r/ParentingADHD • u/Same-Specific-1356 • 2d ago

Advice ADHD

I have a 7 year old girl in second grade. She was diagnosed with adhd. She has a lot of trouble focusing at school and we ended up having to start her on Focalin last year which helps some and she was able to actually pass the 1st grade. Her grades are a little better so far this year but she is still struggling and I don’t know what else to do to help her. By the time she gets home the medicine is already worn off and increasing it isn’t an option bc her weight. Any tips or tricks that may help???

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u/sadwife3000 1d ago

If she’s still struggling it’s time to review her meds. If she can’t increase her dose she might need a different medication altogether

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u/Vast_Helicopter_1914 1d ago

This 👆 As children grow, their metabolism increases and they need larger doses of medicine. Your daughter may also need a booster dose in the afternoons.

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u/dfphd 1d ago

This.

My kid tries Focalin, and it worked great but just didn't last long enough - it was clearly gone by like noon.

And as a heads up: there are a lot of different ADHD stimulants, and they can impact a person very differently. They all have different main component (methylphenidate vs. amphetamines) and then very different mechanisms for how the body takes it. Like, an important thing to understand is that the goal has generally been to develop extended release formulations that can last the entire day, ideally without spiking too high.

To get there, there have been a lot of different ways to try to get that effect. And that will work very differently for each person (and sometimes not work at all).

So yeah, Focalin might not be it. And mind you, very good odds that the next meds won't be it either. You might need to try 3 or 4 before you land on the right one.

Also, does your kid have an IEP?

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u/Flat-Pomegranate-952 1d ago

My 7 year old is on the same meds. He is newly diagnosed and before we had the official diagnosis I was giving him saffron gummies when he got home from school. Our doctor gave us the okay to keep using them. It definitely helps more than not! He is primarily inattentive and was holding it together so much at school that he was completely falling apart at home. If he doesn't get his saffron, by bedtime it's like pulling teeth to get him to do anything and his emotions are all over the place.

I have adhd myself and have an IR booster I take in the afternoon which helps, I'm not sure if that's an option for her!

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u/Long_Cook_7429 6h ago

Which saffron gummies? We have tried several but my son hates the taste. Thx

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u/Flat-Pomegranate-952 4h ago

Joy spring gummies!