Do I put him on meds?

My son is 5 1/2, has autism, is not potty trained (but working on it   ) and is in a preschool language program. He currently has a full time aide.

Next year, the funding that provides that aide, will not exisit anymore. He will have an aide, but only for half the day, until the school realizes next year how badly he needs a full time aide - this means he might go the first few months of school without the assistance he needs.

He learns things quickly, when he slows down enough to do so. Right now, he's just not ready for kindergarden, but he HAS to be for next year as in our school system he HAS to move on past where he is.

So, I've got appts with the specialists to try and figure out if some sort of meds are the way to go. Nothing extreme, just something to help him calm down and focus at school so he can learn the things he needs to have a grasp on before next year.

I'm torn. I don't want to have him on meds, but I don't think he can learn what he needs to on his own without them. The class he's in is only 2 hrs 15 min long. By the time he's ready to settle and learn for the day, it's almost over  

What kind of meds would they put him on exactly? Like ADD meds?

Is there any option for you to homeschool?

I'm all for not medicating but if it's necessary for him to learn then I would probably do it.

Quoting IDGAF ❤:" What kind of meds would they put him on exactly? Like ADD meds?"

Not sure. I have the appt first week of April. It's his therapists that are wondering if we should put him on something.

He's 4 feet tall and 50lbs and likes to crash against people, climb on people, etc. when he's overstimulated or needing to move. He's getting to big to do it, but can't calm down enough to learn that he can't  

My brother was all over the place. ADHD, OCD & ODD. He refused to slow down to do much of anything. He passed grades except for 5th once but he was put on meds around preschool age. It restricted his growth until he was 12. He is just now rising above my height(5ft 6). I would try homeschool first or see if you can get the school to understand how much he needs that assistance

Quoting Rd.:" Is there any option for you to homeschool? I'm all for not medicating but if it's necessary for him to learn then I would probably do it."

He'd probably need more if I homeschooled lol

He listens MUCH better to others, and I don't think I have the patience for it.

Quoting ~The Lunar Flower~:" My brother was all over the place. ADHD, OCD & ODD. He refused to slow down to do much of anything. He ... [snip!] ... my height(5ft 6). I would try homeschool first or see if you can get the school to understand how much he needs that assistance"

The school will be forced to get him the assistance, the issue is that it will take months into the school year because of how the policies and procedures are.

Quoting ~The Lunar Flower~:" My brother was all over the place. ADHD, OCD & ODD. He refused to slow down to do much of anything. He ... [snip!] ... my height(5ft 6). I would try homeschool first or see if you can get the school to understand how much he needs that assistance"

The school will be forced to get him the assistance, the issue is that it will take months into the school year because of how the policies and procedures are.

My son has been on Risperdal for about a year, I've noticed its helped greatly with his behaviors, attention, sleep and aggression. Now that hes in school longer we're increased the dose to 3x a day, still the lowest dose each time though. It appears to be working. Hes getting enough sleep each night which helps with the attention problem mostly. He still gets off track but hes only 5 so I think thats to be expected.


I was completely against medication, in fact that something I told his doctor we would not do 2 years ago when he was diagnosed. But while I was pregnant he started becoming aggressive, he would only sleep for 2 hours at night, we had to do something. I'm really happy we did. Also, despite the popular judgement that others gave me - oh hes going to be a zombie!! None of that has happened. We can still engage with him, he still has incredible amounts of energy and his imaginative play has actually blossomed more.

I'm all for meds if that's what is needed for a kid to chill out enough to get the education they need.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Sarah Bare-ah♡:</b>" My son has been on Risperdal for about a year, I've noticed its helped greatly with his behaviors, attention, ... [snip!] ... We can still engage with him, he still has incredible amounts of energy and his imaginative play has actually blossomed more."</blockquote>


  to the last part.
My kid isn't autistic, she's ADHD, and we're at a pretty good dose with her, I think. He still eats, sleeps, goofs around. Her meds allow her to get through the school day. I'm glad we made the decision to give them to her

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:</b>" The school will be forced to get him the assistance, the issue is that it will take months into the school year because of how the policies and procedures are."</blockquote>

I see. Maybe try to get him on a medication & see if he requires that aide as much afterwards. If he has improvement then the cut in assistance may not be too drastic for him

I have ADD & the ADD meds help me out a smurf ton in school. I was diagnosed when I was in 5th grade, I was actually the one who told my mom I had problems paying attention & they tested me for it. After that I got on medicine & it helped me soo damn much.

Quoting ⚓ Sarah ⚓:" My son has been on Risperdal for about a year, I've noticed its helped greatly with his behaviors, attention, ... [snip!] ... We can still engage with him, he still has incredible amounts of energy and his imaginative play has actually blossomed more."

I'm thinking if he could just slow down things would be so much easier for him. When he's tired, the imagination just goes crazy, and the things he comes up with are amazing - when he's full of energy he literally just spins in circles.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mommy of a giggler!:</b>" I'm thinking if he could just slow down things would be so much easier for him. When he's tired, the ... [snip!] ... just goes crazy, and the things he comes up with are amazing - when he's full of energy he literally just spins in circles."</blockquote>



That's my son. When he's relaxed we sit down and draw, play play doh and he can even trace letters and recognize written words so I'm very happy with our decision to get him medication.