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Secondary education

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Original poster

Has anyone tried ADHD medication in secondary school?

58 replies

Startingtogetverytired · 10/09/2023 16:04

Son would like to try medication to see if it helps focus / remembering things in lessons.

We are worried as have seen first hand my husbands brother being a complete zombie whilst on Ritalin and it having no difference to his school life or academically.

Can anyone give their views who have tried medication please? Thank you

OP posts:
OhCrumbsWhereNow · 10/09/2023 19:42

I hadn't thought of that - could be.

Having seen what DD is like for a couple of hours when it wears off (hyper, exhausted and starving) you definitely wouldn't be wanting to sit exams on it if you didn't know what the meds did to you and get the timing right. And probably a high chance of taking too much which will then zombie them out.

Foxesandsquirrels · 10/09/2023 19:59

@OhCrumbsWhereNow exactly. Takes a while to get used to them tbh and rarely does the first one suit, even when titration is done correctly.

dearanon · 10/09/2023 20:01

Startingtogetverytired · 10/09/2023 16:04

Son would like to try medication to see if it helps focus / remembering things in lessons.

We are worried as have seen first hand my husbands brother being a complete zombie whilst on Ritalin and it having no difference to his school life or academically.

Can anyone give their views who have tried medication please? Thank you

They're on the wrong dose if they're like a zombie

FawnFrenchieMum · 10/09/2023 20:05

We were very very reluctant to start medication when my DS was diagnosed having seen DSS turn into a zombie when he was medicated several years before. He went from being a talented sports player to zombie like.
School was impossible for DS and he was desperately unhappy, we had a long chat with the medication team who assured us we could stop and anytime, that doses started low and that there was several different types of medication to try if one didn’t suit.
It has made such a difference to DS for his concentration and impulsiveness. He is now working full time and continues to take them for his office days.
We trialed weekends with and without them and he choose not to take them on weekends and he has continued this now he’s working.

Lovecat · 10/09/2023 20:17

DD was prescribed Concerta at 14, changed to Equasym XL after a few months, and it's helped her immeasurably. It was a timed dosage that lasts c.6 hours so it helped her to focus during school hours but didn't interfere with her day to day functioning - when she took it for the first time it was just before we left for school. We got 10 minutes into the drive and she suddenly said "I've only got one thought at a time in my head. Is this how everyone else is?"

We had to do some tinkering with the dosage (she's now 18 and on 60mg) but it worked wonders for her. CAMHS kept a close eye on her weight/height while she was under them as it does suppress appetite and can affect growth, but she was fine. She's also on anti-psychotics for anxiety and that's been a whole other issue, but equasym has really suited her and helped her to focus and sort her thoughts out.

newtablet · 10/09/2023 20:19

Yes - made an enormous difference overnight. Started in Y9. Definitely do it.

Letspretendweareallcool · 10/09/2023 20:24

This is interesting, but if they start on these drugs at 13/14 won't they have to be on them until they leave university? So what are the long term effects? Are there any natural alternatives? Asking for DS.

newtablet · 10/09/2023 20:30

Letspretendweareallcool · 10/09/2023 20:24

This is interesting, but if they start on these drugs at 13/14 won't they have to be on them until they leave university? So what are the long term effects? Are there any natural alternatives? Asking for DS.

I'm on them in my 40s................

PastTheGin · 10/09/2023 20:42

I have quite a few students with ADHD in secondary school. It can take a little while to find the right med and dosage, but once you hit that sweet spot the results are impressive.

SuperSue77 · 10/09/2023 20:49

Letspretendweareallcool · 10/09/2023 20:24

This is interesting, but if they start on these drugs at 13/14 won't they have to be on them until they leave university? So what are the long term effects? Are there any natural alternatives? Asking for DS.

I saw an article on long term effect of ASHD medication - it was American and I think they have had a different path with ADHD medication than the UK, but they suggested that it can actually benefit to use them long term because the brain is working more as it should on the medication and this can have long term benefits. Whether it was a reputable study or not I’m not sure, it was on additude website, but it sounded plausible when I read it.
The drugs my son takes (not sure if it’s the same for all as I didn’t read so much about the other varieties) leaves the system quite quickly so there shouldn’t be long term health implications of taking them for long periods. I feel the benefit it gives my son of being able to focus on what the teacher is saying and not calling out which gets him into trouble with teachers and annoys classmates, is well worth it. Without it his self-esteem takes a massive hit each day which will have long term implications for his mental health.

dearanon · 10/09/2023 21:03

Ds has been on them since he was 7, school became much better for him.

He's in secondary and takes them on school days only.

Foxesandsquirrels · 10/09/2023 21:22

@Letspretendweareallcool well my DD would've ended up dead or in a psych ward without ADHD meds so I couldn't care less about long term effects in the face of that.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 11/09/2023 07:08

Given the way DD was heading before we got the Dx and the meds, I’m mainly hoping she can have them for many, many years to come.

The side effects of untreated ADHD are far, far worse than anything I have read regarding long-term use of methylphenidate.

I have multiple friends and family members on them in their 50s, who wish they’d been diagnosed as kids.

BertieBotts · 11/09/2023 12:40

I also take them aged 35 and expect to be on them for life. They just help me function so much better.

The natural options do not come close in effectiveness. Would you ask for a natural alternative to insulin?

ADHD is thought to cause a problem with a major neural pathway in the brain. Medication helps clear the pathway and may even strengthen it over time and help "correct" it.

Starstruck2020 · 11/09/2023 12:53

It’s changed my children’s lives (I have 2 with ADHD). They have tried different ones to get the one that suits them best and DS is on both a stimulant and a non stimulant which helps his emotional regulation as well.

I really think if we didn’t do it they eventually would have self medicated with drugs or alcohol or ended up dropping out of school. Now they both are seriously considering university,

SuperSue77 · 11/09/2023 19:24

BertieBotts · 11/09/2023 12:40

I also take them aged 35 and expect to be on them for life. They just help me function so much better.

The natural options do not come close in effectiveness. Would you ask for a natural alternative to insulin?

ADHD is thought to cause a problem with a major neural pathway in the brain. Medication helps clear the pathway and may even strengthen it over time and help "correct" it.

I think your final sentence is what I read in an article recently and it made sense. A bit like women falling pregnant naturally after IVF for their first, the medicine helps the body do what it should do naturally and show’s it how to, or strengthens the parts that weren’t working properly.

KinderCat · 11/09/2023 19:41

Not taken it/medicated DC but coming at this from perspective as a teacher and former TA in secondary so feel free to read or ignore.

When the balance/level of medication is right I have seen it make such a difference for students. I have seen girls who where withdrawn and unable to focus/interact become an active part of the class, have some friendships and pass which prior to diagnosis and medication really was not the outcome on the cards. Likewise I have seen male students who have struggled to focus and been written off almost turn it around and just feel happier and part of it themselves.

When it works it is great but it is a very careful balancing act from what I see and there can be a while to find the right amount and routine. Parents often messaged us for updates on medication changes and implications in the classroom and I have seen it go both ways but when if does work, if the student is happy and choosing to engage with it rather than being made to (I have also worked closely with a student who did not want it and actively pretended to take it and her other meds) it can make a lot of positive changes for a student.

It isn't easy as a choice though I appreciate and I am in awe of parents and students who tackle this hurdle

DermotOLearyssuit · 12/09/2023 23:37

My son recently started trialling methylphenidate, but for him he found himself focusing on one thing -mostly the wrong thing - and unable to get off that thought! So he stopped the medication, and we are now awaiting a prescription of Elvanse. We held off medicating for years, but he really does need some kind of help and I’m a bit disappointed that the methylphenidate did not work…

Foxesandsquirrels · 12/09/2023 23:42

@DermotOLearyssuit My DD hated methylphenidate. Lots of people don't gel with it. Both me and DD are on Elvanse. It's great.

DermotOLearyssuit · 13/09/2023 00:41

Massively fingers crossing!

HappiDaze · 13/09/2023 00:44

I know a teen 16 on it and it changed their life very positively

The meds get looked at every so often and tweaked as necessary

They do get a bit tired sometimes and meds need to be taken promptly

You can tell straightaway when the next lot of 12 hour meds need to be taken because they start getting very distracted

Original poster
Startingtogetverytired · 16/09/2023 17:17

We have our appointment Thursday to discuss medication
I’m feeling very worried about it all to be honest - how soon did symptoms show either good or bad?
thanks

OP posts:
Foxesandsquirrels · 16/09/2023 20:05

Depends how long they drag the titration. So dependent on psych. I'll share our experience. Depends on age, height and weight. DD 14 started in on 20mg Methylphenidate, increase of 10mg every 10 days. It think that's the min amount of time. Her psych was keen to get her to a dose that improves quality of life asap which I'm v grateful for. We got to 40mg and it definitely wasn't the med for her. We tried 50mg for 2 days too. She's about 5'4 and 60kg for context. Very fit and sporty.
Then we moved onto Lisdexamphetamine same way. By 20mg we saw a huge improvement. She's on 40mg since May and doing really well.

My niece on the other hand started on lisdexamphetamine and her psych put her on 20mg for 2 months then a 10mg increase every month so it took ages to get to a dose that made a difference for her. Similar height and weight as DD. I imagine if lisdexamphetamine didn't work with her and she had to try something else, it would've taken the best part of a year to find something.

Original poster
Startingtogetverytired · 17/09/2023 17:27

I am feeling really stressed with the whole idea of it to be honest 😢

OP posts:
cansu · 17/09/2023 18:15

As a teacher I have seen kids who are really struggling make huge progress academically and behaviourally when they get the right medication.