ADHD meds

[Midgeymoo12]

Please can people share their experience on medication for ADHD? My 6 year old had moderate to severe symptoms and it is likely the paediatrician will recommend this as an option following a QV test.

He is already having lots of behavioural input at school with a one to one teaching assistant but still having difficult days.

I believe methylphenidate is first line.

My DS12 started it this year. It's made a world of difference in school. He's not getting told off as often and so is much happier.

It's been wonderful - and I was worried and sceptical at first. Nothing else worked as well.

My DS 6 has recently been diagnosed and we are on Medikanet. It’s made a bit of a difference but increasing dose has made him far more
Emotional and tired in afternoons.

@Hels20

My DS 6 has recently been diagnosed and we are on Medikanet. It’s made a bit of a difference but increasing dose has made him far more Emotional and tired in afternoons.

Thanks for you comments. Hels20 - your DS is similar age to mine. What kind of behavioural problems triggered meds? Is that a first line medication? How many times a day do you give it?

Hi OP - he couldn’t sit still, struggled to concentrate at school without a LSA sitting next to him, always had to climb on furniture, had no real sense of danger, took ages to get to sleep.

It has helped but not convinced dosage is right (started on 1/2 a tablet which did nothing, a little bit of improvement on 5ml, want to increase to 2x tablets. We are seeing the doctor on Monday.

Hi dear,
After my kid’s diagnosis of ADHD, I was feeling stuck and overwhelmed in life.
My kid often experienced reading comprehension challenges.
I checked out different strategies to improve her reading skills and started a virtual reading remediation program. After completing each virtual session, I found improvement in her reading skills.
Also, ADHD coaching helped her a lot to improve her learning skills and strategies.
So, I would suggest ADHD coaching for your kid because it helps in creating awareness of self-sabotaging behaviours.
I hope ADHD coaching would definitely help your kid.
Thanks!

@sophiahicklin

Hi dear, After my kid’s diagnosis of ADHD, I was feeling stuck and overwhelmed in life. My kid often experienced reading comprehension challenges. I checked out different strategies to improve her reading skills and started a virtual reading remediation program. After completing each virtual session, I found improvement in her reading skills. Also, ADHD coaching helped her a lot to improve her learning skills and strategies. So, I would suggest ADHD coaching for your kid because it helps in creating awareness of self-sabotaging behaviours. I hope ADHD coaching would definitely help your kid. Thanks!

Hi

Thanks for your reply. We have found taking a different approach ourselves and some of our amateur coaching helps massively.

Any advice on how to find an ADHD coach?

Fortunately our little one is quite advanced with reading and studies but his behaviour is terribly disruptive.

@sophiahicklin I'd also be interested in how you found an ADHD coach.

Hi there my 7 years old ds has been diagnosed combined adhd we have recently started equasym xl 10mg but didn't see any effects off it what so ever so consultant upped his dose to 20mg, we have seen a small improvement but nothing major has anyone else experience this ? Did your consultant up to 30mg or would this be too high for him ? I'm new to all this as my daughter doesn't have any problems.

My 6 year old has been is on equasym XL 20mg. Started on 10mg and up to 20mg a month or so later. We see a definite improvement with medication, and he seems more settled at school. I am going to ask what would be. The trigger to move up to 30mg - I guess it is a balance between beneficial effects and side effects.

He also takes melatonin 2mg 1 hour before bed, and this really helps with bedtimes. He is so settled and ready for sleep now, where previously he would be up and down out of bed and being silly.

Hi midgymoo, my son has melatonin 2mg at a night too, since posting we have seen definate changes in our boy but he's not 100% , he has had no side effects what so ever with his medication at all which I'm guessing is a good thing, so hopefully she may up them for him. Can you tell when they wear off as we can with out son x

We have found the melatonin great - we have a great bedtime routine now.

Mine is on equasym 20mg XL. Has some tummy ache on starting and increasing dose, but no side effects ongoing. I believe the main one is appetite suppression - I don’t think he eats much at lunch but he eats well at breakfast / dinner / supper.

I definitely see it wearing off around 4/5 - he gets quite hyperactive in terms of movements but nothing too major. We have tried a low dose of short acting at this time if he has sport / social event in the evening and this possible seemed to help.

I believe a rough dose is same mg / as kg. We are at that dose at present. I guess it is a trade off side effects and growth vs symptom control. I have a telephone consultation in just over a week and am going to ask if we should try a higher dose.

Awww our dbs melatonin is hit and miss at the minute some days ot works other ot doesn't 😪 he eats well all day i think we have been lucky when it has come to side effects ... how long has your little one been on equasym for ? We have only been using it for 3 weeks, we are struggling wjth home work atm as his dose has wore off by the time homework time comes so its looking as if we will have to do it on a weekend when he has had his meds

He has been on it since September. He is only 6. How old is yours?

Hes 7, he got his diagnosis last year when he was 6 but his qb test showed mild adhd then due to covid his clinic appointmenst kept getting cancelled and finally she seen him 3 week ago and she said visually he is severe but only a small percentage of children with severe adhd actually score only mild on the qb , so because of his behaviours and school reports 12 months after a diagnoses she advised medication for him, so here we are trying it x