   
How Many Appointments Do I Need?
Q:
"Our pediatrician now requires my four ADHD sons to have their blood pressure, heart rate, and weight screened every three months. It's hard to schedule so many appointments. Is this really necessary?" 
A:
Rare side effects of ADHD medications include increased blood pressure or heart rate. More commonly, they can cause a loss of appetite or weight. While such close monitoring is not medically necessary, it sounds like your physician is being careful. Because it's the doctor's policy, you'll have to comply if you want your children to continue seeing that doctor.
Larry Silver, M.D., is the author of Dr. Larry Silver's Advice to Parents on AD/HD and The Misunderstood Child: Understanding and Coping with Your Child's Learning Disabilities. He is also a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
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