ADHD Tips

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has become the fastest growing diagnosed disorder among children under the age of 18. Many children in countries such as the US, New Zealand and Australia are being prescribed medications at an alarming rate. As the FDA requires ADHD drugs to carry warning labels, the overmedication of children with ADHD is becoming a real concern.

Most ADHD drugs are stimulant that contain amphetamine. Various side effects have been reported from taking these drugs. Some of them tend to suppress feelings of any kind, making children unhappy. Some are addictive and prone to substance abuse. In some cases, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts or actions.

Ritalin is a common prescription medication for ADHD in children to help them concentrate better. The side effects of Ritalin include headaches, stomach ache, insomnia, dizziness, nervousness, weight loss and even cardiac arrhythmia. The effects of long-term use are not fully known however it has been linked to abnormal brain development and stunted growth in small children.

Adderall is another ADHD drug that combines various amphetamines. The common side effects of taking Adderall include dizziness, restlessness, insomnia, headache, dry mouth and weight loss.

The potential for addiction and abuse is the biggest cause for alarm in ADHD medications. Children, particularly teens, who take these medications without the supervision of their parents and doctors are more likely to misuse and become addicted to the drugs.

There are other types of treatment for ADHD, especially for less severe cases. One alternative treatment is to make dietary changes. There are specific allergy causing foods that can trigger or add to hyperactivity such as wheat, dairy products, sugar, soy and eggs. Avoid refined carbohydrates and processed foods. The latter tend to contain preservatives, coloring and artificial flavoring which can cause further behavioral problems. A dietician can help determine a proper diet plan for children with ADHD.

Herbal remedies are also available to treat ADHD and are effective for mild to moderate cases. These remedies do not come with the side effects and possible addiction that conventional prescription medications do. Behavior therapy is beneficial as it teaches children to cope in various situations. Children that understand how to react when they are frustrated, angry or misunderstood can learn to better control their behavior.

While there is no one treatment that works for every child, the right combination of treatment options can keep the symptoms of ADHD under control. Parents should be less accepting of conventional prescription treatments and should discuss ADHD alternative treatment options with their doctor. ADHD children who are prescribed medications must be monitored to prevent addiction and substance abuse.

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Before we consider medications for ADD/ADHD, let us answer the question about the difference between ADD and ADHD. The earlier term used was ADD which stands for attention deficit disorder but nowadays the terms ADD and ADHD are used to mean the same thing. There is a difference clinically speaking and that is that ADD children do not suffer from hyperactivity but the main problem is inattention. Their symptoms will range from distractability to inattention and real problems with saying focused and on task.

If you do decide to go down the medications for ADD/ADHD road there are a few questions to ask your doctor before you do so. Ask your doctor what type of medication he is prescribing. You should be able to ascertain if it is a stimulant drug (Ritalin, Concerta) an anti depressant (Welbutrin) or a non stimulant drug (Strattera). If you were to ask me to list medications for ADHD, I would say the main ones used to-day are Ritalin, Metadate, Riphenidate, Strattera, Vyvense, Adderall and Concerta.

Find out what this drug is supposed to do and how it will help your child. You will need to ask him about the side effects such as loss of sleep, stomach upsets, loss of appetite and dizziness. When can the medication be taken, at meal times, bedtime or between meals. What health monitoring checks need to be done? When should you call the doctor if side effects become cause for alarm and what are the signs? Then you will need to assess the cost and to whether your medical insurance covers mind altering drugs. It could cost you up to $150 a month if you are not covered.

You will need to ask your doctor what are the risks. You could also find out how exactly these drugs work. Your doctor may not know the answer to this except to say that they are stimulants for the central nervous system. If you ask him to explain what the long term effects of these could be on your child’s brain, you can expect an abrupt or non-committal answer. While he may be able to list medications for ADHD he cannot or will not tell you how exactly these medications for ADD/ADHD work.

You should be aware that most of these drugs are classed as Schedule II drugs which means they are considered illegal and addictive for those who use them without prescriptions. Your teenager may also become a target as a supplier of these drugs at school and may become a sort of juvenile pusher.

If you are upset or worried about the answers your doctor gives, you will need to look at alternatives to medications for ADD/ADHD and you alone will have to decide what is best for your child’s ADHD. If you look at an ADHD homeopathic remedy, then you will never need to have health checks and there will be no side effects and the cost is more than reasonable. Your doctor may not mention that you will have to make sure that loving effective parenting is key to any treatment plan and the site below will help you find a program suitable for you.

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I know some of my readers are up in arms that I even wrote this article. You think there is no question about ADHD medications. The funny thing is, some of you think there’s no question that your child SHOULD take ADHD medication, and some of you think there’s no question that your child SHOULD NOT take medication for ADHD.

The truth is, it’s a very individual decision, and there are a lot of things to consider. First, just to be fair, let me say that my son takes ADHD medication and will as long as I have anything to say about it. For us, not medicating is not an option. It helps him handle his ADHD symptoms and he does better in school and at home. He stays out of ADHD-related trouble caused by impulsive behavior and gets better grades than before the ADHD medication. He also has more friends because he’s easier to be around. That’s why we decided to medicate Jack’s ADHD in spite of side effects like lack of sleep and lack of appetite.

When deciding not to medicate ADHD kids, a lot of parents talk about fear of side effects. This is a legitimate concern and one you should discuss with your doctor before deciding for sure against medications. Since ADHD medications affect different people in different ways, it’s possible to mitigate side effects.

Some parents just don’t want to give their kids medication for something that is “normal kid behavior.” To this I would submit that if you’re concerned enough about ADHD to be discussing medication, it might not be “normal.”

Other parents really want to try natural remedies/diet/alternative therapies for ADHD first. Again, I would say do your research and know what really works in treating ADHD and what you’re getting into.

Some parents believe every ADHD child should be medicated, and don’t investigate very thoroughly what medication might work best for their child, but just go with the first thing the doctor suggests. I would suggest that ADHD medication is at best an art and not a science, and sometimes ADHD is very hard to medicate correctly.

My point in all this? There is no right answer. There is what’s right for you and your child, and the best judge of that is you, once you’ve researched all the possibilities and are making informed decisions.

For me, the informed choice is to medicate my son and myself. For you, there may be something that works better. But you need to do your homework first.

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The controversy of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is loaded with implications in the field of medicine. In the past, many children who were disruptive or loud were considered both difficult to discipline and undeserving of attention or they were the products of parents who did not know how to raise a child, and were pitied. Those children who were unable to focus while in school were labeled as slow learners and more often than not, looked down upon by others of the same age.

Today, we have discussed that such behavior is often diagnosed as symptoms of ADHD. ADHD children are generally forgetful, disruptive, impulsive, easily distracted and hyperactive. More adults are being diagnosed with ADHD, since this ever-present condition continues into adulthood, shown by the increasing volume of research conducted in the field of medicine. ADHD is a hereditary disorder, with nearly five percent of the cases being the result of a physical or chemical brain injury endured while in the womb.

The diagnosis of ADHD breeds the controversy surrounding the condition. Since some normal childhood, behavior that can get out of control because of poor upbringing, some psychologists and parents insist that the behavioral patterns materialize as ADHD. As a result, they recommend that children, who have been diagnosed with ADHD, not take medication, rather that they should be controlled and counseled. On the hand, regarding ADHD as a real disorder, it maintains that medication be given and continued as it can temper the symptoms of the disorder.

Those who suffer from it have to take medication all their lives, since there is no real means to treat ADHD permanently. Arrangements such as this calls for many questions, especially when concern with safety. There are different medications for ADHD, as you may know, and some of them were primarily used to treat narcolepsy by directing certain parts of the nervous system.

As we discussed in the previous chapter such medications, which include the popular Concerta and Ritalin , can actually have dreadful side effects, such as arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, increased heart rate or severe palpitations, increased blood pressure as well as increased risk of stroke. The USFDA or United States Food and Drug Administration, has studied the influence of ADHD drugs and have them stamped with a black box warning. To be precise, such drugs are regulated and can be prescribed, however strong caution must be exercised when such drugs are taken. Another advisory panel has evaluated evidence pointing to long-term psychiatric changes and cardiovascular risks in children who take ADHD medication, in addition to the studies of the FDA. The panel found that such drugs might possibly increase the risk of hallucinations, aggressive behavior, psychosis and mania in ADHD children.

Even though psychiatric specialists caution people about making literal interpretations of these findings, there is still a good bit of controversy surrounding the use of these drugs. According to the documents presented to the second evaluating panel, the consequence of psychiatric diseases being deteriorated because of ADHD medication was exceptionally small; and that many of the cardiovascular diseases, such as higher blood pressure, arose because of existing heart-related conditions in persons suffering from ADHD.

Since these medications have proven to be safe so far, despite the risks, doctors and psychiatrists continue to recommend ADHD medications. More than a good number of other medications that have long been approved and are currently being prescribed, in fact there is a great deal of research and literature available concerning ADHD medications. ADHD patients are regularly monitored closely, for safety while these medications are being administered. Some of these medications can stunt the growth pattern of young ADHD children; therefore, they are measured and weighed regularly, while taking their ADHD medications.

Medication for ADHD may induce hallucinations; consequently, some parents are concerned with addiction or long term effects in ADHD children. It is true that stopping the medication can stop the hallucinations. However, it is appointed to the physician to determine when medication should be discontinued, parents of ADHD children are cautioned concerning the making up of their own procedures of changing the medication on their own.

Likewise, ADHD treatment does not end with ADHD medication. A course of therapy treatment such as behavior modification, counseling and special education goes hand in hand with the use of medication. You should consult with your doctor regularly on the medication options, treatments and obligations that are available if you or your children suffer with ADHD. You should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages as well as the side effects associated with the medication procedures and treatments by doing as much research as possible, into those that interest you. You cannot go wrong as long as you are well informed about ADHD in children and adults. Learning all that you can about ADHD and its symptoms as well as the things that might bring some benefits in easing the discomforts of such a disorder are long term, however ADHD can be eased for those who suffer from this condition as well as providing a peace of mind for ADHD parents. Keep in mind however, until there is a cure for ADHD, there will always be controversy surrounding the condition.

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Common symptoms of attention deficit disorder, or ADD, include being easily distracted, being forgetful and having difficult staying on task. Find out how a person with ADD can have problems interrupting others with help from a licensed mental health counselor in this free video on attention deficit disorder.

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Common signs of ADHD in children include hyperactivity, irritability, distraction, inability to finish tasks and difficulty following instructions. Learn about impulse control problems in children with ADHD with help from a licensed mental health counselor in this free video on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Commonly used medications for adult ADD include Adderall, Ritalin, Strattera and Concerta. Find out how certain drugs for ADD will act on the neurotransmitters or chemical levels in the brain with help from a licensed mental health counselor in this free video on adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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The causes of ADHD in children are not entirely clear, although there is some research that supports a genetic link. Discover how ADHD is caused by changes in brain chemistry with help from a licensed mental health counselor in this free video on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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