Drug Holidays
Around this time of year I start to see lots of questions about whether or not parents should give their children a "drug holiday" over the school break. The usual reasoning is that because their children are not in school, they shouldn't take their ADHD medications.
ADHD often affects many aspects of life, including academic performance, relationships with peers, family life, and participation in sports and other activities. It is a "life" disorder, not a school disorder. Medications should be used as one would for any other medical disorder. One wouldn't stop using an asthma inhaler at 3:00 when school gets out, on weekends, or on holidays. On the other hand, if one weren't wheezing, there would be no need to use an inhaler, no matter what day it was. What I'm getting at is that ADHD is a neurologically based disorder, and when to use medications has more to do with how well someone is functioning than the day on the calendar.
ADHD symptoms may be more obvious during the holiday season, as parents' and children's schedules become more hectic and daily routines are disrupted.
There are many kids who primarily have problems with inattention, are not hyperactive, impulsive, or disruptive, and do not have difficulties with peers or within the family, who may do well over the holiday off medications. For other kids, life may be a constant struggle, and they may benefit from being on medications whenever they are awake, seven days a week.
Occasionally there is a child who has a decreased appetite with significant weight loss and a decrease in the rate of growth when on stimulant medications. When other measures fail, such as eating before they take their medications and after medications have worn off, or using supplements such as Ensure, drug holidays may need to be implemented.
An excellent resource on medications is, "Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids," by Timothy E. Wilens, M.D.
Related Topics: Docs Overlook After-School Treatment of ADHD, Tips to Reduce the Side Effects of ADHD Medications
ADHD often affects many aspects of life, including academic performance, relationships with peers, family life, and participation in sports and other activities. It is a "life" disorder, not a school disorder. Medications should be used as one would for any other medical disorder. One wouldn't stop using an asthma inhaler at 3:00 when school gets out, on weekends, or on holidays. On the other hand, if one weren't wheezing, there would be no need to use an inhaler, no matter what day it was. What I'm getting at is that ADHD is a neurologically based disorder, and when to use medications has more to do with how well someone is functioning than the day on the calendar.
ADHD symptoms may be more obvious during the holiday season, as parents' and children's schedules become more hectic and daily routines are disrupted.
There are many kids who primarily have problems with inattention, are not hyperactive, impulsive, or disruptive, and do not have difficulties with peers or within the family, who may do well over the holiday off medications. For other kids, life may be a constant struggle, and they may benefit from being on medications whenever they are awake, seven days a week.
Occasionally there is a child who has a decreased appetite with significant weight loss and a decrease in the rate of growth when on stimulant medications. When other measures fail, such as eating before they take their medications and after medications have worn off, or using supplements such as Ensure, drug holidays may need to be implemented.
An excellent resource on medications is, "Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids," by Timothy E. Wilens, M.D.
Related Topics: Docs Overlook After-School Treatment of ADHD, Tips to Reduce the Side Effects of ADHD Medications
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