Hi T.!
I don't have experience with medicating my children for ADHD, however, my experience is around children that I've known before/after they've been medicated for ADHD.
I'm sure the dosing is safe, and Dr's have so much more experience treating this, so I'm sure whatever you decide to do will be fine :o)
I am an extremely invovled mother at my kids school. I'm there almost EVERY day, and have gotten to know tons of kids & parents over the years. I've also seen some kids make "the change" from without-to-with ADHD Meds.
I need to be honest, it made me very sad to watch the changes in some kids due to ADHD. One boy in particular (a friend of my son's) seemed so zoned. I've known him for 6 years. He eventually went to the Resource Specialist to help him keep up with school, because even WITH Meds he couldn't concentrate.. Also, he doesn't want to eat much, so he's thinning. I truly thought he was fine before any Meds came into play..........sure, he was a total BOY at the high end of the spectrum, but nothing outrageous. If I had the nerve, I would tell his mom that I think she made a mistake by medicating him (we're close), but she's just trying her best to do the right thing..........I don't want to offend her, and I think she would be.
I thought my own boys had a problem for years, but I refused to do Meds for something that I THOUGHT was over-rated. So, I focused on what type of "attention" they needed instead. I have one boy who absolutely NEEDS to RUN, RUN, RUN in order to have a "normal" life. If he misses a "run", he will bounce off walls, and drive me crazy!!! So, we entered him in Track & Soccer :o) Problem reduced, and now at 11, problem is almost gone and things have begun to "mature". My other son just needs to play alone with his very active imagination. If he's allowed about 2 hours of using his imagination (without anyone interrupting him) he does much better throughout the day, too :o)
It takes a little "fine tuning" as a mom to figure out what your child might need in order to NOT need Meds, but as a full-time mom, that will be the easy part for you :o)
T., use your best judgement as only a wonderful mother could.
I hope something I've said has helped make your decision one-way or the other :o)
Good Luck!
:o) N.