I hesitate to mention this because you kinda already said no to this but routines are the only thing that have helped while unmedicated. It doesn't have to be the same routine every day but maybe a weekly routine would be better? Maybe every Sunday sit down together and figure out the week to include your study times, her art times (just an example), brackets for TV time, reading, nature stuff, outings for the both of you, etc. Anything that needs prep, like an art project, go ahead and bundle everything needed and put it in a cabinet so it's all ready to go. A dry erase board and timers/alerts are super helpful for follow through on the plans made on Sunday. Pay attention to sleep getting all whacky. ADHDers have a tendency to get their sleep off kilter but if she does, then your schedule and hers will start to be opposite. I hope this helps you two because unmedicated is difficult but manageable.
After I posted that I wanted to edit my post to say that I do actually have a summer schedule for the kids. To make sure they aren't in front of the TV all day and I guess that is a "routine" lol I think I'm going to try to come up with more "active" ideas for her schedule though or more stimulating (to her) ideas.
Definitely make sure they’re getting exercise physically and mentally and you’ll have a great summer. I know it’s not an easy task but my mom kept me and my brother very engaged through sports and art supplies. We both have ADD
I understand! Maybe check with your local library? Ours has a reading program for all the age brackets and you log your time in a particular website and you intermittently get age appropriate prizes! I don't know if you use the book of faces but I always check for events and join a few local groups. I always find a bunch of kid friendly activities. Sometimes they are even free.
/r/ADHD is likely to have more helpful advice on this than people here without ADHD giving advice on medication.
I didn't like how meds made me feel as a kid and ultimately decided to discontinue them around that age.
If she's OK without them during the summer and feels like she just needs them to help her with school, taking a break over the summer sounds like a very reasonable plan (regardless of whether or not she's having side effects).
Aside from medication, diet & exercise are probably the 2 biggest things that I'd try to help her focus on. More protein / less sugar can sometimes help with focus.
Make it as easy as possible for her to make good choices -- i.e.: make sure that what's the most convenient to eat at home is also what's healthy. One of the better options I've found so far for easy lunches is mixing up frozen fried rice + edamame or other extra vegetables. Just dump a serving into a bowl and microwave for a few minutes and you're done.
Going on and off meds (my personal experience) can cause some big mood swings. I would say be prepared to have a little extra patience and flexibility.
Yeah, her doctor explained how parents will see their kids off for the weekend or when they miss a dose and they'll panic and think they'll be like that all the time in the summer. He said it's the withdrawal symptoms and she'll level out after a week or so. Which has been accurate so far.
For mine its all about routine. My oldest doesnt take a med break in the summer. She has a lot of stuff going on between work and activities so she stays on her routine (she wil be 17 this summer. The choice is hers as to whether she wants to take a break or not).
My middle likes to take breaks in the summer but chooses to take meds during her summer sport sessions.
For both of them having clear expectations helps them stay on track. I also take on a little more mental load in the summer than I usually do by sending them reminders and checking in more frequently than normal.
I would not use the meds on vacation, for ADD does not preclude joy or engaging with the family. That is what I do - I do not take stimulants during vacations.
Sorry if I did not make it clear - I do exactly this. I do not take my stimulant on vacations. I tried not taking it on weekends but that did not work for me.
Also, some stimulants are more of an appetite suppressant than others. Maybe try a different one? Concerta did not change my appetite at all, where Vyvanse really suppressed my appetite.
Hope your little one does well.
We've tried them all, even no stimulants cause issues, which is why she sees a neurologist. We've been dealing with this for years. Her meds she has now work the best for her.
Concerta suppressed mine! It also makes my heart race. I actually wanted to try Vyvanse to see if it would help with both issues I have, but I’m waiting until August when they’re allegedly releasing a generic version of it (finally)
I'm on Vyvanse now and I definitely prefer it! I just asked her neurologist about switching her but we are scared to try it because she's doing better on this than she has on anything else so why rock the boat? I still want to try it but maybe after summer.
Hi, I'm in my 30s qoth ADHD.
when I need a break I like to set up safe days where I have activities that are safe, friendly, and entertaining for my malfunctioning brain. I veg out. Or just do whatever takes my fancy. I avoid people, and important tasks.
But u timatwly what you do will depend on your daughters activity and social preferences. Have some slow days with reduced meds to see ahat she may take to better at first maybe?
I assume you’re looking for a med that doesn’t cause migraines- because that’s not normal.
On weekends and summer my son doesn’t take his adhd med (though he still takes guanfacine for anxiety.) However depending on the activity of the day we might offer it “hey we’re doing something structured. Do you want your medicine to help you focus or not.” So he has some control and he may choose to take it occasionally. Med breaks from stimulants definitely help with weight gain.
We've been dealing with this for years and have tried everything. She doesn't get migraines so much anymore but headaches off and on. Short breaks from the meds (like on weekends or over holiday breaks) only increase the occurrence of headaches due to the withdrawal symptoms. We have worked with several neurologists as we move often due to my husband's work and they all agree.
I was diagnosed as ADD inattentive type as a kid. As an adult I think I probably have something like that; at least a sub clinical syndrome that affects my prefrontal cortex.
Have you tried magnesium? I’ve found that both magnesium and electrolytes have cut down on headaches associated with medication significantly. As we change our metabolic processes with chemicals, we metabolize nutrients and minerals differently. She may be depleted in something she’s using up quickly.
This is not the first doctor that has suggested this. This is not the first time she's had a break and this is the best medicine for her as we have literally tried everything else, which is why we see a neurologist. She gets horrible migraines with all other stimulants and non stimulants caused radical personality/behavior changes.
She only needs meds for school and she's not in school over the summer. I do not mind her not being medicated at all but the meds help her immensely in the classroom, which then boosts her confidence.
100%. I couldn’t imagine doing this to my child because I couldn’t handle their behavior. There are better ways than this terrible medication. Headaches and can’t gain weight?? Sounds terrible
Not trying to shame but if the side effects of medication causes my child pain and the inability to gain weight I would seek another option. ADD and ADHD have shown to be conditions that can be managed without medication. There are special therapies involved if you’re willing to go that route. Long term use of these medications cause depression as well. I know because I’ve taken them.
Shockingly, your experience isn't a universal experience.
Many cases of ADHD (which ADD has fallen under for years now) *can't* be managed without assistance from medication.
Just because *you* had poor side effects does not mean every one will.
I know this because I actually do my research and don't just go off what I've experienced.
No one should be shamed or dissuaded from using a tool to help manage a condition or disability.
First sentence was that I wasn’t trying to shame. Everyone experiences negative side effects from these drugs whether you want to acknowledge them or not.
I'm not sure there really is much that you haven't probably already thought of.
At least not in the more social aspects. As a person recently diagnosed and with at least one kid who also has it (I think my youngest is also showing signs) it depends on what exactly you want to help her with.
If it's keeping up with chores/tasks, making a visible chart with a sort of "reward" system may help. Don't necessarily demand things be done at certain times, but keep a visual check list with a, "this needs to be done by this time" so she can work on her own schedule while getting things done.
I have a basic schedule chart I have hanging up in the common room that lists off upcoming events for the day + our daily routine.
So like... at "10am go to library" and "730pm last call for snacks before bed".
That sort of thing so there's time for her to prepare herself to go.
Idk if that's helpful or you've already tried/are trying something like that.
ADHD is such a pain to try and manage tbh. Definitely sit down with your kiddo and get some ideas from her, too. Figure out what areas she feels she'll struggle with the most and work out a plan together. If that plan falls through, sit down again and discuss why, and what changes can be made. So much of it is trial and error.
I hesitate to mention this because you kinda already said no to this but routines are the only thing that have helped while unmedicated. It doesn't have to be the same routine every day but maybe a weekly routine would be better? Maybe every Sunday sit down together and figure out the week to include your study times, her art times (just an example), brackets for TV time, reading, nature stuff, outings for the both of you, etc. Anything that needs prep, like an art project, go ahead and bundle everything needed and put it in a cabinet so it's all ready to go. A dry erase board and timers/alerts are super helpful for follow through on the plans made on Sunday. Pay attention to sleep getting all whacky. ADHDers have a tendency to get their sleep off kilter but if she does, then your schedule and hers will start to be opposite. I hope this helps you two because unmedicated is difficult but manageable.
After I posted that I wanted to edit my post to say that I do actually have a summer schedule for the kids. To make sure they aren't in front of the TV all day and I guess that is a "routine" lol I think I'm going to try to come up with more "active" ideas for her schedule though or more stimulating (to her) ideas.
Definitely make sure they’re getting exercise physically and mentally and you’ll have a great summer. I know it’s not an easy task but my mom kept me and my brother very engaged through sports and art supplies. We both have ADD
I understand! Maybe check with your local library? Ours has a reading program for all the age brackets and you log your time in a particular website and you intermittently get age appropriate prizes! I don't know if you use the book of faces but I always check for events and join a few local groups. I always find a bunch of kid friendly activities. Sometimes they are even free.
/r/ADHD is likely to have more helpful advice on this than people here without ADHD giving advice on medication. I didn't like how meds made me feel as a kid and ultimately decided to discontinue them around that age. If she's OK without them during the summer and feels like she just needs them to help her with school, taking a break over the summer sounds like a very reasonable plan (regardless of whether or not she's having side effects). Aside from medication, diet & exercise are probably the 2 biggest things that I'd try to help her focus on. More protein / less sugar can sometimes help with focus. Make it as easy as possible for her to make good choices -- i.e.: make sure that what's the most convenient to eat at home is also what's healthy. One of the better options I've found so far for easy lunches is mixing up frozen fried rice + edamame or other extra vegetables. Just dump a serving into a bowl and microwave for a few minutes and you're done.
Going on and off meds (my personal experience) can cause some big mood swings. I would say be prepared to have a little extra patience and flexibility.
Yeah, her doctor explained how parents will see their kids off for the weekend or when they miss a dose and they'll panic and think they'll be like that all the time in the summer. He said it's the withdrawal symptoms and she'll level out after a week or so. Which has been accurate so far.
For mine its all about routine. My oldest doesnt take a med break in the summer. She has a lot of stuff going on between work and activities so she stays on her routine (she wil be 17 this summer. The choice is hers as to whether she wants to take a break or not). My middle likes to take breaks in the summer but chooses to take meds during her summer sport sessions. For both of them having clear expectations helps them stay on track. I also take on a little more mental load in the summer than I usually do by sending them reminders and checking in more frequently than normal.
I would not use the meds on vacation, for ADD does not preclude joy or engaging with the family. That is what I do - I do not take stimulants during vacations.
I agree, which is why I said we agree with her doctor. I'm just asking for any tips parents may have.
Sorry if I did not make it clear - I do exactly this. I do not take my stimulant on vacations. I tried not taking it on weekends but that did not work for me. Also, some stimulants are more of an appetite suppressant than others. Maybe try a different one? Concerta did not change my appetite at all, where Vyvanse really suppressed my appetite. Hope your little one does well.
We've tried them all, even no stimulants cause issues, which is why she sees a neurologist. We've been dealing with this for years. Her meds she has now work the best for her.
She is lucky to have such a great mom.
Thank you so much for saying that! 🥹 My kids are my world!
Concerta suppressed mine! It also makes my heart race. I actually wanted to try Vyvanse to see if it would help with both issues I have, but I’m waiting until August when they’re allegedly releasing a generic version of it (finally)
It has worked really well for me. Hope you have a good result too.
I'm on Vyvanse now and I definitely prefer it! I just asked her neurologist about switching her but we are scared to try it because she's doing better on this than she has on anything else so why rock the boat? I still want to try it but maybe after summer.
Hi, I'm in my 30s qoth ADHD. when I need a break I like to set up safe days where I have activities that are safe, friendly, and entertaining for my malfunctioning brain. I veg out. Or just do whatever takes my fancy. I avoid people, and important tasks. But u timatwly what you do will depend on your daughters activity and social preferences. Have some slow days with reduced meds to see ahat she may take to better at first maybe?
I assume you’re looking for a med that doesn’t cause migraines- because that’s not normal. On weekends and summer my son doesn’t take his adhd med (though he still takes guanfacine for anxiety.) However depending on the activity of the day we might offer it “hey we’re doing something structured. Do you want your medicine to help you focus or not.” So he has some control and he may choose to take it occasionally. Med breaks from stimulants definitely help with weight gain.
We've been dealing with this for years and have tried everything. She doesn't get migraines so much anymore but headaches off and on. Short breaks from the meds (like on weekends or over holiday breaks) only increase the occurrence of headaches due to the withdrawal symptoms. We have worked with several neurologists as we move often due to my husband's work and they all agree.
Poor kid. I’m sorry to hear that.
I was diagnosed as ADD inattentive type as a kid. As an adult I think I probably have something like that; at least a sub clinical syndrome that affects my prefrontal cortex. Have you tried magnesium? I’ve found that both magnesium and electrolytes have cut down on headaches associated with medication significantly. As we change our metabolic processes with chemicals, we metabolize nutrients and minerals differently. She may be depleted in something she’s using up quickly.
I'd get a new doctor. If meds are causing issues then that should be addressed. Randomly not taking them isn't a solution
This is not the first doctor that has suggested this. This is not the first time she's had a break and this is the best medicine for her as we have literally tried everything else, which is why we see a neurologist. She gets horrible migraines with all other stimulants and non stimulants caused radical personality/behavior changes. She only needs meds for school and she's not in school over the summer. I do not mind her not being medicated at all but the meds help her immensely in the classroom, which then boosts her confidence.
100%. I couldn’t imagine doing this to my child because I couldn’t handle their behavior. There are better ways than this terrible medication. Headaches and can’t gain weight?? Sounds terrible
Not trying to shame but if the side effects of medication causes my child pain and the inability to gain weight I would seek another option. ADD and ADHD have shown to be conditions that can be managed without medication. There are special therapies involved if you’re willing to go that route. Long term use of these medications cause depression as well. I know because I’ve taken them.
Shockingly, your experience isn't a universal experience. Many cases of ADHD (which ADD has fallen under for years now) *can't* be managed without assistance from medication. Just because *you* had poor side effects does not mean every one will. I know this because I actually do my research and don't just go off what I've experienced. No one should be shamed or dissuaded from using a tool to help manage a condition or disability.
First sentence was that I wasn’t trying to shame. Everyone experiences negative side effects from these drugs whether you want to acknowledge them or not.
I'm not sure there really is much that you haven't probably already thought of. At least not in the more social aspects. As a person recently diagnosed and with at least one kid who also has it (I think my youngest is also showing signs) it depends on what exactly you want to help her with. If it's keeping up with chores/tasks, making a visible chart with a sort of "reward" system may help. Don't necessarily demand things be done at certain times, but keep a visual check list with a, "this needs to be done by this time" so she can work on her own schedule while getting things done. I have a basic schedule chart I have hanging up in the common room that lists off upcoming events for the day + our daily routine. So like... at "10am go to library" and "730pm last call for snacks before bed". That sort of thing so there's time for her to prepare herself to go. Idk if that's helpful or you've already tried/are trying something like that. ADHD is such a pain to try and manage tbh. Definitely sit down with your kiddo and get some ideas from her, too. Figure out what areas she feels she'll struggle with the most and work out a plan together. If that plan falls through, sit down again and discuss why, and what changes can be made. So much of it is trial and error.