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ADHD - Researching Strategies
ADHD management can include tailored behavior therapy and medication to help with symptoms. But beyond treatment, focusing on individual strengths cultivates resilience, turns challenges into advantage.
Understanding ADHD Treatment Strategies: Medication
When managing ADHD, there are two primary treatment types: behavior therapy and medications. To keep in mind, not everyone with ADHD seeks traditional treatments; many prefer focusing on their unique strengths as a path to confidence and resilience. Nevertheless, here we will discuss traditional treatment choices. Medications can also be a crucial component of treatment, with two main categories: stimulants and non-stimulants. Stimulants are the most widely used and are known for their fast-acting effects, helping 70-80% of children with ADHD reduce their symptoms. Non-stimulants, approved for ADHD treatment in 2003, work more gradually and can provide effects lasting up to 24 hours. Read more below about recommendations and "potential unknown side effects".
Treatment Recommendations for Minors - 6 and under
For children under 6:
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends parent training in behavior management as the first-line treatment.
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This approach helps parents support their child and can be as effective as medication for young children.
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Young children are more prone to medication side effects, and the long-term effects are not well understood.
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Families should inform their medical providers about strategies already tried and advocate for what’s best for their child, recognizing that the decision to use medication is personal and may involve unknown risks.
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Treatment Recommendations for Minors - over 6 years old
For children 6 and older:
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The AAP recommends a combination of medication and behavior therapy.
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Parent training in behavior management is suggested up to age 12, while other forms of behavior therapy are used for adolescents.
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Collaboration with schools, using behavioral classroom interventions and additional supports, is strongly encouraged to improve outcomes
Do all medications have the potential for unknown side effects?
Since medication is a substantial topic within the realm of ADHD, let's discuss whether all medications have "unknown" side effects. This is a nuanced question that requires a balanced and scientifically accurate response.
Key points to consider:
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Known vs. Unknown Side Effects: All medications have known side effects that are identified during clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance. However, there may be rare or long-term side effects that are not detected until a drug has been used by a large population over an extended period.
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Limitations of Clinical Trials: Clinical trials involve a limited number of participants and a relatively short duration. Therefore, they may not capture all possible side effects, especially those that are rare, occur only in specific populations, or manifest after long-term use.
3. Post-Marketing Surveillance: After a drug is approved, ongoing monitoring (pharmacovigilance) helps identify previously unknown side effects. This means that at any given time, there could be side effects not yet recognized.
4. No Medication is Risk-Free: Every medication carries some risk, and the absence of complete knowledge about all potential side effects is a reality in pharmacology.
Therefore, while we cannot say with absolute certainty that every medication has unknown side effects at this very moment, it is true that:
~ For newly approved drugs, there is a higher likelihood of unknown side effects emerging later.
~ Even for well-established drugs, there is always a possibility of discovering new side effects, especially as new research methods emerge or as the patient population changes.
Conclusion: It is more accurate to say that all medications have the potential for unknown side effects, particularly when considering the limitations of pre-approval testing and the evolving nature of medical knowledge.
Don't forget strengths!
While it's important to figure out how to alleviate symptoms of ADHD for those individuals facing challenges with their neurodivergence, it's equally important to identify the strengths of the individual so that their positive characteristics are emphasized.