Should kids be medicated for ADHD?

I have read so many negative things about medications for ADHD and am really upset that my step-son is on this medication. He was only on it for school but now he is on a higher dose and takes it everyday. He doesn't eat after he takes it until dinner time and even then he sometimes wont eat. His mother refuses to try any other options and rushed into putting him on the medication. My husband is also upset about it but we know there is nothing we can do about it. Does anyone have a child diagnosed with ADHD or know a lot about it and other options besides the meds?

Really! There's nothing I can do about it?? Pretty sure I didn't ASK what can I do about changing his meds. I simply asked if anyone knew other methods out there so we could bring up to his mother and try to convince her she jumped into this too soon without trying other options first.

He absolutely does not need any of the meds for ADHD!! Most of the medications for ADHD are amphetamines! Teachers have been trying to convince me to get my son tested for ADHD since he started kindergarten. (he's 13). My ex-husband was in rehab and I had access to books about every type of drug there is. Sometime methamphetamines are even prescribed to kids with ADHD! Insane! I brought home a questionaire that doctors use to test kids for ADHD and if you want my opinion, just about every kid on the planet could be ADHD. This "illness" is still pretty new but what did parents do before they "discovered" it? They dealt with their kids like parents should....they disciplined their kids! I think parents are too quick to rush kids to the doctor for every little sniffle and get them a pill. Teachers told me my son was too active. Since when is being active a problem? Maybe this is why we have so many people overweight in this country or atleast part of it. Your step-son does not need to be medicated. You can come up with ways to deal with issues at school or whereever that are best suited for him and the school. Ask his teachers if he can have a stress ball at his desk, or something similar. Something to keep his hands busy that wont disturb class. Silly putty is another one. Also, if the mother won't budge on the medication thing, do your homework. Get on internet, find out info on every drug prescribed for ADHD. What's it made of, Common name and scientific name, every thing you possibly can. Share this info with your husband, he is the father and should be able to talk to his son's doctor about other medications that might be better for him. Good Luck.

I know several people who have been on it and ended up trying to commit suicide 5 yrs after being on the meds. And they end up like zombies. When one got off the meds he was 18 and acting like a 12 year old which was the same age when he started the drugs. He didn't progress at all emotionally or mentally. In fact he doesn't remember the last 6 years of his life. Makes me think it doesn't help the child it just hinders them.

Well, there isn't anything you can do because he is not your son he is your husbands son you can't do anything because it isn't up to you. The meds are really bad for the kid. Both of my cousins take the meds, but they are still very hyper.

In your particular situation it really is up to the bio mom (and father) to decide.

Yes there are other options but I am sorry in your situation they would not be possible to implement.

every child will be dianosed with addh ...if you allow it
Children are not quiet focused little zombies
We dont need childhood amphetamines to keep the FDA in profitable junkies for the next century

Here's a thought. I once had ADHD explained to me this way. Picture yourself watching television... Only thing is... someone else has the remote, and is flipping channels faster than you'd like. You can't get interested in what you are viewing, as it's gone to fast for you to concentrate, much less get into the program and finish it. That's kind of what life is like for a child with ADHD. It's really hard to focus on the task at hand when your mind continues to jump on to something else. Very frustrating.

As for meds, my son is bipolar. It wasn't until he was 9 that we were able to get him diagnosed. From 18 months until he was 9, his moods continued to cycle, and he became increasingly violent during his episodes. It was pretty scary, and very hard not only on him, but on the family as well.
He's 12 now, and it took some doing, but he's finally on the right medication. He's not a zombie, and he's able to control his emotions. He's never been happier.

Medication doesn't have to be a bad thing. Just make sure that you are proactive in your child's treatment plan. If it's the wrong med, has bad side effects, don't hesitate to wean your child off it, and go back to the doctor and demand something different. Not all medications affect all children the same. For your doctor to prescribe the right one, is kinda like throwing darts blindfolded, and trying to hit the bullseye.

If this child does have true ADHD, then medication is the best thing for him. ADHD is not within a childs control. There is a lack of brain activity in one part of the childs brain, the part responsible for focus and self control. This is no more under their control than insulin levels are to a diabetic. ADHD is a medical condition and it needs medical treatment.

All research has shown that any treatment programs for ADHD are much more effective once the child is on medication. Most other programs fail on their own because they are trying to get a child to fix this, like trying to force a deaf child to hear. But once on medication other behavior modification therepies begin to work.

Without medication ADHD kids face daily problems meeting their school requirements, getting into trouble, making friends and having a calm home life. They are often failing at school, rejected by peers and always in trouble. This has a lifelong negative effect on their self esteem which can lead to serious problems later in life. Many ADHD adults who did not end up being treated with medication as ADHD kids end up in issue like unemployment, dropping out of school, crime, and an inbalilty to maintain relationships. Medication gives him a chance not to be this way.

It is much better to take the meds every day rather than just for school. If it is only being taken for school it is ignoring all the other problems ADHD kids suffer from outside of school like inability to complete homeowrk and household tasks, inability to play well with friends, participate in sports and other activities, not get in trouble at home. Imagine just trying to enjoy a simple TV show if you were unable to concentrate and sit still. Everything you do is effected by your ADHD not just school.

Some people talk of natural alternatives. But these are actually far more dangerous than medications. All medications must go through incredibly stringent testing criteria to be sold. The same does not apply to natural products. Also ADHD medications are among some of the most studied and proven to work medications available, while natural products tend to be innefective.

Also some people talk of diet. In true ADHD this will not work either. Diet does not cause ADHD and even if all negative foods were stopped the problems would still be present.

both my sons have been diagnosed with ADHD. and yes, the doctor recommended medication --which we took as simply a suggestion. :)
we opted to go the old fashioned occupational/behavioral therapy route. it's more time consuming and the process takes a lot longer before you see actual improvements, but the process involves the whole family. and so, since getting my boys into it, we've bonded more solidly as a unit. we learned the massage warm-ups, bought a trampoline, and now we're learning more about a better diet for our boys.
we've also enrolled my boys in a regular school with a good sped program. my boys get pull outs for IEPs and tutorials. my husband and i attend the school's support group meetings. and more importantly, my boys can play and bond with other kids, and are happy and healthy.
i don't want to speak in general. some ADHD cases might need drugs. but our choice works. not just for my boys, but for our whole family.