My ds is 7 & year 3, he has severe adhd & anxiety (autism & moderate learning disability too) he can be as bright as a button in some areas.
He’s been on methylphenidate for 6 weeks now, I can’t really see a noticeable difference in him just yet (although little things he says are making him sound so grown up, for example this morning he wasn’t listening to me as usual and he said sorry about that mum I apologise that you’re speaking to a brick wall 🤣) no idea if it’s his meds but it’s a new thing him speaking like that.
I’ve been warned it’s not a quick fix. It can take up to 6-12 months to get the medication / dose right. He goes to a specialist school and he does have some better mornings there, he still needs enormous amounts of support but he hasn’t just got adhd so I’m not sure that will change much.
His anxiety is bad anyway, he’s scared of his own shadow half the time but I wouldn’t say it’s any worse on medication. He is really emotional at the best of times so when they ask me about side affects it’s hard for me to answer as he had a lot of the ‘side affects’ before the medication!
You can trial it and stop, you’re not forced to keep your child on it.
His appetite is the same, his sleep is a bit affected. He’s on sleep medication and prior to adhd meds he would be asleep for 9pm latest, now it’s more 10.30pm. He just isn’t tired before this.
I’ve got his parents evening after half term and although I speak to his teacher on the phone often it will be good to hear an up to date review as it’s just before his next CAMHS appointment.