Choosing to use medication to address ADHD symptoms is not a short cut or a cop-out. It takes effort to figure out the proper dosage for each prescription. To get the best possible care with the fewest adverse effects, adhere to these guidelines.

It takes more than just filling a prescription to treat your child’s or your own ADHD symptoms and live a happy, dreamy life.

 

More parents should be tolerant when it comes to side effects, says psychiatrist William W. Dodson, M.D., who practices in Denver and specialises in ADHD. “People have a propensity to give up at the first hurdle rather than collaborating with the doctor as they would for the treatment of any other illness,” Dr. Dodson explains. “Patience is necessary for ADHD medications to function to their fullest potential.”

Here are five essential steps to utilising stimulants efficiently, along with suggestions for handling some possible negative effects.

Rule 1: Monitor the Meds

Find a physician who will keep a careful eye on your medication.

In order to treat their attention deficit disorder, parents of children with ADHD should see a general paediatrician first, according to the American Academy of Paediatrics. Parents should think about obtaining specialised care if their child exhibits symptoms of many conditions, such as mood disorders or learning difficulties related to ADHD, or if the child does not improve with first medication therapy.

In addition to having more time to work with your kid, a developmental paediatrician, child neurologist, or child psychiatrist can provide more experience with pharmacological therapy and a better working understanding of the newest drugs.

During the first few months, your child should see a doctor at least every two to four weeks. The following queries ought to be put to him:

Rule 2: Adjust the Dosage

Begin with the lowest dosage that works for you and increase it as needed.

To establish a baseline for determining how much more (if any) of the ADHD medication the patient need, doctors begin with the lowest dosage. A doctor may need to raise the dosage in order to reach the ideal dosage because each person responds to medication differently and metabolises it at a different rate.

Did You Know: 

 Every three to seven days, doctors usually change the amount of medications.

Size, gender, height, and age are not accurate indicators of how a child may react to medicine. However, body mass is used by doctors as a starting point.

Starter Dosage: 

 The Institute for Developmental Medicine at Central Georgia in Macon, Georgia, is directed by Stephen C. Copps, M.D., to begin giving children under 60 pounds 2.5 mg (half a tablet) of Ritalin twice or three times a day. Start with 5 mg two to three times a day, separated by four hours, if you weigh more than sixty pounds.

Rule 3: Medicate at School/Work and Home

 

Take medicine for 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

The doctors we spoke with disagreed, despite some studies suggesting that missing weekends—also known as “drug holidays”—may lessen side effects without raising symptoms. According to them, the disorder’s disruptive symptoms don’t just happen in offices or classrooms.

While taking ADHD medication during the school day improves a child’s behaviour in the classroom, there are many benefits to continuing the medication after school, such as improved focus when doing homework and participating in extracurricular activities like sports.

 Although taking medication while sleeping is not required, it is beneficial if the medication is taken right before bed.

Combining a stimulant with a short and extended half-lives is advised by certain physicians. Some experts claim that rather than lasting twelve hours, some of the longer-acting drugs only last eight or nine. To make up for this deficiency, Dr. Copps advises his patients to take a short-acting Ritalin in the late afternoon or early morning.

Rule 4: Keep Tabs

Collaborate with educators and medical professionals to track the effectiveness of the medicine.

By monitoring their kid’s response to the drug, parents can assist the doctor in determining the appropriate dosage for their child. Behaviour rating scales for ADHD are really useful.

Ninety physical symptoms and emotional behaviours in the home and classroom are measured by the SNAP-IV Scale. Using the scale, parents can evaluate their child’s behaviour throughout the day and identify patterns or medication-related issues.

There are two versions of the Conners’ Rating Scales–Revised (CRS–R): short and long. Experts advise parents to fill out the long form for themselves and save the short form for their child’s teacher or teachers, as the latter are likely to have less time to complete it.

Rule 5: Eat Right

Think about food and medicine.

It’s possible that kids following a standard ADHD eating plan aren’t benefiting fully from their medication. A high-fat meal can reduce the effectiveness of medications your child is taking, such as Ritalin LA, Adderall XR, or Metadate CD, by delaying the drug’s absorption.

Ritalin absorption may be hampered by beverages high in citric acid (found in orange, grapefruit, and other vitamin C-supplemented drinks) or ascorbic acid/vitamin C. The drug is broken down by citric acid before the body can absorb it.

Did You Know:

Children taking medication for hay fever, colds, or sinus infections may feel a slight “buzz” from decongestant-containing meds (antihistamines without decongestants are fine). Steroids, prescription or over-the-counter drugs, and asthma remedies containing theophylline or albuterol can all have the same impact.