Summertime can be a great time to think about your child's ADHD medication though.
Some things to consider:
1) Does your child with ADHD still need to take his ADHD medicine? Since most experts now think that kids don't outgrow ADHD, your child may not be able to stop taking his medicine any time soon, but if you are considering a trial off of medication, the summer might be a good time to do it. Although it might not be a great test, especially if he isn't in school or any organized events, if he doesn't do well in summer without medicine, then you can be pretty sure that a trial off during school would be a disaster.
2) Does your child need a medication adjustment or a new medicine? Many parents don't like to 'rock the boat' during the school year, even if their child is having some side effects or if their child's ADHD medicine isn't working as well as it should be. That makes the summer a great time to adjust your child's dose, either up or down, or to try a different medication all together.
Also keep in mind that there are newer ADHD medications, such as Strattera, and new dosage forms, such as Daytrana, the Ritalin patch, so there may be other options if your child is having problems with his current medicine.
Vyvanse, a new stimulant from the makers of Adderall XR, will be available this summer too, and may be an option for some kids with ADHD.
3) Should you give your child a break from her ADHD medicine in the summer? The only parents that really seem to be successful at this are the ones that have children with mild ADHD that truly just have problems paying attention in school. If your child is also hyperactive and impulsive, or if he is just inattentive, but greatly benefits from taking his medicine every day, then don't be in a rush to take a break in the summer.
If you are considering taking a break because your child isn't gaining weight, doesn't sleep well, or has other side effects when taking his ADHD medication, you might consider a dosage adjustment or medication change before stopping his medicine for the summer.
Remember that most experts now discourage ADHD drug holidays during the summer. If you think about it, the symptoms of ADHD typically affect more than just your child's functioning at school. They usually can cause problems with the way he interacts with his friends, family members, and the way he simply gets routine tasks of everyday life done. If your child does better when taking his ADHD medicine, whether he plays better with friends, gets in trouble less at home, or is able to get his summer reading done, then strongly consider continuing his medicine all summer long.
4) Has your child had an ADHD checkup recently? Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children with ADHD, once they are stable, should have office visits about every 3 to 6 months to see how they are doing.
5) Could he attend a summer camp for children with ADHD? These specialty camps can be a good way to pick up new skills and get ready for a new school year.
6) Does your child need an evaluation by an ADHD specialist? If you have been considering this for some time, but just never got around to it during the school year, any extra time you may have during the summer may be a good time to schedule a visit with a Child Psychiatrist or a Child Psychologist for extra testing to see if your child could also have a learning disability, depression, behavior disorder, etc.
