What kinds of side effects are associated with stimulant medication?
As with any medication, the stimulant medications commonly used in treating ADHD can produce adverse side effects in some children. These can include: sleep difficulties, stomachaches, headaches, appetite reduction, drowsiness, irritability, nervousness, and excessive staring among others. In very rare cases, stimulant medication can lead to nervous tics, hallucinations, and bizarre behavior. The list of possible side effects can be very scary to parents considering the use of medication for their child, but it is important to emphasize that the vast majority of children with ADHD experience no adverse effects. Based on the findings from many carefully controlled studies, physicians have concluded that when properly employed (stimulant medication is quite safe and the side effects are minimal. When side effects do occur they are frequently short term and generally disappear when the dosage is reduced. Despite these data, however, it is obviously important for parents to discuss their q
