If you notice your child has problems paying attention or sitting still for the shortest period, they may have ADHD. When you consult with the team at Patriot Pediatrics, you have several caring doctors who can work with you and your child. In addition to behavior therapy, managing ADHD in Bedford, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lexington, and Concord, MA, often involves medication. Dr. Mitchell Feldman, Dr. Francine Hennessey, and Dr. Jacquelyn Chambers work hard to assess your child’s situation and prescribe medication to help them focus.

Medication Options Available

 Your doctor can prescribe several options. They often fall into one of two categories: immediate-release medications and extended-release medications. Immediate-release medication may be taken every four hours as your child needs it. However, extended-release medications can last the whole school day, and children take them in the morning.

Some options include:

• Adderall
• Dextrostat
• Ritalin
• Adderall-XR
• Daytrana
• Intuniv
• Strattera

Finding The Best One for a Child

 With so many options on the market, parents and doctors may have to try different ones to see what fits the child’s needs. Like any other medication or ailment, treating ADHD in Bedford, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lexington, and Concord, MA, is not one size-fits all. Ritalin may work for some children, whereas others may respond better to Adderall. 

You may have the right medication, but your child may not have the correct dosage. Pediatricians will assess your child's response to the drug and can adjust the dosage over time. The medication schedule also matters, especially when considering the environment. Some kids may only need long-release medication when in school to manage the school day. Taking your child in for regular checkups with their practitioner is essential to monitor the effects of the medication and discuss concerns you may have.

Things to Watch Out For

 Any medication can have side effects on a particular patient, and ADHD medication is no different. Such side effects may happen earlier in treatment. The most common ones that may show up in your child are social withdrawal, sleep problems, weight loss, and decreased appetite. In fewer instances, some children may experience a small growth delay. If you notice any side effects, alert the team at Patriot Pediatrics so they can change the medication type, dosage, or schedule.

Adjusting to an ADHD diagnosis may be stressful at first, but you have a solid team at Patriot Pediatrics who can help. Dr. Feldman, Dr. Hennessey, and Dr. Chambers specialize in ADHD management in Bedford, Billerica, Chelmsford, Lexington, and Concord, MA. Call us at 781-674-2900 to learn more.