School's Out... So Why Take ADHD Medication?

By Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D.

Q: Should my daughter take a break from her ADHD medication over the summer?

A: For some children, it may be a good idea to take a break from their usual medication for ADHD over the summer. For other kids, taking a drug holiday can be a real mistake. Deciding what to do requires parents and prescribers to weigh several factors:

• How kids behave when they arent taking their ADHD medication
• Whether theyre experiencing side effects from the medication
• What theyre going to be doing during the summer months

Years ago, many doctors thought that all kids who were taking ADHD medications needed to go on drug holidays from time to time. Back then, there were concerns that the medications might stunt a childs growth. But we now know that most kids on ADHD medications do not have any serious long-term problems with their growth rate.

However, there are some reasons to reduce the dose or stop the medication over the summer. This might not be a bad idea if your child happens to be very small for her age. The same goes if your child is a bit underweight. It might make sense to reduce the dosage during the summer if the medication has a big effect on her appetite.

Another reason some kids take a break is if they dont need the medication very much when they arent dealing with school and homework. Talk with your childs doctor. If the doctor agrees to stop the medication for the summer, he might recommend restarting at a reduced dose for about a week before school starts.

Doctors often use this kind of phase-in so kids wont feel too jittery from suddenly starting at the dose they were used to before. This approach tends to be used after kids have taken a break for more than a week or two.

But there are lots of kids who need ADHD medication for more than just school and homework. Does your daughter need medication to help with things like following directions or getting along with other kids? Then its probably a good idea to stick with the medication.

Summertime can be quite unpleasant if there are many days when your child gets caught up in hassles with other kids. Going off medication can also make some kids extremely moody .

Another reason many kids keep taking medication over the summer is that it may help curb risky behavior. Things like boredom and low self-esteem can lead some kids with ADHD to endanger themselves or others. This is a constant concern. But it may be especially important in the summer when kids have more free time.

As youre thinking about what to do, keep in mind that this doesnt have to be an all-or-nothing decision. For example, will your child be going to summer school? If so, then it might be a good idea to continue the medication for at least the weeks she has classes.

Also, summer school is often just a few hours in the morning. Taking a short-acting type of ADHD medication might work well on those days.

Camp is another activity to consider carefully. Ive heard stories about parents sending their kids off to camp without their ADHD medicationand without telling the camp their kids have ADHD! This can lead to all sorts of trouble.

Some kids need their ADHD medication to help them get along well with other kids. And some may need it to keep focused while learning new skills and routines. Taking ADHD medication during day camp or sleepaway camp may help your child participate more fully and successfully in camp life.

For day camp, longer-acting medications can be given at home just as they would be during the school year. Most sleepaway camps have a nurse or other staff member whose job is to keep the medication safe. This person will also make sure your child gets it at the right times.

Whether you decide to stick with medication during camp or take a break, its a good idea to talk to a camp staff member . Sharing behavior strategies that work for your child at home or in school can help smooth the transition to camp. Preparation is key!

And last but not least, be sure to talk to your childs prescriber as youre debating whether to take a break from ADHD medication. Together you can come up with the best plan for your child over the summer.

This post originally appeared on Understood.org .

More on Understood:

• Im Taking a Summer Break From Learning and Attention Issues
• At a Glance: How ADHD Medication Works
• Will ADHD Medication Change My Childs Personality?

Talk with other parents in the Understood Community about how youre changing your childs ADHD medication schedule over the summer .