| You trust your physician to prescribe beneficial | | | | harmful effects of ADHD drugs on children, can better |
| medications to treat your child's ADHD. What your | | | | prepare parents for potential problems. |
| physician may not always tell are the effects of | | | | Effects of ADHD drugs on children can be worrisome |
| ADHD drugs on children. | | | | for parents. Be aware of the following side effects |
| While medications may provide positive benefits and | | | | presented by the use of psychostimulants: |
| relief of ADHD symptoms, they also have dangerous | | | | restlessness, stomach upsets, dizziness, changes in |
| side effects. Parents armed with information regarding | | | | mood, decreased appetite, feelings of sadness, |
| effects of ADHD drugs on children, make better | | | | headaches, and shakiness. |
| choices for their child's healthcare. | | | | The following side effects pose more serious |
| The most widely prescribed types of ADHD | | | | problems and could have long lasting repercussions: |
| medication are stimulants or sometimes referred to as | | | | listlessness, dramatic changes in personality, |
| psychostimulants. Children with ADHD exhibit | | | | withdrawing from family and friends, and symptoms of |
| hyperactive behaviors, stimulants work to calm their | | | | OCD. |
| central nervous system. | | | | Even more frightening, stimulants can cause increase in |
| Calming the nervous system in turn, reduces | | | | heart rates, high blood pressure, and stroke. Adderall is |
| hyperactivity, impulse behaviors, and allows greater | | | | no longer available for sale in Canada after several |
| concentration and focus. Common drug names of | | | | children had strokes, and others died from heart |
| these psychostimulants are Ritalin, Attenta, and | | | | attacks. |
| Concerta. | | | | While understanding effects of ADHD drugs on |
| Although still considered stimulates, ADHD drugs | | | | children better prepares parents, awareness of other |
| Adderall, Dexadrine, and Desoxyn are amphetamine | | | | treatment choices has added benefits as well. If these |
| based. Originally used for weight loss, amphetamines | | | | potential side effects frighten you, consider researching |
| are now used for other medical purposes including | | | | holistic treatments such as homeopathic remedies. |
| ADHD. | | | | Homeopathic remedies have no side effects and will |
| They work by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. | | | | provide healthier long term benefits for your child. Not |
| A note: amphetamines can become addictive and it | | | | only that, but as an added bonus, they often cost |
| has been suggested that early use for treatment of | | | | considerably less than ADHD prescription medications. |
| ADHD can lead to chemical and alcohol abuse later in | | | | Knowing the effects of ADHD drugs on children is |
| life. | | | | essential information for all parents as they commit to |
| It cannot be argued these drugs provide relief of | | | | making the right choices for treatment of their child's |
| symptoms associated with ADHD; however, knowing | | | | ADHD symptoms. |