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along with other kids and participating in activities that require attention without medication. When deciding on a medica- tion holiday, consider which activities you child will be involved in.
ADHD medications help kids focus, which is important for their success whether in school, during extracurricu- lar activities or at summer camp. Since every child is different, it is often diffi cult to predict which child can discontinue medications on weekends and holidays successfully. Remember that the reason your child was placed on medication in the fi rst place was to control some un- wanted behavior.
Discuss the following questions with your health care provider before taking any action.
* Does the medication seem to help your child’s ADHD symptoms?
* What happens when your child doesn’t receive the medication?
* Would you want your child’s untreated ADHD behavior to interfere with group
activities that occur on weekends and over the summer?
* Would your child’s untreated ADHD
Discuss with your provider what happens if your child does not receive his medication
behavior affect his relationships with peers and adults?
If your biggest concern is the side ef- fects of the medication, sometimes simply changing the medication or reducing the dosage is helpful. Note that there are many different types of medication, such as non-stimulants, that successfully treat ADHD symptoms.
It’s important to remember that ADHD symptoms don’t take a holiday. They are present during the week, on weekends and during the summer. There is no one answer to whether children and ado- lescents should take a break from their medication, as each person responds dif- ferently to medication or the lack thereof. When considering a medication holiday, the best decision is the one that most benefi ts your child or adolescent.
Susan Kennel, PhD, ARNP, FAANP, is the Director of the PNP Program at the University of South Florida, Tampa. In ad- dition to her faculty responsibilities, she practices one day a week with a private pediatrician in primary care.
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