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ADHD medication or school bullying causing meltdowns in my daughter?

4 replies

Lostmum74 · 16/05/2026 09:42

Advice and guidance appreciated. My daughter is 14 at the end of year 11 and has now completed all but 1 GCSE module. We have a late diagnosis for ADHD inattentiveness after waiting over 3 years for a diagnosis. I had informed the school in year 8 she was on the list and had presented with attention issues from the qb test. We have started the medication and the first lot we slowly upped it and had to stop because she was so emotional and had weird symptoms. We also had a friendship fracture and isolation and bullying type behaviour from one within her 7 friend peer group. We changed that medication to a new one and are at the dose they wanted us on for about 2 weeks now and this week we've had complete meltdowns at home and storming out of the house in her bare feet Mon and Fri night. Friday she was screaming and turning her room upside down and screamed she wanted to kill herself while she stormed out of the house. My heart breaks for her as the bullying issues that have been handled badly by the school. Initially they did nothing but I raised it with the school. Asking the school what they were doing and was it recorded officially and what support they were offering my daughter. The school has made the situation worse. The school started interviewing the peer group, which has now isolated my daughter completely as they've been "dragged into it" . I think last night was the cherry on the cake and she was screaming. The last time I saw this behaviour was when she was 8 but this is extreme behaviour. She was crying and couldn't see a way out of thid. She is all alone has no friends and feels she'll never have friends. I was able to get her back in and settled she is now with her father this weekend so that'll change. I don't know what to do for the best, how I can help her. I think the meds are making her worse but think it's at the end of the day but not sure the friendship bullying is helping either. Has anyone experienced this? Any advice appreciated. Ty x

OP posts:
dapsnotplimsolls · 16/05/2026 09:46

What did you want the school to do? It sounds like she needs to see her GP about the meds.

Lostmum74 · 16/05/2026 11:41

I wanted the school to let me know what they were doing to support my child with the bullying behaviour. Not to drag everyone into it when it was one girl in particular causing issues. There was also another incicent of boys throwing things at her and they didn't address that either.

OP posts:
scoopofmintchocchipicecream · 16/05/2026 12:56

ADHD medication can cause this for some. Is the medication you swapped to still a stimulant? Some find non-stimulants easier.

However, GCSE exams can also lead to meltdowns. Add in friendship difficulties on top.

Will DD take part in extra-curricular activities? To help build social contact outside of school.

Speak to the school again about the bullying. What country are you in? That will influence what routes are available - you mention GCSEs and Y11 but you say DD is 14 so I don’t think you are in England.

Lostmum74 · 16/05/2026 18:57

scoopofmintchocchipicecream · 16/05/2026 12:56

ADHD medication can cause this for some. Is the medication you swapped to still a stimulant? Some find non-stimulants easier.

However, GCSE exams can also lead to meltdowns. Add in friendship difficulties on top.

Will DD take part in extra-curricular activities? To help build social contact outside of school.

Speak to the school again about the bullying. What country are you in? That will influence what routes are available - you mention GCSEs and Y11 but you say DD is 14 so I don’t think you are in England.

Thank you for this information. Yes it is a stimulant Lisdexamphetamine calling the GP and ADHD specialist on Monday morning.

We are in Northern Ireland so a little different than Mainland. I have emailed the school about the bullying and asked them to stop the approach as it's having a very negative affect on my daughter will catch up with them on Monday as well.

She only takes part in drama in a private company once a week. I've discussed with her about St Johns, going back to Guides as her younger sister will be moving up to Guides and I can speak to one of the leaders. I have also suggested a camera club as that would tie in nicely to her GCSE art.

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