As a parent of a child or adolescent with ADHD, you must make a multitude of decisions regarding your child’s treatment. Many parents struggle with so many questions and concerns, particularly around the issue of medication, that it can begin to feel overwhelming.
With proper information, however, your decision-making process can be an informed one. Talk openly with your child’s doctor. Ask questions freely. Read and research information in books and reputable websites. Talk with other parents of children with ADHD. Join an ADHD support group. The more accurate information you have, the more informed decisions you can make regarding treatment.
Mohab Hanna, MD, is board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist in private practice and author of Making the Connection: A Parent’s Guide to Medication in AD/HD. The idea for his book sprang from the many inquiries he had received over the years from parents looking for a useful guide about ADHD medications. He also came up with important medication rules every parent needs to know. These medication rules are reprinted below with permission.
Twenty-One Medication Rules Every Parent Needs to Know
Rule #1. Before talking to your child or teenager’s physician about starting medications, you need to know what the diagnosis is, and how the diagnosis was determined.
Rule #2. Medications are not the only treatment option for ADHD, and they work best when combined with other forms of treatment.
Rule #3. Medication treatment should be considered only if the ADHD symptoms are currently impairing the child’s function.
Rule #4. The potential benefits of the medication need to outweigh the potential risks of adverse effects.
Rule #5. Keep detailed records of all medications that your child has taken.
Rule #6. Give an accurate and detailed family history.
Rule #7. Some medications have the potential to worsen underlying problems.
Rule #8. Not everything that happens while your child is on medicine is because of the medicine.
Rule #9. Don’t expect medications to fix every symptom.
Rule #10. Having a side effect does not always mean it is necessary to stop the medication.
Rule #11. The medication dosage amount is important.
Rule #12. Medications that are not specifically FDA-approved for children can still be used by children in certain situations.
Rule #13. Tell your physician all of the medications that your child is on, including over-the-counter medications and “natural” or “herbal” medications.
Rule #14. Involve your adolescent in the discussions about medications, and be patient with them through the process.
Rule #15. For most children, parents should be responsible for administering the medications; starting in the mid- to late-teens, most teenagers can begin to assume some of that responsibility.
Rule #16. Don’t look for a quick fix; be patient.
Rule #17. Begin new medications only when at least one parent is available to monitor any negative effects.
Rule #18. Closely note baseline sleep, appetite, and mood prior to initiating a medication trail.
Rule #19. The more times a medication needs to be taken, the higher the risk of missing a dose.
Rule #20. Lack of effectiveness of a medication does not mean that the diagnosis is incorrect.
Rule #21. Don’t feel under pressure to make an urgent decision regarding the use of medications for your child.
Read more about ADHD Treatment
Source:
Mohab Hanna, MD. Making the Connection: A Parent’s Guide to Medication in AD/HD. Ladner-Drysdale. 2006.
