Pros and Cons of ADHD Medication

Pros and ConsBoth are safe and effective options.
Of ADHD MedicationPros of Medication
On Children            The most important pro to ADHD
 medication is the reduction or elimination of the
 behavioral symptoms associated with ADHD.  By
 reducing students hyperactivity and giving them the
 ability to focus, medication gives many students the
 ability to perform better in school, make friends and
By Mackenzie Quinnparticipate in extra curricular activities.
             Many parents worry that their
 children will become addicted to the ADHD medication.
June 1st 2009However, there is no physical way for children to
           become addicted to ADHD medication because
Introductionaddiction comes from a high or state of euphoria and
            As a parent of a child who hasthe medications used to manage ADHD symptoms do
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) you arenot cause students to have a high.
faced with deciding how to manage your child’s            There have been numerous
ADHD symptoms. One options for treating thestudies indicating that psychotropic drugs are safe,
symptoms of ADHD that is highly debated istolerable and useful for children. As of 2004 there
medication; some people strongly believe it is the besthave been “over 250 scientifically controlled studies
options and other believe medication shouldn’t beof the stimulant medications for ADHD” (Wilen,
used on children. Determining the best option for your2004, p 91) These studies suggest that if children take
child is an important decision that shouldn’t be madethe prescribed dosage indicated by their doctor, then
without sufficient information. Before you make thisthe medication is safe and that the majority of the side
decision, you should know that there are pros andeffects are mild.
cons to ADHD medication and that medication may beCons of Medication
right for one child but not another. This article may help            Now that we have looked at
you as a parent or caregiver decide if medication issome of the pros of ADHD medication lets examine
the right treatment method for your child.some of the cons. One aspect of ADHD medication
Cause of ADHDthat should be of concern to parents is that there are
            When treating ADHD, it isvery few studies done on the long-term affects of the
important to look at the cause. “Scientists nowmedication. So, while we know that these medications
believe that the impulsivity, short attention span andare safe in the short term the prospect of giving
other symptoms associated with ADHD are causedstudents medication without knowing the long-term
by a specific dysfunction in the brain that is ofteneffects bring cause for hesitation.
inherited” (Wilens, 2004, p10). ADHD is a medical            There are also mild side effects
diagnosis with a medical cause, and many timesassociated with many of the medications including loss
medication offers a “straight forward solution”of appetite, difficulty falling asleep, dizziness, moodiness
(Wilsen, 2004, p12). Members of the medicaland growth problems. These side effects should be
community often compare the treatment of ADHDmonitored but for the most part are easily managed.
with medication to that of seizures or other healthFor specific side effects consult your health care
problems with a medical cause and believe that theseprovider.
medical symptoms can be managed with medication.             And even though students cannot
Symptoms of ADHDbecome physically addicted to these forms of
            The cause of ADHD is amedication, they can form a psychological dependency.
dysfunction in the brain (Wilens, 2004) but parents andThis dependency can develop when students feel
caregivers seek treatment to manage thethey need medication for everything or when they are
hyperactivity, impulsivity, short attention span and otherafraid to go off their medication.
behaviors associated with ADHD. The symptoms ofDecision Making
ADHD are behavioral and many think they should be            When deciding whether
treated in the same manner as other behaviormedication is right for your child there are 4 things to
problems. Stephen Flora writes in his book Takingconsider; side effects, the severity of your child’s
America Off Drugs “ The best way to improvesymptoms, if your child’s symptoms are being
behavior is with behavior modification techniques”managed with other forms of treatment how your
(Flora, 2007)child feel about medication. Before you make this
Overview of Treatment Optionsdecision talk, with your child’s teacher, the school
            As mentioned earlier, onecounselor or psychologist, your health care provider
treatment method for ADHD symptoms is medication;and most importantly your child. While this may seem
these medications are prescribed to “diminish theoverwhelming now, the more information you can
inattention, distractibility, over activity, and impulsivity”gather the easier this decision will be.
caused by ADHD. These medications ideally allowConclusion
students to perform to their fullest potential such as            As you can see there are pros
focus on their homework and listen to directions. Forand cons to ADHD medication and what is right for
individuals who do not have ADHD and can focus onone child and family will not necessarily be right for
their work these medications may seen likeanother. When choosing whether to try medication as
performance enhancing drugs that are not necessary.a way to manage the symptoms of your child’s
As you know ADHD is more than just a littleADHD make sure to consider the pros and cons along
distractibility.with your child’s characteristics and the attitude of
            Along with medication, there arethe school.
other ways to treat ADHD symptoms such as 
behavior therapy. Behavior therapy is a form ofReferences
psychological treatment method that stems fromFlora, Stephen Ray. Taking America Off Drugs (2007)
behaviorism and focuses on observable andState University of New York Press, Albany
measurable behaviors. When applying behavior 
therapy to students who have ADHD the familyWilens, Timothy E. Straight Talk About Psychiatric
works with the counselor to increase the occurrenceMedication For Kids, (2004) TheGuilford Press, New
of positive behaviors through routines and a betterYork
understanding of what the student needs. Some 
students can be treated with behavior therapy but for 
many children their symptoms are severe enough thatAppendix
behavior therapy isn’t enough. Behavior therapyResources For Parents To Get More Information
may not be enough because it treats the symptoms- Straight Talk About Psychiatric Medication For Kids-
of ADHD not the cause of the problem. Students whoThis book was written for parents who have
have ADHD have aspects of their brains that arequestions about the affects and risks of psychiatric
malfunctioning, these malfunctions cause themedication on children. It is a basic guide for what
hyperactivity, inattention and other symptoms thatparents need to know about a wide variety of
behavior therapy attempts to control. For thesepsychiatric medications including ADHD medications.
students medication can help supplement the therapy- Wilens, Timothy E. Straight Talk About Psychiatric
or other forms of treatment being used.Medication For Kids, (2004) TheGuilford Press, New
Common Medications and Routines For TakingYork
MedicationTaking America Off Drugs; Why Behavior Therapy is
            There are a wide variety ofMore Effeftive for Treating ADHD, OCD, Depression,
medications that are prescribed for the treatment ofAnd Other Psychological Problems- This books
ADHD symptoms and you should discuss the specificspresents behavior therapy as an alternative treatment
with your health care provider. Briefly, three of the topmethod for ADHD instead of medication. The book
brands of medication are Ritalin, Concerta anddoes a good job of showing the other side of treating
Adderall.psychological problems.
            Depending on the type of- Flora, Stephen Ray. Taking America Off Drugs
medication your child is taking they will have to take(2007) State University of New York Press, Albany
the medication anywhere from once a day to three orCHADD- this website is a support system for parents
four times a day. Some medications are longer lastingof children with Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention
and only need to be taken once a day while othersDeficit Hyperactive Disorder.
are short term and must be taken more frequently.