“Should I Take ADHD Medication?” What ADDitude Readers Say
ADHD medication is a game-changer for many adults and children diagnosed with the condition. Hear what these families and individuals say about overcoming treatment hesitancy.
“Should I take ADHD medication?” In a recent survey, many ADDitude readers expressed fear and uncertainty about giving ADHD medication to their recently diagnosed children and/or taking it themselves. Ultimately, most gave it a try.
The upshot? Most of the survey respondents said they wish they’d started medication sooner.
Here, ADHD families share their stories of starting stimulants and non-stimulants.
“We were reluctant to use medication but decided to give it a go as our son reached an age when he could tell us if he felt it made a difference. He asked for the tablet the second day because he felt a change in his ability to concentrate.”
“I was reluctant to try medication at first, given the frightening reputation of amphetamines, but my psych provider encouraged me to look past the headlines and investigate the decades of research on stimulants and their effect on ADHD. I was reassured, took the meds, and never looked back.”
[Get This Free Resource: 2024 Scorecard of ADHD Treatments]
“For anyone out there who thinks, ‘I don’t want medication. I can treat ADHD without it,’ you’re probably wrong. I have more self-control than I’ve ever had. Maybe medication isn’t for everyone, but you’ll never know what it can do if you don’t try. Start with a very low dose if you’re nervous. Also, a balanced diet, sleep, and proper supplements have a huge impact on symptoms.”
“I had fears about how meds would affect my teenage son, so after he lost weight on the first couple of stimulants he tried, we were ready to try a non-stimulant. He’s been on it for about two months, and so far, so good.”
“By the time our son was in first grade, he was struggling every single day and was being corrected and fussed at by pretty much every adult in his life. We got him diagnosed, but my husband was adamantly against ADHD medication. The fact is, if our child had cancer or diabetes, we wouldn’t be withholding medication. My son started medication and it was absolutely the best thing we could have done for him. I only wish we’d started it earlier.”
“I wish doctors approached stimulant medications with less fear, particularly around cardiovascular risk. The willingness of at least some doctors to sacrifice treatment for ADHD, a lifelong and potentially harmful condition, in favor of a slightly lower perceived cardiac risk is a real impediment to effective treatment.”
Should I Take ADHD Medication? Next Steps
- Free Download: What to Ask Before Starting ADHD Medication
- Watch: Medication Strategies for Hard-to-Treat Complex ADHD
- Read: How Does ADHD Medication Work?
- Read: Your Top 10 Questions About ADHD Medications for Children
SUPPORT ADDITUDE
Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.
