ADHD to medicate or not

medicate, just for your save

I feel the same way you do about this - it all depends on the child and how they function or don't function without meds. I too agree that there are way too many overmedicated kids out there who really don't need what they are on - let alone what a lot of them do with their meds is sell them to friends. But if your son can function quite well with being on a med without horrible side effects and he in fact agrees that he should be on the med because he feels it truly is helping him then yes most definitely!!! We had teachers in elementary school try to force us to put our now 13yr old on meds because they said he was ADHD but we always said no way - we already had him checked out for it and the doc said he's just a very curious boy with tons of energy so he is not ADHD. The only thing that sucks now is that he is totally bored in the 8th grade - comes home every single day and when you ask him how school was - it's boring as usual - so he's not being challenged enough at school. He takes High School Algebra as well as AP classes - I sometimes wonder if it is because he was raised around adults for most of his life!!!! Sometimes I feel like he has an old soul!!!

Well its obvious if in a small age, you rely on medicines for cure then your immune system becomes generally weak to fight diseases But if you resist from medicine, give a illness to cure after some time then its all for you!

They have better medication now for ADHD now my daughter is on it currently look into it , it is non-stimulant called Strattera . It is awesome, she is alot better and doesnt seem to have the depression . Do you have a local mental health clinic? If so get him in, it is a very wise move.

Yes, it should be viewed on a case by case. I think medication should be a last resort, there are so many different ways to try first. Like with food, Lots of fruit, low sugar, Also with excerise, Your mind and body, if none of these make an impact on the child, then maybe medication should be tried.

I know exactly how you feel. My son was diagnosed at 7 yrs old also. He is now 18. He decided that he didn't want to take anymore and he stopped going to his behavior therapy groups. He said other kids made fun of him and made him think he was weird. My son is not weird. In fact he is extremely intelligent. His mind goes a million miles an hour. He thinks of so many things that he can't put it all togather. Since he has quit taking his medication he has made some very poor and implulsive decisions that have gotten him in situations where it has been hard to get out of. He can't concentrate on any one thing anymore. His self esteem has gone downhill. Others have told me it is hormones and he's sowing his oats. He had hormones at 15 and 16 but never exhibited behavior like this. I'm hoping he'll see it for himself soon.

Its a tough choice. When my son was in school he had teachers tell him, to tell me he needed to be put on medication. I took him to a doctor that did not believe in just giving kids pills, when they were just being kids. He got upset about what the teacher said. I have a grandson who really needs medication, the side effects are so scary. I wish they would come out with something effective and safe to give to children. My daughter tries to not give him meds during the summer, during the school year he needs the meds. Sometimes I think that I might have made a mistake by not getting my son on medication, it might have made his childhood easier. He is now 27 yrs. and we all did survive, barely, hehe.

i have a friend who's son is adhd. He was on a lot of meds, and my friend looked in to other options. What ended up working for them was changing his diet and cutting way back on the meds. I 've also heard others who've noticed a huge change when switching the child's diet. However, each child is different and what works for one may not work well for another.

I believe it should be decided on a case by case basis, every child is different and the key is knowing what your child is capable of and what the disorder is taking from their capabilities, some children function fine with a little behavior modification, like my son. Some kids just need for you to know what they need. They don't all need medication, although I agree that some do, that is why it was created after all.

Some people--adults included--have it so badly they cannot function normally without medication. Those people need it. The milder cases I've seen controlled with discipline and strict routine adjustments. Every case is different, I think.

Hey - I have ADHD and hated being medicated. After 7th grade, I asked my parents to take me off of the medication. I couldn't sleep and I was bored and boring. They took me off and, ever since, I've had some trouble concentrating but I've been HAPPY. That's life's goal. Be happy.

i agree with ya...i wouldn't medicate my son either.