Do adhd meds change behaviour?

[Tartansquid]

I was wondering what changes have happened since your child was diagnosed with ADHD and started medication? In particular teenagers and whether their general behaviour and attitude has improved? From your point of view but also whether the child feels more in control of their reactions. Thanks

We have seen pretty drastic changes since starting medication 6 months ago.

DD is a lot more rational and logical. She doesn't procrastinate as much and there are less of the huge fights where she will spend 2 hours coming up with reasons why she should avoid a 10 minute task.

She's far less fidgety and hyper, and she can focus a lot better especially at school and even on things that don't interest her. Academically she's probably gone up 2-3 grades in every subject since starting meds and teachers have noticed a big difference.

Less emotional and far fewer meltdowns. The ones that still happen are shorter and it's easier to get through to her and talk her out of it.

She's happier - says her mind stays still and she can have one thought at a time! Sleep also improved and anxiety is no longer a thing. Friendships are less volatile and she ditched a couple of toxic friendships that I'd been unhappy about for a few years (was literally like watching the scales fall from her eyes).

Still able to hyperfocus on her interests and hasn't affected creativity or her basic personality (she is a nicer person to live with though!)

Life is much easier as we argue less, and so the dynamics have changed and even on unmedicated days it's now so much better. It feels as if her brain has rewired a bit.

I wouldn't say she's now some kind of robotic Model Child, she definitely still has plenty of normal teenage behaviours, but the difference has been pretty dramatic and with zero downsides.

Can't speak for my kiddo as he refuses meds but I'm autistic and ADHD and tried meds. What I found was while it cleared some brain fog and helped me focus it also massively increased my irritation to sensory stimuli and stopped me being able to tune that stuff out. I was certainly having to manage irritability more than normal o think as a child it would have helped me sit and focus in class more but lead to coke bottle type meltdowns from the worsening of autistic struggles. Maybe trying out different meds would have helped but I'd managed without meds I to adulthood so didn't bother.

I'm hoping so. My 9 year old broke someone's ipad last week by jumping on it in school cost me 300 quid.

Adhd bf as a child was medicated but from what I hear was very naughty anyways but could concentrate. When he came of meds as an adult he ended up homeless in prison for fighting and had a weed problem. He's waiting to go bk to adhd ppl so he can get meds as he cannot hold a job down long enough as he gets sack for either been inattentive or hyper. Fingers crossed

weed and caffeine are often attempts at self medicating and slowing down the active brain.
there are many many meds available and like any med might mean trial and error, this is why you need a psychologist/psychiatrist's help.
exercise also helps some people with adhd; treadmill, stationary bike, mini trampoline.
there are many different variables and forms of adhd (hyper/inattentive/and one or two others). again you need to have a trained person to help navigate through this.
i have 3 kids and 1 grandchild with adhd; two inattentive but the other two are hyper (mine are adults now) and oddly enough although never treated discovered mini trampolines/treadmills/bikes really helpful especially early in the am to help set focus for the day. grandchild is at a mainstream private prep with ++ PE time and some medication. two of my adult take meds for important occasions (think banking meetings or long boring workplace meetings where the mind is prone to wander on the best of humans).

Hi Crumbs. May I ask what medication your DD takes? My 16 yo DD has her ADHD assessment next week and I’m 99.9% sure she’ll be diagnosed. She’s boarding at sixth form close to home - scholarship - and finding it really tough with friendships at the moment and school has provided little support of any kind. Meds may be our last option is she’s to remain there. I don’t want to medicate her for the setting but want to give her the best possible chance to thrive in there as it provides so many opportunities.

DD is on methylphenidate - specifically 20mg of Equasym XR and 10mg Tranquilyn top ups. Plus 1mg - 2.5mg melatonin.

Methylphenidate is generally first line choice in the U.K. and comes in lots of different brands, forms and dosages… most of which are currently hard to get hold of as there’s a global shortage…

Do bear in mind that you need to allow around 6 months to work up to the correct dosage and that different children get on with different meds in different ways.

DD has 3 cousins also with ADHD. Only 2 of them can tolerate stimulants and across the 4 of them, she has been the easiest to treat and had the greatest response to meds. But she also has no comorbidities.

I would recommend buying a copy of The Parents Guide to ADHD Medication. It’s invaluable.