How can methylphenidate help?
Methylphenidate can improve your child’s attention span, his ability to follow directions, and his ability to think before acting. It can help with legibility of handwriting and completion of schoolwork and homework. It often decreases hyperactivity, stubbornness, and aggressiveness. Other treatments Methylphenidate is not the only answer for ADHD. Other medications might be more effective for your child with fewer side effects. The only way to find out is to try different medications. In treating a child with ADHD, I often start with methylphenidate because it has been around for so long, and studied so much, that I feel comfortable with it. If methylphenidate doesn’t work, I’ll suggest a related medication (a stimulant), because many children who don’t do well on one stimulant respond well to another. Any medication for ADHD works best when used together with special help in school and behavior modification procedures. Some children and families also benefit from individual, family,
