Medikinet for 5 1/2 year old

[strugglingparent1]

Hi,

I have posted on this forum before about my now 5 1/2 year old son.

He's had 9 suspensions now and is still at serious risk of permanent exclusion.

Lots of disregulation and avoidance in school.

His Draft EHCP has come through and we're just working on amendments. School has already replied to the draft, saying they can't meet needs.

He has an autism diagnosis and has just got a diagnosis of ADHD as well.

His consultant wants to start him on 5 mg of medikinet in the February school holidays.

My husband is completely dead set against it. He is willing to read up on the medication though.

I told a couple that we are friends with about it today and the guy said there's absolutely nothing wrong with my son and that he thinks we don't give my son enough 1:1 attention because he has younger siblings (not true). We give him lots of individual attention, probably more than the others because of his issues.

I made it clear to him that I value the opinions of professionals more than his opinion, but now she keeps on sending me Facebook messages with amazon links for fishoil for children.

I feel a bit bad, because people seem to be horrified that I am thinking about medicating my child, who is so young.

But school have put some many reasonable adjustments in place and nothing is working.

He still runs out of the classroom, sometimes refuses to go into the classroom, hides underneath tables, sometimes throws things and kicks chairs when he can't regulate his emotions.

I am desperate and I really want to help him.

So please tell me more about your experience with Medikinet or any other ADHD medication. Good or bad.

Thank you x

DS was diagnosed ADHD and autism at 5 and started on meds at 5 1/2 and honestly, it was a game changer for the whole family.

He had several exclusions and was at risk of a permanent one. I was anxious daily waiting for the phone to ring. Within a day of starting medication he calmed right down and has been managing school brilliantly ever since.

he still has difficulty and it has made some of his autistic traits more pronounced. But he is far less impulsive and can focus in school. Unfortunately it wears off just as he gets home (he’s on slow release) so we still get the manic behaviour at home, but I can cope with that (just about!).

Thank you so much for your comment. I am glad you had a positive experience and that it helped you so quickly.

Were there any side effects?

No, we haven’t really had significant side effects.

DSs appetite has decreased and they monitor his weight, but we work around that and make sure he eats a lot when he’s hungry.

The first few days of starting medication did impact on his sleep, which is understandable as his body got used to having a stimulant. But it settled down fairly quickly.