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| Introduction |
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| Like many parents who have been told their child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and needs to take a daily medication, you may have mixed feelings. On one hand, you may feel relieved to know there is a medical condition responsible for your child's behavior and may be glad to hear there are many effective treatments that could help. On the other hand, you may be concerned about the responsibilities |
involved with having your child take medicine on a daily basis, and the
potential for side effects.
You may be comforted to know that not only is ADHD one of the most common childhood behavioral disorders, but treatment with medication – in combination with behavioral therapy – is recognized as the gold standard of care.22 As with any medicine given to children, however, ADHD medicines require close monitoring by the child's doctors, teachers, caregivers and most importantly, you, the parent. You are the communication link – gathering information (both directly from your child and indirectly from his or her surroundings) and sharing it back with the doctor so that your child’s reactions and progress are monitored. It’s also your job to thoroughly understand how your child’s medicine works, to make sure that he or she takes it properly, to observe behavioral changes, and to know when to alert the doctor.
Until now, the majority of parent education materials on ADHD have been focused on recognizing symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis. The Responsible Rx Parent Starter Kit takes over where other guides stop: when your child is about to start taking medication. The Kit provides tools and tips to help you safeguard your child's health and ensure the most benefit from medical treatment.
The Responsible Rx Parent Starter Kit has four sections:
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Guidelines to Effectively Communicate With Your Child's Doctor |
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A set of questions to help you start a dialogue with your child's doctor. |
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| II. |
Reporting Your Child’s Medical History |
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A checklist of physical and psychological conditions present in your child (or family) that should be reported to your child's doctor. |
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| III. |
Understanding the Medication Guides |
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A description of the usage and safety information that will be provided with your child’s medication. |
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| IV. |
Monitoring Your Child's Progress on Medication: A Weekly Diary |
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A comprehensive list of symptoms and behaviors for you to monitor on a weekly basis. |
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