Should I Medicate My ADHD child?

Despite the widespread belief that medications for ADHD are relatively safe, the research says otherwise. The research demonstrates that your child will likely have a side effect from the medication. Side effects range from reduced eating and growth, irritability, rage, and personality changes to psychotic behaviors.
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Should we medicate children with ADHD?

For older children, the best treatment is often a combination of behavior therapy and medication. But for children under 6 years of age, experts recommend that ADHD be treated with behavior therapy first, before trying medication. Behavior therapy is the recommended treatment for ADHD in children under 6 years of age.
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What happens if you dont medicate ADHD?

Children with untreated ADHD may face problems at home and at school. Because ADHD can make it hard for children to pay attention in class, a student with untreated ADHD may not learn everything they're taught. They may fall behind or get poor grades. Children with ADHD may struggle to control their emotions.
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Is it better to treat ADHD without medication?

People with ADHD can be effectively treated without drugs, improving brain dysregulation and help optimize brain function, leading to a reduction and/or resolution of symptoms and improved quality of life.
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When should a child take ADHD medication?

Oct. 17, 2011 -- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be diagnosed and treated in children as young as age 4, according to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Should We Give Our Child ADHD Medication?



How I cured my child's ADHD without drugs?

50 Practical Strategies for Treating ADHD without Drugs
  1. Provide a balanced breakfast.
  2. Consider the Feingold diet.
  3. Limit television and video games.
  4. Teach self-talk skills.
  5. Find out what interests your child.
  6. Promote a strong physical education program in your child's school.
  7. Enroll your child in a martial arts program.
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What foods should be avoided with ADHD?

Foods to Avoid With ADHD
  • Candy.
  • Corn syrup.
  • Honey.
  • Sugar.
  • Products made from white flour.
  • White rice.
  • Potatoes without the skins.
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Does ADHD worsen with age?

Does ADHD get worse with age? Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) typically does not get worse with age if a person is aware of their symptoms and knows how to manage them.
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What are the side effects of ADHD medication?

Side effects of ADHD stimulant medication
  • Sleep problems.
  • Decreased appetite.
  • Weight loss.
  • Increased blood pressure.
  • Dizziness.
  • Headaches and stomachaches.
  • Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)
  • Moodiness and irritability.
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Can you grow out of ADHD?

Many children (perhaps as many as half) will outgrow their symptoms but others do not, so ADHD can affect a person into adulthood.
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Does ADHD get worse if left untreated?

The negative consequences of untreated ADHD go beyond the inability to focus — some of the consequences can shape the course of your life. For example, you may be unable to maintain healthy relationships,, and succumb to anxiety and depression, all because of an untreated behavioral condition.
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What does untreated ADHD feel like?

Without treatment, which may include medication, a person may experience low self-esteem, depression, and problems with school, work, and relationships. Anyone who believes that a child may have ADHD should seek medical advice.
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Does ADHD medication damage the brain?

A.D.H.D. drugs may cause long-term brain damage, reducing motivation.
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What are the downsides of ADHD?

Effects of ADHD include:
  • Social isolation.
  • Decreased scholastic and job performance.
  • Inability to form lasting bonds with others.
  • Dropping out of school.
  • Teen pregnancy.
  • Motor vehicle accidents.
  • Increased risk-taking behaviors.
  • Depression.
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Does ADHD medication change your personality?

ADHD medications should not change a child's personality. If a child taking a stimulant seems sedated or zombie-like, or tearful and irritable, it usually means that the dose is too high and the clinician needs to adjust the prescription to find the right dose.
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Are there benefits to having ADHD?

Living with ADHD may give the person a different perspective on life and encourage them to approach tasks and situations with a thoughtful eye. As a result, some with ADHD may be inventive thinkers. Other words to describe them may be original, artistic, and creative. Being hyperfocused.
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Does ADHD medication shorten life span?

ADHD May Reduce Life Expectancy by As Much As 13 Years.
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Can ADHD meds cause anger issues?

Irritability is common across psychiatric diagnoses, but is especially common in children with ADHD. Some common ADHD medications are purported to increase irritability, leading doctors and families to avoid them, even though medication is a highly effective treatment.
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Is anger a side effect of ADHD medication?

As the medicine's effect wears off, people sometimes experience negative side effects such as a marked change in their demeanor, excessive moodiness, irritability, anger, nervousness, sadness, crying, fatigue, and even an increase in the severity of ADHD symptoms.
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Is music good for ADHD?

Therapy That Plays Well

For children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD), music therapy bolsters attention and focus, reduces hyperactivity, and strengthens social skills.
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Can a child with ADHD have a normal life?

As many as 60% of individuals with ADHD symptoms in childhood continue to have difficulties in adult life.
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Does ADHD count as a disability?

Yes. Whether you view attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as neurological — affecting how the brain concentrates or thinks — or consider ADHD as a disability that impacts working, there is no question that the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers individuals with ADHD.
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What is an ADHD meltdown?

Similarly, people with ADHD can also experience 'meltdowns' more commonly than others, which is where emotions build up so extremely that someone acts out, often crying, angering, laughing, yelling and moving all at once, driven by many different emotions at once – this essentially resembles a child tantrum and can ...
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How do you discipline a child with ADHD?

1 These discipline strategies can be instrumental in helping a child with challenging behaviors to follow the rules.
  1. Provide Positive Attention. ...
  2. Give Effective Instructions. ...
  3. Praise Your Child's Effort. ...
  4. Use Time-Out When Necessary. ...
  5. Ignore Mild Misbehaviors. ...
  6. Allow for Natural Consequences. ...
  7. Establish a Reward System.
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What are 3 types of ADHD?

Three major types of ADHD include the following:
  • ADHD, combined type. This, the most common type of ADHD, is characterized by impulsive and hyperactive behaviors as well as inattention and distractibility.
  • ADHD, impulsive/hyperactive type. ...
  • ADHD, inattentive and distractible type.
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