Hi, just wondering if anyone out there has occassionally taken your child off meds to see how he/she is without them??

My son was diagnosed at age 5 and pretty much been on meds since then... (we tried many things before medicated him, after we got 3 opionions from doctor, physiologist and behavior specialist that he had ADHD--we didn't jump right into it) what my question is: The other night my child went to a friends, he didn't take his pill the next day---that evening when he came home he seemed really calm. So the next day being Sunday he slept in till like 11or so (I'm sure very tired from being at his friends) I didn't want to give him his pill when he woke up at 11 because I was afraid it would keep him up all evening and the next day was school. So--during the day I was sooo surprised on his behavior!!! He was great!! He had some homework to finish up on, and other than he did struggle with writing...he seemed pretty well focused. Is it OK to see how he does off meds?? I don't want him to be a guinea pig, but how else do ya know??

Thanks for anyone's input I only want what is best for my child.!!

It depends what meds they are! Stimulants only work short-term so they are OK to skip, but anything that needs a steady level in the kids' bloodstream like Strattera etc. shouldn't be withheld without medical supervision.

Also if the medication is agitating a child instead of calming him, maybe the AD/HD diagnosis was inappropriate or medication wasn't working for him in the first place?

Consult the doctor, but I think you need to try him w/o the meds now and then to see how he will do.
Good Luck

Thanks for the replies - He is on Concerta. I know my doctor questioned if I did give it to him on the weekends, so I took it as it was ok---she suggested it because of self esteem reasons. He was diagnosed with ADHHHD heavy on the H, so my referring to him being calm was because he wasn't as hyper as he was when orignally diagnosed--could it be possibably due to growing up?? When he was put on meds, it definetely made a difference, he wasn't in trouble constantly in school and his grades did improve, we were happy with the decision we made. But Oh man I would give anything for him not to have to be on meds, of course I don't want him in trouble and have a difficult time focusing! and concentrating on what he is suppose to be doing in school.. Like I said we had previously tried diet changes, and behavorial techniques back then nothing seemed to help or basically make a bit of difference. I don't want hiim struggling!!! I did try to contact his doctor but she is on vacation and then we are on vacation for the remanding part of the week, so I was curious of others input in the mean time. Thanks!!!

It could be because he is maturing. My neurologist said that some children outgrow some of the behaviors by age 9 or so.

Badkat, as you probably know, Concerta is short-acting (12 hours or so) and therefore, is not supposed to build up in the bloodstream. So, what you saw in your son over the weekend *should* be pretty close to how he's going to be unmedicated. If he were mine, I'd probably be about ready to give him a trial without meds.

I wouldn't want you to just stop the meds "cold turkey" without talking to your doctor. Get weaning instructions to make your son as comfortable as possible.

I think that as kids get older, they become more aware of how inappropriate their hyperactive behavior is. That combined with the peer pressure to "be like everyone else" seems to help them tone down their hyperactivity into more socially acceptable outlets. Example: my 13yo no longer gets out of his seat at school but he does still continuously tap his pencil, fingers, etc.

Good luck if you decide to take him off, let us know how it goes