 | As a parent of children diagnosed with ADHD, one of the most stressful decisions we had to make was whether to use medication as a tool to help them. The ADHD medication decision is a big one, one that you want to do lots of research on. Concerns about ADHD medication, looking for alternatives to ADHD medication, choosing the proper ADHD medication, and understanding the side effects of ADHD medication are all important things to think through and research. |
Every child and family is different, and you can get such varied and passionate opinions - no one seems to agree (isn't parenting fun)! We made the choice to try some medical support for our kids; they have been on different things. What worked for one didn't for the other. There is one that we know works great for other children, but we call it "Satan's Drug" because of how hostile it made our pre-teen. (No, I will not say what it is - just because it turned my child into a demon does not mean it isn't exactly what someone else needs! I don't want to scare people!)
Once we decided that the medication would help our children more than it would hurt, we worked very closely with our doctor – starting with their pediatrician. We had to go through a few, giving each one about 6 weeks to see how they reacted (except "Satan's Drug" – that only got a week). Once we found the right one, we ensured our children knew they could talk to us about how it made them feel.
We did eventually make the switch to a psychiatrist to help us with these medical decisions. We started noticing that one of our kids was very anxious and made the decision to wean him off of his ADHD medication. We are working closely with that doctor to support him. Our pediatrician supported this move and was honest when he felt a specialist would best meet my son's needs. With my oldest being a teenager, we ensure he is included in all conversations about his body. While it is ultimately our responsibility to ensure he is healthy (mentally and physically) and supported, we've found that walking him through everything gives him buy-in. He's very open about how things make him feel, and we have been way more successful in his treatment than I believe he would have otherwise been.
While this is a choice you should make with your doctor and child, having as much information as possible is essential to feeling confident with your choice! Here are some guides and resources that I found useful and wish I'd had sooner in the process!
Parents’ Medication Guides - The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA)
Is this something you've struggled with? Do you feel educated and supported in facing this decision? Do you have other trusted resources that you could share?
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