Has your child been diagnosed with ADHD? According to the CDC, 11 % of children ages 4-17 have ADHD. This number has increased by 42 % in just 8 years. According to the CDC, in 2003 only 7.8% of children were diagnosed with ADHD. The recommended treatment for ADHD is medication and behavioral therapy. There are two types of ADHD medication, stimulant and non stimulant medications. The recommendation for taking a summer break from these medications differs depending on what medication your child is taking. Stimulant medications enter and leave the bloodstream quickly, enabling you to take breaks on the weekends or in the summer, while non stimulants need to build up in the bloodstream and you can only take long breaks when you are on these medications.
Why take a break? There are some legitimate reasons to take a break from your ADHD medications. One reason many people want to take a break from ADHD medication, is because it can slow growth. Stimulants decrease appetite in many children, and can slow growth up to a half an inch a year during the first two years of treatment. It may not just be because of the decreased appetite, but because it can also change the levels of testosterone. It is important to monitor children while on these medications and make the determination if a weekend and summer holiday is necessary to increase appetite and stimulate growth.
Others feel that taking a medication break can help the child learn to control his impulsivity without the help of the medication so that they do not learn to rely on the medications. Taking a break from the medications on the weekends or over the summer can give you a chance to use behavioral therapies only to work on controlling impulsive behavior.
Some parents see an immediate change in their children when they are on a medication break, while others see only a subtle change. Some children feel better when they are taking their medications and feel like they can accomplish more when they are more focused. There is also evidence to support that keeping a child on medication will be more effective then stopping and starting medications. Each child is different, however, and there is no right or wrong answer about taking a medication break. It is important to talk to your doctor and make the decision based on what is right for your child , and for your family.