When Erin Delaney March was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, she was 8 years old. Like most children with the disorder, March was prescribed medicine to help keep her focused and took it every day. But now, at 21, she self-regulates her medication.
“I still take my medication. I usually take it Monday through Thursday, because that’s when I’ll have my (college) classes, and then if I need to study on the weekends, I’ll take it,” March said. “When I graduate college, I’m not sure if I’ll still be taking it. Because I’ve found that I’m more creative without it.”
With more than 6 million children ages 4 to 17 diagnosed with ADHD in the United States, more and more are going into adulthood and wondering whether to continue taking their medication to combat symptoms and, if so, how often. March is just one of them.
Treatment for kids
ADHD is a disorder that deals with the inability to focus, and it comes in three types: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive and combined. A person with the inattentive type of ADHD – also called attention-deficit disorder, or ADD – has trouble following directions or paying attention to details and is easily distracted.
A person with the hyperactive type of ADHD is restless, has trouble sitting still and is impulsive. A person with the combined type has equal amounts of inattentiveness and hyperactiveness. The CDC says these children are impulsive and restless, whereas children with ADD do not have the hyperactivity characteristic.
Pediatricians and child psychiatrists typically give parents a few treatment options: medication, behavior modification or both. Nearly 43% of children with ADHD in America are treated with medication alone. Some commonly prescribed medications are amphetamine/dextroamphetamine, known as Adderall; methylphenidate, known as Concerta or Ritalin; and lisdexamfetamine, known as Vyvanse.
