ADHD: Should My Child Take Medicine for ADHD?

ADHD: Should My Child Take Medicine for ADHD?

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

ADHD: Should My Child Take Medicine for ADHD?

Get the facts

Your options

  • Have your child take medicine for ADHD.
  • Don't have your child take medicine. Instead, use counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training to help manage your child's symptoms.

Key points to remember

  • If your child's symptoms are mild, then counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training may be enough to improve your child's behaviour.
  • If your child's symptoms are moderate to severe and are causing problems at home, in school, and with family members and friends, your doctor may recommend medicine. Treatment with medicine depends on the age of your child.
  • Medicine can't cure ADHD or solve all of your child's behaviour problems. Behaviour therapies and extra support at home and in school can help your child succeed and feel better about himself or herself.
  • Medicines can help, but they may have side effects and risks.
  • If your child needs medicine, help him or her not feel ashamed about taking it. ADHD is a medical condition, not a character flaw or weakness.
FAQs

What is ADHD?

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) affects a child's behaviour and ability to pay attention. ADHD symptoms are noticed early in a child's life and continue into adulthood.

Children with ADHD tend to be:

  • Inattentive. They are easily distracted and find it hard to focus on any one task.
  • Impulsive. They act before thinking about the cause and effect of their actions. They may talk or laugh too loud or get more angry than the situation calls for. They may not share or be able to wait for their turn.
  • Hyperactive. They can't sit still for even a short time. They may squirm, fidget, or run around at the wrong times.

It may be hard to know if your child has ADHD or is just misbehaving. It's normal for a child to be inattentive, impulsive, or hyperactive from time to time. But if these behaviours continue or become worse, they may be signs of ADHD.

The exact cause of ADHD is not clear, but it tends to run in families.

Some medical problems have symptoms that look like ADHD, so it's important that your child gets the right diagnosis. Your doctor may do some tests and ask you and your child questions to help rule out other problems, such as depression or an anxiety disorder. Sometimes the symptoms of bipolar disorder and ADHD can be confused.

The symptoms of ADHD can also be confused with a learning disability. A psychologist can do some tests to see if your child is having trouble learning how to read, write, or do math problems.

There is no cure for ADHD. But treatment can help manage your child's symptoms.

What are the risks of not treating your child for ADHD?

Without treatment, your child is more likely to:

  • Do poorly in school or at work.
  • Be rejected by his or her peers.
  • Have relationship problems with family members and friends.
  • Have low self-esteem.
  • Be depressed.
  • Lack social skills.

What medicines can your child take for ADHD?

Stimulant medicines are most often used to treat moderate to severe symptoms of ADHD. These medicines affect the way your child's brain controls impulses, behaviour, and attention.

Stimulant medicines are sorted into two groups:

  • Amphetamines, such as Adderall XR and Dexedrine.
  • Methylphenidate, such as Biphentin, Concerta, and Ritalin.

If these medicines don't help, your doctor may suggest non-stimulant medicines to treat ADHD. These include:

  • Atomoxetine (Strattera).
  • Clonidine (Catapres).
  • Guanfacine (Intuniv).

Sometimes antidepressants are also recommended.

How well do these medicines work?

Stimulant medicines are the most effective treatment for ADHD. They improve ADHD symptoms in about 70 out of 100 children who take them.footnote 1 This means that they don't improve symptoms in about 30 out of 100 children who take them.

Studies have shown that children who take stimulant medicines:footnote 1

  • Are calmer.
  • Are more attentive, focused, and organized.
  • Interrupt less often.
  • Have better relationships with family members and friends.

Studies have also shown that:footnote 2

  • The non-stimulant medicine atomoxetine can reduce ADHD symptoms in children and adults.
  • The non-stimulant medicine clonidine combined with a stimulant medicine may reduce ADHD symptoms.

Even though medicine can help improve your child's symptoms, it can't solve all of your child's behaviour problems. Your child may also benefit from counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training.

What can you expect if your child takes medicine for ADHD?

Your child will take pills every day for as long as he or she needs them. It's important that your child takes the medicine as prescribed and keeps taking it so it has time to work.

If you don't see any improvement in your child's behaviour, talk to your doctor. Your child may need to try several different medicines to find one that works for him or her.

You'll need to closely watch your child after he or she begins to take the medicine. The medicine may cause side effects, but they will usually go away within the first few weeks. If they don't, your doctor may need to lower the dose.

What are the side effects of these medicines?

Common side effects include:

  • Loss of appetite.
  • Headaches.
  • Upset stomach.
  • Sleep problems or drowsiness.

Stimulant medicines may be related to slower growth in children, especially in the first year of taking the medicine. But most children seem to catch up in height and weight by adulthood. Your doctor will keep track of your child's growth and watch for problems.footnote 2

What are the risks of these medicines?

Studies show that when used for only a short time, medicines for ADHD are safe and can help improve your child's behaviour and quality of life. But there are some risks. And the effects of using these medicines over the long term haven't been studied. You'll need to weigh the benefits of your child taking medicine with the possible risks.

Advisories

There is a small chance that a child may think about suicide when he or she takes atomoxetine or an antidepressant. Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) don't recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, people taking these medicines should be watched for warning signs of suicide, such as saying they're going to hurt themselves, talking or writing about death, or giving away their things. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when doses are changed.

Studies have found that less than 1 out of 100 children who used atomoxetine thought about suicide, while more than 99 out of 100 didn't.footnote 3

Most medicines for ADHD come with a warning about possible heart-related or mental health problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if your child has any heart problems, heart defects, or mental health problems or if there is a family history of these problems.

The FDA has issued an advisory about atomoxetine and the risks of liver injury, orthostatic hypotension, and syncope. Call your doctor if you have nausea or belly pain. Also, call your doctor if you feel dizzy or light-headed or if your skin is yellowing.

What other treatments are available?

If your child's symptoms are mild, then treatments other than medicine may be enough to help your child improve his or her behaviour. Behaviour therapies and extra support at home and in school can help your child succeed and feel better about himself or herself.

These treatments work for some children:

  • Behaviour therapy can help your child understand why he or she acts a certain way. And it can help your child find positive ways to deal with problems by changing the way he or she thinks and behaves. Behaviour therapy encourages positive behaviour through praise or rewards. It discourages unwanted behaviour through time-outs or loss of privileges.
  • Social skills training can help your child be less aggressive and impulsive, manage anger, and behave in a more socially acceptable way. It uses specific steps and goals, such as helping your child learn how to listen and engage in conversation or be part of a new group.
  • Counselling, including family therapy, allows your child and the entire family to express fears and concerns, recognize problem behaviours, and learn new ways of getting along.

Why might your doctor recommend medicine to treat your child's ADHD?

Your doctor may suggest that your child take medicine if:

  • Your child's symptoms are moderate to severe and are causing problems at home, in school, and with family members and friends.
  • Your child's symptoms haven't improved with counselling or behaviour therapies alone.

Compare your options

Compare

What is usually involved?









What are the benefits?









What are the risks and side effects?









Have your child take medicine for ADHD Have your child take medicine for ADHD
  • Your child takes pills every day for as long as he or she needs them.
  • Your child may also see a counsellor or get behaviour therapy or social skills training.
  • Medicines for ADHD can help your child to:
    • Be more calm, attentive, focused, and organized.
    • Be less aggressive and disruptive.
    • Have better relationships with family members and friends.
  • Possible side effects include:
    • Loss of appetite.
    • Headaches.
    • Upset stomach.
    • Sleep problems or drowsiness.
    • Slowed growth.
    • Heart and mental health problems.
    • Low blood pressure.
  • There is a small chance that your child may think about suicide while taking non-stimulant medicines or antidepressants.
Don't have your child take medicine Don't have your child take medicine
  • Your child sees a counsellor or gets behaviour therapy or social skills training.
  • If your child's symptoms are mild, then counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training may be enough to improve your child's behaviour.
  • If your child's symptoms don't improve with counselling or behaviour therapies, you can decide later to try medicine.
  • Your child can avoid the side effects of the medicine.
  • You don't have to pay for medicine.
  • Without treatment, your child is more likely to:
    • Do poorly in school or at work.
    • Be rejected by his or her peers.
    • Have relationship problems with family members and friends.
    • Have low self-esteem.
    • Be depressed.
    • Lack social skills.

Personal stories about taking medicine for ADHD

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

We thought that our son had a learning disability. He seemed "spacey" at times. When he was little, he couldn't pay attention long enough for me to read an entire book to him. As he got older, he did poorly on standardized tests at school. A psychiatrist finally diagnosed him with ADHD and suggested that medicine might be helpful. We are thinking it over and will probably try it. Our son is old enough to help us with the decision too. I'm sure he would be happy to have some help staying on task at school and with his homework.

Parents of Michael, age 11

We thought our son was just a little more energetic than other kids. Then he started preschool. We got a call from the teacher on his second day there. Turns out he was a lot more "energetic" than the other kids. We have been working with his doctor and with the preschool teacher for several months on different ways to get him to sit still and stay on task. He's made some progress, but he is still a handful. We are trying to hold off on trying medicine until he is around age 6. We realize that he may always need more than just a little extra attention in order to succeed in school.

Parents of Carlos, age 4

Our daughter Ann Marie doesn't have many friends at school. Her impulsive behaviour is so out of control that none of the other kids want to play with her. It is hard for us, because we know what a warm and fun-loving child she is. When our doctor suggested that she might benefit from medicines, we were happy to have an option that might make it easier for her to get along with her classmates.

Parents of Ann Marie, age 6

We aren't sure what our daughter's problem is—ADHD, learning disability, depression, or some combination of things. It's a little frustrating that it seems to be taking so long to figure it out, but we like our doctor and she has done a good job of helping us understand why there are no quick and easy answers. Our daughter isn't hyper like a lot of kids with ADHD, but she can't seem to pay attention in class and she's not doing well in school. We work with her most nights at home to help her focus on her homework, and we do not want to put her on any medicine at this point. But if her grades still aren't up at the end of this quarter, we may consider trying medicine to help her focus.

Parents of Emily, age 7

What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons for your child to take medicine for ADHD

Reasons for your child not to take medicine

My child wants to try medicine.

My child doesn't want to try medicine.

More important
Equally important
More important

My child's ADHD isn't improving with counselling alone.

I want my child to continue counselling, without medicine, at least for a while.

More important
Equally important
More important

I'm worried that ADHD is affecting my child's schoolwork and relationships with friends and family.

My child's schoolwork and relationships with friends and family don't seem to be affected.

More important
Equally important
More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important
Equally important
More important

Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Having my child take medicine

NOT having my child take medicine

Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward

What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1, Can medicine cure ADHD?
2, Do ADHD medicines have side effects?
3, Are there other ways to treat ADHD that don't involve taking medicine?

Decide what's next

1,Do you understand the options available to you?
2,Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?
3,Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

Certainty

1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?

Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure

3. Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

Your Summary

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Your decision 

Next steps

Which way you're leaning

How sure you are

Your comments

Your knowledge of the facts 

Key concepts that you understood

Key concepts that may need review

Getting ready to act 

Patient choices

Credits and References

Credits
AuthorHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAdam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical ReviewerThomas M. Bailey MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical ReviewerKathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical ReviewerLouis Pellegrino MD - Developmental Pediatrics
Primary Medical ReviewerJohn Pope MD - Pediatrics

References
Citations
  1. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2002). Practice parameter for the use of stimulant medications in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(2, Suppl): 26S–49S.
  2. Greenhill LL, Hechtman LI (2009). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In BJ Sadock et al., eds., Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 9th ed., vol. 2, pp. 3560–3572. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2005). FDA issues public health advisory on Strattera (atomoxetine) for attention deficit disorder. FDA News P05-65. Available online: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2005/ucm108493.htm.
You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

ADHD: Should My Child Take Medicine for ADHD?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.
  1. Get the facts
  2. Compare your options
  3. What matters most to you?
  4. Where are you leaning now?
  5. What else do you need to make your decision?

1. Get the Facts

Your options

  • Have your child take medicine for ADHD.
  • Don't have your child take medicine. Instead, use counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training to help manage your child's symptoms.

Key points to remember

  • If your child's symptoms are mild, then counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training may be enough to improve your child's behaviour.
  • If your child's symptoms are moderate to severe and are causing problems at home, in school, and with family members and friends, your doctor may recommend medicine. Treatment with medicine depends on the age of your child.
  • Medicine can't cure ADHD or solve all of your child's behaviour problems. Behaviour therapies and extra support at home and in school can help your child succeed and feel better about himself or herself.
  • Medicines can help, but they may have side effects and risks.
  • If your child needs medicine, help him or her not feel ashamed about taking it. ADHD is a medical condition, not a character flaw or weakness.
FAQs

What is ADHD?

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) affects a child's behaviour and ability to pay attention. ADHD symptoms are noticed early in a child's life and continue into adulthood.

Children with ADHD tend to be:

  • Inattentive. They are easily distracted and find it hard to focus on any one task.
  • Impulsive. They act before thinking about the cause and effect of their actions. They may talk or laugh too loud or get more angry than the situation calls for. They may not share or be able to wait for their turn.
  • Hyperactive. They can't sit still for even a short time. They may squirm, fidget, or run around at the wrong times.

It may be hard to know if your child has ADHD or is just misbehaving. It's normal for a child to be inattentive, impulsive, or hyperactive from time to time. But if these behaviours continue or become worse, they may be signs of ADHD.

The exact cause of ADHD is not clear, but it tends to run in families.

Some medical problems have symptoms that look like ADHD, so it's important that your child gets the right diagnosis. Your doctor may do some tests and ask you and your child questions to help rule out other problems, such as depression or an anxiety disorder. Sometimes the symptoms of bipolar disorder and ADHD can be confused.

The symptoms of ADHD can also be confused with a learning disability. A psychologist can do some tests to see if your child is having trouble learning how to read, write, or do math problems.

There is no cure for ADHD. But treatment can help manage your child's symptoms.

What are the risks of not treating your child for ADHD?

Without treatment, your child is more likely to:

  • Do poorly in school or at work.
  • Be rejected by his or her peers.
  • Have relationship problems with family members and friends.
  • Have low self-esteem.
  • Be depressed.
  • Lack social skills.

What medicines can your child take for ADHD?

Stimulant medicines are most often used to treat moderate to severe symptoms of ADHD. These medicines affect the way your child's brain controls impulses, behaviour, and attention.

Stimulant medicines are sorted into two groups:

  • Amphetamines, such as Adderall XR and Dexedrine.
  • Methylphenidate, such as Biphentin, Concerta, and Ritalin.

If these medicines don't help, your doctor may suggest non-stimulant medicines to treat ADHD. These include:

  • Atomoxetine (Strattera).
  • Clonidine (Catapres).
  • Guanfacine (Intuniv).

Sometimes antidepressants are also recommended.

How well do these medicines work?

Stimulant medicines are the most effective treatment for ADHD. They improve ADHD symptoms in about 70 out of 100 children who take them.1 This means that they don't improve symptoms in about 30 out of 100 children who take them.

Studies have shown that children who take stimulant medicines:1

  • Are calmer.
  • Are more attentive, focused, and organized.
  • Interrupt less often.
  • Have better relationships with family members and friends.

Studies have also shown that:2

  • The non-stimulant medicine atomoxetine can reduce ADHD symptoms in children and adults.
  • The non-stimulant medicine clonidine combined with a stimulant medicine may reduce ADHD symptoms.

Even though medicine can help improve your child's symptoms, it can't solve all of your child's behaviour problems. Your child may also benefit from counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training.

What can you expect if your child takes medicine for ADHD?

Your child will take pills every day for as long as he or she needs them. It's important that your child takes the medicine as prescribed and keeps taking it so it has time to work.

If you don't see any improvement in your child's behaviour, talk to your doctor. Your child may need to try several different medicines to find one that works for him or her.

You'll need to closely watch your child after he or she begins to take the medicine. The medicine may cause side effects, but they will usually go away within the first few weeks. If they don't, your doctor may need to lower the dose.

What are the side effects of these medicines?

Common side effects include:

  • Loss of appetite.
  • Headaches.
  • Upset stomach.
  • Sleep problems or drowsiness.

Stimulant medicines may be related to slower growth in children, especially in the first year of taking the medicine. But most children seem to catch up in height and weight by adulthood. Your doctor will keep track of your child's growth and watch for problems.2

What are the risks of these medicines?

Studies show that when used for only a short time, medicines for ADHD are safe and can help improve your child's behaviour and quality of life. But there are some risks. And the effects of using these medicines over the long term haven't been studied. You'll need to weigh the benefits of your child taking medicine with the possible risks.

Advisories

There is a small chance that a child may think about suicide when he or she takes atomoxetine or an antidepressant. Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) don't recommend that people stop using these medicines. Instead, people taking these medicines should be watched for warning signs of suicide, such as saying they're going to hurt themselves, talking or writing about death, or giving away their things. This is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when doses are changed.

Studies have found that less than 1 out of 100 children who used atomoxetine thought about suicide, while more than 99 out of 100 didn't.3

Most medicines for ADHD come with a warning about possible heart-related or mental health problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if your child has any heart problems, heart defects, or mental health problems or if there is a family history of these problems.

The FDA has issued an advisory about atomoxetine and the risks of liver injury, orthostatic hypotension, and syncope. Call your doctor if you have nausea or belly pain. Also, call your doctor if you feel dizzy or light-headed or if your skin is yellowing.

What other treatments are available?

If your child's symptoms are mild, then treatments other than medicine may be enough to help your child improve his or her behaviour. Behaviour therapies and extra support at home and in school can help your child succeed and feel better about himself or herself.

These treatments work for some children:

  • Behaviour therapy can help your child understand why he or she acts a certain way. And it can help your child find positive ways to deal with problems by changing the way he or she thinks and behaves. Behaviour therapy encourages positive behaviour through praise or rewards. It discourages unwanted behaviour through time-outs or loss of privileges.
  • Social skills training can help your child be less aggressive and impulsive, manage anger, and behave in a more socially acceptable way. It uses specific steps and goals, such as helping your child learn how to listen and engage in conversation or be part of a new group.
  • Counselling, including family therapy, allows your child and the entire family to express fears and concerns, recognize problem behaviours, and learn new ways of getting along.

Why might your doctor recommend medicine to treat your child's ADHD?

Your doctor may suggest that your child take medicine if:

  • Your child's symptoms are moderate to severe and are causing problems at home, in school, and with family members and friends.
  • Your child's symptoms haven't improved with counselling or behaviour therapies alone.

2. Compare your options

  Have your child take medicine for ADHD Don't have your child take medicine
What is usually involved?
  • Your child takes pills every day for as long as he or she needs them.
  • Your child may also see a counsellor or get behaviour therapy or social skills training.
  • Your child sees a counsellor or gets behaviour therapy or social skills training.
What are the benefits?
  • Medicines for ADHD can help your child to:
    • Be more calm, attentive, focused, and organized.
    • Be less aggressive and disruptive.
    • Have better relationships with family members and friends.
  • If your child's symptoms are mild, then counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training may be enough to improve your child's behaviour.
  • If your child's symptoms don't improve with counselling or behaviour therapies, you can decide later to try medicine.
  • Your child can avoid the side effects of the medicine.
  • You don't have to pay for medicine.
What are the risks and side effects?
  • Possible side effects include:
    • Loss of appetite.
    • Headaches.
    • Upset stomach.
    • Sleep problems or drowsiness.
    • Slowed growth.
    • Heart and mental health problems.
    • Low blood pressure.
  • There is a small chance that your child may think about suicide while taking non-stimulant medicines or antidepressants.
  • Without treatment, your child is more likely to:
    • Do poorly in school or at work.
    • Be rejected by his or her peers.
    • Have relationship problems with family members and friends.
    • Have low self-esteem.
    • Be depressed.
    • Lack social skills.

Personal stories

Personal stories about taking medicine for ADHD

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

"We thought that our son had a learning disability. He seemed "spacey" at times. When he was little, he couldn't pay attention long enough for me to read an entire book to him. As he got older, he did poorly on standardized tests at school. A psychiatrist finally diagnosed him with ADHD and suggested that medicine might be helpful. We are thinking it over and will probably try it. Our son is old enough to help us with the decision too. I'm sure he would be happy to have some help staying on task at school and with his homework."

— Parents of Michael, age 11

"We thought our son was just a little more energetic than other kids. Then he started preschool. We got a call from the teacher on his second day there. Turns out he was a lot more "energetic" than the other kids. We have been working with his doctor and with the preschool teacher for several months on different ways to get him to sit still and stay on task. He's made some progress, but he is still a handful. We are trying to hold off on trying medicine until he is around age 6. We realize that he may always need more than just a little extra attention in order to succeed in school."

— Parents of Carlos, age 4

"Our daughter Ann Marie doesn't have many friends at school. Her impulsive behaviour is so out of control that none of the other kids want to play with her. It is hard for us, because we know what a warm and fun-loving child she is. When our doctor suggested that she might benefit from medicines, we were happy to have an option that might make it easier for her to get along with her classmates."

— Parents of Ann Marie, age 6

"We aren't sure what our daughter's problem is—ADHD, learning disability, depression, or some combination of things. It's a little frustrating that it seems to be taking so long to figure it out, but we like our doctor and she has done a good job of helping us understand why there are no quick and easy answers. Our daughter isn't hyper like a lot of kids with ADHD, but she can't seem to pay attention in class and she's not doing well in school. We work with her most nights at home to help her focus on her homework, and we do not want to put her on any medicine at this point. But if her grades still aren't up at the end of this quarter, we may consider trying medicine to help her focus."

— Parents of Emily, age 7

3. What matters most to you?

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.

Reasons for your child to take medicine for ADHD

Reasons for your child not to take medicine

My child wants to try medicine.

My child doesn't want to try medicine.

       
More important
Equally important
More important

My child's ADHD isn't improving with counselling alone.

I want my child to continue counselling, without medicine, at least for a while.

       
More important
Equally important
More important

I'm worried that ADHD is affecting my child's schoolwork and relationships with friends and family.

My child's schoolwork and relationships with friends and family don't seem to be affected.

       
More important
Equally important
More important

My other important reasons:

My other important reasons:

  
       
More important
Equally important
More important

4. Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now.

Having my child take medicine

NOT having my child take medicine

       
Leaning toward
Undecided
Leaning toward

5. What else do you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1. Can medicine cure ADHD?

  • Yes
  • No
  • I'm not sure
That's right. Medicine can't cure ADHD, but it may improve your child's symptoms.

2. Do ADHD medicines have side effects?

  • Yes
  • No
  • I'm not sure
That's right. Medicines can help, but they have side effects and risks.

3. Are there other ways to treat ADHD that don't involve taking medicine?

  • Yes
  • No
  • I'm not sure
That's right. If your child's symptoms are mild, then counselling, behaviour therapy, or social skills training may be enough to improve your child's behaviour.

Decide what's next

1. Do you understand the options available to you?

2. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?

3. Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

Certainty

1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?

     
Not sure at all
Somewhat sure
Very sure

2. Check what you need to do before you make this decision.

  • I'm ready to take action.
  • I want to discuss the options with others.
  • I want to learn more about my options.

3. Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

 
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAdam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical ReviewerThomas M. Bailey MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical ReviewerKathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical ReviewerLouis Pellegrino MD - Developmental Pediatrics
Primary Medical ReviewerJohn Pope MD - Pediatrics

References
Citations
  1. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2002). Practice parameter for the use of stimulant medications in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(2, Suppl): 26S–49S.
  2. Greenhill LL, Hechtman LI (2009). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In BJ Sadock et al., eds., Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry, 9th ed., vol. 2, pp. 3560–3572. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2005). FDA issues public health advisory on Strattera (atomoxetine) for attention deficit disorder. FDA News P05-65. Available online: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2005/ucm108493.htm.

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