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One in ten of America's children has an emotional disturbance such as
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression or anxiety, that can
cause unhappiness for the child and problems at home, at play, and at
school. Many of these children will be taken by their parents to their
family physician or pediatrician, or, in many cases, a specialist in child
mental health. The child will be carefully evaluated and may begin some
type of therapy. There are many treatment options available. Choosing the
right treatment for your child is very important. Each child is different.
At times, psychotherapies, behavioral strategies, and family support may
be very effective. In some cases, medications are needed to help the child
become more able to cope with everyday activities.
If you are planning to have a doctor see your child, you should share a
record of any of your child's medical problems, any medications your child
is taking, including over-the-counter medications or vitamin and herbal
supplements, and any allergic reactions your child has suffered. If a
medication is prescribed for your child, there are certain questions you
should ask. It will be helpful to take notes as it is easy to forget
exactly what the doctor says.
- What is the name of the
medication and how will it help my child? Is the medicine available in
both brand-name and generic versions, and is it all right to use the
less expensive (generic) medication? What is the name of the generic
version? Is it all right to switch among brands, or between brand-name
and generic forms?
- What is the proper
dosage for my child? Is the dose likely to change as he or she grows?
- What if my child has a
problem with the pill or capsule? Is it available in a chewable tablet
or liquid form?
- How many times a day
must the medicine be given? Should it be taken with meals, or on an
empty stomach? Should the school give the medication during the day?
- How long must my child
take this medication? If it is discontinued, should it be done all at
once or slowly?
- Will my child be
monitored while on this medication and, if so, by whom?
- Should my child have
any laboratory tests before taking this medication? Will it be
necessary to have blood levels checked or have other laboratory tests
during the time my child is taking this medication?
- Should my child avoid
certain foods, other medications, or activities while using this
medication?
- Are there possible side
effects? If I notice a side effect—such as unusual sleepiness,
agitation, fatigue, hand tremors—should I notify the doctor at once?
- What if my child misses
a dose? Spits it up?
- How well established
and accepted is the use of this medication in children or adolescents?
You may think of other questions. Don't be afraid to ask. When you have
the prescription filled, be sure the pharmacist gives you a flyer
describing the medication, how it should be taken, and any possible side
effects it may have. The label on the medication will have lots of
information. Read the label carefully before giving the medication
to your child. The label will give the name of the pharmacy, its
telephone number, the name of the medication, the dosage, and when it
should be taken. It will also tell you how many times the medication can
be refilled.
If you want to learn more about your child's medication, you will find
helpful books at your public library, or the reference librarian can show
you how to look up the medication in the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR).
While a great deal of information about mental disorders and their
treatment in children is available on the Internet, care is required to
distinguish fact from opinion.
What Does "Off-label" Mean?
Based on clinical
experience and medication knowledge, a physician may prescribe to young
children a medication that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for use in adults or older children. This use of the
medication is called "off-label." Most medications prescribed
for child mental disorders, including many of the newer medications that
are proving helpful, are prescribed off-label because only a few of them
have been systematically studied for safety and efficacy in children.
Medications that have not undergone such testing are dispensed with the
statement that "safety and efficacy have not been established in
pediatric patients." The FDA has been urging that products be
appropriately studied in children and has offered incentives to drug
manufacturers to carry out such testing. The National Institutes of Health
and the FDA are examining the issue of medication research in children and
are developing new research approaches.
Help Your Child Take Medication Safely
- Be sure the doctor
knows all medications—including over-the-counter medications and
herbal and vitamin supplements—that your child takes.
- Read the label before
opening the bottle. Make sure you are giving the proper dosage. If the
medication is liquid, use a special measure—a cup, a teaspoon, a
medicine dropper, or a syringe. Often a measure comes with the
medicine. If not, ask your pharmacist which measure is most suitable
to use with the medication your child is taking.
- Always use
child-resistant caps and store all medications in a safe place.
- Never decide to
increase or decrease the dosage or stop the medication without
consulting the doctor.
- Don't give medication
prescribed for one child to another child, even if it appears to be
the same problem.
- Keep a chart and mark
it each time the child takes the medication. It is easy to forget.
Report provided
by the National Institute of Mental Health
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