Responsible Rx - A Resource for Parents of Children with ADHD

AD/HD Fact Sheet

The Cost of AD/HD

The Principles of AD/HD

Signatories

AD/HD Resources on the Web

guidelines to effectively communicate with your child's doctor

The decision to start your child on daily medicine for the treatment of ADHD is an important one. Because you will be giving your child their medicine every day and monitoring their treatment, it’s important to be fully informed about the medication options for your child. You’ll want to know about all

available treatments for children with ADHD, how they work, their benefits, potential risks, success rates and more.

Your questions might pertain to choosing the right medicine; taking the medicine properly; determining the right dose; making sure the medicine is working, and understanding the side effects and safety information.

Below is an outline of discussion topics you may want to cover with your child’s doctor. Feel free to print out the list, add your questions, and bring it with you as a convenient checklist when you visit the doctor. Remember, if the doctor’s answers are confusing or incomplete, ask again! Also, be sure to keep these questions on hand and revisit them from time to time once your child has started the medicine.

Choosing the right medicine:

	•	What medications are available to treat ADHD?
	•	Why did you choose this particular medicine for my child?
	•	Are there more affordable medications for my child that would work just as well?
	•	Are ADHD medications safe?
	•	Do they cure ADHD?
	•	Has any one medicine worked better than others? Is one safer than the others?
	•	How long have these medicines been used in children?
	•	How long/extensively has this medication been studied in children?
	•	How does the medication work in my child’s body?
	•	Are there long-term effects I should be concerned about?
	•	Does this medication generally work for all children with ADHD?
	•	How long will my child need to take this medication? Will he or she outgrow the need to treat ADHD with medication?
	•	If the medication you prescribe doesn’t work for my child, what would we do next?

Taking the medicine properly:

	•	How often and at what time of day should my child take the medication?
	•	Is it important to take the medication at the same time every day?
	•	Should it be taken with or without food?
	•	How should the medication be stored?
	•	How long after taking a dose will the medication begin to work?
	•	What happens if my child skips a dose?
	•	If my child has trouble swallowing it, can the pill be cut in half or crushed?
	•	Are there long-term effects I should be concerned about?
	•	Is it necessary to take the medication on weekends and holidays?
	•	What happens if my child accidentally takes a double dose of the medication?

Determining the right dose:

	•	In what different dosage strengths does this medication come?
	•	How do you decide which dose is appropriate for my child?
	•	Is my child on what is considered to be a high dose or low dose?
	•	Is there a “trial” period to see if this dose works or causes side effects?
	•	What types of side effects have you commonly seen at this dose?
	•	How will we follow up with you to see if any changes should be made?
	•	Would there be a need to adjust the dosage at any point? Would there be increased risks associated with increasing the dosage?
	•	If my child’s behavior improves, will we lower the dose or stop the medicine?

Making sure the medicine works:

	•	How soon after starting the medication should I begin to see changes?
	•	What changes should I expect to see in my child’s behavior once he or she starts taking the medication?
	•	What information would you like me to report at the follow-up visit?
	•	What signs or behaviors should I look for to find out if the medication is working?
	•	Are there any warning signs that would indicate if there’s a problem?
	•	Is there anything specific that I should ask my child to be on the lookout for?

Side effects/safety:

	•	What are some of the risks associated with ADHD medications?
	•	What are the possible side effects of this medication?
	•	When might the side effects begin to appear?
	•	How often have you observed these side effects in your practice?
	•	Are these side effects temporary? If so, how long do they last?
	•	Are there any side effects that could cause serious problems?
	•	Could my child have an allergic reaction to the medication?
	•	Which other medications are not safe to take with this ADHD medication?
	•	Is it safe to take this medication with other nonprescription drugs (such as medications for cough, pain or fever)? What about vitamins?
	•	Is it easy for kids to abuse this medication and, if so, is there anything I can do to prevent abuse?
	•	What can happen if my child abuses or misuses the medication?

One of the most important aspects of your child’s ADHD treatment is establishing a positive doctor-parent relationship. As part of this relationship, you should feel comfortable with your child’s doctor, engage in ongoing discussions with him/her and receive answers to your questions. You may also want to ask about other resources available through your child’s doctor’s office to answer your questions – even after your child’s appointment is over. These resources, combined with good communication with your child’s doctor, will help ensure that your child’s ADHD is being treated appropriately.