Does your child have attention-defcit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)? Most children who take drugs
prescribed by a doctor for ADHD fnd that the right dose
helps them greatly with only mild side effects. To fgure
out what amount is right, your child’s doctor may have
to make dose changes or try different drugs. To be safe
when using ADHD drugs:
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The child must take the drug exactly as it is prescribed.
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When a child frst starts on an ADHD drug, parents
should set up an offce visit within the frst month
with the doctor who prescribed the drug. This helps
ensure that the medication is working well.
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Pay attention to how your child frst responds to the
drug. Ask his or her teacher as well. Since the best dose
of each drug is not decided by a child’s size or weight
alone, reports from parents and teachers help the doctor
make sure that the child is receiving the right dose.
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Track progress using the drug over a period of time.
There are checklists and rating scales that can help
you do this. Ask the doctor about how to get them.
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See the doctor who prescribed the drug at least
two more times within the next nine months to help
ensure that the drug is working well. These two visits
could happen during well-visit checkups.
What to expect
As children grow, the dose is expected to change. It’s
important to see the doctor for well visits and
use this time to talk about any ADHD drug your
child takes.
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Tell the doctor if your child is taking other
medicines (even those sold over the counter),
vitamins or supplements.
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Watch how well your child progresses in school, at
home and overall.
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Call the doctor who prescribed the drug if you have any
concerns or questions.
Source: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry website:
Practice Parameters for the Assessment and Treatment of Children and
Adolescents with ADHD (2007): aacap.org
Really ready? Kick the habit
If you are ready to quit smoking, call us at
1-888-279-1227. Ask for a Quit Kit. This kit is
full of resources and tools to help you quit. You also
can call the Wisconsin Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW
to talk to someone over the phone. Talk to your doctor
too. There are local programs and classes that can
help. Make today the day you choose to kick the habit.
Share for better care
When you see a specialist or go to the emergency
room, are you telling your doctor? Making sure your
doctor and specialists all know about all the care
you get helps the doctors so you don’t have to go
through the same tests twice. And that saves time
and money. It helps to make sure you have the best
outcome for your health concern. You play a big
role in making sure you get the right care for any
problems you have.
Be sure to:
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Share the names of each of your other doctors
and other types of health care providers with all
of the doctors who give you care.
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Tell your doctors, especially your main doctor,
when you are prescribed medicine from more
than one doctor, are hospitalized or see
a specialist.
•
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Sign a consent form for the release of medical
records so your information can be shared by
different doctors and providers.
Remember to share for better care.
ADHD drugs: what you should know
New to the plan?
Get an initial health exam
The frst exam with your doctor is called an initial
health exam. It’s very important. You should get it
right away. Why? It helps your doctor:
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Learn about you and your health before you
get sick.
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Look at past or ongoing health issues.
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Go over the drugs you’re taking to make sure
they’re working.
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Tell you what checkups, shots or tests you need.
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Study your family’s medical history.
Call your doctor or PCC for an exam today!
4 · My Health