How to Identify Types of ADHD Medication
There is no single medication for treating ADHD. Most ADHD drugs are classified as a stimulant and are made with Ritalin. People have different symptoms and respond differently to each ADHD medication. Most doctors recommend a particular medication to start, but knowing your options in advance helps you to understand what your doctor is prescribing.
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Instructions
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Select an extended-release capsule if you want the convenience of taking a single dose a day. The medication is taken in the morning, lasts throughout the day and possibly into the evening. Children also don't have to deal with the social implications of going to the nurse to receive a second dosage during school.
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Expect to be prescribed Adderall for a child under the age of 5. Adderall is the only stimulant drug FDA approved for a child as young as 3 years old. The other stimulants are approved for age 6 or older.
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Look at what form the medication comes in. No ADHD medications are available as a liquid, which can be a problem if a child cannot swallow a pill. Daytrana is a newer ADHD medication that comes in the form of a patch that is applied to the hip area daily.
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Choose a non-stimulate medication if you are concerned about possible weight loss or a slower growth rate in your child. Straterra is the only non-stimulate medication approved by the FDA for treatment of ADHD. There are other non-stimulate medications that are sometimes used to treat ADHD, but your insurance may not pay for an alternate treatment that is not FDA-approved for ADHD.
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Conduct your own research on when each drug was approved and what recent studies show if you are anxious about taking medication daily or concerned about long-term effects. Ritalin LA, Concerta, Focalin and Metadate CD all use Ritalin which has been around for decades.
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Tips & Warnings
Stimulant ADHD medications require a doctor's signed prescription for a refill. You can't just call the pharmacy for a refill.
Insomnia is a common side-effect of extended release ADHD medication.
