ADHD Medication Titration
Titration and the Role of Parents
Prescribing ADHD medication isn't always an exact science. It can sometimes take weeks or months to arrive at the correct dose for your child. Make sure that all your questions about the medication and the titration process are answered. And make sure that you fully understand what to expect from the medication before you begin using it.
Parents, as well as the child with ADHD, will need to participate in this process. ADHD medications affect every child differently. So it's important to monitor your child for improvements and side effects during titration.
After your child has been taking the ADHD medicine for at least one week, you and your child's teachers should track ADHD symptoms. You and the teachers should be alert for and report any side effects that occur during treatment.
After a month of treatment, see your child's doctor again. At that time, the doctor can make sure that the:
- medicine is working
- dosage is correct
- side effects are acceptable to you and your child
Once the proper dose is established, experts recommend visiting the doctor regularly -- about every three to six months. The doctor will check whether the drug regimen your child is taking is still appropriate and effective.
If your child does develop side effects, don't change the medication dose or stop taking it without first talking to the doctor.