Side Effects of ADHD Medication

Though the main treatment method for dealing with ADHD is to apply behavioral therapies but medications including stimulants and non stimulants are also used to reduce the anxiety, hyperactivity and depression of a patient. These medications are clinically approved and proving very helpful in controlling the symptoms of ADHD but in some cases patient has to suffer from side effects of taking these drugs. These side effects include disturbed appetite, weight loss, Insomnia, tics, behavioral changes and increased metabolism etc. These side effects of ADHD medications are discussed below.

1- Disturbed Diet Pattern and Stomach Problems

Firstly during starting weeks of taking ADHD medication, children are reported to have stomach upsets and appetite irregularities which are recovered after passing few weeks. But in some cases children persistently go through digestive problems which must be taken seriously to avoid another health issue. For dealing with this problem professionals recommend that medication should be taken with breakfast and for rest of the day there should be a balanced diet plan with healthy and tasty snacks which could improve patient’s appetite. Daytime activities could also be helpful in increasing normal appetite pattern and could him take balanced amount of food necessary for his normal growth process.             

2- Weakness and Weight Loss

Weakness and sudden weight loss could be other side effects of ADHD medication which is not directly related to it. Actually it is caused by irregular eating habits which lead towards weakness in a suffering child. Continuous food insufficiency results in extra weight loss. So if eating habits are maintained on normal level then there will be no weight loss at all.                          

3- Insomnia   

Children suffering from ADHD often have sleeping problems as well. This could happen due to the increased body activity after taking ADHD medication. For dealing with such ADHD patient who is suffering from insomnia as well you have to take certain measure discussed below.

a- Taking medical check up for diagnosing the presence of another health problem like breathing problems or asthma etc because sometimes there is another health problem causing such sleeping disorder not ADHD.

b- Set waking timing and act upon it strictly because waking timing is a way to set sleeping timing. Wake early and sleep early can be very helpful to regulate normal sleeping habits.              

c- Keep the child busy in day time games which involves more physical activity, it will also help to make him tired soon and he will have no problem in taking comfortable sleep.   

d- Remove each and every distraction from his sleeping room including toys, TV, computers and other such things which can grab his attention during sleeping hours. The absence of no attractive thing to busy with will also help him taking sleep as soon as possible.

e- Try to avoid sleeping pills because it will not have a healthy effect on child’s body functioning.

f- Avoid giving him coffee, tea or soda because all these things contain caffeine which can increase his activity level and can keep him from taking deep sleep.     

If these simple steps are followed properly then there will be no problem in handling with insomnia in a child with ADHD. 

4- Behavioral Changes         

Parents or caretakers of such child also complain about his mood swings. It is reported in many cases of ADHD that after taking ADHD medication a child become very active and fresh mind for few hours but when medication starts to wear off, he started to show depressed or irritated behavior. This problem is more common in younger patients as compared to mature ones. In such condition patient started to behave worsen than before and assumes an abnormal behavioral activity. This kind of behavioral side effect must be taken seriously and professional advice must be taken to solve this problem as soon as possible.          

5- Involuntary Physical Movements

ADHD medication is also considered indirectly related to involuntary physical movements of a patient. Such movements are called tics and involve involuntary motor activities like excessive eye blinking, snorting, sniffing and throat cleaning etc.

6- Increased Metabolism and Heart Beat

Several patients of ADHD are reported to have increased metabolic activities, heart beat and blood pressure after taking medication. Though this condition becomes normal after few hours but for physically weak children it could become another serious health issue. Therefore physician must be consulted to deal with this problem appropriately.    

7- Dizziness and Nausea

In case of taking high level of ADHD medication child starts to show dizziness or nausea. In such condition give him lots of water and check his blood pressure to detect inner body condition.   

In most of the cases of ADHD medication patients get back to their normal routine after few months but in some cases where a patient is already physically weak or suffering from another mental problem then the chances of having persistent side effects are increased as compared to other cases. So what the family members or caretaker has to do is to get professional help as soon as possible to prevent the severity of side effects and the possibility of having another physiological or psychological problem at all because only a professional who has recommended these medications can decide the next strategy of treatment for reducing the symptoms of ADHD.