Does medication for ADHD affect growth and development? What are the effects of long-term medication for ADHD on children? These are all issues that parents are very concerned about. In response to the above questions, I have made the following professional answers.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as hyperactivity disorder, is mainly manifested as easy distraction, reduced attention span, excessive activity and emotional impulses regardless of the occasion, accompanied by cognitive impairment and learning difficulties, and normal or close to normal intelligence.
ADHD is common in school-age children, but symptoms persist into adolescence in 70% of children and into adulthood in 30% to 50% of children.
ADHD often suffers from learning disabilities, resistance disorders, mood disorders, and adjustment disorders, and has a wide range of negative effects on children's learning, occupation, and social life.
Currently, child psychiatrists consider ADHD to be a chronic condition that affects the rest of life, so early diagnosis, early system, and standardized treatment are important.
ADHD is also known as ADHD
How can you tell if a child has ADHD?
Identify the picture below for ADHD screening self-test
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What are the effects of long-term medication for ADHD on children?
What are the effects of long-term medication for ADHD on children? Xi'an ADHD Specialist Hospital pointed out that ADHD treatment is the concept of comprehensive treatment, but drug treatment is the foundation and an important part of comprehensive treatment.
Many parents obtain inaccurate information through the Internet or other means, exaggerating the side effects of drug treatment on children, especially worrying about the impact on growth and development.
I summarize the evidence-based evidence for the safety of current medications for ADHD and describe the side effects of medications.
Treatment of oral medications for ADHD is broadly divided into central stimulants and non-central stimulants. The central stimulant methylphenidate controlled-release agent (Centa) is mainly used clinically in mainland China, and the non-central stimulant is atomoxetine hydrochloride (Zesida).
What are the effects of long-term medication for ADHD on children?
1. The efficacy of treating ADHD is certain. In general, there is no significant effect on growth and development, and there is no clinical significance on vital signs and laboratory test results.
Common treatment-related adverse events were headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and tics. The adverse events most likely to lead to early treatment interruption were tics and loss of appetite.
2. Zestar: Treatment of ADHD can effectively improve symptoms. The most common adverse effects include indigestion, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, and emotional lability.
Gastrointestinal adverse effects are temporary and decrease over time. Taking atomoxetine can reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal reactions.
The effect of the drug on body weight and height is temporary. With the extension of the time of taking the drug, the side effects of weight loss and slowing of height gradually decrease, and long-term treatment for 3-5 years does not affect the gain of weight and height. Common reasons for dropping out midway include aggression, irritability, vomiting, and lethargy.
The efficacy of treating ADHD is certain
It can be seen that drug treatment for ADHD has no absolute effect on growth and development. In the Developmental Behavior Clinic, clinicians will prescribe specialized pharmacological interventions based on the child's physical examination results, contraindications, and possible adverse reactions. Therefore, it is hoped that parents with ADHD will trust the advice of professional doctors and do not delay the early treatment of their children.