Q: My Husband is Opposed to Medicating Our Son for ADHD

Is ADHD medication safe? The short answer is yes. But, still, the decision to medicate is understandably difficult for parents. When considering treatment options, consult medical professionals — not social media — and understand the risks of not medicating, too. Here are a few of them.

By Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW Verified Updated on February 3, 2023

Is ADHD medication safe? Don't ask social media — https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-smartphone-1851415/

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Ask your question about ADHD in boys here!

Q: “My husband is against treating our son’s ADHD with Ritalin as he believes it will do more harm than good – his assumptions are based on the stories of people abusing Ritalin for recreational purposes. Our biggest challenge with our son is his non-stop talk and what comes across as being rude/cheeky talk – I am almost certain this is ADHD presenting itself in our son, and I would love to trial the medication. I want to know the effects of not treating vs. treating. Our doctors could not give me any literature or leaflets, which makes it hard to try explain.”

A: “If ADHD medication has been recommended for part of treatment for your son, there is a reason for that. Do not listen to the advice and opinions of people who are not medical professionals. There is a wide body of research over a number of years regarding the efficacy of ADHD medication… Get factual scientific information from a licensed medical professional and disregard the information you hear from people who like to share their opinions or spread misinformation about ADHD medications.”