How Do I Choose the Best ADHD Medication?

“ADHD Medication Options and Benefits for Children” [Video Replay & Podcast #438]

Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#438), download the slide presentation, and learn how to get a certificate of attendance for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on January 19, 2023.

Episode Description

The benefits of ADHD medication are well-documented: Children with ADHD are more likely to improve their focus and academic performance when receiving proper ADHD treatment. Effective treatment can also help boost a child’s self-esteem and enhance their ability to form long-lasting friendships.

Many parents can identify the most common medications used to treat ADHD, but they might be surprised to learn that more than 40 medications have been shown to effectively treat ADHD. How do you choose the best treatment option for your child, with all these options available? A healthcare provider who understands ADHD will recognize the unique characteristics of each medication and use that knowledge to recommend a treatment strategy tailored to your child’s specific needs. But even caregivers with the best treatment teams should understand their options.

In this webinar, you will learn about:

  • Research into the efficacy of ADHD medication for treating the core symptoms of ADHD, including inattention, distractibility, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
  • Why there are so many medications available to treat ADHD and how they differ
  • How your child’s health care provider determines which medication may serve them best
  • ADHD medication side effects and how they can be mitigated
  • The findings of 20 years of research involving the effects of medication on the ADHD brain from childhood into adulthood

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Download or Stream the Podcast Audio

Click the play button below to listen to this episode directly in your browser, click the symbol to download to listen later, or open in your podcasts app: Apple Podcasts; Google Podcasts; Stitcher; Spotify; Amazon Music; iHeartRADIO.

How to Treat ADHD in Children: Next Questions

    1. What ADHD medications are used to treat children?
    2. Is ADHD medication right for my child?
    3. What are common side effects associated with ADHD medication?
    4. What natural treatments help kids with ADHD?
    5. How can I find an ADHD specialist near me?

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on January 19, 2023, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »


Meet the Expert Speaker:

Walt Karniski, M.D., is a developmental pediatrician, trained at Boston Children’s Hospital. He was director of the Division of Developmental Pediatrics at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, for fifteen years. He then opened a private practice and for twenty years, evaluated and treated children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disabilities, and other developmental difficulties. During that time, he developed and operated three private schools for children with ADHD, anxiety, and learning disabilities. Over the forty years he has been practicing, he has evaluated and treated close to ten thousand children, conducted numerous studies of brain activity in children, and has been director of a child abuse program and a program for enhancing development in children born prematurely. Dr. Karniski approaches each child as a unique individual, with distinctive strengths and weaknesses, where the diagnosis does not matter as much as understanding the specific needs of that child. His new book is ADHD Medication: Does It Work and Is It Safe? (#CommissionsEarned) (Roman & Littlefield, May 15, 2022).

#CommissionsEarned As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.


Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this ADDitude webinar is….

Inflow is the #1 app to help you manage your ADHD. Developed by leading clinicians, Inflow is a science-based self-help program based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. Join Inflow today to better understand & manage your ADHD.

ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.


Follow ADDitude’s full ADHD Experts Podcast in your podcasts app:
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Amazon Music | RadioPublic | Pocket Casts | iHeartRADIO | Stitcher