What's next?
- You don't see improvements in your child's ADHD symptoms within the time frame your health care provider has given you. For example, it may take several weeks to see positive changes in your child's symptoms.
- Your child's medication stops working. Their dose may need to be changed, or they may need a different medication.
- Your child has issues that are different than the most common side effects of their medication. For example, they have no appetite, they have trouble sleeping, they are more irritable than usual, or they start making repetitive sounds or movements.
- Your child has blurred vision or other eyesight changes, is seeing things that aren't there, or experiences heart problems. You should contact your doctor or health care provider right away for these and any other side effects you notice.
- Your child begins to fear being away from family, going to school, or that bad things will happen to him or her. This may suggest an anxiety disorder.
- Your child's behavior often causes challenges with other children, teachers, parents, and siblings. This may suggest a behavioral disorder.
- Your child has trouble with a specific topic or skill, like reading, math, or writing. This may suggest a learning disorder.
When to contact your child's health care provider after evaluation and treatment has started
It may not always be clear when to contact your child's health care provider. If something worries you, call the health care provider. As with any medicine, you should seek immediate medical attention if your child takes too much of their medicine or if they develop any side effect at all.4
Living with ADHD is about monitoring your child's symptoms and working with your child's doctor, school, teachers, friends, and family members to find what works best for him or her.
References:
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Tips for Talking with Teachers About ADHD. Available at https://chadd.org/for-parents/tips-for-talking-to-teachers-about-adhd/. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Undertstood.org. 7 Tips for Talking to Your Child's Teacher About ADHD. Available at https://www.understood.org/en/articles/7-tips-for-talking-to-your-childs-teacher-about-adhd. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Treatment of ADHD. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/treatment.html. Accessed June 7, 2020.
- WebMD. When to Call a Doctor About Child ADHD. Available at https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/call-doctor-child-adhd. Accessed June 7, 2020.