What are the common myths associated with ADD medications?
Myth: Medication should be stopped when a child reaches teen years. Fact: Research clearly shows that there is continued benefit to medication for those teens who meet the criteria for diagnosis of ADD. Myth: Children build up a tolerance to medication. Fact: Although the dose of medication may need adjustment from time to time, there is no evidence that children build up a tolerance to medication. Myth: Positive response to medication is confirmation of a diagnosis of ADD. Fact: The fact that a child’s attention span improves or activity levels decrease while taking ADD medication does not substantiate the diagnosis of ADD. Even some normal children will show a marked improvement in attentiveness when they take ADD medications. Myth: Medication stunts growth. Fact: ADD medications may cause an initial and mild slowing of growth, but over time the growth suppression effect is minimal or nonexistent, in most cases. Myth: Taking ADD medications as a child makes you more reliant on drugs
