List of Medication for Attention Deficit Disorder

If your child is diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, the first treatment option that comes to mind is medication. According to Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., contributing doctor for Help Guide, the medications prescribed to treat this condition help relieve the symptoms only temporarily; they are not cures. Choosing the right medication for your child can be difficult; although they may offer many benefits, there are also serious side effects. In addition, not all medications work for every child.

Adderall

The FDA approved this medication in 1996 for the treatment of ADD. It is a stimulant, which means it increases the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. This is responsible for increasing motivation, improving your child's ability to focus and increasing his ability to concentrate. In fact, stimulants are the most commonly prescribed medication for children diagnosed with ADD.

Adderall is a combination of amphetamine salts. Though it is approved for children ages 3 and over, the amphetamine salts it is composed of can cause mania in those with bipolar disorder. The tablets are taken once or twice a day and come in four doses: 5mg,10mg, 20mg and 30mg.

The most common side effects include insomnia, headache, restlessness and weight loss.

Concerta

A fairly new medication used in the treatment of ADD, it contains the same main ingredient as Ritalin and is a stimulant as well. The major difference between the two is the length of time it remains in the system; Ritalin lasts between 4 and 6 hours, while Concerta lasts for 12 hours. This offers the convenience of having to be taken only once a day, usually in the morning before school. It comes in three doses: 18mg, 36mg and 54mg. The dose your child receives depends on her age and weight, and the efficacy of the medication. The FDA has approved it for children ages 6 and older, and the most common side effects include headaches, stomach aches, vomiting, loss of appetite and insomnia.

Ritalin

This is perhaps the most commonly prescribed medication for ADD, and it also is a stimulant. Though approved for children ages 6 and older, it can be prescribed for those under the age of 6 if symptoms of ADHD are present. The most common side effects of Ritalin include insomnia, loss of appetite and nervousness. Less-common side effects include dizziness, nausea and drowsiness.

Strattera

The first and only non-stimulant medication the FDA has approved, Strattera appears to have fewer side effects than the above-mentioned medications. However, it is also considered to be less effective than the previous medications.

One of the major benefits of Strattera is the length of time it lasts for. While stimulant medications last only a maximum of 12 hours, Strattera remains in your child's system for more than 24 hours. The most common side effects of this medication are headache, sleepiness and agitation.