ADD Treatments - Methods and Precautions
by Michael Russell
Supposing your child was diagnosed with "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" or ADHD (also known as ADD). Normally, you would like to know what factors led to the development of this condition. You might even question if you ever did something wrong which ultimately led to this predicament. Don't. Research has already ruled out the perception that ADD is influenced by social environments. Rather, ADD was found to be caused by several biological factors such as heredity and the use of alcohol and nicotine during pregnancy.
The best course of action following the diagnosis of the disease is to help the child get the best possible treatment. You might ask, "What are the treatments available for someone diagnosed with ADD?" or "Which may be the most effective treatment for my child?"
To answer these questions, there is a wide variety of treatments available for someone with this condition. As for effectiveness, well, there is no single treatment that can be considered successful for all ADD patients. What works for one might not be as effective for another.
Among the options available in treating ADD are administering medications, behavioral therapy and educational interventions. Administering medications alone has been proven effective but a combination of medications and
behavioral therapy produced superior results especially in the areas of academic performance, anxiety control and social skills. It even dramatically improves the relationship between parents and children.
What is even more desirable in adopting a combination medication-behavioral therapy approach is that it allows for the reduction in the dosage of the medicines and still produces very good results!
What are the medications usually used to treat ADD?
Stimulants have been used for decades in effectively treating this condition. Among the drugs used are amphetamines (Adderall) and dextroamphetamines (Dexedrine, Dextrostat) for children aged 3 and older. For those aged 6 and above, several other stimulants can be prescribed. These include dexmethylphenidate (Focalin) and methylphenidate (Concerta, Metadate, Ritalin). Some of these drugs are also available in extended release and long term forms.
It is important to note that different children react to different medications in different ways. It is therefore necessary for you work closely with your physician so that together you can find out what works best for your child.
These drugs are considered safe when used as directed by your physician. Children undergoing medications may claim that they feel funny or somewhat different
at times but there is no need for you to worry. Up until now, there have been no conclusive findings that stimulant medications lead to drug abuse. In fact, remaining on medication during the teen years minimizes the chances of being involved in substance abuse as compared to teen ADD patients who have not been taking medications.
Beware of the Side Effects of Medications
Although relatively safe, stimulant medications may also bring in several minor side effects. However, these are merely related to the dosage of the medications being administered.
Among the most common side effects include decreased or fluctuating appetite, difficulty in sleeping, increased anxiety attacks and irritability.
Usually, the child may tend to eat less during the middle of the day. By dinnertime, however, the child's appetite may be more normal. To make sure that the child is getting the right amount of nutrients, make sure that nutritional foods are available at all times.
When the child finds difficulty in sleeping, it is best to talk to your doctor. He or she is in a better position to adjust the dosage of the medication to prevent the occurrence of this problem.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to ADD
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