One common question that parents have is whether or not they should continue ADHD or ADD medication over the summer for their children. With school out, this becomes an interesting dilemma. I’ve heard a number of arguments for and against. Many pediatricians leave it up to the parents, especially if the ADHD or ADD is not severe enough to be a danger to the child. Of course, any time a parent is considering stopping any ongoing medication, the pediatrician should be consulted.
The arguments parents give for continuing medication include being consistent, needing the child to be able to focus while attending camp or other activities, and just having things easier at home. Many children with these conditions will tell you that they don’t like being off of their medicine.
The arguments parents give for discontinuing ADHD medication in the summer include wanting their kids to get a break from the medicine and “be themselves,” eliminating (temporarily) side effects such as poor appetite and poor sleep, eliminating the expense of the medication, or trying a new therapy.
I’d like to address some of the “discontinuing” arguments, if only to offer support for parents who feel as though they “have” to discontinue medication during the summer. ADHD and ADD medications should not alter who a child is or the personality of that child. It should only help the child be able to focus, concentrate and self-regulate. If a parent feels that a child is not being himself, the parent should work with the pediatrician or other specialists to change the medication, change the dosage of the medication, or evaluate whether that child should be getting medication at all.
As for the expense of the medication, there are a number of generic versions that will cost very little, although some parents swear that generics don’t always work as well. If that is the case, they can check out prescription programs that offer these medications at a lower cost or even for free. Your pediatrician may have access to other ideas and programs to help you obtain the medicine if you can’t afford it.
Trying a new therapy is a very valid reason, in my opinion, for discontinuing the regular medication. Without the pressure of school, summer may be an ideal time to try something new, if the current therapies are not working well. It may be a matter of trial and error. If you have the luxury of having a parent or caregiver at home with the child during the summer, you can make a lot of immediate observations that can help your child’s doctors make the best decisions.
If a parent does decide to discontinue medication during the summer, they should be aware that many of them require a week or two to build up in the system before effectiveness is noticed.
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