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ADHD Medication Information

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1. What medicines are used to treat ADHD?
2. Do the medicines for ADHD have side effects?
3. How should medicine for ADHD be taken?
4. The Facts About Stimulant Medication
5. How long will this treatment last?

1. What medicines are used to treat ADHD?

The most commonly used medicines to treat ADHD are called “stimulants.” Some of these medicines are: Ritalin & Concerta, Methylin (generic name: Methylphenidate), Adderall, Dexedrine & Dextrostat (generic name: Dextroamphetamine) and Focalin. Even though these medicines can have a stimulating or energizing effect on certain parts of the brain, the amounts of these medicines used to treat ADHD actually help to have a calming effect in children with ADHD. Nine out of 10 children get better on one of these medicines.

There is also a non-stimulant medicine known as Strattera (generic name: Atomoxetine) that is used to treat ADHD. Some children may do better on the stimulant medicine while other children may do better when taking Strattera.

Other types of medicine, including antidepressants, are sometimes used to treat ADHD. If one of the medicines listed above doesn't help, another should be tried. A medicine should be tried for at least 3 to 4 weeks, and the dose may need to be changed to see if it helps. If several medication attempts fail, more than one medicine at once may be needed. Follow your doctor's instructions. Your child should have a follow-up appointment with the doctor who prescribed the medicine within 30 days of starting the medication.

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2. Do the medicines for ADHD have side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. However, the side effects from these medicines are hardly ever unsafe. The common side effects may include a loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, stomachache, headache, or a decrease in emotional expression. The loss of appetite seems to be the most common in children.

To lessen ADHD medicine side effects:

• Talk to your child's doctor about using the lowest possible dose that still helps your child be less hyperactive.
• Give the medicine with food if it bothers your child’s stomach.
• Give healthy snacks during the day or in the evening to children who lose weight while taking medicine for ADHD.

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3. How should medicine for ADHD be taken?

It's important to give the medicine to your child just the way the doctor says. Follow the doctor's advice even if you think the medicine may not be working. And if you think the medicine is not wokring, be sure to talk with your child’s doctor.

Good times to take the medicine are at breakfast and lunch. The doctor may suggest a long-acting form of the medicine. The long-acting forms are taken only once a day, usually at breakfast. The medicine should not be crushed, broken, or chewed before being taken.

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4. Myths About Stimulant Medication

MYTH

Stimulants can lead to drug addiction when the child gets older.

FACT

Stimulants help many children focus and do better at school, home, and play. Not having bad experiences in these areas while a child is young may actually help them from having addictions and other emotional problems when they are older.

MYTH

Doing better while taking a stimulant medicine proves a child has ADHD.

FACT

Stimulants may help many children to focus and pay better attention, even if they do not have ADHD. The change may just be easier to see in children who do have ADHD.

MYTH

Medication should be stopped when the child becomes a teenager.

FACT

Not so! About eight out of 10 of children who needed medicine as a child still need it when they are older. Five out of 10 will need the medicine as an adult.

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5. How long will this treatment last?

The length of time a child takes the medicine depends on each child. Everyone is different. Some children only need a short treatment period, maybe 1 to 2 years. For some children, treatment may last until they are a teenager, or even into adulthood.

It is normal for parents to be worried about whether taking medicine is the best thing for their child. You need to understand the benefits and risks of taking medicine. Your child’s doctor can give you advice and answer all the questions you may have about medicines used to treat ADHD.

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