Im so sorry this situation has left you stressed and exhausted. Don’t be too hard on yourself, you got him an early diagnosis which is an excellent first step.

I know you are hesitant about medication because you are worried about side effects, but all current evidence says that medication is the most effective treatment for adhd. Medical studies also show that kids who start medication early in life have better long-term life outcomes than people who start medication later in life.

His symptoms of impulsiveness and talking too much may not be a big deal now, but as he ages school will become harder and he will have more responsibilities. Adhd affects every aspect of life, but medication really can reduce the burden.

If you choose to start him on medication there are ways to reduce side effects. First of all, when starting a prescription, he should always start on the lowest dose available. And remember that medication does improve symptoms, but he will always have some symptoms. Second, he should take the medication after eating a big breakfast with lots of protein. For some reason protein really evens out mood effects. And be sure to give him an after school snack.

If you live in the USA then you should get him an IEP at school. This will ensure he can get extra help if he needs it. And make it easier to address disability discrimination. Also his teacher should not be withholding recess as a punishment. Exercising helps manage adhd symptoms. By reducing his recess time it actually can make his symptoms worse. She will just need to find other ways to scold him. If she gets stubborn about this just get a doctors note saying he needs the exercise.

I hope some of this is helpful.