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Original poster

ADHD medication for DS10 - has it made a drastic difference with school?

63 replies

Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 16:32

DS10 has dyslexia, ASD and ADHD (inattentive type). He has a very lovely personality (often complimented on this) but can't seem to form friendships with his peers and struggles with emotions (though only at home where he can release any pent up emotion from the school day).

He feels everything in a magnified way. If he's upset or frustrated, or sees some type of perceived injustice he'll shout, cry, get really oppositional.

At school he has always struggled to just remember things. I would say he's a good 3 years behind in terms of emotional maturity and academic achievement. He's pretty good at sport a few different sports.

Up until about a year ago, he was still behaving in a silly way to try and get the attention of his peers - poking, annoying, that sort of thing. He has grown up a lot this last year and we've involved him in a couple more sports more seriously which has helped his self esteem.

Our psychiatrist has suggested medication as a possibility and we are wondering what kind of changes others have seen. Trying to weigh up whether to trial. We would have to explain to DS and have him in agreement - at 10 he's too old not to be on board with this.

We would also need to inform school I think. Are there risks to taking the medication that school need to be aware of?

Interested to hear experiences of medication having an impact on school - concentration and ultimately has it changed their attainment levels at school?

OP posts:
Fundays12 · 09/02/2023 16:41

My 11 year old takes ADHD medication and has done since he was 6. The difference in him in school is phenomenal. He has to come off it temporarily a while back and his lack of focus and inability to learn really held him back. When he is on ADHD medication he is in better control of his emotions, can listen, focus, take part in learning and it means he isn't behind academically. He is immature for his age though but that's common with ADHD

Original poster
Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 16:45

Hi @fundays Thanks for replying. Would you say teachers have noticed and his grades have improved?

DS10 is bright but he can't seem to get things out in an ordered way or write them down clearly - he has fantastic imagination and can (sporadically) do tricky maths problems in his head. But if I asked him to explain how he worked out the answer he can't untangle the steps he took in his head.

I feel that medication might help clear up his thoughts and help him stay focused for more than 10 mins

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 17:13

Bump

OP posts:
Landlubber2019 · 09/02/2023 17:17

Sorry no direct experience but my best friends son has caught up with his academic work following medication for ADHD, she reports she can tell a difference between the start and end of the day as he is much more focused on the morning. It certainly wasn't an easy decision but he definitely does better with than without according to my friend.

inigomontoyahwillcox · 09/02/2023 17:18

14yo DD, who has combined ADHD, started Medikinet XL (20mg) a few months ago and it's made a significant difference to her schoolwork, although I think she would benefit from a higher dose and we have a review at the end of the month.

Original poster
Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 17:19

Thank you for responses. Can you say how it's made a difference, so for example is there less procrastination with homework, more interest in reading things?

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Chickenly · 09/02/2023 17:20

Back when I was a teacher we don’t have favourites but if we did then he would be my favourite student had ADHD. It was unmedicated and it was so, so, so hard to teach him. He was absolutely desperate to please but he was just wired the whole time - he literally forgot to behave. He forgot to listen to instructions, he forgot to stay in his seat, he forgot questions before he answered, he forgot why he had his hand up. Then he’d get in trouble and he’d get upset because he didn’t mean to break any rules - he wanted to be good. When he got medicated, it was amazing. He just didn’t forget anymore.

I feel really sorry for a lot of students who aren’t allowed to have medication for their conditions - it makes their lives so much easier and more enjoyable. There’s a huge stigma and it’s completely unwarranted, you wouldn’t refuse your child medication for a physical medical condition.

Original poster
Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 17:21

We are going to trial but cannot get an appointment for this for 3 months. It's a long wait now that we have decided to trial. How involved will school be in this - did you trial in school holidays to get an idea of how things played out or were you reliant on school for feedback. It may be slightly difference with a 14 yr old vs 10 yr old.

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Rabes · 09/02/2023 17:29

My DS is 9 and started ADHD medication last summer. He also has ASD. His teacher has said the medication really makes a difference to his ability to focus in class and with friendships. When he's not on medication she says he's constantly "giddy", can't concentrate, and irritates others the class by getting in their personal space, jumping on them and being physical, so he loses friendships.

We did notice some side effects. Initially the medication made him more anxious, he was getting anxious and upset in situations that didn't bother him previously. This side effect lasted about 3 or 4 months. The Dr told me that this is to be expected as children start to perceive the world in a different way once they can actually focus on it, and it can be a bit strange for them. But eventually they get used to it.

It also suppresses his appetite, especially at lunch time when he doesn't eat much.

I think school see the most benefits as I think by the time he gets home the meds have mostly worn off, certainly in the evening he's back to his usual levels of bonkerness! And we often give him a meds break on the weekend or school holidays unless he's at an activity where concentration and sensible behaviour is required.

Confrontayshunme · 09/02/2023 17:39

A friend of mine was on an ADHD parents board in the US, and they recommended a "trial" of safe stimulants before trying Ritalin/stimulant medication. She gave her 7 year old a Starbucks double espresso milky drink (jazzed up with cream and sugar free syrup) every morning before school for two weeks. At the end of a week, his teacher was asking what she had done to help him and whether it could happen around lunch as well since he was so calm and focussed in the mornings. He started the actual stimulant medication a few weeks later and the change was even better. He has flourished in school. You wouldn't blink twice if your depressed child needed lifesaving medication for their brain chemistry, and this is no different.

cloboe · 09/02/2023 17:39

Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 17:21

We are going to trial but cannot get an appointment for this for 3 months. It's a long wait now that we have decided to trial. How involved will school be in this - did you trial in school holidays to get an idea of how things played out or were you reliant on school for feedback. It may be slightly difference with a 14 yr old vs 10 yr old.

If you can trial within the holidays it will help them to adjust before starting school, make sure school are fully aware that they might become very thirsty and will need more toilet breaks potentially depending what medication they are prescribed. Some children find the sensation of the medication very strange to begin with and need reassurance if they are particularly anxious. I'm a teacher for children with send and the education set up is rubbish for children with ADHD, medication will help but also look at other options to increase dopamine naturally and help explore emotion regulation as well.

Hankunamatata · 09/02/2023 17:54

Yea makes difference. Much easier to handle, able to organise themselves, less outbursts.
We moved one of dc (combined asd/adhd/dyslexia) from stimulant medication (ritalin/concerta) to non stimulant this year. Still early days but hoping it will allow more stable moods without medication wear off

Original poster
Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 18:05

iWe have been trying to find some help with emotion regulation but one counsellor who had availability charges £140 for 30 mins remotely. DS tried the school counsellor and says he doesn't want to talk to someone else, he says he has his mum and dad to talk to. But we're no experts in emotional regulation. Not sure how to move forward with it actually.

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anomaly23 · 09/02/2023 18:23

It's made a huge different to my son.

He's been on them for years.

Littlefish · 09/02/2023 18:47

Look into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria for his emotional reactions.

rhubarb84 · 09/02/2023 19:07

No experience yet as we're waiting for an appointment for DS 9 who shows all the signs of ADHD.
However I've just read The Parent's Guide to ADHD Medicines which is by a UK consultant and was excellent (and surprisingly funny) so would really recommend that.

underneaththeash · 09/02/2023 19:14

So, we are at a similar stage for DD.

The main side effects for the medications are that they delay puberty for most boys and may have an effect on height. They also do alter their personality slightly. We're at a similar stage with DD and although the evidence in regards to puberty and height is less convincing than with girls, she doesn't want to change and quite likes her zaniness.

I think she'll need them for GCSE, but she is at a school which caters for all needs and we can afford to support her in later life.

Personally, if it was me, I'd take them -

PicaK · 09/02/2023 19:37

Game changer.
I have no words for parents who refuse to even try to see if it improves their kid's quality of life.

WineWithAView · 09/02/2023 19:58

This has been a very interesting thread to read.

We pick up DS9's medication tomorrow and will start on Saturday. It's half term here next week, so we'll have a week of him taking it at home first which I'm pleased about...I'm glad I'll get the chance to have a good understanding of what effect it has before sending him to school on it.

momamama · 09/02/2023 20:05

I'd echo this. My DD then not quite 10 started them a year ago and the difference has quite literally been life changing for her. I don't regret the decision to medicate for a second. She doesn't either.

wigwoowig · 09/02/2023 20:09

My DS11 was on medication and we took him off it. The side effects were terrible and not worth it.

Original poster
Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 20:11

What were the side effects and was there any improvement in adhd symptoms?

OP posts:
Fundays12 · 09/02/2023 20:20

Sunmoonstarr · 09/02/2023 16:45

Hi @fundays Thanks for replying. Would you say teachers have noticed and his grades have improved?

DS10 is bright but he can't seem to get things out in an ordered way or write them down clearly - he has fantastic imagination and can (sporadically) do tricky maths problems in his head. But if I asked him to explain how he worked out the answer he can't untangle the steps he took in his head.

I feel that medication might help clear up his thoughts and help him stay focused for more than 10 mins

Yes definitely his grades have definitely improved a lot. He doesn't have dyslexia though. It sounds like if he can't write things in an ordered way he may need more help with his dyslexia. Ds1 can focus and sit much longer, his concentration has improved and he now retains information better.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 09/02/2023 21:30

Total game changer for my son, who went on them at 11. So much calmer, less distracting behaviour, able to listen and learn and concentrate.

BTW the comment above about height made me wonder if he'd be taller than his current 6'2 if he hadn't taken ADHD meds. Puberty didn't seem to be delayed. He also ate more rather than less once on meds, because he was actually able to sit at the table and concentrate on eating rather than jumping up and down, being distracted, and having a million other things he'd rather be doing. So he actually gained weight as a result of going onto ADHD meds.

cansu · 09/02/2023 21:37

As a teacher, I have seen students go from constantly struggling without meds to being able to function and do well with them.