I was nervous too when my 7 yr old son was diagnosed with ADHD. Med.s were something I thought I'd never do, but his school work was suffering and trying to do homework took hours and hours! My son was beginning to think he wasn't smart, even though I always told him that he was. You must remember that just because you try med.s doesn't mean that you have to stay on them forever! You may try them for a year, then decide against them. So don't let that fear keep you from trying something that could really help. My son has been on Metadate CD for the last 9 months and he has greatly improved his work at school, he can actually pay attention in sports, etc. My son used to fail math tests with numbers that he knew well because he might get distracted and not finish. It was so frustrating that his failing a test had absolutely nothing to do with whether he knew the information or not. It was just because he might get distracted and lose focus. He is now doing so much better! If your doctor suggests med.s, then try it. You can always stop taking them.

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I have two children who are inattentive ADD. When my oldest child was diagnosed between Kindergarten and First grade we had the same concerns. My husband didn't want to use the medicine but he didn't really understand the trouble that our son was having. I knew all too well because I was watching my childhood begin to repeat itself and there was no way I was going to let my son struggle the way I had. We tried many non-medicated approaches but with little to no change. Our pediatrician explained to us that there are many medications, doses, and combinations of medications that can be used, it's just a matter of finding the right fit. If you notice a change in personality then that's not the right medication. We had to try a few different medications and doses until we found what worked best for our son. While he was on one medication his schoolwork had improved and he was doing great (in school), but it changed his personality so that was not the medication for him. The goal is not to get good grades, the goal is to sharpen the focus and find that happy medium. We did make some changes along the way, as needed. When he reached the sixth grade he wanted to try going without the meds and it has worked for him, he's now in high school. He has learned skills along the way to help him stay focused and on task. My younger son is now in the sixth grade and he is not in a place where he could go without his medicine. We only give him the medicine on school days and that works well for us. He will continue on with medication for as long as he needs it. I didn't understand what was "wrong" with me until learning of my oldest son's diagnosis. I always thought that I wasn't "smart" or at least not "book smart". Teachers always told my parents I was lazy and that's why I had trouble in school. When you lack the ability to focus, school is not an interesting or exciting place, it's a struggle. I enjoyed the social aspect of school but missed out on so much academically. The whole experience took a toll on my self esteem and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

You should explore all of the options. You will find what fits your child best. You know your child and listen to her because she's the only one who knows how she's feeling. It may not be easy but it will be worth all the effort!!! Goodluck!

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I can completely relate to your situation and how you are feeling. My 7 year old son was diagnosed with ADHD at the end of first grade and began medication this past summer, just prior to entering second grade. I was very concerned about the side effects but knew we had to do something. His behaviors were affecting him in school, in sports, socially, and were tremendously affecting our family life. Along with his ADHD, he was always struggled with being more irritable than "typical" and has had difficulty regulating his mood. The medication definitely exacerbated the irritability initially which greatly concerned me. After talking with our doctor about this, we did decide to try a very low dose of generic Zoloft to our ADHD medication (Vyvanse) and that, along with his body adjusting to the Vyvanse, has proved to be very good combination for my son. The doctor felt that my son likely had some anxiety/depression issues which were being manifested by the irritability that was present before the medication was started. My son was prescribed 20 mg of Vyvanse (the lowest dose) initially 7 months ago and has been able to remain on that dose. In school, he has gone from receiving weekly (or more often) notes regarding behavior to having only one note this entire school year for anything regarding behavior. His ability to control his impulses, remain focused, and participate meaningfully in class is drastically improved with the low dose of ADHD medication. His appetite has decreased with the medication, but he has only lost 1 pound since beginning the medication. In our case, the benefits that the medication has provided FAR OUTWEIGH the negative effect that my son's ADHD behaviors were having on him in all aspects of his life. I would highly recommend giving the medication a try, monitoring your child closely for any side effects or changes in behavior, and remaining in close contact with both your physician and your child's teacher. Based on our experience with medication, I encourage every one I know that is struggling with a child diagnosed with ADHD to give the meds a try. I have several acquaintances whose children are on the Focalin XR and they have all reported positive experiences with this medication in their children. Best of luck as you make this difficult decision!

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My name is Michael and I have been attempting to get the correct combination of meds for years. I am 15 and was diagnosed young with mild/moderate ADHD in addition to OCD and general anxiety disorder. The first med I tried was Strattera. For some it works very well, but it made me miserable. I got extremely depressed and panicky. I didn't feel like myself at all. Partially attributed to the OCD, but also from the Strattera, I would have to check my medicine container many times before I left the house and would always be scared that I took too much or not enough, and came home crying many days. I was miserable and wanted my old self back, and was sick of all the tears. I think we tried Concerta after that which worked well for the focus part, but did more harm then good, since it made me paranoid. At this point, I was very skeptical about trying new meds. My OCD got better through months of very difficult cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I was ready to try meds again. I started off with a low dose of the Daytrana Methylphenidate Transdermal patch by Shire Pharmaceuticals. I was amazed. For the first time ever, I could focus and not feel completely overwhelmed by my homework. Worked very well into and out of middle school, and now I am a freshman in highschool. Since the patches only go up to a certain amount of mg/hr (3.3 I think), we added a generic version of the name brand drug Ritalin, in the Methylphenidate family (at least I think it is generic). It is called Metadate CD, a long lasting release capsule. I have increased the dosage over time, now with the highest patch and two- 20mg metadates a day, one in morning and one after school or as needed. This works very well and I love how it helps, It's just a matter of applying myself to my studies and putting in the hard work it takes for any kid, plus some. It DOES reduce my appetite quite a bit and for awhile, I was very underweight. That also had to do with my germ-phobia and not eating anything unless it was sanitary. With some protein shakes, I was brought back up to weight and now am even a little bit husky, which is better than too skinny I guess. So overall, these medications work very well for me, but if they don't provide enough stimulants for me at the time (it always depends on what my focus level needs to be) I just drink a strong coffee or a Red Bull and am able to sit right back down to do my work. I love the feeling these medications give me in long car rides, because I am finally able to make it through an 8 hour ride without going insane. I have had no bad side effects from them except the temporary weight loss. So yes, the meds may affect her anxiety, but you will notice right away and be able to stop them immediately, because for most meds prescribed for ADD and ADHD, they do not build up in the body or have long half-lives. I am no longer overly anxious but I do notice a difference in anxiety levels on and off meds. I am much calmed on the meds and tend to be more anxious when I can't sit still or do my work. It is very stressful to have ADHD, so the meds actually make me less anxious since they help me so much. The one thing I will add is that I do find that sometimes, I don't feel like myself. I am usually very upbeat and humorous, but sometimes when I'm on the meds, I kind of lose that edge that I have and become hyper-focused and apathetic, but these periods only last for a short while. I hate that I lose a part of myself, but it is MORE than worth it based on the benefits. If you have any other questions, send me an email at mfuchs88@yahoo.com. Best of luck, Michael.

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