The effects of taking Ritalin on a daily basis
My son is off to graduate school (law school) where he expects to encounter even more rigorous academic demands than he has in the past. My advice is that he should be taking Ritalin every day for classes and study. He worries that there will be long-term effects from doing so. In the past he has been able to do well by taking medication--as needed--for particularly boring classes, research projects, paper writing, or intensive study sessions. I have warned that this may not be sufficient as he moves ahead academically. I have reassured him that, since he has been diagnosed with ADHD, he need not worry about taking the prescribed medication on a daily basis, but he worries about the effects over time. Please advise. Thank you.
Thank you for your question and welcome to ADHDCentral.com.
I am not a health professional and would not be able to give you advice on medical issues or prescription medication.
I can tell you, however, that each person with ADHD is different. Some may find stimulant medication useful on an "as needed" basis, as your son has. Other people feel stimulant medication helps them when taken on a daily basis. It really depends on individual needs. Your son may find, once he begins attending law school that he does need the medication on a daily basis, or he may find he does well using the method he has used in the past.
Monitoring progress is probably the best measure to take. If your son is honest with how he is doing and catches himself if he falters as soon as it begins happening and then take measures to correct it, he fives himself a better chance of success.
Congrats on having your son go into law school. You must be very proud of his achievements!
Eileen
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