look into food allergy remedies.....pls...before starting your teen on drugs sometimes removing wheat &/or dairy .. also food coloring, and others ...have proven to help more than u may think...now its alot easier to maintain than it was when my son did it in 1995...He's 17 now and still drug free....when they come up with a "cure" in pill form...then maybe..lol...
Also maybe she's lacking certain vitamins...ex: autistics do not produce vitamin B6 as a fact like they should...and (magnesium must also accompany it). But, thats important stuff ...ask her pediatrician...ok? If u want, I mean....lol

As a card-carrying neurochemist with a son who could not concentrate to save his life, let alone sit down long enough for classes, homework, or conversations with a peer, I was extremely reluctant to go down the medication pathway. In spite of knowing what the drug does at the cellular and molecular level, using isolated models that examine one small part of the enormous chemical complexity of the brain, the effect on the rest of the brain is not well known. Frankly, that can be said about anything put into the body. But this was my son, and this was his young brain!
It took several years of watching him falling further and further behind before I agreed to a trial run. A low dose of methylphenidate in a patch on his butt was initially tried. The changes were profoundly positive! He could concentrate, focus for extended periods, listen to teachers, do his homework, and could even sit still to meditate.
Small issues (irritation under the patch, patch not waterproof) made us try oral alternatives, but we came back to the patch. It's pricey (insurance picks up all but $90 for a 30 day supply), but it's well worth it. I can tell instantly if he has a patch on or off.
Keep in mind that you don't have to commit for a specific time period, and if it's not working, or if there are unwanted effects, then just stop, and look for an alternative. She's your baby, and you watch her every day. You see how she is without medication - observe the changes with medication, and report them back to her prescribing physician (someone with lots of experience with kids on the spectrum). Together you'll come up with medication that works.
And don't be shy to ask the community here about their various experiences and observations. Not all of them will apply, because no two children are alike, but there's a world of experience here on MAT.

Hi. I have been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. Luckily when I was a kid, not much was known about ADHD. I would try altering the diet to see if that has any effect. I would also try to work with her teachers to make sure that she is setup for success in school. Have her sit in the 1st or second row and towards the center of the class so that there are fewer distractions. Sometimes breaking up large assignments into smaller ones with breaks or change of subjects in between is helpful. Also exercise like bicycling, running, martial arts, or yoga is good to improve brain chemistry and focus. I too would be hesitant to jump right in to medications. Maybe find a councilor or some one with experience with ADHD to help you find other environmental factors that can be changed to give her the best opportunity for success.

We have some family and friends in your situation, so I can offer some very general advice:
1. Try diet first. You might be able to get some good results by limiting sugar, food dye, gluten, casein, and that sort of thing. About the only way to know is to do a test, and observe carefully. Some things work for some kids, but don't work for others.
2. When you try medication, make sure your doctor is willing to start with very low doses. You might have to wait a few days to see if it is doing anything. If your doctor is into quick results, you might find yourself disappointed in the long run.

They've run levels on my children...the common denominator was they each too many carbs, starches, sugars. I work evenings and my son apparently chooses to make pasta's or macaroni and cheese quite a bit. They're both mildly overweight...but are hyperglycemic. I've made changes in their diet by leaving meals in the crock pot that are not overloaded with pasta's, starch or sugars. I buy more vegetables and made them cut down on soda. But my 12 year old has a problem with portion control. She will eat...and eat...and eat...until there is nothing left. One day I made fajita filling...enough for 3 adults and 2 children. When I got home, there was only enough for 2 or 3 fajitas. She said she thought it was chicken chili and couldn't resist. I don't know how successful I will be in providing diet changes but I'm definitely going to work something out.