It saddens me whenever I hear stories like this. People who try to scare you or make you feel guilty when they don't even have all the facts.

Ritalin and other methylphenidate medications marketed under the various brand names, such as Concerta, Metadate, Focalin, etc., are the most researched of medications for children. Ritalin has been around for more than 50 years. Here is a quote from Dr. Russell Barkley who is a well-known, leading expert and researcher on ADHD and its treatment:

"The stimulants are the safest drugs in all of psychiatry and pediatrics. And let me add one other thing. They're also the best studied of any drug you put into the mouth of a child. And that includes aspirin, and you guys don't hesitate to use Tylenol or aspirin or cough medicine. We have more research on the stimulants than any drugs used in psychiatry and pediatrics. So, these are very well-investigated medications."

There may be an increased risk of heart problems if the child has a pre-existing heart condition and an EKG (If I have the correct abbreviation) can be done to check this before giving stimulants. This is not a requirement but some doctors will include it, or you may request it. Millions of children have taken stimulants without any serious adverse effects and the risk is quite small, and even at that, it does not necessarily mean that it is proven to cause problems. My sister is a pharmacist and she explained to me that if even one person has a problem while on a medication, it has to be included as a possilbe side effect. It may have nothing to do with the medication, but it has to be listed. In other words, those children could have had those problems even if they hadn't used the medication--we just don't know.

Keep in mind that Tylenol can cause liver problems but few people hesitate to give their child Tylenol. My daughter is allergic to penicillin and I know individuals who are allergic to peanut butter. Does that mean we should all fear taking penicillin and ban peanut butter from the face of the earth because someone is deathly allergic to peanut butter?

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about ADHD and you should not get your facts from television or the media. Stick to the experts on ADHD and reputable and reliable organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, www.help4adhd.org and CHADD--which is the largest advocacy group for children and adults with ADHD. They have a lot of helpful and accurate information, along with support groups all across the country. I suggest checking out their website at www.chadd.org You will find a lot of helpful information there. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any concerns you have. Educate yourself with the facts not the sensationalism caused by a few uninformed individuals.

What if the woman had told you that she didn't believe you should give insulin to your diabetic child because she had heard some horror stories--would you just take her word for it? Does she have a medical degree? A degree in Psychopharmacology or Psychiatry?

Another quote from Dr. Russell Barkley,

"You have to get good at forgiving other people their ignorance of this disorder, because the public is very ignorant of ADHD, and often sadly misled by the media about ADHD. And so you need to get good at forgiving them, and get a little thick-skinned around your child so that the looks you get from other people and the occasional snide remarks and so forth don't bother you quite so much. You've got to remember that they're strangers and they're ignorant and they don't understand the disorder."

The risks associated with untreated ADHD are far greater than any risk from medication. There are loads of statistics and scientific studies that bear this out. Here are three books that I highly recommend if you are interested in checking them out.

"All About Attention Deficit Disorder" by Thomas Phelan (you may be familiar with his parenting book, "1,2,3 Magic") "The ADHD Book of Lists" by Sandra Rief (lots of practical advice and resources in an easy to read and easy to find concise format---it is also available at www.chadd.org ) "Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults" by Thomas E. Brown (also has a website www.drthomasebrown.com )

Elaine

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Thanks Elaine! That is what i needed to hear! The quote didn't show up.

I did some more digging & found that issues with heart were there prior to medication. I understand now that if there is a heart condition you shouldn't be on a stimulant.

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I wasn't finished posting when the message got sent so if you check it again, you'll see I have more information. sorry about that.

Elaine

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Thank you again, Elaine. i did see the quote... sorry i jumped the gun earlier :) I am going to send that exact post to my friend who was part of the conversation (she medicates her daughter who is ADD) Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

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It is good advice to stick to the information you get from the experts who will tell you that ADHD medications are generally safe. I'm sure this won't be the first conversation you have with other parents about ADHD medication. Some parents feel very strongly that the side effects of ADHD medications aren't worth the benefits of the medication and have had success with alternative treatments. However, most parents and children have very good results with ADHD medication and have learned how to deal with the side effects. It is a personal decision and it is yours to make.

Think of it this way: William W. Dodson, M.D., a Denver-based psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD claims that "The risks involved in not treating ADHD are very high. These include academic failure, social problems, car accidents, and drug addiction."

I got the quote from this great article about the safety of ADHD medications.

Hang in there, Dena

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