Your child may need to take methylphenidate for several months or even years. They will not usually need to take it for the rest of their life. Your child will have regular check-ups, usually every 6 months or so. Your doctor may recommend stopping methylphenidate for a while, or reducing the dose.
Some kids need to stay on ADHD meds until adulthood. Others outgrow their symptoms or learn to compensate for them as their brain matures. At some point, your child may be ready to stop taking these medications. If you feel that time may be now, don't do it on your own.
Stopping quickly can sometimes lead to unpleasant side effects. The exception is stimulant medication for ADHD, like Adderall and Ritalin. These medications leave the child's body quickly, so it's okay to stop taking them all at once. There are a few reasons it might make sense to take a child off medication.
If you choose to take medication for ADHD, that doesn't mean you have to stay on it forever. Although it isn't safe to bounce off and on any drug repeatedly, you can safely decide to stop treating your ADHD with medication if things aren't going well.
Experts – and many parents – used to think that ADHD lasts through the teenage years and into adulthood only about half the time. But more recent studies suggest that ADHD and its symptoms usually continue even after kids grow up. Sometimes, ADHD symptoms might go away and come back or change over time.
Similar to the hyperactive symptoms, impulsive symptoms are typically seen by the time a child is four years old and increase during the next three to four years to peak in severity when the child is seven to eight years of age.
Alternative treatments for ADHD include elimination diets, omega-3 supplements, parent training, exercise, yoga, meditation, neurofeedback, and memory training.
ADHD specialists recommend methylphenidates as the first-choice medication for treating children and adolescents, and amphetamines as the first-choice medication for adults.
If a child stops taking medication every weekend, then it is as if that child is newly starting on ADHD medication every Monday morning. The brain does not have a chance to adjust to medication treatment — an effect that is even greater with longer medication vacations.
Taking a child off ADHD medication may cause their ADHD symptoms to reappear. But it won't make them sick or cause other side effects. It can be a chance to see if other treatments will work alone. For some children, talk therapy or neurofeedback may work as well as medication.
ADHD medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin, work by raising the level of dopamine in the brain to where it would be for someone without ADHD. Dopamine helps with attention and focus. The brains of children with ADHD have issues producing and using dopamine.
ADHD medication can be taken for months, years, or even a lifetime. Research shows that long-term use of ADHD meds is safe.
Be sure you or your child is on medication whenever it is needed. Some people need medication all day, every day. Others need coverage only for certain activities. Odds are, if your child is the one with ADHD, she needs to be on medication during the school day.
Causes of ADHD
Recent studies link genetic factors with ADHD. In addition to genetics, scientists are studying other possible causes and risk factors including: Brain injury. Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age.
The most popular ADHD medications among ADDitude readers include (in alphabetical order): Adderall XR (amphetamine) Concerta (methylphenidate) Dexedrine (amphetamine)
Long-term studies have demonstrated that methylphenidate is safe and effective, so these medications are popular choices. Methylphenidate is used in a range of different long-acting medications. Short-acting forms are also available.
Guanfacine (brand name Intuniv) is a newer medicine that can be used to treat ADHD in children and teenagers (aged 6-17 years) when stimulants or atomoxetine are not suitable or effective. It can also be used together with stimulant medicines.
Some of the common foods that can cause ADHD reactions include milk, chocolate, soy, wheat, eggs, beans, corn, tomatoes, grapes, and oranges.
Some families choose to manage their child's symptoms — in whole or in combination with medication and behavior therapies — through nutrition, physical activity, and alternative therapies like meditation or brain training.
For many individuals, ADHD impairments are made worse by their struggles with excessive anxiety, persistent depression, compulsive behaviors, difficulties with mood regulation, learning disorders, or other psychiatric disorders that may be transient, recurrent, or persistently disruptive of their ability to perform the ...