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Drug Holidays From ADHD Medication: International Experience Over the Past Four Decades.

Drug Holidays From ADHD Medication: International Experience Over the Past Four Decades.
Drug Holidays From ADHD Medication: International Experience Over the Past Four Decades.
OBJECTIVE:
ADHD is managed by stimulants that are effective but can cause growth retardation. Prescribers should ideally monitor children and trial a "drug holiday" to enable catch-up growth. Our aim was to map the experience of drug holidays from ADHD medication in children and adolescents.
METHOD:
A comprehensive search of the literature identified 22 studies published during the period 1972 to 2013.
RESULTS:
Drug holidays are prevalent in 25% to 70% of families and are more likely to be exercised during school holidays. They test whether medication is still needed and are also considered for managing medication side effects and drug tolerance. The impact of drug holidays was reported in terms of side effects and ADHD symptoms. There was evidence of a positive impact on child growth with longer breaks from medication, and shorter breaks could reduce insomnia and improve appetite.
CONCLUSION:
Drug holidays from ADHD medication could be a useful tool with multiple purposes: assessment, management, prevention, and negotiation.
1087-0547
551-68
Ibrahim, Kinda
54f027ad-0599-4dd4-bdbf-b9307841a294
Donyai, Parastou
1dcc4d41-10cd-4ec8-a6c3-4abea39d4f44
Ibrahim, Kinda
54f027ad-0599-4dd4-bdbf-b9307841a294
Donyai, Parastou
1dcc4d41-10cd-4ec8-a6c3-4abea39d4f44

Ibrahim, Kinda and Donyai, Parastou (2015) Drug Holidays From ADHD Medication: International Experience Over the Past Four Decades. Journal of Attention Disorders, 19 (7), 551-68. (doi:10.1177/1087054714548035).

Record type: Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
ADHD is managed by stimulants that are effective but can cause growth retardation. Prescribers should ideally monitor children and trial a "drug holiday" to enable catch-up growth. Our aim was to map the experience of drug holidays from ADHD medication in children and adolescents.
METHOD:
A comprehensive search of the literature identified 22 studies published during the period 1972 to 2013.
RESULTS:
Drug holidays are prevalent in 25% to 70% of families and are more likely to be exercised during school holidays. They test whether medication is still needed and are also considered for managing medication side effects and drug tolerance. The impact of drug holidays was reported in terms of side effects and ADHD symptoms. There was evidence of a positive impact on child growth with longer breaks from medication, and shorter breaks could reduce insomnia and improve appetite.
CONCLUSION:
Drug holidays from ADHD medication could be a useful tool with multiple purposes: assessment, management, prevention, and negotiation.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 24 September 2014
Published date: 1 July 2015
Organisations: Human Development & Health

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 408686
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/408686
ISSN: 1087-0547
PURE UUID: 68f7bda1-b63c-42d2-98ca-cbd51f24eb56
ORCID for Kinda Ibrahim: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5709-3867

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Date deposited: 26 May 2017 04:02
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:17

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Contributors

Author: Kinda Ibrahim ORCID iD
Author: Parastou Donyai

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