“How to Optimize Stimulant Treatment for Children and Adults: Better Symptom Management Without Side Effects” [Video Replay & Podcast #252]
Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#252), download the slide presentation for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on July 23, 2019.
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Episode Description
Many children and adults with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) find stimulant medications effective in managing their symptoms. Some find the stimulants less helpful or suffer from adverse side effects. Still others have trouble getting medication coverage when it is needed most — at school or after work.
Fine-tuning a medication to a person’s symptoms and body chemistry is a team effort. Medically speaking, a doctor’s repertoire of treatment strategies is typically limited to prescribing medication. Prescribers rely on parents and their adult patients to report any improvements, gaps in coverage, or negative side effects. Doctors use this information to determine the next medication adjustment, whether it’s changing the dose or switching to another medication. Working together will lead to the most effective treatment plan.
In this webinar, you will learn from Thomas Brown, Ph.D., about:
- The keys to helping your prescriber fine-tune stimulants to a child’s needs and body chemistry
- How to determine the most effective dose of stimulant medication, based on a person’s sensitivity to the medication being taken
- The advantages of starting with a minimal dose and gradually increasing the dose to determine the “sweet spot” between too little and too much
- How to safely extend medication coverage from the early morning until early evening
- How to monitor side effects and team up with your doctor to eliminate them
- How to work with your clinician to make a medication change
- How to best manage the “rebound effect” when the medication wears off
- How to combine short-acting, rapid-release forms of stimulant with long-acting forms to provide medication coverage in the morning
- The limits of medication in alleviating ADHD-related problems with executive functioning
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More on ADHD Medication
- Free Download: What You Need to Know to About ADHD Medications
- The Most Popular ADHD Medications: Comparison Chart
- 5 Rules for Using ADHD Medications Effectively
- ADHD Medications for Adults: ADD Treatment Q&A on Types, Side Effects
- eBook: ADHD Medication and Treatment
Meet the Expert Speaker
Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who received his Ph.D. from Yale University. He is Director of the Brown Clinic for Attention & Related Disorders in Manhattan Beach, California. He specializes in assessment and treatment of high-IQ children, adolescents, and adults with ADD/ADHD and related problems. After serving on the clinical faculty of the Yale Medical School for 20 years, Dr. Brown resigned to accept an appointment as Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.
Dr. Brown has served on the Professional Advisory Board for national CHADD and for the National Attention Deficit Disorder Association. He has published articles in professional journals and is author of six books on ADHD as well as the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scales for Children, Adolescents, and Adults published by The Psychological Corporation/Pearson. His most recent books are: Smart but Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD (2014) and Outside the Box: Rethinking ADD/ADHD in Children and Adults-A Practical Guide. Dr. Brown’s website is: BrownADHDClinic.com. He is a member of ADDitude’s ADHD Medical Review Panel. | See expert’s full bio »
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Listener Testimonials
- This was my first webinar on ADDitude. I am a parent just learning how to support my child with ADHD and this was very helpful. Thanks!”
- “Excellent speaker. I appreciate the content you produce and the help it represents. Dr. Brown clearly is a wealth of knowledge!”
- “Presentations are so valuable and incredible resources to share with others (I’ve introduced so many people to ADDitude!).”
How to Treat ADHD in Children: Next Questions
- What ADHD medications are used to treat children?
- Is ADHD medication right for my child?
- What are common side effects associated with ADHD medication?
- How can I address appetite suppression caused by ADHD medication use?
- How can I solve sleep problems associated with ADHD medication use?
- What can I do if ADHD medication use causes tics?
- How can I prevent the afternoon ‘medication crash?’
- What if my child becomes a ‘zombie’ while taking meds?
- Should my child take an ADHD medication vacation?
- What natural treatments help kids with ADHD?
- What if the medication stops working?
- How can I find an ADHD specialist near me?
Video Replay + Slide Access
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