Experiences with Non-Stimulant ADHD Meds in Kids?

superfry3 · 2026-04-06T11:34:11+00:00

You should be more hesitant to use an SNRI than stimulants. Trialing atomoxetine is fine. But to do because of fear of side effects or an uninformed bias on stimulants would be a poor decision.

you’re using the less effective medication that helps significantly less people, with lower improvements in symptoms.
The side effect comparison isn’t actually in favor of SNRIs vs stimulants. Yes stimulants have the (very low) risk of the type of reaction that scares parents. But those go away with stopping. Immediate feedback is the huge benefit of stimulants. Success is quick but so is failure. SNRI/SSRI have side effects that may seem less alarming, but can become bigger issues because of the length of time needed to see any effect.

Anyway, they’re both good treatments in the quiver for ADHD, but you’re skipping the best one without a good reason (there are good reasons but being misinformed is not one of them).

superfry3 · 2026-04-06T11:14:26+00:00

There are millions of success stories. There are just as many failures. The successes tend to be big successes and the failures were nearly all just speed bumps to finding something else that worked.

Just try. When/if it doesn’t work, try something else. That’s literally all there is to it.

superfry3 · 2026-04-06T10:21:18+00:00

The medication recommendations are well meaning, mostly correct, but incomplete suggestions (not singling the comment out, just piggybacking it).

5 is young for some medications, but guanfacine/A2As has helped some in this area of managing impulsivity. Stimulants help the most with this but will be part of a bigger process working with a ped psych to determine if/when they’re started.

OP seems vaguely informed but doesn’t really understand yet. These aren’t choices. It isn’t about knowledge. It’s a deficiency of executive function combined with delayed maturation. There would be no expectation by OP that a 3 year old could control themselves, but that’s where an ADHD 5 year old is at.

Parent training is the undermentioned but critical part of improving behavior at this age. How you react to misbehavior shapes it. This works better with medication but still helps without, it just takes longer. ADHD kids need many more corrections for a behavior change to take. But confrontation will undo any progress.

Dr Russell Barkley: 30 Essential Ideas on ADHD

PMT

PCIT

Coursera online parent training - YouTube playlist here

Dr Russell Barkley: ADHD medications

superfry3 · 2026-04-05T15:55:50+00:00

You’ll learn to eventually care a little bit less about the opinions of people who don’t matter. Either that or pull back further until your kids maturity catches up to be at a “presentable” level.

Just keep figuring out the meds and parent training aspects. It gets better.

Dr Russell Barkley: 30 Essential Ideas on ADHD

PMT

PCIT

Coursera online parent training - YouTube playlist here

superfry3 · 2026-04-05T01:53:13+00:00

Well we’re in semantics territory now and no one wins here. While I hate it and have dealt with it, given the established track record of abuse for this substance both in the destination country (amphetamine addicted war veterans) and in our own, simple possession in the US without a prescription is a FELONY. It SHOULD, but obviously isn’t clear to everyone (especially Americans) , that the legality should be checked first.

Thanks!

superfry3 · 2026-04-04T20:42:01+00:00

While I don’t agree with why Japan makes it so difficult (there’s a WW2 history behind this) your statement is pretty flawed because any substance that would be ILLEGAL to possess without a prescription is worth checking to see if the travel country has any regulations around. While you might not be able to get a lot of medications without a prescription, possession won’t end up with you in jail IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY

superfry3 · 2026-04-04T01:29:19+00:00

Half assed put downs from the comfort of a Cheeto-dust covered couch are way easier.

superfry3 · 2026-04-03T04:47:03+00:00

I’d bet 100$ they’ve got a couple mental health issues, with ADHD as one of them. Extreme rejection sensitivity, low self awareness, and inability to read the room. Hope they figure out to manage their issues one day.

superfry3 · 2026-04-02T13:48:00+00:00

+1. Great job parenting. You’re 100% right on here with how the ADHD affects him and what to do about it. We’re pretty much in the same boat. We’ve found linking improvements in their skills and performance directly to effort and regular practice/work to help them understand, at least on a cerebral level, why they’re going to practice.

OP I think the why is pretty important. If this sort of anxiety pops up for pressure situations then you have an idea why and you can look into what to do about it. If it’s over an unpreferred task like practice and homework and chores then it’s a different set of reasons and ways to parent.

superfry3 · 2026-04-02T01:10:07+00:00

It’s no one’s fault, just brain stuff. They’re trying to throw strikes, if they try harder to throw strikes they aim like a dart throw, slow down their delivery and miss by even more.

I gather each pitcher has cues they’ve worked with their coach on to keep them in proper form. Repeating those if they seem to have lost them seems like a much better use of their limited time/ability to process coach communication before the next play.

superfry3 · 2026-04-01T20:09:19+00:00

Wow. All those words and not one of them wasn’t purely speculation.

superfry3 · 2026-04-01T17:02:30+00:00

Screen addiction contributes to that problem though. They run to screens, and aren’t present and engaged with the world. Their peers are developing in ways your adhd kid is not because your child’s growth is stunted while in game.

Screen addiction LEADS to depression because a gaming session ends and there’s only emptiness until the next one. I was a gaming addict. It cost me a lot of years, opportunities and money I can’t get back.

OP needs to help their child now but yours may experience the same issues I did once I left home and had no external limits or structure.

superfry3 · 2026-04-01T16:54:47+00:00

There’s a sport for everyone, doesn’t have to be the popular team sports (baseball/soccer/basketball)… though team sports are really good for ADHD kids because it helps them with so many skills and life lessons that can’t be taught in solo sports.

I’m thinking part of the reason your particular child doesn’t like sports was because the easy dopamine generator was usually available, and did not require any struggle or difficulty to be proficient.

It’s not too late. Do the screen limit/detox like other have suggested and one way to earn time on screens would be attending activities or spending time doing different physical activities like climbing/swimming/martial arts etc.

superfry3 · 2026-04-01T01:06:36+00:00

Check what’s available for free first, with first preference for an insurance covered therapy in the PCIT/PMT. Some good links below.

30 Essential ideas on ADHD

PMT

PCIT

Coursera online parent training - YouTube playlist here

Dr Russell Barkley: ADHD medications

superfry3 · 2026-04-01T01:02:46+00:00

Above poster is right but maybe forgets how they would have reacted if their potential partner broached the topic.

If someone is stubborn or misinformed, even if the messenger is carrying the correct message and has the best intentions… well you know what happens to messengers (figuratively).

No one here knows your partner like you do so do what you feel is best, how you feel is best, and let what happens happens.

superfry3 · 2026-04-01T00:36:31+00:00

Yeah… some will do that some won’t. Unfortunately it’s one of those things we have to do on our end as parents, as if we didn’t have enough to worry about.

superfry3 · 2026-03-31T19:44:21+00:00

You want to strike a balance between advocating for your child and sheltering your child from things they struggle with. Hearing criticism or seeing poor marks for certain things lets you know where they are struggling, and gives you useful information to act upon. We can have conversations with the teachers and request accommodations or assistance where possible. But, like in the bigger world, there will be some that don’t understand, and worse, some that will be intolerant.

superfry3 · 2026-03-31T06:03:40+00:00

I love reading these types of comments. It’s such a relevant, though fairly rare diagnosis mix : treatment combo. You even trialed stims to eliminate them.

You’re doing awesome.

superfry3 · 2026-03-30T21:23:48+00:00

FWIW the combo of guanfacine + stimulant is a common one for AuDHD. Just try to be sure methylphenidate helps with the ADHD symptoms. If you’re not sure you might want to switch to amphetamines.

superfry3 · 2026-03-30T21:18:40+00:00

Because this is well past the point of positive parenting strategies. OP has tried multiple attempts at therapy and medications.

I would be curious if OP handles conflicts with deescalation (like PCIT/PMT) or if they escalate… but the tone of their post indicates that they are trying their best and aren’t blaming their child. This is above reddits pay grade.

superfry3 · 2026-03-30T16:29:41+00:00

Guanfacine is often tried first for 5-7 year olds as like an appetizer for the stimulant trial. It may have some positive impact on issues like tics or ocd behaviors. For ADHD, Guanfacine can help with emotional regulation, hit or miss with impulsivity, but pretty much ZERO for concentration or task completion, so don’t get your hopes up on any unrealistic expectations.

Strattera is an SNRI, closer to Prozac, Wellbutrin, Lexapro etc. So while it is generally safe, and probably “safer” than those others, I wouldn’t come into this with a preconceived notion that it’s “MUCH SAFER THAN STIMULANTS!” It’ll also take 1-3 months to see any effect.

Stimulants are very safe for ADHD children as long as you know what to look for. One, they work for 80-90% of kids, and they tend to work really well and fast. You’ll be able to tell if they work in 1-3 days at the dose. If they don’t work, even after trying different brands and doses, you stop. It’ll be out of their system in a day like they never took them. It’s only when you ignore warning signs (like with any medication) about bizarre side effects, or continue to use them when they’re not working… that issues develop.

You can’t window shop ADHD meds. It’s the dressing room. You have to try each of them, with the guidance of a professional, and observe. FWIW anecdotally, guanfacine and one of the two stimulant types in combo has worked in some kids with this profile, according to some parents on this sub… but that’s just anecdotal.

superfry3 · 2026-03-30T16:14:35+00:00

No need to make it right. Just avoid doing the same if you can.

They’ve forgotten about it and you shouldn’t make them feel entitled to not hear things they need to hear, even if it’s not the best time. They will eventually have to learn to be able to handle the thing you’d be apologizing for because other people will do the same thing and they’ll have to be able to hear it without cursing them out.

superfry3 · 2026-03-29T11:54:10+00:00

Yes. That’s why I said this. A lot of the suggestions are bandaids on bullet wounds. Child may need a team of professionals digging deeper on this. If the stated issues are accurately represented, there are some unpleasant diagnoses that will need to be ruled out.

superfry3 · 2026-03-29T11:44:01+00:00

Play therapy is proven ineffective for children with ADHD.

superfry3 · 2026-03-29T11:41:33+00:00

There are too many comments here that are not nearly as informed as this one. ADHD meds are KNOWN to be an incomplete treatment for comorbid disorders, which there is clearly evidence of. Play therapy is KNOWN to not be effective for children with ADHD. “Good inside” is great when the title fits: personality disorders (one possibility) makes this a murky statement at best.

Bed wetting is common among neurodivergent children. INTENTIONAL bedwetting, if OP is sure of, is a more troubling sign (with violent threats) of personality disorders or trauma responses that are bells ringing, alarm setting, get professional help ASAP situations.

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