| What if someone told you ADHD could be treated | | | | stop until a few hours after it's taken off. |
| without the hassle of pills? What if someone told you | | | | - How the medication get absorbed through the skin |
| that your child could pay attention and behave in | | | | varies, so you can't always be sure how much the |
| school without having to endure the embarrassment of | | | | child is getting. Since dosing is a matter of trial and |
| standing in front of the nurse's office for his daily | | | | error, that makes it difficult for your doctor to |
| meds? Issues such as convenience and privacy have | | | | determine just what the right dosage for your child |
| prompted many parents to consider this ADHD new | | | | should be. |
| medication. But is this truly a safe and effective | | | | - Some kids, unable to take the itching the patch can |
| alternative? Might the best medications for ADHD be | | | | cause, just rip it off. |
| plain "old-fashioned" natural products, with their proven | | | | - Many kids develop skin sensitivity to the patch. This |
| track record of no side-effects? Let's consider the | | | | may be more than just a painful inconvenience. Some |
| pros and cons. | | | | doctors believe that it can actually lead to the |
| Skin patches have become a popular new choice of | | | | sensitization to the medication itself. If that happens, the |
| ADHD specialists. Often used for smoking cessation | | | | child won't be able to take this med in the pill form |
| and contraception purposes, patches are now | | | | either. In that case, the most commonly prescribed |
| available for ADHD as well. Shire's Daytrana, generally | | | | ADHD medications, like Ritalin and Concerta, may no |
| prescribed for children aged 6-12, contains the same | | | | longer be an option. |
| chemical used in Ritalin, which many still consider the | | | | - The patch carries with it the same risks as other |
| best first medication for ADHD. The patch, which | | | | stimulants commonly touted as best medications for |
| comes in different sizes/doses, is placed on the hip. It's | | | | ADHD. Frequently reported problems include insomnia, |
| worn for 9 hours, but the medication will stay in the | | | | irritability, GI issues, lack of appetite, high blood pressure; |
| system and keep working for 3 hours after the patch | | | | less frequent ones include seizures, tics, and psychosis. |
| is taken off. | | | | Add to this the fact that the patch has been in |
| So why would this ADHD new medication be better | | | | wide-spread use for only a couple of years, so we |
| than your regular stimulant? Primarily because it takes | | | | don't yet know about all its side-effects. |
| away the inconvenience of having to keep swallowing | | | | So what's the answer here? Is this ADHD new |
| pills. It also allows you some dosing flexibility: you can | | | | medication truly a safe, effective, and convenient |
| take it off earlier, if your child doesn't have homework | | | | choice? While we are at it, are stimulants, regardless |
| or you want her to eat a good meal (stimulants often | | | | of what form they come in, really best medications for |
| cause appetite suppression). And kids can't easily | | | | ADHD? Natural medications for ADHD do exist and |
| share it, sell it, or use it in excess-- all serious problems | | | | many parents have found them to be both effective |
| with other stimulants. | | | | and extremely safe. We all want a single pill to |
| The drawbacks of the patch, however, should make | | | | immediately and easily take away our kids' problems. |
| us all think twice whether this truly is the best | | | | But let's stop and think: at what cost? And shouldn't |
| medication for ADHD. Consider the following: | | | | we first explore the many safe, natural alternatives out |
| - The patch is not all that convenient: it starts working | | | | there? |
| only a couple of hours after it's applied, and doesn't | | | | |