Recently my 5 year son was diagnosed with ADHD. I'm hesitant about putting him on medicine because of the side effects. If, you've had any experience good or bad with medicine for ADHD, will you please share along with the name of the medicine? I would really appreciate it.
Everyone swore my son had ADHD. Fortnuately after several docs and so on, we went with that he did not have it. My girlfriend teaches children with severe needs in Brooklyn. She doesnt believe in this diagnosis fof any boy under 10. Feeling that any active young male falls into the guidelines of ADHD. There is a natural diet some people recommend for ADHD. Such as no red dyes and lower sugars and etc. Internet has a bunch listed. Best to talk to a nutritonist that was worked with ADHD before. She has seen it make a major difference for some and unfortunately others had to be on meds. Those meds take a while to kick in so you don't see overnight results and some just made the kids comatose she said. If you do go through the diet, have your doctor send a note into the schools so that way everyone is on board.
My daughter was prescribed Focalin XR. I decided that I didn't want her to take the drugs. I would suggest trying to find something more natural. If you go to Whole Foods, you can find these drops that are good for attention and focus. It is natural, not synthetic. There are different brands out there. Make sure you read the label to be sure it is appropriate for his age.
I had always been super against meds when it came to ADHD. I used to think parents wanted to make their lives easier and that the side effects would be horrible for my child. When my sons neurologist recommended we started him with Ritalin, we were hesitant and refused to do it. After she explained that the meds were not to make him be something he is not. It is only to calm him enough so that he can focus and retain at least a little bit of the information he is presented with at school. She mentioned that because of the ADHD it was very hard for a child to focus no matter how much he wants to.
We decided to go ahead and start him with Ritalin on weekdays only. It did improve his behavior slightly and he can finally sit for more than 2 minutes at a time! I am not saying it worked wonders but it did help a bit and that bit is better that nothing.
Guanfacine. My 7 year-old daughter has been on it for 4 years. The only side effect is that it makes her tired at times but that's nothing compared to manic behavior when she's not on it. The vitamins and melatonin don't seem to do much. Changing her diet is out unless we starve her to near death. She doesn't eat a lot of different foods.