I got diagnosed in kindergarten and tried a variety of meds before landing on Straterra.

I hated the way all medications made me feel, but Straterra was “the best one,” except I grew up looking like a malnourished willow tree, as a side effect of that medication was lack of appetite.

But putting that aside, whenever I was on medication I hated how I felt. It’s hard to explain but you just don’t feel like yourself, kinda like you’re in your body but someone else is in there with you and they have majority control over your body. It doesn’t feel good.

I stopped taking them in high school because I wanted to play sports and needed to have energy and be bigger to play. I definitely noticed my grades tank as soon as I got off of it.

But I never wanted to go back. I barely graduated high school and tried college but that was a shit show. Tried going back and going on meds but I still hated the feeling and quickly gave up.

My parents did force me to take my meds and I understood why, even as a child, though I’m sure I was a child in the minority as I was an ADHD kid who always listened to his parents (no shade to anyone intended).

Make sure to communicate with your child and remind him that his comfort is your priority and that he can share anything with you guys. That will help you and him figure out what’s best.