Drug therapy of ADS

The fact that drug therapy is so controversial is partly due to the fact that the diagnosis of ADHD is often not made beyond doubt. Children who suffer from attention deficit disorder have an imbalance of the messenger substances and therefore usually, unfortunately not 100%, respond to drug therapy. Each drug has its own individual side effects (e.g. loss of appetite, headaches, abdominal pain, sleeping disorders, depression, increased willingness to fight) and also interactions which usually disappear again after the medication is discontinued.

Often the medication as such does not have to be stopped, but only changed and readjusted. In this respect, other forms of therapy should first be considered and carried out. Every case of ADHD must be assessed with regard to the severity of the symptoms.

In particular, if school performance is declining and the problem is spreading, a child must be helped. If the other forms of therapy do not do this adequately, the treating doctor can consult with you and decide when and also how long a drug therapy may be advisable. The following is important to know: Drug therapy does not “cure” ADHD, it merely relieves the symptoms for as long as the medication is taken.

We are of the opinion that ADHD should never be treated exclusively with medication, but that other – individually appropriate – forms of therapy should be used in addition. Home support is considered to be very important and necessary. In general, it applies that a drug therapy should only be carried out from the age of 6.

This can also be found in the descriptions of the medication. See the list below. ADS children have to find their individual dose and test the correct time for taking it.

Depending on the medication, the effect will be immediate and then decrease at once, while others release the active ingredient gradually and therefore the effect will only decrease slowly. In many minds there is a warning against dependence on the stimulants in question. Recent research and studies show that medication in individually required doses does not usually lead to dependency, but there are no long-term studies that clearly prove or revoke this.

A warning is given, however, if there is an increased risk of addiction in families. Should the doctor in charge ask you about this, please do not feel personally offended and please answer honestly. The aim is to keep harm away from your child and to help your child as much as possible.

At this point it can be said that the risk of dependence varies from case to case, so it must be checked individually. General statements cannot be made here. As already mentioned above, drug therapy only has a positive effect on the child’s behaviour as long as the drug is taken.

However, this does not mean that an ADHD child has to take medication for the rest of his or her life. Frequently, mutlimodal therapy in combination with drug therapy for a certain period of time ensures that the accompanying symptoms can be treated so well that negative behaviour no longer or only very slightly occurs. By strengthening the child in this way, drug therapy can then be gradually dispensed with. This varies from child to child.