AIBU - ADHD medication worries

[ZanyMobster]

DS2 (9) has started ADHD medication this week, I know it is the best thing for him to try it but I have this awful feeling inside, I am worrying it will change him and every time I think about his funny 'quirks' eg saying random things in the middle of a totally unrelated conversation, bursting into song randomly when trying to concentrate I just feel sad.

I know deep down I am being daft but can anyone give me any advice/share experiences to help me.

I feel totally selfish worrying about these things but he has the most lovely, funny personality and I am so inexperienced in all this. Diagnosis for ASD and ADHD have happened very quickly so it's all a bit of a whirlwind. Disclaimer - I do know IABU and completely irrational but I feel very alone as in RL everyone just says how positive etc it is, even DH doesn't get why I am out of sorts over it.

Thanks all!

I spent a year agonising over meds for ds then 6. Our pead sat with me for an hour while I sobbed one day not knowing what to do. She basically said try them or we will take ds out of our service as there's nothing left to be done - very harsh but made me let ds try them.

First month was hell as he got used to them, then adjusting diet to stop weight loss. But he can focus, hes doing much better at school

Day 4 and still no mega side effects, loss of appetite and very thirsty but that's it. 3 days with no outbursts at school which is very unusual so fingers crossed it is helping evenings are worse though. Obviously it will be hard to tell until we've done a couple of weeks. He is so happy about it all which is fabulous.

We will definitely persevere with meds if these don't work out, all these positive experiences are so good to hear! I definitely feel more confident about it all. Thank you.

OP - I take ADHD meds everyday and I can honestly say that they have changed my life.

The only thing is that I didn't start taking them until I was 27 and it makes me sad that all that time I knew that something was wrong and now I know what it was.

Persian, that is such a shame but I am glad it is helping you now.

We are having a few difficulties in the evenings, he is so calm during the day but by 8pm he is getting stressed out. He has lashed out at us just before bedtime every night and is so sorry after poor thing. Just hoping this settles down soon.

We are having a few difficulties in the evenings, he is so calm during the day but by 8pm he is getting stressed out
I get that too.

It is like a rebound effect as the medicine wears off and you are starting to get tired so you feel all sort of out of sorts.

Here is a link that explains it properly -
www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/treatments-approaches/medications/adhd-medication-rebound-what-you-need-to-know

in Russia, adhd is controlled by diet, apparently ( info gained from the Russian parents of an adhd child), friends of my American rels.Ain't working, is my estimation.

My American niece takes Vyvanse 20mg, with a break at weekends.shes so much happier - still a high achiever but, because she no longer experiences the frustration caused by an inability to carry through, it's a win-win situation.
There were some concerns re: appetite suppression, as she's naturally v.slight, but it seems to have evened out.
She still goes to see her dr. Every 3 months, who monitors her.

I had worse rebound and no appetite with concerta. I changed to generic Ritalin and it's ok now. However everyone is different.

Also it's early days so don't change anything just yet, see how it goes. Once he gets settled you can look at fine tuning it to avoid rebound etc. Another option is to take some instant in the morning and then long acting slightly later in the day. There are options to sort out the little things, but 3 days without an outburst is great news.

Please feel free to tell him if he is upset , you talked to a mum who takes the same tablets as him and she sometimes got a bit like him in the evenings, it's ok and he shouldn't get too cross with himself about it.

I cannot emphasise enough to any parents of ADHD children how upsetting it can be to know that you upset people with your behaviour when you didn't mean to and how much that can stay with you. Knowing he isn't the only one, and that even some grown ups have the same issue may comfort him I hope.

Please feel free to tell him if he is upset , you talked to a mum who takes the same tablets as him and she sometimes got a bit like him in the evenings, it's ok and he shouldn't get too cross with himself about it
Do you get the rebound thing too??

Thanks, I have spoken to him and he feels a bit better knowing it's not just him that gets like that in the evenings, he is worried about it as he broke some stuff last night so it has been bothering him today.