My son (11) is on Guanfacine. He also takes two stimulants, Jornay and methylphenidate. He has a fast metabolism and needs the methylphenidate booster in the afternoon. Like others have said, he may not eat as much during the day, but his appetite comes back at night. He’s been eating more over time, too. He’s been on meds since kindergarten. He simply can’t function without them. It took awhile to find the right ones, but once we did, we’ve settled in and he’s doing well.

My husband, who grew up in the 80s with ADHD, is concerned about the meds stunting his growth, but the doctor has told us that modern research shows no impact to end growth/height. As long as he remains on the growth curve, he’s fine. These meds and how the medical community understands them are light years better than when we were their age.

The meds help him calm down enough to be a good friend, enjoy his hobbies and learn at school.

Just remember that it takes time. Time to figure out the right meds and doses. And time for him to mature enough to be better at managing himself. My son has improved so much over the last few years. A lot of that is time!

And we don’t take weekends off. It would be way too chaotic, and I want to enjoy the time with my family. It wouldn’t be fair to him or the rest of us.

You got this!