My son is 11. We were dead against meds. Tried fish oil no gluton etc. I got phone calls or notes everyday in grade 3 and 4. We finally gave in in April of grade 4. By September with the meds and a great teacher we got two calls all year and he was the victim!!!  It has not been perfect but he is much happier. This report he got 6 A’s 12 Bs and one C+ in music. We find that his organizational skills affect his learning. But with a good IEP and letting your teachers know your child’s strengths and weaknesses she can and will succeed.  I have asked my son how the drugs make him feel he says, ” people tell me i behave better”  Good luck!!!

There are so many medications available now, though I hear many more complaints about the newer ones than I ever did about Ritalin (the generic may not work as well) and Concerta when I was a school social worker.

Side effects are usually less troublesome if the child is started on a low dose, the doctor raises it every week or two weeks with imput from the parent, and the parent contacts the doctor if there are any problems or concerns.

Side effects from NOT being medicated can be serious. This was my experience as a school social worker. If the ADHD is severe enough to interfere with a child’s social, academic, emotional, etc. functioning, the side effects can be: depression, anxiety disorders, oppositional defiant disorder and other significant problems.

So there is good reason to try the medication and to change doses (with dr’s guidance) or the type of medication to see if it helps.

Remember, the brain of the child with ADHD does not have enough chemicals or they don’t stick around long enough to keep certain areas of the brain functioning properly. It is true medication, not “drugs.”

Good luck. Hope this helps you and her!
Patricia H. Aust: CT Task Force on ADHD/author of HYPER HARRY for kids 8-12 (available at Amazon.com and the Kindle Store).

I was really against medicine.  It wasn’t until I realized how much it could help her did we try.  Also, my best friend, who has ADHD, told me, “If my parents had put me on medicine, I’d be a different person today.”

I am there with you on the homework.  We have homework struggles, although less this year than in years past.  We had my 9 year old daughter on Adderrall, however, and while it was working in school, the side effects were horrible (coming down off if it was difficult, and, she became violent).  Some kids are on Intuniv in the afternoon after school to help with the “coming down”.

We have since put her on Kapvay (Cholonodine) and it has been perfect for her.  It brings her down just a notch so that when she does get upset, the world isn’t ending.  Also, frequent breaks, studying in manageable chunks, all the things you need to do to help ADHD kids.

Also, we had a meeting with the school - if homework does get bad, she will be graded on “quality” not quantity.

These ADHDers have such struggles with Executive Function.  Medicine helped us with this.

My hope is to someday wean her off.  Like in the posts above, you can start slowly. 

Good luck to you!  And this website is a great resource.

Hi Lynne,I was in exactly the same boat as you are right now almost a year ago.  We had a physician who was reluctant to diagnose but we just knew, my husband has ADD and he recognized himself in our daughter.  We also have an older son who is distinctly not ADD so it was easy to tell the difference - we knew it wasn’t a parenting or diet issue as many parents try to control symptoms that way. 

But we finally did convince her doc for a referral to a child psychiatrist and we found one who specializes in ADD.  I can’t emphasize enough how very important it is that when and if you do medicate they come from a psychiatrist NOT your pediatrician.  I think, though I don’t have empirical evidence of course, that a good number of medication problems come from having a non-specialist diagnose and prescribe.

When you have a specialist they will be able to both explain and reassure you about medications and their side effects.  The things that my daughter’s psychiatrist told me that reassured me were that 1. if the medication has strong side effects and/or changes their personality what that absolutely without a doubt means is that it is not the right medication.  And 2. if you knew there was chaos going on inside your child’s head wouldn’t you treat that?  It is an organ, like a liver or pancreas and there are lots of options to treat it.

A lot of times when a regular doctor or pediatrician prescribes medication for ADD it is their first best guess and/or the latest drug on the market.  In the case of ADD there are many types of brain misfire that can go on. What the specific drugs do are address that one misfire.  When you have the wrong drug it treats the wrong misfire and then problems.

There is a doctor in CA who does brain scans on people with ADD, Dr. Daniel Amen. We thought about doing this for my husband but it is expensive - so he ended up going through a number of different drugs prescribed by his doctor.  Once he started working with a therapist and psychiatrist he found the right drug, right dose and is much improved.

So to make a long story short, let me just give an example of the difference in our daughter after meds.  By the middle of 1st grade her teacher was already talking about holding her back.  We thought this was ridiculous - she did fine on almost everything, excelled at math, bit of a reluctant reader but clearly she was learning.  The teacher was not seeing it because of the rubric she had to use to advance her students included almost only tests of one sort or another.  She froze on any kind of timed test or under any real or implied pressure (standard ADD brain stuff).  there was this one sheet called 100 math facts - her best subject, she could pop addition of single digit combinations off at will any old time, but look at that sheet with 100 problems all lined up and chaos went off in her head.  She’d do the first three, then jump to the last few, then around again, unable to focus.  the day after she started meds they did one of these assessments and she did 86 all in a row in the ten minutes allotted.  And she seemed happier!  It is when she doesn’t get her meds that she has hard days.

the problem with not medicating is that the frustration will not ever get more palatable on its own.  Kids with ADD know they are different and tend to get a lot of negative attention because they can’t get themselves to follow the instruction they just heard, you know all the problems that ensue. Another thing her psychiatrist told us (which my husband knew from experience) is that medication can be stopped at any time but the negative impacts on a child’s self esteem take a lifetime to recover from.

Good luck, find an expert to work with and you’ll be ok.

My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 7.  Her grades and class participation were horrible.  Her socialization suffered, forget about evening activities.  Our doctor put her of Focalin XR, and WOW what a change.  She has a much better time with focusing, completeing projects and staying on target/task in class.  And something I wasn’t prepared for, her self-esteem rose.  These are such critical developmental years, physically, academically and emotionally, I couldn’t imagine where she would be otherwise.  She is thriving, in par with her classmates and things are good.  Now, the medication is not the only thing that’s made a difference, she has an awesome IEP in place, wonderful teachers, and her father and I working with her.  The medication is just the final piece to the puzzle for us.  Good luck to you and your daughter.  Whichever decision you make, she’s blessed to have a loving and concerned mother.

HI,
We had the same worries.  It took us almost a year to have our son try meds.  He is on his third day of adderall.  Can’t tell quite yet what the outcome is.  But, I will say that he actually worked on his science fair project yesterday without prompting and did everything put paste it to the board.  This is a HUGE deal as it has been a source of contention since it was assigned.

From what I’ve heard and read, it can take time to figure out the medication that works best as well as the dosage.

Don’t forget, you can always take her off medication if you need to.

Good luck!

Lynne,
I have to say that Ritalin has made a world of difference for our 9 year old son! He’s much happier, because he’s not getting yelled at all the time. He was losing weight, but we’ve supplemented his diet with protein shakes and that has helped. He’s had no other side effects.
We did have to explain to him that it was not a “miracle medicine” and that he still needs to work on his behavior. The medicine helps make that a lot easier. He was upset after a couple weeks on it after he did a normal 8 year old boy thing. He thought that on meds he would never do anything wrong!  He gets it now!
He’s been doing great on it!
Good Luck!!

I’m going to chime in here because I am not against meds, but you do have many options to try before going that route. You do have a choice.
First, try going to the pediatrician and getting some bloodwork. Lots of kids have symptoms of ADD but what they actually have is something else. For example, hypothyroidism causes fogginess. Severe iron deficiency can cause problems cognitively. There are many things it could be and it doesn’t hurt to rule it out first.
Second - diet. Have you checked her for allergies, and if none, many kids do better without sugar, food additives, high fructose corn syrup, and always high-protein breakfasts.
Third - is she taking vitamins? Many people suggest a quality fish oil for brain support as well as extra magnesium and zinc. Does she take a good multi, there are many good ones out there (not Flintstone’s). There are also natural amino acids that help with focus and calm.
Fourth - is she getting enough sleep?
Fifth - In terms of school - is she connecting well with her teacher, does she need extra support in the form of a resource room in school, does she need a more consistent homework schedule at home?
So, these are a few things you could try before starting meds. Again, i am not against meds, but i do think its a complicated issue and its best to try to resolve things naturally first, if possible.

One more thing besides bloodwork/diet/extra school support - you can also do cognitive brain training. There are many companies that specialize in this for children. Luminosity is a popular one, I think its age 7 and up. Some people do Brain Gym, NACD, there are many programs. The idea is the brain is a muscle, and you can train it to be stronger like any other muscle. One of the most important ways is in working memory. This can be practiced. If you strengthen her working memory you are not putting a band-aid on a problem, you are giving her tools that will last a lifetime.

I have to add my opinion on this, as we tried 2 “popular” stimulant medications and found the side effects were too much for our son.  Crying, and not eating, not sleeping well, and seemed angrier at times.  He is 10 now, and Diagnosed at 8. 
We noticed huge differences when we eliminated artificial food colors.  Obviously, healthy diet, higher protein, and lower carbs like breads, etc. Not vegetable carbs or fruit carbs.  We do try a few gluten free snacks, all helps.
Look into neu’becalm, we love it. I take it.  Also, added ADD-Care, which mimics stimulant medication but no side effects.
good fish oil, and IEP.
It’s been great.  My son has Dyslexia,Dysgraphia too, so academics remain our main concern, but we have an IEP that makes a difference.
ADD-care.com.  for more info.
I am happy for anyone who finds what works, medicine or natural treatment, but usually you have to have some kind of treatment, maybe even including therapy.  I know I will continue to try everything else I can before trying stimulant medications.  Especially until he is older.

Lynne,
  Your question and concerns are exactly as they should be. I think you can see from the responses that medication for many can be helpfull but comes with it’s on set of problems.

You need to always do what you feel is best for your children and don’t worry about what experiences others have had.

Take the time to learn as much as you can. Find a good team to help you with this. Pediatrictions, psychiatrists, psycologists, teachers, school nurse, principle and even other parents and of course family members are part of the team. They all have certain rolls to play and want to help. As you can see by the many heartfelt responses this and other groups will also be a great source of strength for you.

IMHO you don’t have to medicate until the disabilities are to the point that nothing else has worked and are so severe as too effect the ability of your child to function in the world we live in. And even if you do you clearly understand that it is no magic bullit.

I certainly understand your fears when you hear the stories on this and other forums but there are millions of kids and adults that succesfully take meds with little or no side effects every day. They never post.

Again you have to do what is right for your family and just the fact that you asked the questions and expressed the concerns that you have tell me your a good mother and will do the best job possible.

Good luck and keep learning.

Augie
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http://addsherpa.com/drug-discount-card/

Medications are scarey. I was against it for 2 years. After many notes and calls from school, we tried concerta. He is much more focused in school. No more notes or phone calls. He does have a decreased appetite. You never know until you try!

My son started having problems with focus at scholl and impulde control when he was 7.  I punished and punished…took everthing away from him and sent him to a counselor.  Tried no sugar and Omega 3’s.  Treaded picking him up in the afternoon because always something he did or didn’t do..had to punish him most days..and it had little effect.  He would set in school all day and do NO work…that was the main problem.  Would do homework with MUCH threatening and tears…and did seem to be learning.  What was really hard was to see his self esteem plummet…he seemed to want to do better but couldn’t.  At the end of last school year I finally gave in and tried meds..at the advice of his counselor.  If was on his way to failing 3rd grade.  Started on Concerta and the change was immediate…super focused and started loving school!  Side effects were rough for a few weeks…mainly not eating much and stayiing up too late.  But I learned to feed him a good breakfast b4 meds..not worry to much about lunch (send a protein drink) and expect his appetite to return later in the evening and last til time to go to bed.  He now goes to bed at a reasonable time also.  He didn’t fail 3rd grade and this year is much less stressful and much better grades.  I’m thankful the 1st med did work for him because I heard you usually have to go thru a trial and error period.  Still not perfect…am realizing he could probably benefit from an IEP for things like remembering to bring his books home and so forth…that is my next step.  Want to get one in place before he starts middle school next year (they start in 5th grade here.  Also want to get him backon Omega 3’s..hoping they might provide additional help.  I was totally against meds…now feel they are a God send.  Always hoping he won’t need them forever and want to work on focus and organizational skills still…but for now they are a great tool.  Best to you in your journey.

My son was initially diagnosed when he was 5 years old. My husband and I were against medication at first. I also did not like the doctor whom we first saw. The first thing was finding the right doctor which we finally did. She also was not quick to place him on medication. We tried many things first that would work for a while but finally decided on medication when he was 7 years old. He is now 8 and he is doing better. As my doctor explained and my own research has proven, medication is only one part of treatment. My son goes to therapy once a week and his school social worker is very much involved in his day-to-day progress at school along with his classroom teacher. The first medication we tried is not the same one he is on now. There is trial and error that happens. My husband and I have learned that we have to do what is best for our child. If my son had a heart disease and needed medication I would not hesitate so I see this in a similar way. We know that we tried many things first before we decided to add the medication. Again it is an addition not a substitution for all of the other things we still need to do to help him be successful.

I think it’s also helpful to remember that the majority of posts about medication will be from those who are experiencing problems with it and are wondering what their next step should be.  Those who find that it works very immediately and require only very little changes will not keep on posting beyond their first “hurray”.  However, they are definitely out there.

The other thing to remember is that side effects are not permanent, they only last as long as the medicine is in the system and stimulants tend to be short acting.  You can quit as soon as you like if you don’t like what you see.

The first med we tried we didn’t like - it did cause a personality change but as soon as the med wore off he was back to his normal self so it wasn’t like long term damage was being done.  I remember writing a post here when I was trialling the first med outlining all the problems with it!  The second med we tried suited him really well and we have got the side effects down to minimal levels. 

We still do all the other stuff that we did before we medicated namely cooking from scratch, regular exercise, routines, charts, positive reinforcement but yes adding meds just makes all of those alternative interventions actually work very well.  The parenting is still hard work because you have to be on the ball and not get lazy.  Medication is a great support rather than a cure.

My son’s experience is like many of the ones already shared.  He was officially diagnosed for a month or so while we tried to figure out meds or no meds.  One day I picked him up from his after school program and, once again, he’d been scapegoated in class, he was frustrated, he was upset and he couldn’t understand WHY he couldn’t get things done as quickly as others. 

I explained there was a name for what he was going through and said some medication could help him. He wanted it that day.  When he did get it, he could tell the difference right away.  It changed a lot in his life, it really did.

He also made sure to tell us that he felt it wore off by 11.  Unknown by me, the teacher REALLY did write up all the assignments for the day on the board and then sit for the rest of the time.  He had completed all his work and homework by then, so he was pretty restless.

We upped the meds and he stopped eating lunch. This meant by dinner he was AWFUL.  However, we communicated with the doctor and fixed the issue.  He now takes 27mg of Concerta on weekdays and 18 on weekends.

He is happier with Concerta than without.  He likes feeling successful and in control.  He still has other issues that we work with ‘cause it’s not all going to be fixed by medication.

You might talk to your daughter and see if it’s something she wants to pursue.  While I was anti-med (and so was my husband) the fact is, we really weren’t living with the outcome of being an ADD child in modern education.

Hope this helps.  Have a happy day.
Suzanne

We have two kids with ADHD (of 4), both on meds (of different types).  Our oldest gets a “medication vacation” in the summmer so she can put on some weight.  We tried this with our other child.  After 3 days without medication he asked us to go back on.  He said “Mommy, I can’t concentrate to do anything, I can’t even read”, he even had problems getting dressed (could not choose a T-shirt). 

I could go through life without my eyeglasses, but it would be very frustrating; the meds are like “eye glasses for their brain”.

Trying meds is not a lifelong commitment, you can stop at anytime, and they may not work for everyone.  However I would give each new medicine at least 2 months to try different dosages.  Also many side effects subside after a while or you may adjust your routines to minimize their effect. It takes a bit of time to adjust.

The advice given by others is all good:  work with your doctor, talk with your child and I would add, keep a log of changes (good and bad) as you try new things (meds or alternative therapies) to see if you notice changes.

One thing to remember is that almost all ADD meds wear off the same day - so it is not a huge commitment to try them.

If the ADD is affecting your child’s daily life in a negative way, I would absolutely try meds.  Either a child psychiatrist or a VERY knowledgeable pediatrician should be your guide through this.

Our son was diagnosed at 7 (is now 15).  At 7, his teacher was horrified that we were going to medicate him, until she had him in class for a few days after starting the meds.  She was amazed at the difference in his behavior (no more class clown) and his abilities.  We’ve changed medication several times since then due to growth, puberty, etc.  Some meds just seem to stop helping after a while.

Good luck!  Your daughter is lucky to have your support!

Hi,
Thanks to everyone that’s replied.  They have all made very interesting and informative reading.  I have already tried a few of the things that some of you have suggested.  I have started to cook what I can from scratch (Im not the best cook in the world but I can only try lol) and regardless of what we are having I will ALWAYS add veg to it and she gets fruit on a daily basis at lunch time.  She also eats a few bits of fruit after dinner each night.  I make sure that she has a good source of protein at each meal but I was advised against a high protein diet by the dr who diagnosed as she said its not good for a young childs liver or kidneys.  So its things like cheese/meat in wholemeal bread, a yogurt, fruit at lunch time and I do always give her a small sweet thing but Im vigilant about what the sweet thing is and Im always reading food labels before I buy things and buy as low in sugar as I can get.  I have started adding flaxseed to her diet as well….this is just a recent thing though.  She gets a high quality omega 3,6,and 9 oil as well as a multi vit daily.  As Im in Scotland we don’t have a lot of the natural remidies that are available in the US but I’ve seen them online and they are doubly expensive for us because we need to get them imported too.  Her teacher (who I and my daughter really like) did tell me recently that a lot of the strategies she had put into place to help my Daughter, she has been able to take them away and she had coped very well without them so that is very positive but we still have the same issues at home,  not doing things the first time she is told but after 4 or 5 times by which time she is being shouted at,  forgetting to do the simplest of things that are daily routine for her,  She is beginning to notice that her peers can do things that she cant (academicly). 
She is such a happy girl usually but Im finding the ADHD symptoms are becoming more obvious as she gets older.  This is why Im thinking that medication may need to be put in place before she starts high school (at age 11). 
Augie Id like to say a special thankyou to you.  I actually burst into tears when I read your reply…...It was very nice to here someone say Im being a good mother as with a child with ADHD sometimes it can feel like its all my fault.
Thanks again everyone.
Lynne xxx

Hi Lynne,
I hope you haven’t logged off and you receive this…  Boy, all of the responses are so wonderful - and I would like to share my story with you.
My daughter is turning 14 this year and has ADHD.  Like yourself, I have put off medicating her for all of this time (she was diagnosed at 6 years).  She has always maintained an incredible support system at school, has an IEP that works, and without medication, maintains very good grades (her focus has actually improved as she gets older but this is with much intervention and help from academic and social sources).  I have worked tirelessly with her by including her in many extra curricular activities, behavioural programs and support groups, very long nights with consistent routines and help with homework (homework clubs, online math programs, etc).  I am shocked that I am still around and sane enough to share this with you!!! 

Each case, each family, is incredibly different (and I have immense respect for everyone and the stories they’ve shared).  And I can very much relate to you and your story because I have always put off medicating my daughter as well (I have always thought about it, and I’ve never ruled it out).  Part of my reason to not medicate right now is simply because she is functioning well, eats incredibly healthy (I’ve restricted her diet considerably and have included a multi / fish oil vitamin since she was quite young), loves her kung fu classes, and manages to self-identify, self-manage her symptoms (ie. her ADHD at this time does not seem to impede her happiness academically or socially).  While standard tween emotions have set in…. we communicate alot and continue to maintain healthy chats (okay, loves her sweets with the ongoing hormones, but always squeeze in lots of veg and fruit)....

All this to say, you will know when it is time.  Much like my situation, if I see that she can no longer function, or is unhappy, or if there is a significant drop in her behaviour or grades, the option is always there.

Trust your gut, your intuition, and most importantly, do exactly as you are doing right now.  Observe, talk, communicate, research and share your concerns.

Much luck to you - and thank you for sharing your story.

Thank you very much Katri.  It really is a puzzler…...what to do?, what to do?  She is a happy child and her sister generally is too although her sister can be very anxious over silly things but this is very like her dad and his mum…..they are both worry worts and my husband will admit himself that he worries when he has nothing to worry about.  Its just this whole what to do about high school when they will be 11yrs.  So much more is expected of them and its then that I worry they will need medication. 
I am a natural researcher and read read read as much as I can on the topic.  By the sounds of it we have similar ideas on diet and vitimins.  We shall continue the way we are going and I feel a meeting with the class teacher would also be beneficial at the moment as its been a wee while since we’ve had one. 
Thank you again.
very much appreciated….
Lynne
xxxxx

I too have a daughter (7 1/2 yr old) who has been diagnosed with ADHD/ODD/OCD.  She was diagnosed when she was 5 yrs old (Kindergarten).  We have been seeing a Neurologist since for her treatment.  We have been trying different meds as we cannot get the right one yet.  She has been consistantly on the Daytrana patch as she originally couldn’t swallow pills in the beginning.  We have kept her on the patch as it seems to help the best with her ADHD symptoms however she requires other meds for her other diagnosis’. We have tried Adderall, Intuniv (horrible side affects, esp. at night) and others in combination with the Daytrana patch with no success.  Recently the neurologist suggested she be put on Abilify as a mood stabalizer to help her with the ODD.  I was wondering if anyone’s child has been placed on this medication for any spectrum disorders and any side effects of this med.  We started her on this medication about 1 week ago and I am just not sure.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Medication will change the way a child functions, but for the better. And like insulin, it is a temporary fix. When it wears off, she is completely herself, only we hope, happier and learning more about herself, the world, and relationships. Good luck with your journey!

Patricia H. Aust: CT Task Force on ADHD/author of HYPER HARRY for kids 8-12 and reluctant readers (available at Amazon.com: HYPER HARRY/ebooks in paperback and Kindle).

If you’re not keen on trying meds, you should try holistic options first - such as fish oils, low sugar, possibly restricted diet, no sodas, etc.

You can also try things like yoga (lying down with legs leaning against a wall in a 90 degree angle, or lying down with legs in a butterfly position, etc.), doing homework while sitting on a large exercise ball or cushioned swivel disk.  Physical activity is really great. 

Using a timer - either visual or one that beeps or vibrates… she can work for a designated amount of time - perhaps 10-15 minutes, with a 1-5 minute break in between.

Reward your child at home for correcting errors in classwork and homework.  Reward your child for working carefully and taking the time to do a good job.  Sticker charts are great.  A good day or good week may be tied into a reward - extra computer or TV time, a gift from a prize box, a special activity, etc.

Offer choices whenever possible.  Even though your daughter is only 7, give her simple chores to do at home in addition to her homework.  Otherwise, she may grow up to be too dependent on you or may shirk additional household duties/responsibilities when she gets older - in middle school - just when the work starts getting harder and the assignments longer and more comprehensive.

I have adult ADD.  The first time I tried meds they didn’t work well enough to justify using them.  Then, during menopause, everything got worse - insomnia exacerbated my condition so I needed to readdress the medication issue since holistic measures didn’t work.  Luckily, for me I tried different meds that worked immediately.  Otherwise, it might have been a long and tedious trial and error process of finding the right medication along with the correct dosage.

Having a 504 or IEP may help.  However, if your child is receiving appropriate accommodations, and nothing is working, it’s worth investigating medication.  Please realize that even when meds. work - you should think of them like a band-aid.  Meds provide support but don’t necessarily cure ADD.  Counseling may be beneficial.  I personally think it’s crucial if/when students have anxiety, depression and/or esteem issues as a result of their disability.

Hope this helps.

If you’re not keen on trying meds, you should try holistic options first - such as fish oils, low sugar, possibly restricted diet, no sodas, etc.

You can also try things like yoga (lying down with legs leaning against a wall in a 90 degree angle, or lying down with legs in a butterfly position, etc.), doing homework while sitting on a large exercise ball or cushioned swivel disk.  Physical activity is really great. 

Using a timer - either visual or one that beeps or vibrates… she can work for a designated amount of time - perhaps 10-15 minutes, with a 1-5 minute break in between.

Reward your child at home for correcting errors in classwork and homework.  Reward your child for working carefully and taking the time to do a good job.  Sticker charts are great.  A good day or good week may be tied into a reward - extra computer or TV time, a gift from a prize box, a special activity, etc.

Offer choices whenever possible.  Even though your daughter is only 7, give her simple chores to do at home in addition to her homework.  Otherwise, she may grow up to be too dependent on you or may shirk additional household duties/responsibilities when she gets older - in middle school - just when the work starts getting harder and the assignments longer and more comprehensive.

I have adult ADD.  The first time I tried meds they didn’t work well enough to justify using them.  Then, during menopause, everything got worse - insomnia exacerbated my condition so I needed to readdress the medication issue since holistic measures didn’t work.  Luckily, for me I tried different meds that worked immediately.  Otherwise, it might have been a long and tedious trial and error process of finding the right medication along with the correct dosage.

Having a 504 or IEP may help.  However, if your child is receiving appropriate accommodations, and nothing is working, it’s worth investigating medication.  Please realize that even when meds. work - you should think of them like a band-aid.  Meds provide support but don’t necessarily cure ADD.  Counseling may be beneficial.  I personally think it’s crucial if/when students have anxiety, depression and/or esteem issues as a result of their disability.

Hope this helps.