Don’t Drug Them – Kids with ADHD Deserve Better

Help them, instead, to be their best selves.

Do you know what side effects come with the common ADHD medications? Here’s a list:

• irritability
• insomnia
• weight loss
• liver damage
• anxiety
• skin picking
• liver damage
• stunted growth
• severe headaches
• sudden death in children with heart problems
• sudden death, stroke, and heart attack in adults with a history of heart disease
• stomach problems and pain
• mood changes, including sadness, anxiety, and irritability
• psychotic disturbances
• nervousness
• sleeplessness
• tics or jerky, disordered movements
• irritability
• withdrawal
• depression
• hallucinations
• hair loss
• lack of spontaneity
• damage sexual function (in adults, long-term effects in children have not been studied)
• suicidal thinking

Symptoms of overdose:

• changes in heart rhythm and rate
• hypertension
• confusion
• breathing difficulties
• sweating
• vomiting
• muscle twitches

What are some of these drugs?

• Strattera
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, Daytrana)
• Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)
• Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine (Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat)

Here are several online resources:

http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2006/13nov06/13rital.html

http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_medications_attention-deficit_hyperactivity_disorder_000030_8.htm

For more information, see Peacock & Paisley‘s other blog posts on ADHD.