Hes in high school. I'm worried his grades will drop. I can't hide it in his food as he buys his own food
I really dont think anyone should be forced to take mood altering drugs that they dont want, prescribed or not. If his grades drop, then worry about it.
1) Refuses to take HER medicine ... HE'S in highschool/HIS food as he buys HIS
2) Freaked out 11yo-14yo girl pretending to be a mom of a 15yo girl/boy: This is not a problem ADHD parents generally run into. Nor do parents past toddler years typically hide medicines in foods. Instead, we either allow them to make the decision to go off, or take away their freedom to do things afterschool beyond the walls of their rooms.
3) Instead if making up questions that are the opposite of what you actually want to know... Try asking what you actually want to know. Like
"Do you allow your teenaged children to make their own medication choices?" or "I want to quit taking my ADHD meds against my parents wishes. I am XY years old. What are my options? Do you have any experience with this?" OR assuming that you may actually be changing the disorder (don't), or asking out of curiosity (don't say they're your meds, like in question plugin a- Do you allow your teenaged to make their own med choices?).
Because, while some may answer out of goodwill / someone else may have a similar question... All or nearly all can see your made up Q for what it is: phoney.
R.... ADHDc mum to an ADHDc son (trust me, parents don't forget the sexes or ages of their children).
Didn't you post this a few months ago but it was your daughter? Oh I see you covered your based with both genders.
If this is real, ask the prescribing doctor, we don't know what other issues your child has.
Be careful that he isn't selling it to others at school. I've found pills around school.
No medication, no favorite non-school activity, like TV or computer or x-box. Or having a cell phone. Or going out with friends. Not ALL of them. The others have to be saved for taking away if the grades drop.
Most importantly, get your child to the doctor and TALK about why he or she (whichever it is since you've mixed up your pronouns) doesn't like them. If the doctor actually tries to work with your child, show respects and pays attention to his or her opinion, it could be that they can work together to try another kind of medicine that your child is more comfortable with. A teen psychiatrist might be the best person to work with your child, and perhaps you can have the first appointment by yourself, and then send your child in alone for the second one.
Dawn
You have to make her part of the process. My 12 year old has periods of time where she refuses and I simply can't force her or trick her, so I remind her of how she feels when she's not on it. I remind her of how disorganized she becomes with school and she sees the proof with her grades. She hates seeing her grades drop and the other fallout from even a few days of not being on the ADHD meds so we talk about how she feels when she's on it.
Basically, we do a cost/benefit analysis because that's how her brain is wired. And she ends up choosing, every time, to go back on her meds and then feels better. If she feels forced then she won't take them. If she feels in any way that it's not her choice, then she won't take them.
My advice is to talk with her, not at her. See if there's a reason why she won't take them, and if perhaps she thinks a different medication for ADD would work better. Tell her you'd be happy to go to a neurologist with her to try something else until finding something that she feels good on.
Don't make him/her take the medicine. That's against his/her human rights. And you should not hide it in his/her food. You can help him find ways to manage his/her ADD without medicine. Besides, s/he can't be on the medicine forever. Find out why he doesn't want to take it.
By the way, how does s/he buy his/her own food? Do his/her friends buy it for him?
As this child's parent you have every right to make this child take his meds. Kids don't have the rights to say no to medication that is prescribed for an ongoing medical issue.
I do suggest you take to the psychiatrist that writing the med and have them talk to your child. If your child truly wants to do without the meds he/she can't just stop taking it cold turkey but you could ask the pharmacist what possible side effects this could cause.
I would talk to them and see why they want to stop. They may feel they really don't need it. Some kids do outgrow the need for it once the become teens. Perhaps they are one of these. I would still have them meet with the doc though.
He... buys his own food? all day everyday, even at home?
With what money, or all of his money? He must have a good cash flow to be able to buy food for himself all day everyday even at home.
He is in high school?
A boy or girl? You indicate a girl in your title, but a boy in your explanation.
If you've reasoned with him or her the importance of taking it have you had him talk to the doctor or counselor/therapist? I did this with my daughter when she was 14. She still refused but knew the consequences.
In that light, are there any privileges you can take away as a consequence? Computer, video games, other electronics. Going places other than school with friends? Something important to them.
And bottom line, if grades drop that's a consequence in itself. Sadly, that may be what it takes.
Whether you have a son or a daughter or if you are the person in question that is having issues taking the medicine, I will answer your question the same way because there is obviously an issue that you need help with. I could care less who you really are :)
I have a relative who had the same issue with his high school aged son. Most of his meals were also consumed outside of the house. He stopped taking his medicine because he didn't like how he felt while on it. And then he found out he could sell it for a lot of money.
The latter part of the problem was solved by the parents locking up the medicine. The first part, they finally realized, was indicative of a larger problem. Soon enough the child would no longer be under their control and they needed to find a way to make him understand that medicine was the best route for him. So they started to work with a therapist (again.) The therapist listened to the teen's complaints and was able through some of the issues AND work with the teen's doctor to find a better medicine. Everyone, including the teen, knew deep down medicine was needed. After a month or 2 of therapy and trying new meds, everyone reached a solution they could live with.
There are people and doctors out there equipped to handle issues like this. You've just got to ask.
Nice first question
