Description
Information about common stimulant medication and side effects
Children with attention and self-control problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are often treated with stimulant medication. Not all children with a diagnosed attention deficit require stimulant medication, and stimulants are sometimes used for other conditions.
This article explains how these medications are used for ADHD including side effects and monitoring treatment.
How medications are used
The most commonly used medications are Ritalin (methylphenidate), Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) or Adderall (dextroamphetamine salts). Several sustained release medications are available.
Stimulant medication is most effective when a student is being asked to sit, concentrate, and perform a task that is intellectually challenging.
Some children require medication only during the school hours (morning and/or afternoon). Others also take medication after school, on weekends, or in situations where problems such as inattention and self-control are especially difficult. Children do best when they take their medication on a consistent schedule.
Medications can be very effective and help children and adolescents function better at home, in school, and in the community. They do not replace setting appropriate expectations and academic accommodations.
Once the decision is made to begin a trial of stimulant medication, the response of the child or adolescent must be monitored. Work with your doctor to decide what the main treatment targets will be, and how they will be monitored. Targets should include positive, appropriate behavior and not just reduction of symptoms.
Follow-up visits should include monitoring of growth, mood, functioning at school and home, and side effects. It is important to also monitor other interventions for ADHD and related problems, such as learning disabilities, mood, or anxiety problems.
Safety and side-effects
Stimulant medications are very safe in prescribed dosages. There are no dangerous, irreversible long-term side effects when the medication is appropriately prescribed and the child or adolescent is followed regularly. Stimulant medications do not cause addiction or lead to drug or alcohol abuse.
People on stimulant medication may experience undesired symptoms or side effects. Many children have these symptoms before starting medication, and on the average they usually improve on medication. Symptoms due to medication go away when it is stopped.
Let your doctor know if you see these symptoms, or any other problems that concern you. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is safe to stop stimulant medications while you wait to hear from the doctor.
- Headaches, stomachaches, sleep problems, loss of appetite, and loss of weight.
- Irritability or sadness. Some people report feeling nervous, restless, or agitated.
- Sometimes the symptoms will occur while the child or adolescent is on the medication, and sometimes they will occur when the medication has worn off. This is called the rebound effect.
Tics and stimulant medication
Around 1 per cent of individuals with ADHD will have tics at some time. Most of the time, tics are unrelated to medication but occasionally medication causes tics.
Tics are sudden movements or noises which are under partial control. People with tics say that it is like a sneeze or itch. They can control it temporarily but eventually they have to sneeze or scratch.
Motor tics may look like body movements like eye blinking, facial grimaces, shoulder jerks, muscle tensing, or occasionally more complex body movements.
Vocal tics could include of repetitions of words, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, or uttering strange sounds. Cursing is not a common form of tics in children.
Working with your doctor
The physician needs to know if your child is taking any other medication, or has any illness, seizure disorder, emotional problem, or allergy. Also let your doctor know if there is a family history of psychiatric illness like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or manic-depressive (bipolar) disorder.
Use regular follow-up visits to discuss changes in treatment targets, family or educational issues, new symptoms and effectiveness of the treatment plan.
Keywords: ADHD,attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,measurement,medication,mental health,psychopharmacology,psychostimulant,stimulant
Publication date: Jun 6, 2004
Revise date: Nov 13, 2006
TextID: 117
