Do ADHD medications actually work?

Hi everyone! I’m really hoping you all might be able to point me in the right direction. My son is dealing with both hyperactivity and attention deficit issues, which makes focusing a huge struggle for him. He’s currently in fourth grade, and honestly, things have become quite overwhelming lately. It’s especially hard on him because he's starting to lose his self-confidence and his belief in what he can achieve. I’m reaching out because I know if we pool our knowledge together, we can figure out the best path forward for him.👍The main goal of therapy would be to help him manage his schoolwork and studying. At Mayo Clinic, they suggested we look into Ritalin or Concerta. Does anyone here have any experience with these or know more about how they work?🙏

frozenhawk11 said:Hey everyone! I’m really hoping you all might be able to lend me a hand here because my son is dealing with both hyperactivity and attention/concentration issues. He’s in 4th grade now and everything feels just so overwhelming and complicated! It’s hardest on him, though, because he’s starting to lose his self-confidence and his belief in himself. Please, I'm asking for your help—I know if we put our heads together, we can figure this out!👍The doctors at Mayo Clinic suggested Ritalin or Concerta to help him primarily with schoolwork. DOES ANYONE HAVE MORE INFO ON THIS?????🙏

frozenhawk11, a close friend of mine went through almost the exact same thing with her little guy! Honestly, once she started him on medication, the poor kid was constantly exhausted, sleepy, and just totally withdrawn; that bright, bubbly little boy she knew just wasn't there anymore, so she decided to stop the treatment altogether... I don't know, maybe try getting a second opinion, or even better, just let him be who he is? That's actually what my friend ended up doing. By the way, he's such a normal kid now—so happy and communicative! They found an activity he absolutely loves, and that's where he gets to burn off all that extra energy!👍 👍 👍

Kate Lee65, thanks so much for getting back to me. I was wondering if you could find out which specific medication it was and how long she had to stay on it? If you're able to check, that would be great. I’m aware of the potential side effects, but our pediatric neurologist mentioned that those things can be somewhat relative. Honestly, we aren't even seeing issues with hyperactivity or restless energy—it's more about his struggle with learning and just navigating daily life in general. We drive him to school, but he has absolutely no concept of time; he forgets his assignments constantly and usually ends up doing everything backward. A few months ago, he went through a bout of illness and his hyperactivity actually dipped quite a bit. He was just completely wiped out, and my other child felt the impact too. It was a rough patch for us, and we definitely weren't happy about it, but things are just as tough right now. Also, what kind of sports did she do? He ended up quitting everything because his self-esteem took such a hit.

frozenhawk11 said:Hi everyone—I’m hoping you might be able to help me out... my son struggles with ADHD along with attention and focus issues. He’s in fourth grade now and things are getting really complicated. It’s hardest on him because he's losing his confidence and his belief in himself... I'm asking for any advice you can give—I know if we work together, we can figure this out.👍That therapy should help him primarily with his learning—at Rebro they suggested Ritalin and Concerta... but honestly, who knows for sure...?🙏

I saw this documentary where they showed a special classroom in the UK for kids with ADHD—kids who couldn't really function in a standard setting... and the whole point was that they were giving them this "magic pill." Then, a month later, they followed up with that same class—and honestly, it was like looking at a completely different group of kids. They were actually working, studying, staying calm and focused... just totally transformed.

It was like a miracle pill—Omega 3, specifically that cod liver oil... You really need to go with higher doses. Fish oil is essential for brain development, and I truly believe it’s beneficial if pregnant women take more substantial amounts of it...

And also—now that I'm starting to feel a bit foggy—there have been some successes recorded with sodium chlorite... www.miraclemineral.org

Yeah, he’s currently taking Child Life and Pure DHA, but honestly, I feel like he needs more than just those little tablets. I know infants can use them for brain development too. As for sodium chlorite, I don't really know much about it. To be honest, though, I often feel like I end up knowing more than some of the professionals I've gone to for advice.

Post this over in the "Parents & Kids" subforum instead.
I really think you'll get more helpful advice and better quality responses there!

Oh, absolutely! You won't believe this, but I only ever get one kind of response from the BUDENJ association. It’s a genuine health crisis that so many people just overlook because they simply don't have the right information. Instead of addressing the real issues, they'd much rather answer trivial questions like, "What are you wearing today?" Look, I get why they do it, but still...

frozenhawk11 said:It’s a legitimate health issue that people often overlook just because they don't know any better. They'd much rather chat about what someone's wearing today! Honestly, I totally get why they do it.

But really, how can anyone offer advice or support if they haven't walked in those shoes themselves? 😕
There's no need to let it get to you or feel hurt by their lack of understanding.

When you say he gave up sports because of his self-esteem, what do you mean exactly? Was he feeling too big or too small?

You’re absolutely right, which is exactly why I decided to step away from it all. I get where they're coming from; there aren't many people out there who can actually offer meaningful support, and I feel like I poured all my hopes into those online debates. I’ve spent years studying the subject deeply, but at the end of the day, what I really need are real-life stories from actual people. Honestly, after everything I've been through, my self-confidence has taken a real hit. I’m just terrified of facing another setback, so sometimes it feels much safer to just stay home.