ADHD mediation experiences (positive?) for 8yo

[PinktoothbrushBluetoothbrush]

Our daughter has had a formal diagnosis and recommended treatment including medication
we are currently pushing for the shared care option. I’d like to ask if anyone else has had experience of this, what meds have been prescribed, and the outcomes?

my daughter herself is very reluctant to take any medication which is making me question this route….on the other hand home life is only just bearable, and her impulsiveness and anger are getting worse now she is older which is impacting home and school relationships…

I’d be grateful for any information or words of advice….

Anyone?

Hi, my son is 6 as was diagnosed at the beginning of the year. We decided not to medicate originally but then after an incident at school where the headteacher said he was a danger to his class we reconsidered.
He started on Medikinet 10mg once a day, then onto Medikinet XL 10mg which is slower release.. these worked for the first couple hours then wore off, so we added a second dose after lunch which the school administered. This worked for a couple of months however around the end of June it suddenly started to not suit him, when it was wearing off he became really withdrawn.. also his appetite wasn't good. We had a review with the nurse who changed him to a non-stimulant called Atomoxetine and so far it's been brill. His appetite is great, his focus/impulsivity is great, he's a lot calmer but still has his personality which we felt he lost slightly on the Medikinet.
We originally agreed that he would only take meds on school days which you can do with Medikinet but Atomoxetine has to be taken everyday.
He also has tics that increased with Medikinet but seem to have lessened on Atomoxetine.
Hope that's helped a little, ADHD meds are all trial and error unfortunately so what might work for one may not for another. We spent weeks debating if meds were the way forward and the guilt over medicating our child.. but he said he feels better, school have said he can finally sit and concentrate, he has got numerous school awards which he has never had in Rev/Yr 1, we have less arguments at home, life is just so much easier and enjoyable.. so for us I feel it's our only way forward.
Let me know if you have any questions, I will try my best to answer!

@xams thank you for your reply. I’m currently
readynv “ the parents guide to adhd medication” which is interesting. I feel the right medication is the way to go although we have another period of waiting now, as waiting for see a specialist.

@xams hope your on is getting on well.

Hi @PinktoothbrushBluetoothbrush i am wondering if you had an update on your DD and whether you’d tried the medication?

my DD is also 8, and experiencing very similar challenges to your DD. She is currently being assessed for what is likely to be both ADHD and ASD. Like you, we are wondering about medication, particularly for the increasingly aggressive behaviour, and hyperactivity which is impacting her time at school as well as creating problems with maintaining friendships.

It would be be great to hear how you’re getting on.

Thanks

Hi @Whatapickle78 we are still waiting for the specialist, but haven pushed it as with school support and a significant amount of effort at home (adapted all daily and weekend activities, using incentives and charts etc) we are luckily seeing an improvement at the moment.

Unfortunately all of this has come at a significant cost to our marriage :(

Sorry I should have said the improvement has only been in general basic behaviour such as getting dressed etc. Friendships and relationships outside the family are still problematic.

Hi @allthegearandnoideaatall sorry for the delayed response, and thank you so much for updating.

Im so glad you’ve seen some improvement with the measures you’re introducing. We are much on the same journey with introducing calendars etc and incentives too. We are trying tokens at the moment for achieving different things.

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve had marital problems as a result though. It’s such a strain on everything isn’t it?

I hope you continue to see some improvement and best of luck x

@Whatapickle78 thank you.

I’d love to keep in touch and hear how you are getting on.