When children have ADHD, it is possible to influence their symptoms by forging a special supportive bond between them, parents, and the education system. This connection aims to improve social interactivity with teachers and friends and reduce levels of physical and verbal aggression. Additional changes must accompany the treatment, including changes in the school environment, change of place in the classroom, instruction from the teaching staff, and deliberate use of the computer.
Stimulant medications work for a short period and are the first choice for ADHD treatment. 70% of children with the syndrome experience behavioral and cognitive improvements as a result of the medication. The improvement is reflected in decreased psychomotor performance and aggression, increased concentration, improved memory, and a high academic success level. However, some children still have some social problems and learning difficulties, so a complex approach to treatment is critical.
There are several types of stimulant drugs widely used, the most famous of which is Ritalin. It is the most researched drug prescribed for children with ADHD (Wender & Tomb, 2016). It is a reliable and easy-to-use medicine; despite this, the drug has side effects. These include decreased appetite and insomnia at the beginning of treatment, headaches, abdominal pain, apathy, and nervousness. Moreover, in some patients, ADHD symptoms increase after the cessation of the drug, in the late hours of the day, which is expressed in increased sensitivity, anxiety, and tearfulness.
In the case of a small overdose of the drug, patients experience convulsions, hyperthermia, tachycardia, loss of appetite, hyperexcitability, emotional imbalance, epileptic seizures, and headaches. In case of a significant overdose of the drug, intense hallucinations, comparable to hallucinations from cocaine, arterial hypertension, intracranial hemorrhages, and brain damage occur. Chronic overuse, can also lead to psychosis (Wender & Tomb, 2016). Therefore, it is necessary to prescribe and take the drug with caution to save the psyche and avoid problems in the child in the future.
References
Wender, P. H., & Tomb, D. A. (2016). ADHD: A guide to understanding symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and changes over time in children, adolescents, and adults. Oxford University Press.