How long before seeing meds work for ADD/ADHD?

[mom104]

My daughter just started taking meds for her ADD/ADHD about 3 weeks ago.  The Dr. told us not to give her the meds on weekends and when she is not in school.  I haven't seen any change, but when she gets home from school, she acts like she ate a whole bag of sugar on the way home.  The teacher hasn't said if she see's any changes, but she hasn't been in trouble so I guess it is better.  Should she be so hyped-up after school?

[Sandman2]

   Glad to hear that things are working out for you!  Do you find that you use the meds on an as needed study/test basis or just do a daily long lasting one?  (If you don't mind my asking)
   By the way this is a very interesting site for adults with ADD/ADHD
http://jeffsaddmind.com/for-first-time-visitors
   Please keep posting.  Its good to hear from people who "have been there".  Best wishes.

[Mizgz]

Please don't let other women on this blog bully you.  I am a 36 year-old woman and have recently been diagnosed with ADHD.  I know I've had ADHD since I was a kid but it wasn't as well understood then. As an adult I didn't seek treatment as I was opposed to taking the medication. Instead I tried all sorts of ways of dealing with my condition.  I have 6 list apps, lots of post-it notes as reminders, take copious notes of everything but I still forget things every day and struggle with concentration and motivation even though I am far from lazy.  I dropped out of college and didn't return until I was 30 to finish even though my IQ is well above average. Now I'm in grad school and finally managing because of ADHD meds.  Your daughter has a medical condition that only ADD and ADHD medication can fix and only you can decide what is best for her. Not anyone else on this site.

[jo73161]

Your child comes home with rebound hyperactivity and is common in children with ADHD who are on medication. My son did it for a long time.
Please just remember what ever your decision is it is for the greater good for your child, ADHD children have a habit of making parents look bad and there child undisciplined I know i coped it for years, keep strong and your chin up. Our living tea-bag's have big hearts and slow down with age.. :)

[mgrendon]

Thank you for your insightful and needed post!

[mgrendon]

Don't let anyone make you feel guilty. It's a tough decision and it's easy for others to judge when they may or may not live with an ADHD child. Each child is unique. Low self esteem, labeling, and failure in school is not what anyone wants for their child. I am ovewhelmed by daily "bad behavior" reports and I have tried everything short of meds. It's a tough choice but an individual choice.

[3rdgradeteach]

As a 3rd grade teacher, I hope nobody takes hannidog's advice. The elementary years are where kids learn all of the basic skills they will need later on in school and in life. How well do you think that child would do in the 6th grade if they were reading at a 2nd grade level and didn't know their addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, much less formulas and writing methods and scientific method? Kids with ADHD also struggle to develop social skills because they become a distraction to other students and their impulsivity causes conflicts with their friends.

They would fail. They would have no social skills. They would have no friends. They would be kept in remediation. They would be in classes with people 2 and 3 years younger than them because they had to catch up. By high school, they will have developed a sense of self that consists of words like "stupid", "annoying", and "hopeless", yet they won't be the only voice calling themselves those words. Do you think they would go on to succeed from there? Maybe, but they've been set on the track to lifelong failure.

Medication works wonders for the kids that need it, and it makes just as much of an impact as getting a child glasses that can't see the paper in front of them or the words on the board. ADHD medication is an enabler and to neglect it as an option is to take away an opportunity for your ADHD child to succeed.

Some people with ADHD are able to overcome its challenges through coping methods, diet, and practiced self control, but there are others that struggle with a more acute disability or may not have the innate intelligence to do those things without achieving a chemical balance through medication.

If you choose not to medicate your child, pray they are the former and not the latter.