Are the medications recommended for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) safe for children?
Psychostimulant medications have been thoroughly studied and few long-term side effects have been identified. Problems, when they do occur, are generally mild and of short duration. The most common side effects are loss of appetite and insomnia. Rarely, children experience a negative mood or an increase in activity as the medication wears off. These side effects can be addressed by changing the dosage or by changing to a slow-release formulation.
