Lakeesha is a 10-year-old who has ben diagnosed with ADHD and is treated with methylphenidate three times a day. Her mother calls to tell you that she is giving the medicine in the morning, at school, and at supper. Lakes has been unable to sleep
1. Her mother also wants to know why Lakeesha cannot take the medications on weekends and during the summer to help with hyperactivity. What reasons do you think Dr. Merry would give Lakeesha's mother?
Ritalin ( methylphenidate ) is a central nervous stimulant and is used for ADHD , narcolepsy etc . One of its chief side effects is it causes insomnia that's why Lakes is able to sleep at night . It was a thought that methylphenidate every day usuage causes stunted growth , decline in appetite that's why it was told to take summer breaks or weekend breaks to avoid the above problems. But by time and research it is found that for some children, it may be a good idea to take a break from their usual medication for ADHD over the summer. For other kids, taking a “drug holiday” can be a real mistake. Deciding what to do requires parents and prescribers to weigh several factors:
How kids behave when they aren’t taking their ADHD medication
Whether they’re experiencing side effects from the medication
What they’re going to be doing during the summer months, holidays and other breaks
Lakeesha is a 10-year-old who has ben diagnosed with ADHD and is treated with methylphenidate three...
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A mother brings her 9-year-old daughter into the pediatrician’s office for a follow-up appointment. The daughter had been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) last year while repeating second grade. She has been taking methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10 mg twice a day for 7 months now. Initially, she had been started on methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10 mg three times a day, but complaints of headache and insomnia resulted in a series of changes. Initially, the last dose of the day was dropped...
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A mother brings her 9-year-old daughter into the pediatrician’s office for a follow-up appointment. The daughter had been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) last year while repeating second grade. She has been taking methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10 mg twice a day for 7 months now. Initially, she had been started on methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10 mg three times a day, but complaints of headache and insomnia resulted in a series of changes. Initially, the last dose of the day was dropped...
A mother brings her 9-year-old daughter into the pediatrician’s office for a follow-up appointment. The daughter had been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) last year while repeating second grade. She has been taking methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10 mg twice a day for 7 months now. Initially, she had been started on methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10 mg three times a day, but complaints of headache and insomnia resulted in a series of changes. Initially, the last dose of the day was dropped...
A mother brings her 9-year-old daughter into the pediatrician’s office for a follow-up appointment. The daughter had been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) last year while repeating second grade. She has been taking methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10 mg twice a day for 7 months now. Initially, she had been started on methylphenidate (Ritalin) 10 mg three times a day, but complaints of headache and insomnia resulted in a series of changes. Initially, the last dose of the day was dropped...
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