ADHD Treatments
Different ADD and ADHD treatments work for different children. Find out what your child's treatment options are, from ADHD medication to non-drug treatments and lifestyle and school modifications.
ADD: General Medication Questions
ADD: General Medication QuestionsWhich medications work best? There's no single answer to this question. In most patients, stimulants emerge as the drug of choice, but in others they don't work at all. Even within these categories, the responses of individual patients can be very different, often for no discernible reason. One child may do fine on Ritalin but not Dexedrine; for another it may be just the reverse. One may experience troubling side effects while his classmate has no such side effects. How, then, do doctors know which medications to use? read more
ADHD and Dexedrine
What should you do when your child's ADHD medication doesn't agree with him, but the doctor won't change it? read more
ADHD and Diet
Learn whether children with ADHD should avoid certain foods or be on a special diet. read more
ADHD and Handwriting Problems
Many children with ADHD have handwriting difficulties. Medication help some children; others need additional intervention. read more
ADHD Medication and Driving
It is always best to address questions about medication to your child's doctor. read more
ADHD Medication for a Better Social Life?
Learn what you can do when you've gone from professional to professional, and still don't have the answers you need to support your child. read more
ADHD Medication for Preschoolers?
Most experts agree that medication should not be the first choice of ADHD therapy for preschool-aged children. read more
ADHD Medication Isn't Helping
It's sometimes advisable to get a second opinion from a doctor who is well versed in the complexities of medication for ADHD. read more
ADHD Medications Not Working
Although it can certainly make a dramatic difference, medication alone is rarely the cure-all for ADHD. read more
ADHD Medications, Side Effects, and Family
Our expert addresses a mother's concerns about ADHD medication and disagreements within the family. read more
ADHD Treatments: How to Be a Wise Consumer
ADHD Treatments: How to Be a Wise ConsumerAlternative Treatments: Buyer Beware? Your child has ADHD and you want to obtain the very best treatment for him. So in the spirit of "How can it hurt to try?" you might be tempted to throw caution to the wind when you hear about a new treatment that promises to help. read more
ADHD, Medication Changes, and Hospitalization
A mother is desperate to avoid having to hospitalize her son with ADHD. read more
ADHD: Making Medication Decisions
ADHD: Making Medication Decisions One Family's StoryAmy Schneier of Needham, Massachusetts, said that she didn't want to put her son Adam, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), on medication until his second-grade teacher suggested that it might help."I didn't want him to become reliant on medication. However, Adam's teacher said that she couldn't read his writing, he was distracted, and, when recess ended and his peers knew how to calm down in class, he couldn't." read more
Are ADHD Drugs Harmful?
Learn how to find out about possible side effects of ADHD medications. read more
Bed Wetting and Ritalin
Find out about Ritalin (methylphenidate), ADHD, and nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting). read more
Behavior Modification Instead of Medication?
Will a child with ADHD eventually outgrow or learn to handle himself through behavior modification, rather than medication? read more
Behavior Therapies for ADHD
ADHD medication can work wonders, but supplementing that with behavior therapies is recommended. read more
Caffeine and Gingko Biloba for ADHD?
Get an expert's opinion on the use of caffeine or gingko biloba as treatment for hyperactivity or attention problems. read more
Comparing Medication Options
View a list of prescription drugs and their potential side effects, benefits, and drawbacks. read more
Concern About ADHD Medication
Our expert addresses a parent's concerns about putting her child on ADHD medication. read more
Daughter with ADHD Can't Sleep
Can ADHD medication interfere with a child's ability to sleep? read more
Determining Ritalin Dosage
The appropriate dosage of Ritalin for children is a very confusing issue. read more
Dilated Pupils and Ritalin
Find out about one of the side effects of Ritalin: dilation of the pupils. read more
Does My Child Need ADHD Medication?
Learn when it's time to consult with a doctor about your concerns. read more
Fear of ADHD Medication
Learn how to help a child with severe anxiety become more comfortable with his ADHD medication. read more
Frequently Asked Questions About Alpha-2-Adrenoreceptor Agonists and ADHD
Frequently Asked Questions About Alpha-2-Adrenoreceptor Agonists and ADHDWhat are the effects of Catapres and Tenex on ADHD? read more
Frequently Asked Questions About Antidepressants for Children
Frequently Asked Questions About Antidepressants for ChildrenWhat are the effects of antidepressants on ADHD? Though antidepressants are chemically different from stimulants, they have similar effects on the key symptoms of ADHD: attentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. read more
Frequently Asked Questions About Ritalin and Other Stimulants
Frequently Asked Questions About Ritalin and Other Stimulants Numerous studies have shown that stimulants such as Ritalin and Dexedrine improve the symptoms of ADHD for the overwhelming majority of patients who take them. The improvements are seen regardless of whether the patient is preschool age, elementary school age, adolescent, or adult. Stimulants improve attentiveness; reduce hyperactivity, restlessness, and distractibility; and improve the ability to follow directions and stay on task. read more
How Effective Are the Treatment Options for Children with ADHD?
Provided by the New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (CEPAC), based on their Action Guide for ADHD. Health experts estimate that ADHD affects between 6 and 16 percent of children in the U.S. — that's at least 5 million kids ages 4 to 17 years. More than 2.5 times as many boys have a diagnosis of ADHD as girls, and children from lower income families are at nearly double the risk than those from higher income households. read more
