If your child is diagnosed with ADHD/ADD, it is likely that medication will be the treatment recommended.

Here is a list of some of the drugs prescribed for ADHD.

• Psychostimulants (central nervous system stimulants (CNS)) tend to be used in the main because they balance the brain’s chemicals in the area for control and inhibitions. They lift mood and stimulate neurotransmitter production. Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that send messages from one nerve cell to another.
  • Methylphenidate is better-known as Ritalin, the drug that your child may be prescribed. Attention should be improved and hyperactivity reduced. Ritalin can have side effects, particularly with higher doses. Children aged over six and adolescents can take them. Ritalin SR is the slow release version which lasts for six hours. This can be obtained by giving your prescription to the pharmacist, who will fax it to BR Pharma. The medication arrives the following day.
  • Concerta XL is another psychostimulant (and a brand of methylphenidate). These are extended release, so just one tablet in the morning is necessary. Attention and behaviour are improved, however this comes with a host of warnings about side effects and existing conditions that may worsen. NICE recommends that children under six should not take these drugs.
  • Equasym and Medikinet are also psychostimulants (and a brand of methylpenidate). Their side effects are the same as Ritalin’s.
  • Dexamfetamine. Dexedrine influences the neurotransmitter noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and inhibits dopamine re-uptake. It can be used by adolescents and children over three years of age.
  • Atomoxetine. Strattera is not a psychostimulant but it works in a similar way. It boosts noradrenaline in the brain, which in turn helps concentration and controls impulsive behaviour. It is used by adolescents and children over six years of age.
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are used to relieve depression, a symptom of ADHD. They inhibit the overstimulation of the nerve cells by neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline and serotonin in the brain. ‘Tricyclic’ refers to three rings in the drug’s chemical structure. 
  • Imipramine* – Tofranil relieves depression and anxiety. It inhibits noradrenaline re-uptake.
  • Clonidine* is used for hypertension and is recommended to be taken towards the end of the day. It helps with sleeping difficulties, which can be caused by stimulants, decreases hyperacitivity, impulsivity and aggressive behaviour. It is usually taken with Ritalin or Dexedrine.

*These drugs are unlicensed for ADHD treatment and would only be suggested after referral to tertiary services when patients fail to respond to methylphenidates.

How to manage the dosage of medication for ADHD

Some people feel that giving drugs to young children in large doses over a long period, especially amphetamines, is wrong. For example, some children have been taking Ritalin for over 10 years to help them calm down and concentrate on their education. This seems to work in the short-term but your child may need many pills every day before they take effect.

You will need to talk to your doctor for more information. 

• Immediate release tablets are taken two or three times a day in small doses (Ritalin/Equasym). Fast release drugs last up to about four hours.
• Modified release tablets are taken once in the morning (Concerta XL). The drugs are released gradually during the day. Slow-release drugs last for about 12 hours.
• Getting the dose right is important. If your child takes too much, they could become like zombies and lose their appetites. After a while, the medication wears off and the body gets used to it.
• In America, methylphenidate patches (Daytrana), introduced for six to 12-year-olds in long-acting form, last about nine hours.

Initially, your child may be given small doses that may be gradually increased, and they will need to be monitored by specialists on a regular basis. Sometimes a ‘medicine holiday’ can be suggested for a short period if the treatment is seen to be working well so that your child’s reactions without the drug can be noted. However, if the drugs are stopped, your child should always come off them gradually.

Extract taken from ADHD - The Essential Guide. For more information on medications for ADHD, take a look at the book - available now in eBook, printed book and large print formats. Buy the printed version and get the eBook free!