ADHD Medications For Kids - What Parents Need To Know About ADHD Medications

ADHD Dude provides parent training through the ADHD Dude Membership Site, in-person school-year programs, and summer camps. ADHD Dude is not gender-specific content.
𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗗𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗹𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘁𝘁, 𝗟𝗖𝗦𝗪, 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗-𝗖𝗖𝗦𝗣
Ryan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified School Social Worker, and father to a son with ADHD & learning differences. ADHD Dude is based in Tucson, Arizona.
𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝗗𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆:
✅Membership Site: adhddude.com
✅Mailing List: www.subscribepage.com/adhddude
✅Trip Camp: adhdtripcamp.com
✅Meet Ryan: adhddude.com/meet-ryan
✅Speaking/Presentations: ryanwexelblatt.com
✅Instagram: @theadhddude
✅Videos For Kids: tinyurl.com/dudetalkplaylist
ADHD Dude is for educational purposes. I am not serving in a clinical capacity and cannot provide clinical consultation or free advice through KZbin comments, email, etc.
#adhddude #ryanwexelblatt #adhdkids #adhdchildren #adhdkidstreatment #adhdsocialskills

[@angelamgray8255]

As an adult, who was just diagnosed with ADHD in the last several months, I can vouch for the substance abuse. I never truly was addicted to one thing or the next, but trying to focus and relax before I knew I had ADHD was very horrible. I would often drink way too much coffee or consume too much caffeine to try to stay awake and focus during the day. I didn’t have matter how much sleep I had. Then to try to relax at night I would have alcohol to try and chill, but my no means too much or I couldn’t get up the next morning. in college, in order to get over some of my anxiety, I took up smoking. There was just something I could never find to trade and just make me more even keeled. Fast forward to my adult years, and I finally learned have ADHD. Now so many things makes sense. Now I’m on a medication and I don’t find a need for any of this stuff… I don’t drink anymore, except occasionally, I haven’t smoked in over 25 years and I only have one small cup of coffee, or I only do decaf. Medication change my life for the better, and I’m more focused, more even keeled, and can perform better as a human in many different capacities. Really wish I would’ve known before that I had this condition but better late than never I guess. Good luck to all who are out there, and meds are really not as bad as they seem. I’d much rather be on this and get addicted to something that could destroy my life even worse.

[@ADHDDude]

I'm so happy to hear you're doing well, best wishes for staying on this positive trajectory you're on.

[@angelamgray8255]

@@ADHDDude Thank you. I do appreciate that ans I find your videos very informative and practical. Very good for now parenting two adhd kiddos.

[@lailadavids]

True. I’m back on alcohol dependency ever since the shortage here in USA

[@lucyh9550]

Very clear and considered advice - thank you Ryan!

[@ADHDDude]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nickn271]

As a man diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager with a daughter who seems to be displaying signs of ADHD this was really informative. I was hesitant to putting her on medication(if it even comes to that) just knowing the side effect but this video put me at ease.

[@ADHDDude]

I'm really glad to hear that, thanks for watching I appreciate it.

[@avm1698]

I was the same way .my daughter was diagnosed at 6 and sadly during the pandemic she had started kindergarten which was a nightmare for her to be in the comp, I was hesitant to put her in meds so I tried whatever natural remedies and it worked for a few days but we had a big episode and I could t handle it and meds were the only way she can function and I can have sanity but she also takes magnesium which is hugeeeeee help..it helps calm the brain down etc

[@Aprilmreyes21]

Thank you for this, this was so informative and helped open a perspective that I struggled with for so long in regards to my child’s diagnosis

[@ADHDDude]

Thank you for watching!

[@timgunty7945]

I will say this, my ADHD clinic does genetic testing to determine the optimal treatment method and so far it’s been working great for me. Knowing what works before trying things out made the process so much easier than med hopping like my wife had to do.

[@ADHDDude]

Genetic testing actually does not work for stimulants, it can work for other meds though.

[@naphisa340]

What genetic testing do they use?

[@ashjeansims8731]

Also curious about what kinds of testing this is

[@michellebrown8333]

This is great! I agree 100%!!!

[@ADHDDude]

Thank You! 😁

[@danagrueser]

I was just diagnosed & started medication for ADHD at 45 years old. I'm usually hesitant for psychiatric meds but this has been a game changer. The debilitating anxiety & all over the place thoughts were gone within hours. Do I still need plenty of daily movement for "hyperactivity" and help with executive function? Absolutely, but now I feel like that's actually possible for me.

[@ADHDDude]

So glad to hear it's been helpful!

[@ADHDResourceSpecialist]

Thank you! 😊Do you have a quick video on getting an 18 year old to clean up dishes/kitchen?

[@ADHDDude]

That would sound like lecturing, however if you're paying for his phone, internet access, etc.. you might want to remind him that in order to have those things he needs to give something in return. It might help to watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZzNfZagit-gjc0

[@someonerandom256]

I did really well on imapramine as a child, and the results were pretty much permanent, in conjunction with behavioral therapy. I only took it for two years. It hurt my stomach because it was sticky and would get stuck in my esophagus on the way down. It also took away my "sparkle" as my mom's best friend put it. It really helped me academically, and I became an avid reader, but I stopped taking it because of the stomach issue and the dullness. I didn't grow at all when I was on it, and for almost two years after, which meant that I was 4'3 and 50 lbs from 4th-7th grade. Not sure if it was the medication or if I was just a weenie 😂 I wasn't on anything else except for a Ritalin trial run in high school, until today at age 39 when I started Strattera.

[@ADHDDude]

I'm guessing you grew up in the 90s. I haven't heard the word imapramine in years. Hope the Strattera is working for you.

[@619raewellsful]

A Very informative video. So many people think they have the remedy, but the only advice I take is from licensed professionals.

[@ADHDDude]

Same here and thank you for watching.

[@avm1698]

My mom is one of those people who give her unwanted opinion and doesn't understand how ADHD works etc also my ex which is my daughter father who isn't in the pic started abusing his ADHD med and now he in and out of jail bcz of substance abuse so I see how unmedicated leads to substance abuse

[@khadijanur8599]

Thank you for ur help

[@ADHDDude]

Happy to help!

[@gabrielacabral3136]

My daughter takes Vyenese 30mg!

[@suzannavaino1300]

My 46yr old husband was a hard-core vodka alcoholic for 15+ years as a result of untreated ADHD and anxiety. It's truth. My 6yr old son has ADHD worse though. And I'm still struggling with deciding to medicate him. It's just hard when it's your own kid. Logic vs heart...

[@ADHDDude]

I always tell parents to make medical decisions based on data, not your emotions. Had your husband been medicated as a child it may have saved him from many difficult years in addiction, that's what the research data shows.

[@katieleuer224]

We are struggling to find the right medication - what are your thoughts on the genetic tests out there to help find the right one?

[@ADHDDude]

I know that genesight, added stimulants back on to their panel after it was gone for a while. I really haven't read enough to understand the accuracy of it. I can tell you I was just that the medical ADHD conference and it really didn't come up in any of the sessions I attended.

[@latonyahall2086]

@@ADHDDude my daughter is on a medication that does not help her behavior in school

[@kiranmayinallam6539]

My son is 9 yr old and he is diagnosed with ADHD.. My Psychiatrist prescribed him MethylPhenidate 5 mg .. I’m so concerned about using it thinking of later side effects.. Plz give me a suggestion regarding it

[@ADHDDude]

Please do your research on it. Stimulants are the safest and most researched medications in the entire psychiatrity field. There is a profound amount of misinformation and disinformation about ADHD medications on social media.

[@ankushmanhas5194]

❤

[@lilaworley8935]

Exactly what we've experienced here. All the adhd'ers in my home are all on different medications. It took trial and error with all of them and active management of the medication. Also some people need to treat anxiety along with a stimulant.

[@ADHDDude]

You described it perfectly. And yes, about 30% of people with ADHD also present with anxiety.

[@tiffanysavoie4847]

I’m a adult adher. Along with two kids that are as well. I was diagnosed about 5 months ago. I thought I was losing myself. I was having anxiety attacks every day! Now I’m medicated, the anxiety is better, but my mood outburst is horrible.

[@linnellbrooks5711]

My son have epilepsy but is taking meds for it having had one since 2019 but I’m going to try him on RITALIN meds his neurology told me it’s ok to start him on that I just pray it really helps with the focus in school and him and behavior and change his life and become better my son is 11 years old I really hope it works

[@ADHDDude]

I hop you find the right one, medication can be tricky when there is a concurrent epilepsey diagosis.

[@linnellbrooks5711]

@@ADHDDude what do that mean ? And yeah the doc told me it will be ok they actually thinking about taking him off his seizures medication my son haven’t had one since 2019 and I can’t be any happier that they found the meds to control his epilepsy and they said stimulus meds is ok with epilepsy how is it tricky ?

[@ADHDDude]

I'm not a licensed medical professional so I do not give medical advice.

[@candicefowler7457]

How do you feel about gaunfacine and what if my child has excessive moodiness, will ADHD meds make it worse?

[@ADHDDude]

I'm not a license medical professional, I'm a licensed mental health professional so I can't give medical advice. I certainly have had parents tell me that it seemed to make their kids more irritable but that's certainly not the majority. I think the bigger question is is there some low level mood stuff (depression) going on that needs to be address to. Depression in kids can often come across like irritability.

[@amberpotts3677]

In my experience with my kiddo(he just turned six. Been on it for 1 1/2 years) it helped for maybe a couple months. What I learned after my sons first appointment today at the adhd clinic in my state is that.. it’s not a first line adhd medication. It’s meant to be used in conjunction with a stimulant generally. I thought my kid just outgrew it but turns out.. its only effective in 30% of kids whereas stimulants are more like 90% effective. I was shocked.

[@StephanieJohnson-yk5ij]

I was hoping there was a way to manage ADHD without meds. My son also has epilepsy and I'm scared to give him the Adderall the MD prescribed for his ADHD. These drugs can have so many potential side affects...i want what's best for him only im scared he'll have a bad reaction and be back to square one. Trying different drugs on an 11 year old is scary and sad to witness.

[@ADHDDude]

There are "ways" to manage it, just none of them show any success, based on the evidence. Trust me, the long term effects of people with ADHD who go through life unmedicated are far more serious than any temporary side effects of stimulants, please do your research on the topic.

[@StephanieJohnson-yk5ij]

@@ADHDDude thanks for the response! I have done the research. Side effects with any medications can be scary. I may have him try it eventually. He seems to be doing better now that he's home and not in public school anymore though. He can get all the sleep his body needs and that's really helped with his emotional state. He was getting really aggressive and I think with his epilepsy medication he really needed the 12 hours of sleep his MD said he would need. Going to public school, that just wasn't possible for him. He would have had to be sleep by 630 pm to be waking up at 630 am to be able to catch the bus at 7 am. Anyway, I appreciate your time. At least I know now that medication really is the default solution and I'm not just a terrible parent. Lol. 👍 I really felt like a failure. Thank you for the video advice and my parenting techniques seem to line up with most of what I've heard you say. Appreciate it. 😁

[@mbwilson8592]

Learning so much valuable information on your channel- thank you! A word of caution regarding use of the common prescriptions on individuals under 25 years of age-- research has found concerning affects on the still-developing brain. Nutrition and homeopathic options can be very successful in helping lessen specific symptoms.

[@ADHDDude]

Thank you so much. I need to provide accurate information here - stimulants are the most researched and amongst the safest medications in the psychiatry field. There are no detrimental effects to the developing brain with stimulants. The research data shows no homeopathic remedies have demonstrated efficacy for ADHD. Dr James Greenblatt's work about the functional psychiatry is something you may want to look into as it is not a replacement for medication but may help to reduce the dosage of medication.

[@breannajoyal5201]

Do you know if coffee can help?

[@ADHDDude]

Doesn't coffee help everyone? :)

[@Trentonsmommy2012]

@@ADHDDude 🤣

[@liluoxi]

I am concerning on this topic. 100% is not a really conservative way to talk about a topic regarding medicine on kids. You could say 100% based on what you've known or seen.

[@ADHDDude]

The information on medication is based on research data,, not my observations