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Medicines Used to Treat ADHD in Children

by Kate Wharmby Seldman

Overview

Children with a diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder often take prescribed medications to help them focus and calm down. These medicines can be broken down into two broad categories: stimulants and non-stimulants. Within these groups are some surprising solutions. Even blood-pressure medication can help alleviate ADHD symptoms.
What is ADHD?

ADHD also is known as ADD, attention-deficit disorder. It can manifest itself in children or adults. Usually, it begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. Often it appears before the age of 7, but sometimes it can be seen in younger children and sometimes even babies. It's characterized by two main symptoms: inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. Often, kids tend to exhibit more of one main symptom than the other, but most children will still show both components of the disorder.

Significance

ADHD can affect a child's behavior in several ways. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms break down into three categories: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The inattentive child may struggle to complete homework, lose objects easily, appear distracted, jump from one activity to another or get bored quickly. The hyperactive child is often in constant motion, and it's difficult to get him to sit still for meals, naps or school. He may talk incessantly, fidget and have trouble doing quiet activities. The impulsive child frequently interrupts others during conversations, has trouble waiting his turn in conversations and activities, loses patience easily, blurts out his thoughts even when they're not appropriate and doesn't think of the consequences before he acts. A child with ADHD may have low self-esteem. His behavior is likely to affect his family, potentially causing anger, frustration and arguments, and making the child feel as if he is bad or a troublemaker.
Stimulant Medication

Doctor-prescribed medication often helps to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD. This medication is usually a stimulant. Adderall, Focalin and Ritalin are examples of stimulants used to treat ADHD. Stimulants tend to have a calming effect on kids with ADHD, allowing them to concentrate and sometimes even improving their physical coordination. They may have side effects, however, so it's important to monitor your child carefully and have your doctor adjust dosage or switch medications if necessary. Common side effects of stimulants can include a loss of appetite, insomnia, anxiety and irritability, as well as rarer, more serious issues such as heart problems and high blood pressure.
Non-Stimulant Medication

There are also non-stimulant medications that treat ADHD, such as Strattera, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor that works on the brain somewhat like an antidepressant. These medications can be taken alone or combined with a stimulant med to treat ADHD. If a child is experiencing troublesome side effects on a stimulant drug, a doctor will usually discontinue the stimulant and substitute another drug. Antidepressants like Wellbutrin and Effexor boost levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain by preventing reuptake of these chemicals. Wellbutrin in particular is used to treat ADHD in children; it improves mood and the ability to concentrate. Both these antidepressants can calm impulsiveness and hyperactivity, and tone down aggressive behavior. A tricyclic antidepressant such as Pamelor or Tofranil is an older form of antidepressant medication. While they can help alleviate ADHD symptoms, they also come with side effects such as constipation and dryness of the mouth. MAO inhibitors are the oldest type of antidepressants and are used to treat cases of ADHD that haven't responded well to other medicines. Their side effects are worse than the side effects of SSRIs or tricylics, and there's also potential that they'll interact with certain foods. The blood pressure drugs catapres and guanfacine also have recently shown promise in treating ADHD. How exactly they work isn't yet clear, but they may have a calming effect on some parts of the brain, helping to modify a child's behavior.
Warning

Older children may potentially use their ADHD drugs to get high or give them to other kids for the same purpose. If they don't have their own prescriptions, they may get these drugs from other kids. Crushing the pills up and snorting them can give users euphoric feelings. Abuse of these medicines can be extremely dangerous, potentially causing agitation, high blood pressure and rapid heartbeat. Make sure your kids know these medications are to be taken only if they're prescribed to them and only in the correct doses--not for any other purpose. U.S. Food and Drug Administration researchers also have discovered that use of ADHD stimulant drugs can increase the risk of sudden death, not only in kids with pre-existing heart conditions but also in previously healthy children. It's crucial that you talk to your pediatrician before your child takes any ADHD remedy.