@A MyAutismTeam Member Give it to him with a spoonful of apple sauce.

we asked our Dr. and he said he personally recommend 6 years old depending on the case. He specializes in ADHD, but consults with the neuro ped to come up with a combined treatment plan.

Recommendations for treatment of children and youth with ADHD vary depending on the patient’s age: ◦For preschool-aged children (4–5 years of age), the primary care clinician ◾Should prescribe evidence-based parent- and/or teacher-administered behavior therapy as the first line of treatment and
◾May prescribe methylphenidate (a medication to treat ADHD) if the behavior therapy does not provide significant improvement and the child continues to have moderate to severe symptoms.

In areas where evidence-based behavioral therapy is not available, the clinician needs to weigh the risks of starting medication at an early age against the harm of delaying diagnosis and treatment. Read more about evidence based treatment options for preschoolers.

◦For elementary school–aged children (6–11 years of age), the primary care clinician should prescribe US Food and Drug Administration–approved medications for ADHD and/or evidence-based parent and/or teacher-administered behavior therapy as treatment for ADHD, although preferably both medication and behavior therapy should be used together. The evidence is particularly strong for stimulant medications and sufficient, although less strong, for atomoxetine, extended-release guanfacine, and extended-release clonidine (in that order). The school environment, program, or placement is a part of any treatment plan. For example, school programs might provide classroom adaptations, such as preferred seating, modified work assignments, and test modifications (such as location for taking the test and extended test time), as well as behavior plans or special education.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/guidelines.html

My daughter has been on guanfacine since she was 4. The psychiatrist who prescribed it graduated from Columbia Medical School so she's no quack.

Well, my son has been taking a medication often used for children with ADHD - but he takes it for a sleeping disorder. He's been on it since he was 3, and it does help mellow him out as well.

Personally, if my child was sleeping more than 2 hours a day I wouldn't have gone the medication route. I did try several other ways to get him to sleep with no success. There are other things you can try first, if you are interested and have no tried already including therapies, diets, supplements and exercise.