What has ADHD medication done for you or your child?

[Cobaltsea]

How has it helped or hindered your child, do you take medication as an adult? I am beginning to think I have it myself - and I have a DS who may also have it. I've made some impulsive decisions in my life without weighing up the risk and lived to regret them. There are other behaviours too. Interested to hear some anecdotal accounts of people's experiences.

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DH is recently diagnosed and just started on medication. It's only been a week but the difference is night and day.
He is no longer overwhelmed or anxious.
He has the patience and head space to deal with our 2 small DC, even when they are really pushing everyone to the limit.
He has the headspace and ability to prioritize so has been able to help more around the home.
He has had a revelation about how much I have been carrying everyone and is determined to share the load more.
He is no longer late to leave in the mornings.
He is now capable of getting himself and both dc out the door unassisted when I leave early for work.
He has prioritized a lot of work issues and projects so he can work through them methodically.
He no longer needs me to prompt him to start something or to check in that he is staying on track.
He can better estimate time and how long tasks will take.
It has only been a week and we are both in a bit of shock at how drastically and quickly life has changed.

Also to add, he is now trying to come to terms with how heavily his life has been impacted the whole way through and how much he struggled. He will be working with a psychologist to work through some of the questions and feelings it has raised for him.

I have taught children who have been completely transformed by it. For them it has been truly life-enhancing.

I have two children with ADD (inattentive). Both prescribed medikinet. One, it made no difference whatsoever, the other is happier, cheerier, more organised and more “him” somehow.

I taught a child who was very bright but couldn't show it. It was 'stuck' inside him. He would often be under the table, wandering, really struggled to sit down and focus. Half way through the yr he started medication and I think it took a bit of time to get the right dose but it literally transformed him in the classroom. He was able to focus and show off his amazing work. This was a year 4 child. I can't remember what his official diagnosis was but he had had an awful 0- 4 years and was then adopted by lovely family. I think it was ritalin that he took. I didn't notice that it made him drowsy or not himself.

This has been the case for me and my DP, who started in Strattera/Atomoxetine a few months ago. The difference has been incredible.

Following

I would be especially interested to know if it has helped anyone or their child with controlling anger or extreme emotional reactions.

My ds takes Elvanse now (is a teen) but started on methylphenidate aa a boy and honestly it was the best thing that anyone could have done for him. He can concentrate at school and has a mostly functioning memory (is a teen so is selective🤣) and is fairly organised when medicated. When unmedicated he has zero concentration, the memory of a goldfish and couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.

@minipie it won't affect their emotions however if the anger is due to frustration at their inability to concentrate and/or the inability to understand why they are different from others which is very common for people with ADHD medication can really help. The other thing with ADHD is that it causes children to take longer to emotionally mature than their peers though they usually catch up by their mid 20s.
ADHD can come with any combination of several co-morbidities (or all) including ASD, dyslexia, disbracia (sp), tourettes and hypermobility. ASD can be masked by ADHD and often its only when properly medicated that the drs can differentiate between the two conditions, as was the case with my ds.
Hope that helps