Medications prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may effectively manage symptoms, but they can also cause a number of side effects.
The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to minimize side effects caused by ADHD drugs:
- Take only the minimal dose necessary to control your symptoms. Speak with your doctor about determining the right dose for you.
- If you have stomach upset, take your ADHD meds with food.
- As long as your doctor says it's OK, consider the weekend "drug-free days" when you can skip your medication.
- If ADHD meds cause undesired weight loss, add healthy snacks to the day's menu.
Health Tip: Parenting a Child With ADHD
Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often require special attention to help manage their behavior.
The University of Michigan Health System offers these suggestions for parents of a child with ADHD:
- Pay attention to the good qualities your child has, and tell him or her when you notice good behavior.
- When offering praise, tell your child specifically what was done well and what you liked about it.
- Offer direction in a positive way. Tell the child what you want done, instead of what shouldn't be done.
- Offer immediate and constant feedback throughout the day, keeping it simple and clear.
- Because medications for ADHD can affect appetite, make sure your child has plenty of healthy meals and snacks throughout the day.
- Keep a close eye on your child during play and exercise to prevent injury caused by active, impulsive behavior.
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