Reaction to ADHD meds, worried about future for DS

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DS20 got an diagnosis of ADHD a few months ago.

Initially I wasn't too worried about him managing his life as I researched medication and know they are very effective.

However he has tried them and got worrying side effects such as extreme anxiety and heart palpitations. The consultant told him to come straight off them.

He has been told there are no more medicinal options, that he will have to learn to manage the condition on his own, perhaps get some therapy.

I'm really worried about his MH and can't see how he will ever finish his degree, let alone get a job, be self sufficient. His DF thinks I'm over thinking, that DS will be okay.

AIBU to be so worried?

There are loads of different meds, my son had to go through four different types before he got one that suited him. Is he speaking to a specialist or only gp?

Hi Op, I'd agree with the above poster. There are stimulants and non stimulants, so might be worse trying something else. With my son we were warned that the adhd meds could increase his anxiety a bit, which they did. That said, he is also on the autistic spectrum so I think the meds uncovered the anxiety that was already there.

Could it be a possibility the dose may have been a factor too? In light of the palpatations and anxiety.
There's a very good book available, I think it's called A parents guide to adhd medication (or something like that) Anyway, it's extremely informative. Good luck.

As PP said, there are different stimulants he can try and then there are non-stimulant options, too.

Plus B vitamins and magnesium very helpful. And understanding ADHD and how it works will help him equally as much as meds, in my experience - knowing how to work with his brain will help, and therapy will too.

I wish I could find a comment I wrote about it ages ago, but the diagnosis for me was just as (if not more) helpful as meds. Now, when I get 'stuck', I don't just hate myself and think I'm a failure and give up: I recognise that the thing I'm working on isn't giving me the dopamine I need or it doesn't make my brain tick, and I use various tricks to work round it where possible. The same goes for lots of other symptoms - I have so many coping mechanisms and tricks for focusing and ways round the emotional aspects of it now that although meds are a help and it's still not perfect, I can cope.

Sorry I've just read your post again. It sounds like you've done some decent research already. Maybe change to another Consultant if possible, if you sense some inflexibility with prescribing alternative meds. Also there's some promising research on vitamin D and magnesium. The magnesium might be worth a shot for the anxiety alone.

If he has only tried 1 medication it’s hard to say he is out of medical options.

What type of medication did he try?

Worry yes but don't worry too much.
Keep on with your own research, keep pushing the Drs to help find a treatment that works and basically continue to advocate for your Son.

Cannabis is now prescribed to treat ADHD symptoms if you are in the UK, Australia, much of the US and Europe too for example, there's really plenty of treatments available just perhaps beyond the expertise of this Doctor.

Maybe the NHS isn't the way to go (again assuming you're UK), if that's at all possible. And getting the money together to trial things to drastically change your sons outcome might be really worthwhile. If you don't have much, consider crowd funding or approaching a local charity.

Thank you all for your input.
Plenty more research to be done by both of us!

I'm really worried about his MH and can't see how he will ever finish his degree, let alone get a job, be self sufficient. His DF thinks I'm over thinking, that DS will be okay.

Having a degree and a job are not measures of being 'okay'

I mean I'm sure there are many options med wise but tbh the biggest thing he needs is to understand himself, for you to understand him and no pressure to 'do well' - I have ADHD and had a complete breakdown after years of being 'okay' - now I know myself (I am also autistic) I just adapt things to suit me. The first thing I did was quit the course that was causing my mental health decline. Life is very short and academics really comes at the bottom of the pile when you are looking at your poor mental health.

There are also ways to manage uni, including help from uni, a year out, all sorts of things, if he wants to.

Atomoxetine works for a lot of people who can’t tolerate stimulants. Worth asking about.