older son adhd,meds choice | ADHD Information

I had a similar decision to make a few years ago. For my younger one, I was fine with medication because it helped SO much and his symptoms were SO obvious.  He was 5 when he started and I don't regret it.

Then my older one started having problems in 3rd grade and I had a lot of trouble accepting it and getting him help.  Part of it was because he is exceptionally smart and I thought, he can handle this.  Part of it was because I wasn't going to be the mom who was medicating both of her kids.  What did that make me look like?

Because my older one is so on top of things, we made him part of the decision-making process.  In his case, he also gets silly around his friends and has little impulse control at home, but in school he holds it together. He worked hard at not speaking out in class, so I wasn't getting any complaints.  But he was all over the place when it came to doing homework and he decided he needed medical intervention for that.

So, he takes Strattera and that works for now.  His homework became a snap to do.  It doesn't help much with the impulse stuff, though.    He's not bothered enough by the impulse control issues to try stimulants (his decision).  He almost tried them last year because he was concerned that the lack of impulse control was hurting his relationships with other kids.  He is an organizational mess at school but we are addressing that. 

Try to be patient with your older one.  I often feel like I've used up all my patience and understanding on my younger son and then I'm just telling my older son to stop being so annoying!  Like he can help that any more than my younger one can help the fact that he's a whirling derlish at times. 

Having 2 kids taking meds for ADHD says nothing about you as a mom. 

Wow - I hope I didn't overreact to your question. That was cathartic for me!
My younger son has adhd and aspergers, last july my 9 year old was dx with just adhd. He is a calm kid unless he starts getting worked up with other kids, then he has no shut off and his impulses are horrible. His grades are A's and B's but I am certain he would be straight A's if he wouldnt always try to be first one done. I chose not to medicate and his teacher was on board with this and really helps him out a lot. He gets into trouble once a week for minor things like yelling or running when he isnt supposed to be, ocassional pushing or something like that. I have been on the fence with medicating until now. Ive watched him play with others and I see the other kids get irritaed with his yelling and "spazing" and yesterday he got in big trouble at school for trying to choke a boy that wouldnt shut up. Teacher and principle said it really wasnt that big of a deal, I guess he never really touched the boy and the boy was being a pest, but I have no tolerace for it. Im ready to medicate. His brother is severly hyperactive and takes ritalin la 30mg. I want to ask others if any of the meds work better for kids that arent really hyper, but impulsive? He can be a saint 95% of the time, but you never know when he will spaz!  He does so well most of the time. I just dont know when is when. He handles it himself most of the time, but sometimes it just gets to be too much. His brother started meds at 4 years and like you it was hard, but also so necessary, it just doesnt seem right to medicate him all the time when its only some of the time he does wrong things. He has an appointment with his brothers pdoc, Ill wait and see what she says.I know how he feels. I have a cleint every week that I want to choke. she will not
shut up. I have a stiff drink after work....sorry, I am no help.
My son is impusive but not hyper. He get into trouble sometimes too. he teacher
says she can handle it. she is such a sweetie!
Some of that seems like normal kid behavior, especially if he can behave most of the time.  I have nothing against medicating for ADHD, but with him I'd try therapy first.