Every child is different. If he was not suffering with learning before the medication and was able to concentrate well enough in class and with other daily tasks, then it may be that he does not really need the medication. We were unsure how we felt about putting our son on meds (he is 10) as his grades weren’t suffering, but knew he could be a bit hyper at times. He seems to feel that the medication helps him to focus more in school and his teachers have noticed a difference.
We can also notice a difference on the weekends if he doesn’t take it.

From what I know of adhd medication it does take quite a while to regulate and feel normal that being said if your son isn’t happy I think his comfort is number one priority. Ask him if he wants to continue with it and see how it goes or if he wants to stop. You are doing great and keeping him involved in the decision making process will give him more control and confidence in it

There are a range of different medications to treat ADHD, and it may be that some suit your son better than others. I suggest you go back to the medical professional who prescribed it, explain what he doesn’t like about it, and try a different medication. Sometimes you just need to try a few.

all medication would have effects on anyone, not just kids, but as its for a child, second or evern third option is recommended before medicating the child. and even ask the doctors for other options besides from medication. i have friends children that have ADHD and they said caffine calms down their child, every child is different.

Hopefully the diagnosis was wrong?! Go to another GP that bulk bills that specifically deals with kids and has good reviews on google. Don’t waste time with professionals that don’t have good reviews. Maybe the answer is a new hobby to keep your son occupied and happy. A lot of teens play sport. That might help. Even reading novels. Good luck.

Try voomie and see if that helps

I’ve known a couple of people with this issue and it’s certainly a worry. I’d definitely be taking him back to the Doctor to see if there is another alternative that suits him better. Thankfully he is talking to you about it an not just pretending to take them. Good luck.

Ritalin comes with some nasty side effects indeed and I can totally understand why some people choose not to take it, certainly when the symptoms aren’t that severe that you can’t cope with every day life. Occupational therapy can be very helpful to look into how to deal with your symptoms in daily functioning, learning, organizing your day, time management and social skills.

This is not an unusual situation – is he experiencing side effects? If so, discuss with your doctor as there may be alternatives that would suit him better. And did he give it a good go? Like, use it for say a month so the effects could kick in properly? Sometimes you get side effects before the benefits kick in.

Definitely a hard one, probably best to raise it with his doctor and specialists to see if the dosage can be altered or changed to see how he goes with it. I hope you find the answers youre looking for and get the best outcome for your little boy! All the best

I don’t have a child who has ADHD but i have a few friends whose kids do. I think go and see another doctor and get a second opinion as there are plenty of other medications out there that you can try. It is best to seek professional advice on matters like this. Good luck Mumma.