A drug holiday is a “medication vacation” during which a patient deliberately and temporarily stops taking a prescription. It is also a controversial topic with strong opinions on both sides.
In my practice, I field many questions from parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder about , especially over the summer. They often ask: Without homework or a school schedule, does my child need to continue to take their ADHD medication?Below are detailed answers to common questions regarding ADHD drug holidays to help you make an informed decision about your child or teen.1. Are there cumulative effects of taking ADHD stimulants?. They do not have cumulative effects over time. If your child takes one on a Monday, it works on Monday only.
ADHD, by definition, doesn’t affect people in just one situation, like school or work. Disorganization, impulsive behavior, forgetfulness, difficulty paying attention, etc., also happen in many other circumstances. Some parents may decide they can manage their child’s behavior during a medication vacation while others may not. Some parents may feel the negative impact of3.
If your summer vacation is spent lounging on the beach and playing video games, that scenario would not help you determine whether your children still need medication to thrive at school. You will only be able to answer that question if your children stop the medication while in school.Most people don’t, but some do. Usually, any side effects improve over time. Caregivers might want to discuss with their pediatrician how to help their children adjust to taking medication after a lapse.