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A Year-Round Kid
ADHD Medication Holidays
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
"The medicines are the same. Only the way the body receives that medicine is different (immediately vs. slowly over time)," says Smithley. "Determining the best medication for a particular child depends upon various factors – the type of ADHD, age, metabolism, severity of symptoms, medication side effects, etc. However, once-a-day medications have the benefit of eliminating the need for children to receive an afternoon dose of medication from the school nurse. Unfortunately, there continues to be a social stigma related to issues of mental health treatment, and children who take medication are often ridiculed and taunted. Because of this stigma, many children do not want their peers to know that they take medicine. And if you don't take it, it can't work."
The benefits of therapy and counseling, without medication, are generally limited. Medication plays an important role in the treatment of ADHD and should be as consistent as possible – year round. "Medication reduces the symptoms of ADHD, thereby allowing the child to make better use of their therapy and to cope better throughout the day – every day," says Smithley. "Taking a medication holiday would likely bring about an increase of the ADHD symptoms, setting them up for making poor decisions and getting into trouble. Finding the best medication and medication schedule for an individual child may actually require a carefully monitored trial of various medications at various doses before the most effective one is found. But not at the expense of the child's well-being."