To Medicate or Not to Medicate.....

That is indeed the question!! I'm in a quandary right now, and I'm just not sure what to do. My son Chad is 11, and just starting Jr. High. For the past four years, he's been taking Adderall for ADD. I've never been a big fan of pumping kids full of meds, but after a teacher suggested it, I took him to the doctor. He HATES taking them, but he is definitely more focused than he was before. But the past year, I've noticed his appetite has been nothing. After taking him in July for his football physical, I found out that he has only gained 1 pound in a year. ONE lousy pound. The poor kid looks like a refugee from a concentration camp. So I made the decision to take him off the meds for awhile. Since July, he has packed on 8 pounds and looks SO MUCH healthier. He actually seems to be sweeter and happier too.

But here's the conundrum. Now that school has started, I've been noticing some things. This is his first year in Jr. High and he has to use a locker and switch classes. He seems really unorganized, and is having problems keeping up with this books and papers. He actually lost a History paper that he spent hours working on. (He found it later in the day...turned it in late, and got 10 points off). And when he's doing his homework, he is so easily distracted that it takes forever to finish.

Do I put him on a different medication?? The doctor recommended Focalin. He said it won't cause the side affects like lack of appetite. Chad is a straight-A student. And he can be EXTREMELY hard on himself. I'm afraid that if his grades slip, he'd be devastated. But in the same sense, I hate to put him back on the meds when personality-wise he seems so much happier?? I'm really torn up about this...and I just don't know what to do!! Any suggestions??