DS started ADHD meds last week with brilliant results

[chazbomb]

DS 5 (nearly 6 and in year 1) started on medikinet 10mg last weekend. I am so relieved as it seems to have changed is life at school and at home. His TA pulled me aside yesterday morning to say what a star he had been this week and how much more focus he has and also that he seems much happier! He's even got gold stars for his work his week!
I really am over the moon as it took ALOT of soul searching along with a few sleepless nights to take the paediatricians advice to medicate him!
We have got one side effect in that he has struggled to get off to sleep but we now have some medication to help with this until it settles down.
MIL was dead against him going onto medication (she was a primary school teacher 20 years ago and thinks that kids being 'labeled' is wrong) as 'she has never come across this in all the years she was teaching and it's the failing of his teachers not him'
Just thought I'd post as I'm sure there are many mums on here facing the same huge decision to put kids onto medication.
I really can't thank the Dr enough, being a mum herself with 2 out of her 3 kids with ADHD she has been amazing!

Great news

That's great that you've seen good results so quickly.

Glad to hear it ...dont be surprised though when a little dip happens cos you will notice it at some point and he may need his meds uping just slightly.

My DS started on 10mg at the end of November last year then in mid January it was increased to 20mg which helped.

He will still have up and down days so dont get disheartened when that happens, he still is just a kid :)

Good luck

Star xx

Thanks Star. His meds are going be increased to 20mg once he's been on them a month then she will maybe try 30mg after another month, but if we don't see an improvement after upping them we will reduce them again. Did your DS have any trouble sleeping on his medication?
Just so nice to see an improvement and to not have the outbursts over so many trivial things but the best thing is hearing some positive feed back not only from the teachers at school this week but also from him. I totally agree with him just being a kid, it's not a magic pill after all and any child is entitled to the odd melt down every now and then!! X

Oh yes ...sleeping and food ...has been a major issue in our house!!! DS is now on melatonin to help him drop off and its only been 2 weeks and oh my word what a difference lol. (Doc wont increase his meds just yet cos he isnt heavy enough).

Food wise though, he doesnt eat...its worrying and we give him as much snack stuff as we can to help and thankfully his weight hasnt gone down but its the same now as it was in January.

Yes I agree, very nice not to be pulled aside every day when collecting from school lol ...and DS's reading improved dramatically!!! He went up 4 reading stages in 2 months!!!!

DS is also on melatonin.

He's also quite small (always has been) first day of meds he was off his food but he's seemed ok since, I'll have to keep a close eye on it. paed has suggested he has a big 'proper breakfast' in the morning rather than just cereal, toast etc, he also has packed lunches so I can monitor what he's eaten.

Am really hoping DS can catch up on his reading too. Fingers crossed!!

That sounds a promising start chazbomb. Hope they keep working for you.

Ds1 now 16.6 yrs started on Ritalin at 8 yrs. We have had sleep and food issues but the good has outweighed the bad and he is now a confident, social, musical and academic lad. He gives me no real worries. I don't believe this would have been possible without medication.

Good luck to you and your ds!

Glad your DS is doing so well at school :) Mine is not on meds for now and was told maybe in teens it may be necessary due to hormonal balance? Its good to read the positives of medication. Long may it continue for you and him :)

We had that (5mg) for the past week, DH is bringing DD to clinic today for the review (with a view to going onto 12 hour acting version - can't remember the name). It seems like DD has been good on it in the mornings - but she has also had sleep problems and is soooo waaaay overtired that she has had a few meltdowns over the weekend after weeks of none at all. :(

So we will see what clinic say, and I am hoping that it works out, but I am not holding my breath at the minute. (It had all seemed to be going, not swimmingly, but at least back on an even keel nicely for a while, and this has knocked me as well).

Hope it keeps working well for you though Chazbomb.

Is it a medicine or tablets, chazbomb? DS is on rispirdone medicine because he can't swallow tablets and they tasted disgusting crushed. They were called strattara or something.

The Doc has reduced the rispiridone because of possible long-term side effects . I just wondered what else is out there. Glad your DS is doing well.

It's tablets (capsules medikinet) tallwivglasses, we taught DS to swallow the tablets using tic tacs to practise. Hes now a master at it! Good luck!

BiddyPop, have they given your dd anything to help her sleep? DS had problems sleeping but now he's on the melatonin all is fine and he's managing so much better at school. Only thing the teacher has noticed is that he's desperate to get everything just right so is getting a bit frustrated when he gets it wrong (bless him) he couldnt have cared less about his work before he went on the meds! Hope the review went ok x

Thanks chaz - with DS it would have to be nice-tasting medicine. He just doesn't get the swallowing thing. DD's friend was going to be a chemist and I told her to make it her life-long mission to turn all horrible tablets into lovely-tasting medicine!