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What Medication Can… And Can’t Do

by kerch on October 29, 2009

in Medication

Deciding whether or not to take medication for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) is never easy. Complicating this decision are erroneous expectations as to the potential benefits of stimulant medication. Even when medication does work, it is still not a cure all.

Here are the facts:

What Medicines Can Do What Medicines Can’t Do
Decrease Activity Level

  • Remain seated longer
  • Reduce fidgeting
 Teach Good Behavior

  • Remove old behaviors and patterns
  • Teach reflective thinking
Increase Ability to Sustain Focus

  • Work with greater accuracy
  • Improve ability to maintain attention
  • Increase ability to listen to others
  • Less distractibility
  • Improve ability to learn (more available)
  • More capable of enduring boredom
 Teach Skills

  • Teach old school work
  • Teach social skills
  • Teach what to focus on
  • Teach what is important
Decrease Impulsivity

  • Follow rules better
  • More likely to think before acting
 Motivate for Action

  • Make them try new skills
  • Do things they’d rather avoid
Decrease Reactivity

  • Reduce aggression
  • Less emotional lability (moodiness)
 Teach How to Deal with Feelings

  • Know how to control anger
  • Be able to cope with frustration
  • Feel automatically happy

Prior approval is required before reproducing this document by writing The A.D.D. Resource Center.

Credit must be given and no additions or deletions may be made without written consent.

Revised 4-06

Related posts:

  1. An Informed Decision: Medication
  2. ADHD Medication Guide©

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