There is no evidence that any particular medication is best. Behavioral therapy and other non-drug treatments can help control symptoms of ADHD in some children. But experts say these approaches are rarely powerful enough to replace meds for most kids.
It is not a last resort. ADHD-like symptoms can be caused by a range of disorders, including anxiety, mood disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Make sure the doctor uses the diagnostic criteria spelled out in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , commonly referred to as the DSM-V.
The stimulants commonly prescribed for ADHD are considered among the safest of all psychiatric medications. Dodson, M. These include academic failure, social problems, car accidents, and drug abuse. As with many prescription drugs, of course, stimulants like Vyvanse, Adderall XR, or Evekeo can interact dangerously with certain other medications. Be sure to alert the doctor about any other medications your child takes.
A study indicated that, between and , 19 children died while taking either methylphenidate or amphetamine, the two most commonly prescribed stimulants.
The FDA concluded that the number of deaths was no greater than would have been expected, given the large number of kids taking these medications. In addition, five of the children who died had a structural heart defect. If any of these factors are present, the patient — whether child or adult — should be evaluated by a cardiologist before taking a stimulant. In general, there is no need for apparently healthy kids to undergo an electrocardiogram or any other high-tech-and high-cost-diagnostic procedure before starting stimulant medication.
Stimulants can cause a range of side effects, notably appetite suppression and weight loss. But these effects tend to be transient, recent studies suggest. Giving children a big meal after their medication has worn off may be enough to compensate.
ADHD medication side effects can also include headaches or difficulty falling asleep. People respond differently to medicines. If the first medicine doesn't seem to work, even at the highest dose, then a doctor may try a different medicine. Some people need to take more than one ADHD medicine to get the best result. You and your parents should watch for any side effects if you take a new ADHD medicine.
Your doctor will adjust the dose and how often you take the medicine based on how much the medicine helps and if you have side effects. You may need to go for several visits with the doctor over weeks or months to find the right medicine and dose. After that, the care team will want to see you every 3 to 6 months. Going to all of the follow-up visits is important so the care team can check your height, weight, and blood pressure. The care team will also monitor side effects and adjust the medicine dose, as needed.
Medicine is one part of treatment for ADHD. Treatment also can include therapy, parent support, and school support. Medicine works best when parents, teachers, and therapists help you learn any social, emotional, and behavioral skills that aren't easy because of ADHD. Like any medication, ADHD medicines can have side effects. Not everyone gets side effects, though. The most common side effects are loss of appetite and trouble sleeping.
Other ADHD medicine side effects include jitteriness, irritability, moodiness, headaches, stomachaches, fast heart rate, and high blood pressure. Side effects usually happen in the first few days of starting a new medicine or taking a higher dose. They often go away on their own after a few days or weeks as the body adjusts to the medicine. If a side effect doesn't go away, a doctor may decide to lower the dose or stop that medicine and try another.
ADHD medicines only stay in the body for a few hours, so the side effects wear off as the medicine leaves the body. Your health care team will give you more information about possible side effects for the medicine they prescribe. Some children respond to one type of stimulant but not another.
What dosage? The amount of medication dosage that your child needs also may need to be adjusted. The dosage is not based solely on his weight. Your pediatrician will vary the dosage over time to get the best results and control possible side effects.
When to give it? For example, if the goal is to get relief from symptoms mostly at school, your child may take the medication only on school days. Is it working? Side effects occur sometimes.
These tend to happen early in treatment and are usually mild and short-lived, but in rare cases they can be prolonged or more severe. The same sleep problems do not exist for atomoxetine, but initially it may make your child sleepy or upset her stomach. Rarely atomoxetine increased thoughts of suicide. Guanfacine and clonidine can cause drowsiness, fatigue, or a decrease in blood pressure. Most side effects can be relieved by:. After that, periodic monitoring by your doctor is important to maintain the best effects.
Stimulants, atomoxetine, and guanfacine may not be an option for children who are taking certain other medications or who have some medical conditions, such as congenital heart disease. Tourette syndrome is an inherited condition associated with frequent tics and unusual vocal sounds. The effect of stimulants on tics is not predictable, although most studies indicate that stimulants are safe for children with ADHD and tic disorders in most cases.
When taken as directed by a doctor, there is no evidence that children are getting high on stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate and amphetamine. At therapeutic doses, these drugs also do not sedate or tranquilize children and do not increase the risk of addiction. If your child is on this medication, it is always best to supervise the use of the medication closely. People with ADHD are naturally impulsive and tend to take risks.
But patients with ADHD who are taking stimulants are not at a greater risk and actually may be at a lower risk of using other drugs. Megavitamins and mineral supplements.
Anti—motion-sickness medication to treat the inner ear.
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