Medication Options For Summertime
Dr. Vince Iannelli, About.com’s guide to pediatrics points out that stimulant medication does not need to be given every day to be effective, as some medications do. Therefore, it is possible to target times when your child may need medication. You may be able to cut down on the dose or use short acting stimulants to provide your child with the help they need, without cutting out medication all the time. Strattera, on the other hand, is more effective when given every day and if your child is on this medication, and you choose to discontinue medication during the summer, it should be started back up several weeks before the beginning of school to be most effective. These options, however, should always be discussed with your physician. You should never change doses or discontinue any medication without first talking with your doctor.
The Pros and Cons of a Medication Vacation
Some parents like to take time off from medication during the summer to work with their child on self-control issues without the daily pressure of school. Other parents feel taking a break from medication will help to determine if medication is still needed. Some experts, however, indicate that if medication is needed to help a child in school, summertime will not be a good measure, instead, taking a child off medication for one to two days at a time during the school year, at times they are doing well, will be a better measure of your child’s abilities without medication.
Teens sometimes resent taking medication and choose to discontinue medication during the summertime. Parents can work with their teens by letting them know expectations beforehand. Rules and boundaries can be set. Parents can discuss with their teens a “trial period” of non-medication in the summer but let them know what types of behaviors will be expected and what types of behaviors will require them to continue using medication.
Keep Your Child’s Best Interests In Mind
Whether you decide to stop medication during the summer or not is a personal decision and should be based on what is best for your child. If you believe that you will end up correcting your child, telling them “stop” or intervening in arguments between siblings, you may want to consider continuing medication. For many, medication does not just help with concentration but helps to decrease hyperactivity and impulsiveness. ADHD does not just affect your child’s schoolwork but affects every aspect of their life.
It is also important to remember, however, that if you choose to discontinue medication and you find that it is not in the best interest of your child, you can go back to medication without problems.
Sources:
Time to Give Your Child A Break From Medication, Dr. Larry Silver, Additude Magazine
ADHD Medications and Summertime: Do They Go Together, Dr. Marc Sandrolini, Spring 2006, Rush NeuroBehavioral Center
ADHD Medicines During Summertime, Vincent Iannelli, MD, About.com Pediatrics
