For most children, summer means a break from homework, teachers, and tests. For children with ADHD, should summer also be a time to take a vacation from their ADHD medication?
At least one expert advises against taking children off their ADHD meds over the summer:
“Kids’ summer drug holidays haven’t been studied much, but going off treatments doesn’t let children feel and perform at their best – and it may be risky to go off and go back on treatment, says Scott H. Kollins, PhD, director of the Duke ADHD Program in the department of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC.” [Source: WebMD]
One potential benefit to a drug holiday relates to a child’s overall growth. Some studies have shown a possible link between ADHD medication and stunted growth, but the relationship isn’t widely accepted. Also, the negatives of a drug holiday (difficulty socializing, for example) may outweigh any possible benefits.
Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton