We want to stop the meds | ADHD Information

Good news! High school seems okay without the meds! He has only had one full day so I may be jumping the gun with assumptions here, but he said he has been able to listen and participate easily!

I am happy with his attitude, it has been my experience that attitude has everything to do with his chance of success with things.

Yes, my son has an IEP and has seen a psychologist.... however I'm not sure there is a Neuropsychologist in my town.

The report is very insighful and full of fantastic suggestions for school! HOWEVER, the teachers only follow the tips that are convenient to them, if at all, and does not provide any recommendations without medication.

I feel for him, her really wants to be able to go through puberty (and high school) without drugs -- hooray for him!

The disruptions are primarily fidgetting and verbal outbursts (not angry -- completely random noises).

It's a tough thing for him to be still and quiet for any length of time even with the Dexedrine. Is there any hope he can go to school without it?

Have you had him see a neuropsychologist? My son's doctor gave us a
report with suggestions that worked as well as medication for him - for a
while. If you have a specific plan - like having the teachers email
homework to you, keeping a separate set of books, you could have class
notes made available or emailed to you. There are a ton of things that
could make schoolwork easier.

As far as disruptions - what were they about? In the 2nd grade my son -
classic mood - was fidgety and knocked crayons off his desk. When his
teacher told him to pick them up he grabbed the whole box and dumped
it off the floor. Which got him sent to the hallway, which was quieter, and
he could concentrate on his work. I would not assume your son's trying
to be an obnoxious kid - probably he's trying to make school work for
him when they aren't cutting it for him.

If it was my son I'd be at the school the first day requesting an IEP
meeting to make sure the school starts cutting it.

Good luck!

Have you ever tried switching meds? Maybe a different med might help him focus without as many side effects? Just a thought.

Another thought - has he ever been tested for learning disabilities?  

Otherwise, good luck and lots of good wishes for you....

have you tried guafacine/tenex? it is great for relaxing and controling impulsive behaviors. Our son takes in addition to his concerta, has been since we began meds back when he was turning 7. DS is 13. He couldn't make it through a day at school without meds. He is a better student because of meds.

I hope this is of some help.

My son has been taking Dexedrine since his diagnosis in Grade 2. My husband has always been dead set against it, but I pressured him into letting our son try it as a tool to help him be more attantive and productive during his lessons. The teachers are happier with him taking it, but we have never given it to him on weekends or breaks, we don't find him hard to deal with at all.

We have endured years of post-meds mood swings, bad sleep and appetite loss.

Now at 13 years of age, our son doesn't want to take the meds anymore. He knows his hormones are working, he wants to go through puberty "naturally", and I am afraid for him.

He tried going on strike from the meds at the end of the last school year, but his disruptive behaviour had him out in the hallway all day and the teacher refused to even try to teach him!

This fall he will be entering High School. Unfortunately even with the meds he is going with about a Grade 4 reading level and printing that would suit a Grade 2 kid. I don't think he has the foundations, but the no fail policy pushed him through anyhow... poor guy! Highschool is supposed to be a fresh start!

Does anyone have any recommendations/techniques for highschool survival without the meds?!