To medicate or not to medicate: is medication therapy right for your child with ADHD

January 15, 11:23 PMSpecial Needs Parenting ExaminerFredrica Brister

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Deciding to place a child on medications can be difficult and disconcerting for parents, especially for parents of children with ADHD.  For decades, there has been an ongoing controversy as to the appropriateness of medication therapy for children with ADHD.    Due to the possible side effects and addictiveness of some drugs associated with ADHD, many parents are afraid to consider any type of medication therapy for their child.  I'm here to tell you that adding medication therapy to your child's ADHD treatment plan does not have to be frightening, as the medications to treat ADHD have evolved tremendously over the years.

The most commonly recognized ADHD drug is Ritalin.  In spite of its harsh side effects in some children, including depression, Tourette's syndrome, headaches, and stunted growth, Ritalin works amazingly well for some children.  Fortunately for the modern child with ADHD, there are a variety of other medications available.  Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Focalin, and Metadate are all medications currently used to treat ADHD in children. 

Before you make a decision on which drug is right for your child, it helps to know how ADHD drugs work. 

Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Focalin, Metadate and Ritalin are all stimulants.  Stimulants work in the same way a morning cup of coffee would.  When a person drinks coffee, it causes their brain to wake up a bit, it gives them an energy burst, then brings them crashing down as the caffeine (a stimulant) wears off.  In ADHD medications, the upswing is more gentle than drinking a cup of coffee. During the  associated crash, the brain (which is usually racing faster than the person can handle) is slowed down to a more bearable state, allowing the individual to function better.  Stimulants work to control the dopamine (a neurotransmitter associated with ADHD) in a person's brain.

If a parent is opposed to placing their child on a stimulant, the FDA has approved a new, non-stimulant drug called Strattera; it has been found to be significantly affective in treating ADHD as well.  Non-stimulants like Strattera also work on a neurotransmitter in the brain.  Instead of controlling the dopamine levels, non-stimulants work on norepinephrine instead.  Norepinephrine is also believed to play a part in ADHD.

Medications can be very helpful to children with ADHD.  With medication therapy, many children find it easier to concentrate in school and other structured environments;  they find it easier to cope in social environments; and many of them find it helps them to get along better in general.  Studies show that nine out of ten children find medication therapy helpful in dealing with ADHD.

Only you and your child can know for sure if medication therapy is a good fit for treating your child's ADHD.  With the help of a medical professional, a suitable medication can be found for almost any child.  Medication therapy could be that hand your child needs in getting his or her ADHD under control.