To med or not to med?

ok my son is being evaluated for add/adhd. IF he does have this I'm just wondering is there ANY parent out there that has NOT medicated their child and how they're doing? We are truly against medicating.

My daughter has been diagnosed ADHD back in November and I told them at the school meeting I want alternatives not drugs and made myself clear. Is it the school district doing the testing? If so and you disagree it is the law that you can request another opinion and have the district pay for it. I am a Service Coordinator and work with People and kids with disabilites and know most of the school laws. My daughter is off medications and drugs scare me i worry about long term affects and stuff like that. Although if there were no other way and alternatives are used up then I will consider. I also have been reading books to help with disicipline that help and her teacher is reading it as well ( I photo-copied for her) and we are working together. Her teacher says she is doing better with prompts. The book is called ADD/ADHD Behavior Change Resource Kit, by Grad L. Flick, Phd. My point is there are alternatives to try first. Jill

When my daughter was first diagnosed with ADHD we tried different meds, then because of the side effects stopped. She was very young (3yrs old). When she turned four and was in Pre-K (private catholic school) we tried the positive parenting thing and strick discipline (firm and steady), with no meds. The teacher told use Katelyn was trying hard and for awhile it worked, but she started getting in trouble and would not focus. We put her back on the meds (Focalin), this was after we had tried every other med that is out there. Finally, Katelyn settled down and will focus in class. Yes, there are side effects even with this medicine (loss of appetite and she does seem to over focus), but for her this seems to work. To all parents of AD/HD children:

First of all, I want to say that your children are lucky that you care about them so-much and you are trying to find the best treatment for the. I have some points to make about AD/HD and medication, and hope you will consider my advice. Because I have had ADD all my life, and was never diagnosed until I was 20, I know first-hand how it can feel to be a child trapped inside.

Recognizing the problem is the first step to treatment. Because you know what is causing your child to act this was gives you a great advantage. Also, it will help your child to understand their conditions.

Secondly, it is a horrible feeling to be a child and have this disorder. You feel like you have the potential but are lazy and cannot accomplish the things you wish to do. This is a main reason why there is so much anxiety and depression, as well as anger associated with AD/HD. The inability to do the things you want to do is a horrible feeling and it will naturally cause some-if not all-of these feelings. It just depends on the individual; some kids turn their frustration into anger, others become depressed. It is clear that there are two ways to deal with AD/HD - turn you feelings inward and become isolated and depressesd, or turn those feelings outward and act angry, hostil, hyperactive, etc. The important thing to understand is this is a coping mechanism and can be treated.

Counseling can help people - it just depends on the individual. Some respond to advice better - some can relate to what others are saying and learn how to change their behavior.

Others, need medication. I know there is a lot of fear of medicating, but you need to look at the statistics and know that most AD/HD drugs are probably safer than antibiotics.

Personally, medication has been a life-saver for me. Like all of you, I was scared to try the meds, but was even more scared to live my life the way I was. I only wish I had been diagnosed and given treatment when I was a child. My life would have been so much easier.

Finally, I want to speak for every child out-there who cannot express how they feel. Living life being unable to motivate yourself and concentrate on simple tasks is a horrible way to live. I would much rather take a risk of trying medication and having a good life, vs. living my life miserably. We give people medications everyday that have life-threatening side effects, more so than AD/HD meds. There is no proof that there is any long-term damage with using the meds. So I say help your children - give them the chance they deserve. I know what its like - I was once a child trapped in a world I didn't understand, and I would have given anything for help, and meds can help.

It is a difficult decision to medicate your child. However, medication has been a miracle in my son's life. Medication has allowed him to fulfill his potential. He always worked hard and is still working hard but now his hard work is paying off in fantastic grades. He was a "C" student in high school when we had him diagnosed. Once he started taking medication, he has almost straight-A's and is a national merit scholar. The pills didn't make him smart, they allowed him to focus so his inate intelligence and hard work could be realized. He feels so good about himself now. The first day he took it he told me, "I could understand the teacher. Before, it was like listening to a TV turned on in another room."

Our doctor told us, "You wouldn't deny your child glasses if he was nearsighted." Concerta has been the glasses for his brain.

Good luck.

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