Signs ADHD Medications Are Not Working for Your Child

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns Medications Aren’t WorkingTypes of ADHD MedicationsWhen Medication Doesn’t WorkWhat Parents Can Do

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs Medications Aren’t Working

Types of ADHD Medications

When Medication Doesn’t Work

What Parents Can Do

Medications for ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) such as Concerta, Adderall, Ritalin, and others sometimes don’t work. Understanding the signs and next steps can help your child get the support they need to function at their best.

Signs ADHD Medications Are Not Work for Your Child

In order to determine if your child’s medication is effective, it is important to first determine what the drug is intended to do. ADHD medications are often prescribed to help kids manage impulsive behaviors, balance energy levels, improve attention, and regulate emotions.

Some signs that your child’s ADHD medication might not be working include:

Medications forattention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) can be very effective, helping kids pay attention in school, maintain friendships, and navigate life.

Finding the right medicine and dosage with the fewestside effectscan be difficult. However, a healthcare professional usually can find a program that works after some careful adjusting. There are many medication choices for ADHD, both stimulant and non-stimulant.

Stimulants

The most commonly prescribed ADHD medications are stimulants. Some are methylphenidate-based:

Others are amphetamine-based:

According to theADHD treatmentguidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), stimulants work to reduce symptoms of ADHD for most adolescents.

How Stimulants Work to Reduce ADHD Symptoms

Non-Stimulant Medications

Non-stimulant medications are typically considered when stimulants can’t be used for reasons such as side effects and ineffectiveness.

Strattera(atomoxetine) is sometimes an option for a child who isn’t tolerating a stimulant. Some doctors prescribe Strattera along with a stimulant to lower the dose of the latter enough that it no longer causes side effects.

Other medications for ADHD include the non-stimulants Catapres (clonidine), Tenex (guanfacine), and Qelbree (viloxazine). These can be effective for impulsivity, hyperactivity, and sleep disturbances.

Non-Stimulant ADHD Medication

When a medication doesn’t work or causes intolerable side effects, the options are usually to adjust the dose or switch to another medication

For example, if Adderall isn’t relieving a child’s symptoms or is causing unwanted side effects, a healthcare provider might decrease the dosage or prescribe another stimulant medication.

However, sometimes a child doesn’t respond to two or three different stimulant medications and continues to have symptoms. In this case, the AAP advises pediatricians to reevaluate the child’s diagnosis to make sure the symptoms don’t stem from something else and to screen for comorbidities such as depression,bipolar disorder, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems.

If you have a child with ADHD, putting various medications anddosagesto the test can be frustrating. Don’t hesitate to ask your pediatrician about things such as effectiveness and timing. Sometimes adjustingwhenthe doses are taken can make a big difference.

Let the doctor know about any side effects you believe are associated with your child’s treatment. Don’t be afraid to push for changes. There are many options available.

Some non-medication strategies can help some kids manage their behavior, as well. These options are often used alongside medications, including behavior therapy, parent training, and school interventions.

Conditions That Can Produce ADHD-Like Symptoms

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wolraich ML, Hagan JF, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4). doi:10.1542/peds.2019-2528U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Dyanavel XR.American Academy of Pediatrics.Common ADHD medications & treatments for children.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ADHD.Additional ReadingBriars L, Todd T.A review of pharmacological management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2016;21(3):192-206. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-21.3.192MedlinePlus.Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Revised April 15, 2019.MedlinePlus.Methylphenidate. Revised July 15, 2019.Spencer TJ, Brown A, Seidman LJ, et al.Effect of psychostimulants on brain structure and function in ADHD: a qualitative literature review of magnetic resonance imaging-based neuroimaging studies.J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74(9):902-17. doi:10.4088/JCP.12r08287

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wolraich ML, Hagan JF, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4). doi:10.1542/peds.2019-2528U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Dyanavel XR.American Academy of Pediatrics.Common ADHD medications & treatments for children.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ADHD.Additional ReadingBriars L, Todd T.A review of pharmacological management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2016;21(3):192-206. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-21.3.192MedlinePlus.Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Revised April 15, 2019.MedlinePlus.Methylphenidate. Revised July 15, 2019.Spencer TJ, Brown A, Seidman LJ, et al.Effect of psychostimulants on brain structure and function in ADHD: a qualitative literature review of magnetic resonance imaging-based neuroimaging studies.J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74(9):902-17. doi:10.4088/JCP.12r08287

Wolraich ML, Hagan JF, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4). doi:10.1542/peds.2019-2528U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Dyanavel XR.American Academy of Pediatrics.Common ADHD medications & treatments for children.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ADHD.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Highlights of prescribing information: Dyanavel XR.

American Academy of Pediatrics.Common ADHD medications & treatments for children.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of ADHD.

Briars L, Todd T.A review of pharmacological management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2016;21(3):192-206. doi:10.5863/1551-6776-21.3.192MedlinePlus.Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Revised April 15, 2019.MedlinePlus.Methylphenidate. Revised July 15, 2019.Spencer TJ, Brown A, Seidman LJ, et al.Effect of psychostimulants on brain structure and function in ADHD: a qualitative literature review of magnetic resonance imaging-based neuroimaging studies.J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74(9):902-17. doi:10.4088/JCP.12r08287

MedlinePlus.Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine. Revised April 15, 2019.

MedlinePlus.Methylphenidate. Revised July 15, 2019.

Spencer TJ, Brown A, Seidman LJ, et al.Effect of psychostimulants on brain structure and function in ADHD: a qualitative literature review of magnetic resonance imaging-based neuroimaging studies.J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74(9):902-17. doi:10.4088/JCP.12r08287

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Signs ADHD Medications Are Not Work for Your Child#

Stimulants#

Non-Stimulant Medications#

Signs ADHD Medications Are Not Work for Your Child

Stimulants

Non-Stimulant Medications