Stimulants for your kid? Research says Yes.
Your child has been prescribed ADHD medication and you’re concerned about the effects. You’re not alone in that. Your child taking something called a “stimulant” with names such as Methylphenidate can sound scary. However, research has found that stimulant medication for children with ADHD is incredibly effective, with minimal side effects.
While researchers haven’t named one specific cause of ADHD, there is evidence that numerous factors are at play such as genetics, brain structure, and neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
Medication for ADHD is effective because it directly impacts neurotransmitters. However, recent studies have found that stimulant medication also aids in the change of brain structure which is amazing! This means that it’s possible for parts of kids’ brains to correct themselves quicker than if they were not taking ADHD medication, leading to fewer and less severe symptoms down the road.
Sources: 1Wu, F., Zhang, W., Ji, W. et al. (2024). Stimulant medications in children with ADHD normalize the structure of brain regions associated with attention and reward. Neuropsychopharmacol, 49, 1330–1340. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-024-01831-42U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, October 4). ADHD in adults: an overview.
https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/articles/adhd-across-the-lifetime.html3American Psychiatric Association. (2019, November 15). ADHD increasing among adults.
https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/adhd-increasing-among-adults