Deep Dive: /r/ADHDparenting

[Link to the subreddit.](https:// https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHDparenting/)

[Link to the WIKI.](https:// https://www.reddit.com/r/ADHDparenting/wiki/index/)

General overview:

/r/ADHDparenting is a smaller subreddit, about 10k members, dedicated to medicating their children (appears to be from as young as 1 year old to teens) and discussing the backlash that arises from medicating their young children with stimulants and anti-psychotics for… acting like children?

Medications Determined to be Safe and Effective by /r/ADHDparenting:

Methylphenidate:

o Brand Names: Ritalin, Rubifen, Concerta

o Drug category: CNS Stimulant

o Common side effects: Euphoria,Excitement, Xerostomia (Dry mouth), Insomnia, Tachycardia (Resting heart rate above normal), Heart palpitations (Abnormal heart beating), Anxiety, Hyperhidrosis (Excessive sweating), Anorexia, Weight loss, Headache disorder, Nausea, Upper abdominal pain, Nervousness, Acute abdominal pain, Irritability, Thrombocytopenic disorder (Low blood platelet count), Hypertension (High blood pressure), Angina (Chest discomfort when blood supply is restricted from the heart muscles), Pharyngitis (Inflammation of the throat; dry, scratchy, pain when swallowing), Upper respiratory infections, Urticaria (Chronic Hives), Arthralgia (Joint pain/Arthritic symptoms), Aggressive Behavior, Addiction, Depression

Amphetamines

o Brand Names: Adderall (IR and XR), Dextrostat, Dexedrine, Zenzedi, Vyvanse, Focalin, Desoxyn

o Drug Category: Amphetamine stimulants and derivatives (D-amphetamine, L-Amphetamine, Methamphetamine)

o Common side effects: See side effects for methylphenidate listed above

Atomoxetine

o Brand Name: Strattera

o Drug Category: SNRIs (Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)

o Common side effects: See side effects for methylphenidate listed above

XR Guanfacine

o Brand Name: Tenex

o Drug Category: Non-stimulant, Alpha 2A-andrenergic receptor agonist used to treat high blood pressure and ADHD in patients 6 to 17 years of age; mechanism of action causes decreased heart rate and allows blood to pass through the blood vessels more easily

o Common side effects: Xerostomia, Drowsiness, Dizziness, Insomnia, Nausea, Hypotension (Abnormally low blood pressure that can cause dizziness, blurred vision, and tiredness), Sedation, Lethargy, Weight gain, Fatigue, Acute abdominal pain, Acute cognitive impairment, Constipation, Headache disorder, Vomiting, Heart palpitations, General weakness, Irritability, Dehydration, Easily bruised skin

XR Clonidine

o Brand Name: Catapres

o Drug Category: Non-stimulant, Alpha2A-andrenergic receptor agonist used to treat high blood pressure, ADHD, opioid withdrawal, alcohol withdrawal, nicotine withdrawal, and tics

o Common side effects: See side effects for XR Guanfacine listed above

Further reading in the WIKI:

"Where ADHD symptoms are causing significant impairment. After careful professional, expert considerations: First-line medication for children 6 years and over should be stimulants. Same for adults. Stimulant treatment for ADHD does not increase the risk of substance use disorders compared with people who do not access stimulant medication."

My question for this subreddit: Where ADHD symptoms are causing significant impairment for WHOM? As I am reading through this subreddit, it appears that a majority of the parents are not looking to help their children, but are looking to subdue their children as they are incapable of handling the children simply ACTING like children.

This is not to attack those parents who are dealing with their children having violent outbursts at school, or legitimately cannot function without harming themselves or others. This is to call out those parents who simply cannot handle having a child who cries, plays too loud, screams, runs around, throws some toys, has the occasional tantrum, etc. etc. You are unfit to be a parent if you believe that your child acting merely as a child should is too much for YOU to handle. Grow the frick up and stop reproducing if you're going to just medicate these young humans and ruin their brain development while they are learning to function in this world, causing them to be dysfunctional and mentally unstable adults.

NOTE:

WHY is medication a first-line approach to any ADHD symptom? Is raising your child away from an iPad too much to handle? As you go through this subreddit, notice how many of these children are just now turning school-aged. Notice how this coincides with many "hands-off" parents having to take away their kids' iPads, tablets, games, etc. etc. Coincidence? Psht, yeah right.

Examples of posts:

6 year old waking up at night, unable to sleep due to medication.

https://old.reddit.com/r/ADHDparenting/comments/1go6am2/sleep/

6yo is on 2mg guanfacine at night and 2.5mg adderall IR in the morning. The first few days of starting guanfacine and then increasing dose, he slept beautifully. But it doesn't last. He cannot go back to sleep when he wakes up-- just "closes his eyes" for a while (according to him) then when it doesn't work, gets up and plays. Plus he gets scared at night and I think his nervous system is just on high alert. Last night he slept 7pm-2am and just...didn't go back to sleep. The meds seem to be helping a lot with his disposition generally, but I am disappointed guanfacine doesn't seem to be helping with sleep once he acclimates to it.

You give your 6-year-old child stimulants and hypertension medication to help his "general disposition", and you're surprised that he can't sleep at night. Frick off, b-word.

Parent is shocked when 4-year-old acts like a 4-year-old figuring out her world.

https://old.reddit.com/r/ADHDparenting/comments/1gnw4cz/are_45_year_olds_this_noisy_and_fidgety/

My soon to be 5 year old is so noisy! She talks all day, narrates what she's doing and all her thoughts, ask the same questions over and over or says the same word or phrase over and over. If she runs out of tings to say she makes up words or just makes random noises. It makes it really difficult to do things like getting dressed, getting out of the house etc cause there are no natural pauses to say things like "put your shoes on please" and she does not stop talking when asked to.

I have nothing to say.

She seems unaware of her surroundings. Runs into things, trips and falls. Knocks things over. Pulls clothes down from hooks. Picks on things without thinking about it. Touches everything. Goes in to cabinets and drawers and scatter things about. Empties all the toys on the floor without playing with them. Our house gets so messy and it is so difficult to get her to tidy. > She seems to need an extraordinary amount of adult attention and is unable to play by herself for more than a couple of minutes. It is so difficult to get chores done while she is awake.

Notice the mention of "It's so difficult to get MY stuff done while my child is being a child!" Abhorrent.

The comments in this subreddit are an echo chamber for these people. "Yep, sounds like ADHD! Get them to the doctor!"

9-year-old son whines and complains. Parent is annoyed.

https://old.reddit.com/r/ADHDparenting/comments/1gmz6yo/whine_complain/

Why the frick are you even posting here??? THIS IS A 9 YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY. PARENT YOUR FRICKING KID!?

6-year-old in constant pain and is REFUSING to take his medicine.

https://old.reddit.com/r/ADHDparenting/comments/1gmm9pr/refusing_to_take_meds/

My six yo son has been medicated for well over a year and every single day it's a fight to take his medicine. Today he absolutely refused to take it whatsoever and off to school we took him. I'm at a loss. He says he hates the taste of it (it's a pill he swallows) we've tried the chewable ones and he hated those. He also complains it hurts his stomach. I've talked to his dr and they just say be consistent. It's so hard.

YOUR CHILD IS TELLING YOU THE STIMULANT YOU ARE FORCING HIM TO TAKE IS CAUSING HIM STOMACH PAIN, A VERY COMMON STIMULANT SIDE EFFECT??? AND THE DOCTOR SAYS TO "BE CONSISTENT"!?

Opinions encouraged here. Frankly, I'm fricking disgusted by the way these people are ruining the future population.