My son has been on guanfacine since early fall. He started on 1mg and I immediately saw an improvement. He was calmer, less impulsive. It was amazing. After several months, I started to see some of the old behavior creep in and it continued to increase as time went on. It got to the point that I felt it was no longer making a difference. After talking with his doctor, she believed it was time for a stimulant but I wanted to hold off for a few more years. So I wanted to up his dosage to 2mg. As soon as he started on 2 mg, it became way worse. He became aggressive and angry. So after 4 days I took him back to 1 mg. I’m starting to think he does need a stimulant. He struggles at school with social issues and making friends. He always tells me he wants friends but no one will play with him. I believe it’s because the other kids (the non adhd kids) find him annoying because he‘s too much. I would never tell him this and always encourage him to play with other kids.
Home life is chaotic. Everything revolves around him and it brings my daughter to tears a lot. When he gets frustrated- which is a lot- he gets physical and really mean.
His doctor brought up some good points and said in her opinion, when she sees kids struggling like he is, it’s almost cruel to not give them the medication they need. He is hurting and needs the right support. It can have lasting affects on his future. She also said study after study show if you start medicating kids with stimulants around 6-8, their brain actually develops and grows in certain areas so many can go off medication in the later years since it now acts more as a non- adhd brain.
My biggest concern is that he’s already small for his age. Kids always talk about his height. He’s the smallest in his class- even compared to the girls. i struggle to get him to eat a lot as it is, and a stimulant would make it worse.
I’m looking for experience from other parents that started their son or daughter on a stimulant at a similar age. Did you take weekends off? My doctor suggested that. Did you notice a growth issue? I want him to have friends and feel like he belongs but I’m so scared I’m going to screw up his future in other ways.
Would love thoughts. Anyone go from Guanfacine to a stimulate? How did that work? Any information you can share is greatly appreciated. Our family needs peace.