There has always been a big controversy over ADHD medication. You hear things like, "Ridalin is overprescribed." or "I don't want my child living in a drug induced stupor." Well, I'm no doctor, but I'd like to share our family's experience with meds. I hope it brings more understanding as to it's possible benefits.
When my son was diagnosed, our psychologist recommended that we try meds to help him. He didn't seem to have debilitating hyperactivity, but he dealt with impulsivity and emotionality that was extreme at times. Our psychologist recommended that medication could be part of a holistic approach to managing his symptoms but was not an end-all cure. We had already tried lots of parenting and discipline strategies, but nothing seemed to affect the symptoms that created chaos in our family. So, with much reservation, we started down the road of medication trials supervised by our pediatrician.
The doctor started our son on a very low dose (5 mg) of Ritalin. We were to give this to him for a week and see if there were any changes. Though my recollection is not crystal clear, I think we didn't see any change that first week. Each week we would go up 5 mg in dosage. Either the second or third week, we started seeing some strange behavior. The effect seemed to be the opposite of what we wanted. He had trouble sleeping. I remember that one night, he was up all night in a manic state and it scared me to death! I called the doctor the next morning and we stopped giving him the Ritalin, but started on another medication at 5 mg. It took a couple of months to find the right med and dosage. But that second medication, Focalin XR, seemed to work at 30 mg. (That took six weeks of gradually increasing the dosage, watching and waiting!) We could not believe the difference. He was calm, his emotions were steady and he wasn't picking fights with his siblings all day long. He was able to complete his schoolwork and it brought some calm to our home situation. We didn't see evidence of over-medication. The gradual increase of dosage during medication trials is carefully monitored by a physician. That way you get to the effective dose without exceeding it. Our son had more control over his emotions and concentration. He stayed on that dosage of medication until we felt he was able to decide for himself what he wanted to do. Recently, he decided he didn't want to take the medication anymore. There are side effects that come with the meds like loss of appetite, headaches or dizziness at the onset of taking them, as well as other possible side effects. Each individual reacts differently to the medication. Our son didn't like that he wasn't hungry until dinner. He also complained of stomach aches and head aches from time to time.
The next person to be diagnosed was me. I started on an antidepressant first. Wellbutrin is known to help ADHD symptoms as well as alleviate symptoms of depression. I noticed a gradual difference. My depression lifted and I started noticing a slight improvement in my ability to focus. The doctor suggested I begin taking Adderall and I found that 30 mg. made a huge difference in my executive functioning. I could now do huge multi-stepped tasks and actually finish them! My emotions were stabilized even further. I had a general sense of well-being. That was a new feeling for me. It wasn't a magic pill that cured everything. I still have good and bad days. However, I couldn't believe how it seemed to take away the static in my brain that I had never been without. I am so thankful for the medication because it has allowed me to be more of the person I think God created me to be - more positive, less moody and frustrated and more in control. One side effect for me is loss of appetite, which actually worked to my advantage as I have lost 50 lbs that I needed to lose. Due to being in a healthier state of mind, I also started exercising and being more careful about what I eat, which contributed to my weight loss. Another side effect is that I also have to be careful not to take my second dose any later than 1 pm or I have trouble sleeping at night.
Now that I've experienced all this from the inside, I feel like I see it from a different perspective. I can understand that you would never tell a diabetic not to take their insulin when they know it will keep them healthy. The same is true with ADHD meds. There's a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be regulated through taking medication. If a doctor recommends the benefits of meds, why would you refuse to consider it if they improve the quality of your life?
Of course, medication is not for everyone. We've made the choice not to have our other sons who have ADHD on meds at this time. One of our sons seems to function pretty well in his school environment without being on medication. We are trying other strategies with him to help him manage his responsibilities at school and at home. Our youngest also had begun a medication trial. Last year was a really rough year for him in school. His emotionality and impulsivity led to 5 suspensions for aggressive behavior toward both teachers and students on different occasions. In the midst of those difficulties we had him evaluated for ADHD. We then waited to see if different behavior modification strategies implemented by the teachers would help him stay in control. That didn't seem to be enough. We felt desperate to find something that would help him. Unfortunately, we started the medication trials too late in the school year to see significant benefits. Over the summer, he really didn't need medication at home. Now as this school year has gotten underway, his environment and maturity has improved his ability to make better choices. He doesn't seem to have the same emotional triggers set him off, so we decided he can do school without the meds.
For my sons, we may decide to reevaluate the benefits of meds if their struggles increase. Also the boys may choose medication for themselves if they feel they will help them with focus and control as schoolwork becomes more rigorous. My daughter has asked to be evaluated for ADHD because she thinks medication may help improve her concentration as she tackles college level work. For me, I choose to take it daily and will continue to as long as I experience the benefits.
To take or not to take? That is the question. Each family will have to choose what is most beneficial for them. However, don't rule out medication out of fear or misinformation. Get the facts and make an informed decision.
Some additional resources:
The Arlington Center is a local resource for families dealing with ADHD and other issues. http://www.arlingtonctr.com/
Additional articles:
http://www.chadd.org/Membership/Attention-Magazine/View-Articles/ADHD-and-the-Decision-to-Medicate.aspx
http://www.healthyplace.com/adhd/adhd-children/adhd-medications-how-adhd-medicines-benefit-children-with-adhd/
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