Is ADHD Medicine Harmful to Kids?

Children treated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication often experience a range of side effects that vary from minor nuisances to serious complications. While drug therapy is designed to increase attentiveness and reduce impulses, there is always a possibility it can compromise a child's physical or mental health.

Medication

• Children with ADHD are commonly treated with stimulants, although medical science does not yet fully understand how they diminish ADHD symptoms. Nonstimulant drugs also exist for treating ADHD; however, WebMD reports that stimulants are effective in 70 to 80 percent of children with ADHD.

Effects

• Because they are generally stimulants, drugs for ADHD typically decrease a child's appetite, trigger bouts of insomnia and increase blood pressure. Nonetheless, physicians expect these side effects to subside after a child's body acclimates to the new medication.

Hazards

• In more serious cases, ADHD drugs can lead to cardiovascular issues and even sudden death in children. They can also exacerbate the mental health of a child who is already afflicted with a condition such as depression or anxiety.

Counteractions

• Any severe side effects of ADHD drug therapy can be addressed in an assortment of ways. Along with modifying the dosage and treatment schedule, the type of medication can be changed all together.

Debate

• Over the years, there have been many debates about the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. There are even critics in the medical community such as psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Szasz who consider ADHD a social construct and do not believe it is a valid medical disorder.