Why Medications Alone Don’t Work
Medicating a child with ADHD is a difficult decision for parents. None of us want to put our children on unnecessary medications. Before allowing your doctor to prescribe medication make of the following:
- The medication has been approved for use in pediatrics
- Make sure the medication is NOT being used off-label (meaning it has been approved for one use but is being used for another).
- Make sure that you start with the brand name of the drug and not the generic
Remember that medication is not going to teach your child organizational skills, social skills, attention skills, reading, or math. Medications can help with fidgeting and hyperactivity but unless the underlying cognitive skill are remediated, the medications will not be successful in the long term. Medications should be used short term in conjunction with a holistic treatment approach.