Adult ADHDParenting ADHD ChildrenADHD TreatmentADHD and Learning DisabilitiesAttention Deficit
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When to Reduce Dosage of ADHD Meds

Q:

"Last week, our doctor increased my son's dose of stimulant medication, and he's been having a hard time falling asleep. Should I call the doctor now - or should I wait until the end of the 30-day "trial period"?"

Dr. Larry Silver specializes in treating children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD).
A:

If a dose of stimulant medication is going to work, you'll know it within several days. That's why I usually adjust the dose every week or so. Your physician seems to want to wait 30 days. Show your physician the article, "Dr. Silver's Seven Rules for Using AD/HD Medications." Sleep problems should be addressed if they don't go away within several days.

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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