Stimulant and related medications are FDA approved for the treatment of ADHD, narcolepsy, and exogenous obesity (a body mass index [BMI] at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex) in pediatric patients. However, not all of the medications in this drug class are approved for each indication. Stimulant and related medications are most often used for the treatment of ADHD. The FDA-approved indications and age ranges for the use of stimulant and related medications in pediatric patients are provided in Figure 1.
What is stimulant therapy for ADHD?
Stimulant therapy is the most commonly used treatment for Attention-Deficit Disorder/ Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD. Stimulants are an effective way of managing ADHD symptoms such as short attention span, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. They may be used alone or in combination with behavior therapy.
What is stimulant therapy and how does it work?
What is stimulant therapy? Stimulant therapy is the most commonly used treatment for Attention-Deficit Disorder/ Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD. Stimulants are an effective way of managing ADHD symptoms such as short attention span, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. They may be used alone or in combination with behavior therapy.
What are the age ranges for pediatric stimulant and related medications?
The literature on stimulant and related medications does not have well-defined age ranges for pediatric patients. Some studies define children as patients 1 to 12 years old and adolescents as patients 13 to 17 years old. Other studies define children as patients 1 to 17 years old.
What is the best medication for ADHD in children?
Stimulant medications have been the mainstay of treatment for ADHD since the late 1930s.[. medications, such as atomoxetine, extended-release clonidine, and extended-release guanfacine, are also FDA approved for the treatment of ADHD in pediatric patients.
What are stimulants used for in children?
Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamines are the most commonly used psychotropic medications in children, being widely prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (1, 2).
Why are children with ADHD treated with stimulants?
Stimulants are the most widely used medications for managing ADHD symptoms. These medications “stimulate” networks of nerve cells in the brain to work more effectively with each other, mainly by stimulating the dopamine system. They are effective in decreasing ADHD symptoms for most children with ADHD.
What disorder is commonly treated with stimulants?
Prescription stimulants are medicines generally used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy—uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep. They increase alertness, attention, and energy.
What are the effects of stimulant medications on children?
Moodiness and irritability: Your child might need a different stimulant or a different medication....The key problems to be on the lookout for:Sleep problems.Decreased appetite.Delayed growth.Headaches and stomachaches.Rebound (irritability when the medication wears off)Tics.Moodiness and irritability.
What are possible side effects of stimulant use?
Many users experience a loss of appetite, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure and body temperature, interrupted sleep patterns, panic, hallucinations, and irritability. Taking high dosages of stimulants can result in convulsions, seizures, and possibly even death.
How do you calm a child with ADHD?
7 Ways to Calm Your Child with ADHDFollow instructions. ... Be consistent with your parenting. ... Break up homework with activities. ... Form the behavior. ... Allow them to fidget. ... Let your child play before taking on big tasks. ... Help them practice relaxation.
How is child ADHD diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose ADHD in children after a child has shown six or more specific symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity on a regular basis for more than 6 months in at least two settings. The doctor will consider how a child's behavior compares with that of other children the same age.
What are prescribed stimulants used for?
Prescription stimulants are controlled substances most commonly used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD). They increase alertness and energy, speeding up mental and physical processes that create enhanced focus.
What does a stimulant drug do?
Stimulants are a class of drugs that speed up messages travelling between the brain and body. They can make a person feel more awake, alert, confident or energetic. Stimulants include caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines and cocaine.
Will ADHD meds change my childs 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.
What are the long term effects of stimulant medication?
Long-term use puts you at a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and irregular heartbeat. Other long-term effects of stimulants are related to appetite suppression and increased metabolism. Stimulant abuse can cause extreme weight loss, muscle deterioration, and gastrointestinal problems.
Does ADHD medication damage the brain?
Based on animal research several authors have warned that the application of methylphenidate, the first-line drug for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), might have neurotoxic effects potentially harming the brain.
What are the side effects of stimulants?
Stimulant drugs are the treatment most often used for ADHD. They can help you manage symptoms, such as: Short attention span. Impulsive behavior. Hyperactivity. They may be the only treatment you use, or you can try them along with behavior therapy. These drugs ease ADHD symptoms in about 70% ...
How does medication help with social skills?
They can also help a person finish tasks and improve relationships. As long as the medication is taken, people have a better attention span and better behavior. Even though there is some debate about whether social skills or performance at school gets better, there are many people who benefit from them.
What are the effects of ADHD medications?
For someone with ADHD, these medications boost the levels of certain brain chemicals, like dopamine and norepinephrine. They help nerves in your brain talk to one another. They’re also created in response to pleasant activities.
What is tics in psychosis?
Tics (body movements you can’t control that happen over and over) Tourette's syndrome, or someone in your family has it. A history of psychosis or are psychotic. Taken a type of medication called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor within 14 days of when you start taking the stimulant.
What is a methylphenidate?
Methylphenidate ( Concerta, Daytrana, Jornay PM, Metadate CD, Quillivant XR, Quillichew ER, Ritalin LA) Mixed salts of a single-entity amphetamine product ( Mydayis) Serdexmethylphenidate/ dexmethylphenidate (Azstarys) Most are pills, but sometimes medication can be in a patch that is put on the skin or in a liquid.
Can stimulants cause drug abuse?
Stimulants aren’t habit-forming in the doses used to treat ADHD in children and teens. And there is no evidence that taking them leads to drug abuse. In fact, studies have shown that people with ADHD who are treated with medication have lower rates of substance abuse than people with ADHD who are not treated.
Can stimulants cause addiction?
Still, there is a potential for abuse and addiction with any stimulant medication. This is especially true if the person taking them has a history of substance abuse and addiction. It’s something you may want to take into consideration. Always give the medication exactly as prescribed.
