better at school and she is able to regulate her emotions a lot better. All in all it's been a positive experience so far.

Good to see some kids have been doing better friendship wise since going on the meds. DD says she has no friends at school (has a few outside of her school that she spends a lot of time with) and I get the sense that she feels lonely there.

Sorry but this isn't true. Or an "urban myth" as another pp said. I've been on and off adhd medication since I was young.

The reason I come off them?

I want to go back to my old self for a while!

They can absolutely make you feel robotic and like you're not yourself. The side effects can also be quite rough - loss of appetite, issues falling asleep, dry mouth, anxiety like feeling with a tight chest. And it can be difficult to get it right too, especially if you factor in hormonal cycles and diet. I can take them at the same time, after eating the same meal, with the same amount of sleep the night before and depending on my cycle day the effects (both good and bad) will be different. You probably wouldn't notice to look at me (my parents and partner never did) but I felt it.

It's 100% a thing.

And I'm so sick of people saying otherwise like it's this universal rule when everyone reacts and feels differently about them. Especially if you've never even taken them yourself!

It's like doctors gaslighting women about mirena coils and such. People know what they experience!

So helpful to read all of these positive accounts on medication I feel so conflicted about medication for DD but this has given me hope.