"I give him English medicine at night...

My son is able to sleep only if he takes that medication. I give him one other pill in the morning—after breakfast. Then when he comes back from school I give him some homeopathy medicine,” the mom paused."  

The child’s teacher jumped in, “Yes, there’s a lot of medication change going around and we don’t always know what’s happening.” 

We were discussing how to help a seven year old diagnosed with ADHD but probably had additional needs. The neuro-psychologist had prescribed several medications for him. The parents were concerned about the ‘English Medicine’ and were looking for alternatives with less side effects. The mother had a general understanding that ‘English Medicines’ (allopath) have side effects but beyond that she really didn’t have much information.

 Here are some things to be aware of if your child is on medication-stimulants or otherwise:

• Medications impact hunger. Some drugs make children over eat and others affect appetite adversely.
• The same medications don’t work for every child with the same diagnosis.
• Medication affects a child’s sleep patterns. Some induce sleep while others (especially if it isn’t right for your child) can keep your child awake.
• Most drugs come in two forms based on how quickly they release the medication into the bloodstream: Slow release (extended release) which releases the compounds into the bloodstream over a period of time. The effects of this form last 8-12 hours. Quick release (instant release) where the medication is released into the bloodstream right away and the effects last 3-5 hours.

Can you see how time release can impact attendance, behaviour and productivity in school?

• Medications for conditions like asthma, epilepsy, and allergies can also impact a student’s ability to attend and follow directions. Steroids can act as stimulants while drugs for epilepsy can make a child look mellow and act with less initiative.
• If your child is prescribed antidepressants inform the psychiatrist if you suspect your child has an eating disorder. Some antidepressants stimulate hunger and others suppress it. If your child has an eating disorder, then the wrong prescription can have serious effects.
• Some medications (anti depressants, antipsychotic drugs) have to reach a certain level in the bloodstream. Depending on the person, it takes 3-4 weeks. This is why you must do a blood test a few weeks after starting a new medication. The full effect of the medication is seen only after this period.
• On the other hand, some medications may not fit your child’s metabolism. In that case you will know that it is not the right medication for him/her. For example, some antidepressants can trigger mania (instead of controlling the symptoms of depression). In that case please don’t wait for the 3-4 week period to change medication.
• Some side effects may seem too weird to us…but be aware that it creates extreme discomfort to the child. They may decide to stop taking medication because of this. Even excessive sunlight can be a deciding factor.
• Just because your child was prescribed a medication two years ago doesn’t mean that it has to work now. Sometimes an increase in dosage may help. But not always! Our bodies can develop resistance to medicines at any time. So review your child’s medications periodically…keep track of his/her progress and look for changes in behaviour and socialization.
• Remember your child is growing…that means medication needs to be reviewed as his/her metabolism changes.
• Keep your child's teachers informed of any medication changes and side effects. This will help them accommodate his/her needs in school.

Nothing is ever static. Nobody knows all the answers. Keep yourself informed about studies on drugs and methods. There is a lot of research in this field which will only serve to improve our lives.

Ms. S