The Five Biggest Fears Parents Have About ADHD Medication

It is estimated that more than 10 percent of ALL school age children are now on some sort of medication for ADHD and will continue to rise. I know that there are alternatives to this approach and I see families transformed by lifestyle changes as opposed to drugging our kids. As a wellness doctor, parent and grandparent, I think this is one of the greatest mistakes we as a society are doing to our future generations.

About two-thirds of children diagnosed with ADHD take medications as part of their ADHD treatment. The concerns you may have as a parent are legitimate when faced with the decision of placing your kids on ADHD meds. This is not a simple decision and lifestyle changes should be considered first before drugs. There are many unanswered questions regarding the short- and long-term side effects. Over 30 years of experience in private practice I have compiled what I feel are the five most common fears parents have about ADHD treatment decisions for their children

These are the most recent answers to the questions families have about medicating their children and what science and doctors say about them. These are only a list of fears and not the solution to the problem.

Alternative solutions to ADHD treatment and prevention will be addressed in future blogs.

 Fear No. 1: "ADHD medicines will stunt my child’s growth."

Research shows that there is a slight chance of ADHD medications slowing growth, about 2 to 3 percent, stated Dr Handelman MD,author of attention difference disorder. However his statement was" that doesn't mean your child will be a foot shorter than he should be. If anything, it could be two to three centimeters". ADHD medications can affect growth hormone at certain stages of development.

Fear No. 2: "ADHD medications can cause my child to have a heart attack."

Research shows some ADHD medications can raise a child’s heart rate and blood pressure.

The American Heart Association recommends that anyone, child or adult, be evaluated by a cardiologist before starting a stimulant, which is what most ADHD medications are. The cardiac evaluation should include an electrocardiogram if the child has a history of heart problems.

Fear No. 3: "My child will be on medications for the rest of his life.”

Studies show that once prescribed most children need medications for most of their structured education, at least through high school and maybe through college, stated Dr Handelman MD

Fear No. 4: “ADHD medications will cause my child to gain weight.”

Typical ADHD medications are stimulants, and stimulants actually may cause weight loss, not weight gain, explains Pejman Katiraei, DO, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician who focuses on ADHD and runs the Lifespan Medicine Healthy Kids Program in Santa Monica, Calif. “Stimulants can suppress appetite, and some children may have stomach pains from the medications.”

However, some physicians prescribe other medications "off-label," meaning they are not FDA-approved for ADHD, and those medications can cause weight gain. Typically, though, these medications are for children who exhibit aggressive behaviors and not ADHD symptoms, Dr. Katiraei says.

Fear No. 5: “My child’s brain will not be able to develop normally.”

The research on this question is not complete and may be skewed by statistics. Some parents are concerned that the use of ADHD drugs could interfere with normal brain development. However, studies at the National Institutes of Health looking at the use of ADHD medications over time are inconclusive as to how they to affect brain growth and development.

This is my #1  question in relation to the way treatment of ADHD is moving in western medicine.

Is putting a child on a medication early in life setting a mindset to take a drug to affect how they feel for the rest of their life?

The lack of understanding by the general population as to what is causing this epidemic problem is just sweeping the needed lifestyle changes under the rug.

It is my opinion that adding a drug to our growing children is a societal problem that must be addressed. A  drug is a drug and children learn early on as to how they will live the rest of their lives. Most ADHD treatment plans must include nutritional advice, exercise and psychological therapy. This problem must include parents making changes at home and working with your child’s teachers.