Using ADHD medication to treat your child's symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) isn’t as simple as filling a prescription and living happily ever after.
William W. Dodson, M.D., a Denver-based psychiatrist specializing in ADHD, wishes more parents would be patient about side effects. “There’s a tendency for people to throw up their hands at the first difficulty instead of working with the physician as they would with the treatment of any other disorder,” says Dr. Dodson. “Getting ADHD meds to work to their optimal benefit requires patience.”
Here are five key steps for using stimulants effectively, as well as advice on managing some potential side effects.