Can anyone give me hope by sharing positive experiences of adhd medication?

[coodawoodashooda]

Too much has gone on to post here but my dc is not being successful at school. It is awful actually. I've finally relented and agreed to adhd medication. Can anyone give me any examples of how this has worked for either yourself or someone you know?

My daughter started Equasym XL for ADHD, just over a year ago. She is also badly dyslexic. The school paid for an educational psychologist to assess her, and he didn't feel that she had ADHD, and neither did her specialist dyslexic tutor. However a paediatric consultant was sure she had ADHD purely from her questionnaires and from speaking to me. He couldn't meet her at the time due to lockdown. Because of the conflicting opinions, I didn't know what to do with regards to giving her medication. We had to try something though as she was doing so badly at school. My thinking in the end was that we would never know if we didn't try it, and that we could always stop the medication if we felt it necessary. A year later, she is doing so much better at school. Every one of her subject teachers told me that she was like a different pupil at school (this was at the end of year 8). There are still big difficulties due to her dyslexia and basically just not being academic when the whole school system places such huge value on that, but she is now able to concentrate and achieve far more in her lessons. She is on a low dose (20mg daily) as she felt nauseous on the 30mg dose originally prescribed. She does get a come down late afternoon, but she is managing this better as time has gone on. She basically just behaves a bit mad! Lots of energy, talking really fast, and unable to focus. This can be a bit tricky as she can feel very irritable and get snappy, but she does recognise this better than she used to.

My nephew is on medication for ADHD and he has massively benefited. You can definitely tell when he's on it versus when he isn't. He's more focused and he isn't so easily distracted.

My son also has ADHD but he has only been on medication for a month, on a low dose, so we're not expecting to see improvement yet. I am hopeful though after seeing the results with my nephew.

Wishing you all the best with your child. It's been a long, difficult and emotional journey with my son getting to this stage, so I empathise with you very much.

DS1 started his aged 7 and it’s made a massive difference to him. It’s helped his schoolwork which is more accurate and neater (and gets finished now!) but more importantly he’s not forever being told off or getting into arguments with other children and is much happier now!

I meant to add, my son is on Equasym XL. Not sure which one my nephew is on, but he had to go through a few to find the right one for him.

Thank you. I dont know what we will be prescribed yet, it has apparently an 8 hour release. It has been a very stressful time watching him fail. Im desperate for him to experience the success he deserves. Was the difference for your daughter immediate?

Thank you everyone. I've been told that the medication does not stay in your system. Does the change involve the child getting used to their better concentration?

My son 12 started on equasym XL last September. It makes a massive difference to him. Last year he was reluctant to take it and would refuse on occasion. It led to disastrous consequences and he was in a pretty bad way in school, we weren’t sure if they would have him back. They did (thank fuck, because they’re awesome) and he is now taking it every single day and doing so well. We did an increase from 30mg- 40mg in mid September because he said he was feeling like his meds were wearing off around 2:00-2:30pm and he was getting hyper. School were confirming this. Since then he has had no issues in school, he’s able to concentrate and is getting 100% in his assessments were previously he was getting 30-40% if he was even completing the tests. He is so happy.

My son is 14 years old. It took over six months of adjustments to get the dose right. My chronic school refuser now has 80% attendance, went to ask teachers how to revise (he has previously refused to do any tests) and has joined a school sports team. This time last year he was stubble no to cope with a part-time timetable and adamant h3 wouldn’t spend one second more in school than he had to. It may not sound much but it’s a complete turnaround for us and he looks on track to get GCSEs which I did not think would be possible a year ago.

My ds was diagnosed at 7 and we medicated straight away. After building up the dose, the effect was immediate and obvious. He’s achieving well at school now and most importantly, his relationships with his peers have much improved. We’re still dealing with low self esteem caused by his frustration with himself but the medication changed our lives.

*struggling to cope with part-time

Equasym is an 8 hour release so it only lasts for those hours. My son definitely notices the change in his ability to concentrate. He won’t miss his meds in the morning now because he really appreciates the difference they make.

He’s on medikinet xl (slow release) which lasts for the school day and we have the option to give him a tea time top up depending on how he is and is he’s got an after school club.

This is so wonderful to read. I just cannot imagine. The last few weeks have been awful. He has basically given up and doesn't even hide the fact he's not going to try. Its awful.

Ds has been on a non simulant med since he was 8, he was added onto another 6 months ago.

When he was 7 he was just about clinging onto mainstream school. He has just gone into year 7 and (wihh ehcp and lots of support) and is excelling because he can concentrate and work to his potential.

He is still the same lovable crazy child but he has enough focus to enjoy things

Meeee! Diagnosed this year at 34 . Textbook inattentive type that no one picked up at school, but despite that I went to Oxbridge, got a masters degree and also have a director role in a big non-profit.

However, all my coping strategies failed when I had DS, he was the straw that broke the camel's back - even though he was the easiest baby in the world.

I started Concerta at a very low slow release dose this February. I had to work with the psychiatrist on getting the dosage right for a few months but it has been life changing. I remember walking to the gym and suddenly realizing my mind was quiet. It was amazing.

I had some mild headaches and weight loss (about half a stone, but had a borderline overweight BMI before) but that's it. To quote another mumsnetter "I suddenly found an hour inside every hour". It's truly changed my life for the better.

My son is on equasym xl 30mg. He is 13 started when he was 10. On a lower dose then. His teacher commented that the work he produced on the first day of taking it increased
We don’t medicate weekends or holidays as he wont eat on it.
He now asks for it if I forget and recognises that he can’t cope in school without it.
He is diagnosed asd and adhd.
Had an Ed psych in this week and they diagnosed dyslexia and dysgraphia too

@allfurcoatnoknickers

Meeee! Diagnosed this year at 34 . Textbook inattentive type that no one picked up at school, but despite that I went to Oxbridge, got a masters degree and also have a director role in a big non-profit.

However, all my coping strategies failed when I had DS, he was the straw that broke the camel's back - even though he was the easiest baby in the world.

I started Concerta at a very low slow release dose this February. I had to work with the psychiatrist on getting the dosage right for a few months but it has been life changing. I remember walking to the gym and suddenly realizing my mind was quiet. It was amazing.

I had some mild headaches and weight loss (about half a stone, but had a borderline overweight BMI before) but that's it. To quote another mumsnetter "I suddenly found an hour inside every hour". It's truly changed my life for the better.

That's wonderful. So wonderful.

I think i just cant imagine it. How one day you can just get on with things when otherwise you couldn't.

It can be life changing, without it I wouldn’t be capable of doing my job or raising my son. It also enables me to do basic things like time keeping, having a routine etc, I just can’t do them without it.

@Simonjt

It can be life changing, without it I wouldn’t be capable of doing my job or raising my son. It also enables me to do basic things like time keeping, having a routine etc, I just can’t do them without it.

So how do you manage your day? Do you just squash all the important jobs into your 8 hours when you know youll be, 'on'?

DS started aged 9, 6 months after diagnosis. The difference is incredible- you can really tell when he is on them or not, and you can tell when the effects wear off each day.

He loves the meds. He wasn't in trouble at school but couldn't concentrate. Since starting the meds he says everything is clearer and easier. He was most disappointed at having a break this summer and as soon as we got home was asking to take them again.

Despite being only 8hrs release it does impact his sleep (but then so does adhd) so he takes melatonin.

He is bubbly and happy and full of energy on the meds. He is agitated and manic without them. They do affect his appetite but it actually suits us cos he has compulsive eating linked to adhd so this just brings his appetite more in line with the norm.

Ds has 2x 5mg medikinet every day. He was on the 10mg slow release version but he lost his appetite and lost a lot of weight. It really helps him focus at school and, as a result, his writing has come on in leaps and bounds both in his pencil control and in the content of the work he produces.

When he first started taking it, he was more nervous than normal and would get angry more quickly but that settled within a couple of weeks.

I have two doses a day, so I’m essentially almost always medicated when I’m awake (dexamfetamine).

@Simonjt

I have two doses a day, so I’m essentially almost always medicated when I’m awake (dexamfetamine).

What is different when you don't take it? (If you don't mind me asking.)

No thats fine, but focus and time keeping goes to shit. I was off it a few weeks ago and I was supposed to be tiling our bathroom, instead I spent about two hours pissing about with the little tile spacers. Or I can do routine, so I wouldn’t get up, run, shower, breakfast etc, I’d just do whatever I fancy and not really even comprehend that I may be making myself late for something. My memory can almost be a bit foggy, as I don’t really listen when I’m not medicated so I don’t remember having conversations with people.

I have type one diabetes and I’m not capable of actually managing it when I’m not medicated as I just won’t test or I’ll struggle to workout what I’ve eaten, how much insulin I need etc.

I can get hyper focused on things, on my last medication break I took up crochet and I had to be severely nagged to so anything else.