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Medications are used to help control the symptoms of ADHD: hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.
Stimulants are used to treat ADHD most often. They improve symptoms in almost three quarters of the cases and are effective for patients of any age even though more research is needed on how adults respond. Sometimes, quick and dramatic improvements in behavior may appear.
But stimulants are not the only type of medications used in treating ADHD.
Along with ADHD, other mental health conditions may occur (anxiety) and are treated using medication also.
In a medication treatment for a child, the parent must be very careful in monitoring the effects and keeping close communication with the child's doctor.
Is it recommended for my child to take medications for ADHD? Here are a few options, examples of medication used in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder:
The symptoms may persist after an initial treatment with one of the above medications, the following are sometimes tried. These medications are not used in younger children often.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory to patients, families, and health professionals to closely monitor adults and children taking antidepressants for signs of suicide. The monitoring is especially important at the beginning of treatment or when changing doses. FDA advises also that patients be observed for changes in the pattern behavior like increased anxiety, panic attacks, agitation, irritability, insomnia, impulsivity, hostility, and mania. Suicidal tendencies are a very important matter that must taken care of in children's behavior because, unlike the adults, they are less prepared to deal with their impulsivity. It is not recommended that people stop using antidepressants, but simply to monitor those taking the medications and, if concerns arise, to contact a health professional.
Medication may not control all of a child's behavior problems. The child may still have a higher level of behavior problems than other children the same age. It has not been established that medication improves the long-term educational, occupational, and social functioning of a person suffering from ADHD.
Longer-acting medications that were recently discovered, allow many people to take one pill a day for their ADHD symptoms, avoiding multiple dosages that used to be considered standard.
The safety of stimulants was proved by short-term studies ,but the larger duration effects have not been studied .In two years time of medication,children gained 0.5 in of height each year less than the ones not on treatment. The subjects for the study were in number of 540,aged 7 to 9.But ,in order to really determine the effect of stimulants on growth,its dependence on age ,or a possible catching up of these children ,more studies are necessary. T The parents should equally be aware of risks and benefits of the treatment.
There are only few cases in which treatment is prescribed to preschooler children,because they are more exposed to side effects;prescription is,although,necessary in case of very serious symptoms. The majority of medication addresses to children over 3 years old.
There are also reported cases of abuse of these medications. An accurate check of the child is necessary to be performed by an adult.
Some medications used to treat ADHD (such as stimulants) can be abused. Make sure your child knows not to sell or give medication to other people. An adult should supervise the medication.