Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

DS diagnosed with ADHD today but can’t take meds. What can we do to help him?

53 replies

Youaresowelcome · 31/10/2023 19:57

As above, DS (7) diagnosed today, but due to various contraindications of the medications, the risks of taking them would far outweigh the benefit, so we have decided against them.

I would be really interested and grateful hear from people in a similar situation with children who have adhd but are not medicating, what can you do to help a child in other ways?

The doctor just signed off with “keep doing what you’re doing”, but what we’re doing is winging it! Obviously I want to make sure we are doing all we can.

He particularly struggles with attention, focus and memory.

Any advice, tips or tricks gratefully recieved.

OP posts:
icewoman · 31/10/2023 19:59

I don't think this is the place to ask, as everyone's experiences are different. Speak to your SENCO

cansu · 31/10/2023 20:07

What are the contraindications? My sister is having her child assessed. I would be interested to pass this on as she in undecided about meds.

EducatingArti · 31/10/2023 20:10

Some children seem to benefit from taking a high quality omega 3 supplement ( I think it was Equizen eyeQ that they did studies on). The studies had variable outcomes but I know anecdotally that it has been a benefit for some. It might be worth a try?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

7 year olds General health SEN
Rainbowsandbutterflies1990 · 31/10/2023 20:10

How to adhd YouTube channel is very helpful , also mindfullness meditation yoga and exercise , my daughter did a little one to one session called mindfulness Magic it's a franchise in my area but I'm sure they could other different ones or just YouTube videos about Mindfulness

Sirzy · 31/10/2023 20:11

Depending on the issue with the medications you may be able to try to non stimulant drugs?

TutuDesi · 31/10/2023 20:15

Caffeine has opposite effect on those with ADHD- it can mellow them out so they can focus. The lack of concentrating and memory is because too much is going on at once. So perhaps let him have a cup of tea in the morning?

https://www.verywellhealth.com/caffeine-and-adhd-what-you-should-know-5208100

Caffeine and ADHD: What You Should Know

Is caffeine an effective treatment for ADHD? Learn more about how caffeine may help with ADHD symptoms and its possible risks.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/caffeine-and-adhd-what-you-should-know-5208100

drspouse · 31/10/2023 20:17

My DS has epilepsy and we had to try different meds before we found one that didn't clash with his anti-epileptics. But he can take stimulants. I know they are contraindicated in heart problems but I believe as @Sirzy says you might be able to try non-stimulants.

drspouse · 31/10/2023 20:18

@TutuDesi I'm afraid the science doesn't back up the caffeine idea!

Namenamchange · 31/10/2023 20:20

Please have a look at Dr Barkley for ideas and molly adhd mayhem on insta alps helps a bit.

TutuDesi · 31/10/2023 20:25

drspouse · 31/10/2023 20:18

@TutuDesi I'm afraid the science doesn't back up the caffeine idea!

Well, my link is from VeryWell Health and is medically reviewed as of 2022.
Care to link to the science that makes this outdated?

onlyoneoftheregimentinstep · 31/10/2023 20:29

When you say 'we have decided against them' do you mean you as parents or the medical team?

drspouse · 31/10/2023 20:34

@TutuDesi here is a peer reviewed meta analysis for you.
www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/9/1304

TutuDesi · 31/10/2023 20:42

drspouse · 31/10/2023 20:34

@TutuDesi here is a peer reviewed meta analysis for you.
www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/13/9/1304

Thank you. I am curious though as to how they got from 344 studies to only 7 studies being included in the not so meta-analysis, resulting in a sample size of only 76 children where caffiene was administered in a range of only 1 day to 3 weeks?

I couldn’t find the methodology behind what made hundreds of studies “ineligible”

drspouse · 31/10/2023 20:45

I'm guessing this is why:

Non-randomized comparisons and studies without a placebo control group were excluded

MotherEarthisaTerf · 31/10/2023 20:46

Have you considered none stimulant meds?

just knowing he has adhd will help.

best thing to do will be to look into occupational therapy and supporting sensory needs. Everyone has varying sensory needs and neurodivergent people are more likely to benefit from support. There’s a great book called something like Sensory ideas 101 with lots of exercises to provide feedback.

we also like the book All Dogs have ADHD which is a great way to explain about adhd type symptoms.

above all now’s the time to begin to teach him to speak up for what he needs eg whether it’s a 5 minute run around or to speak to somebody if he’s having problems with impulsivity.

Original poster
Youaresowelcome · 31/10/2023 20:55

Thanks so much for responses.

he has been diagnosed with mild to moderate inattentive adhd. Unfortunately he has three conditions which would make stimulants too risky, he has quite a complex medical profile, so, at the advice of his team of doctors, we have decided against them.

As he has mild to moderate presentation, and is being given a lot of support at school already which is really helping him, we have been advised to keep non stimulant meds in our back pocket for now and see how he gets on.

but, obviously, we want to do everything we can to help in the meantime.

OP posts:
Bobbybobbins · 31/10/2023 21:00

Our DS tried the meds but side effects were awful so he is not taking them.

Things that have helped are: sleep medication (melatonin or phenergen, prescribed), lots of physical activity including before sitting down to an activity, sensory massage eg of his hands, water.

Though he is in a special school so may be very different to your DS.

vidflex · 31/10/2023 21:05

We were lucky that our ds was in a good school with a very good senco. We worked closely with his teachers so they knew how to handle him.consistency is essential.

We got him into lots of activities to burn energy off.

Made sure he ate well, good quality clean food. No additives or junk.

We encouraged his strengths and interests. He loved being active and outside. We got him an allotment.

He's now married with two children and runs his own landscape gardening business. Granted his wife is a driving force to keep him on track in his work as he can be a bit scatty with decisions and money. But they make it work.

NameChange30 · 31/10/2023 21:07

YY to considering his sensory needs - ask GP or SENCO if you could get an OT assessment on the NHS. If not, and if you can afford to go private, it's worth it IMO.

My local children's services offer free parenting courses and there are courses for specific conditions such as autism/ADHD - might be worth looking into.

Otherwise just read all the ADHD parenting books you can get your hands on!

MissHavershamReturns · 31/10/2023 21:10

Movement breaks and a walk before arriving in school help

booksandbrooks · 31/10/2023 21:28

Forest school! And time in nature more generally.

A lot of forest school practitioners have adhd it's a really good field for neurodivergence as at its core it is about removing barriers to participation and allowing participants' needs to be met where they are, rather than making them be or do something.

I think it's preferable to other forms of outdoor learning in that sense (unlike scouts forest school is process based, not outcome based - L badges or tests etc) but all time in nature is a positive thing.

https://research.childrenandnature.org/research/children-with-adhd-functioned-better-in-the-woods-than-in-a-built-setting/

I would talk to your Dr about coaching / CBT / OT There's many strategies for many issues, not all
Will be right but there's more knowledge now than there used to be.

I have friends who have found their adhd medication life changing but it's not the management path we chose.

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/decoding-the-adhd-mind/

Good luck Flowers

Localher0 · 31/10/2023 21:31

Is it stimulants he can't take? My DD had a bad reaction to them so she moved on to atomoxetine instead. Takes a bit longer to work but after a few months we saw a definite benefit.

Snowdayplease · 31/10/2023 21:33

@Localher0 are you still managing to source that ok? Dh takes it and all the chemists are out!

Youvebeenmuffled · 31/10/2023 21:35

Methylated B vitamins

parietal · 31/10/2023 21:36

Enroll him in a drama group or a music group. Or if those don't appeal, a sport group. It is working with others in a team that matters. Drama and music have been shown to improve attention in kids and help them learn to control their behaviour.