ADHD medication

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Hi everyone, I dont know if this is the right forum for this or if it is allowed, but I was hoping to find out if anyone has experience with adhd medication, particularly as a child/teen, and could share their experience. Thanks as always. Hope everyone is well.

I was put on 60mg of Dexadrine in 1966. I was so wired that they gave me 500mg of Placidyl at night to be able to go to sleep. The Plavidyl lives on in the Song by the Grateful Dead Truckin as "reds"

I have used prescription speed a bit over the years it was useful driving at night cross country and for working overtime. However, if you took it for five days during the week, you would have to crash and detox on the weekends.

Essentially no one questions the monolithic industrial processing of children through the public school system. Components (children) who are not easily processed are designated non-compliant and are medicated to cause less difficulty for those administering the processing system.

One does not have to be harmed by speed. However, it is better to learn how to navigate life than to be adjusted.

It can be tempting to use speed to accomplish tasks. However, it is perhaps healthier to learn how to apply yourself to master these tasks. We homeschooled our children to keep them out of the hands of those who would "process" them.

After years of experience with the medication, I would recommend against it.

Not sure if I have ADHD or not, never wanted to get tested for it in case they tried to park me on dodgy tablets. Certainly I have a defecit of attention at times, but my preferred intervention is to just find safe ways around the difficulties - coping strategies. I don't like this thing that some doctors do, giving somebody a strong tablet and then when there's a bad side effect, add another kind of tablet to the mix.

But if it's affecting the ability to drive, that could be a problem in some parts of the USA where you can't really do anything if you don't drive. Not that driving under the influence of uppers strikes me as a particularly safe option.

Personally I think strong psych meds should never be used except when there's nothing else for it and the risk of not intervening is even more dangerous than the tablets, like suicide or something.

Thanks all, my son (12) is having major difficulties learning at school, primarily because he can't pay attention well enough to follow lectures. Was hoping some of yall had positive stories. Medicating is pretty scary to me, but we might just have to try at this point.

I had two car accidents due to me not paying attention and it scared me enough to get a referral to a psychiatrist who specialised in ADHD. It was found I have ADHD inattentive type.

At first I was put on dexamphetamine and I took those for years. My overall performance at work improved and I didn't have any more car accidents. Then four or so years ago I tried Vyvanse. I've been on it ever since. I take 70mg in the morning and it lasts all day. Much better than having to take multiple pills three times a day. The only side effect I have is a dry mouth and throat. I make sure I have a drink with me all the time.

On the plus side there are advantages in working harder and longer. This was especially advantageous in WWII I am told. The weight loss is another plus. However, the cumulative stress on the cardio vascular system may knock a few years off your life expectancy.

Perhaps more critical is the retardation in natural skill development to deal with boring institutions like school, prison, or the DMV. Childhood is the time sills should be developed. Everyone assumes that having difficulty fitting in to the industrial education process automatically means some defect with the child.

Being told to shut up, sit down, and do what you are told for 12 years may make a compliant product suitable to be a drone in a corporate hive, however there are some for whom this is less advantageous.

Parents considering what path to take have to decide what is best. Their child can be chemically made to function better (less bothersome to others), but neglecting the development of natural skills can lead to a lifetime of chemical dependency.

Homeschool might be an option as well.

I just noticed this thread. My son has ADHD and takes medication for it (Vyvanse). I’m not saying that it’s right for all kids with ADHD, but it’s right for my son and some other children. Untreated ADHD can severely impact a child’s relationships, academic success, and future depending on the severity of their ADHD. We’ve used various other supports and strategies over the years, so I never approached medication as a quick fix although my son has found it extremely beneficial. I was reluctant to put him on anything for a long time. Having a wonderful pediatrician has been great for us.