It’s important to know that all medications pose risks and potential side effects. Not all of them are guaranteed to have the same effect in everyone. Your own health and genetic history may also be a very important factor that your physician will take into consideration, since some medicines for ADHD are known to be of more concern for those with a history of heart disease or tics.

It should be noted also that while we will try to update this list as much as possible with new medical findings and research, there is no guarantee that we can be sure this list is the most up to date because things can change often, frequently, and rather quickly. It should also be noted that we here at ADHD Parent support do not recommend any one medication over another, because it is a decision that is best left up to you and your doctor. There is no such thing as the “best medications for ADHD” because it will vary from person to person. Not all medications have the same effect and results on everyone and so talking to your doctor is the best course of action to pursue. This ADHD medications list is here mainly for information purposes so if your doctor is talking about switching medicines you can have a familiarity of the different drugs available.

Another important thing to note is that some medications listed here have not been approved for all ages or may have certain age restrictions, such as being meant for adults only or not being studied in children under the age of 12 or 6. So depending on your child’s age not all of these medications may even be an option for you to consider just yet.

You may also want to consult with your health insurance company. Not all insurance companies will cover all medications, and many may even only cover the generic unless it can be proved medically necessary through your physician and the pharmacist. It is unfortunate because this leads to many parents being forced to try certain medications when they would rather avoid them.

To help make this list the least confusing, we’ve gathered the medications together under the type of generic name brand.

Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine: Adderall, Adderall XR

Methylphenidate: Concerta, Daytrona, Metadate CD, Metadate ER, Ritalin

Methamphetamine: Desoxyn

Dextroamphetamine: Dexedrine, Dextrostat

Dexmethylphenidate: Focalin, Focalin XR

Lisdexamfetamine: Vyvanse

Buspirone:Buspar

Clonidine: Catapres

Did we forget to list medications for ADHD you have used or heard of? Share it in the comments below.

As parents we’re left basically with unknown territory and the FDA and drug companies, which many people do not trust, especially knowing that many of the major drug companies provide funding for the approval of drugs. Stories of children having negative, even life threatening side effects to ADHD treatments and medications leaves many parents wondering if there is a safer and more natural remedy to help their struggling child and help them save their own sanity

In the uncharted territory of alternative treatments available parents must be just as equally cautious as they are about putting their child on medication. We live in a society where we would all like instant results and cures for our problems and ailments. Unfortunately there are many people who prey on this desire for us to believe there is a miracle cure and will try to convince you and sell you just about anything – and whether it’s safe or effective doesn’t matter to them. While we’d all like to take some sort of magical formula and watch all of our problems disappear, it usually takes quite a bit more work than that.

That is why this website ADHD Parent Support does not recommend or support any specific treatment or cure for ADHD symptoms. Every child is different, and so is every situation unique in diagnosing the condition as well as the way to treat it.

The best thing parents can do is to seek the trusted opinion of behavioral health specialists, educate themselves as much as possible in the different treatments available, and try to look at the situation objectively in making a decision to determine the best thing for their child’s health.

Allowing social media stigmas against medication or therapy or the opinions of family members, friends, or other parents influence your decision you may not ultimately be what is best for you and your child. This list is meant to be only a resource in helping you learn the different alternatives available that you can research further and discuss with your child’s doctor.

Here is an overview of natural remedy options:

Behavioral Counseling: While behavioral counseling is not a “natural remedy” in the form of something you can take or eat, it is one of the most useful and successful methods in treating ADHD successfully, with or without the use of other treatments or medications. For children too young for medication, or for those who constantly struggle with behavioral issues, it can take many months or years to see improvement, but in general it always leads to a more positive outcome.  Finding the right therapist is vital – be sure to find someone with a thorough understanding and plenty of experience.

Diet: Many parents and professionals have speculated that diet may be a way to change a child’s behavior. The keyword here is speculated, since there have not been a lot of studies done that effectively prove that it is what causes symptoms or can help alleviate them. The ADHD diet is a strict one that may also potentially deprive your child of nutritional value he or she needs that restricts a large amount of dairy, protein, and whole grains. For parents of picky eaters, it would be practically impossible to try this diet without first being involved in a major battle of what the kid can and cannot eat. Having other family members in the house would also cause a lot of grief with this. If you are considering a special diet for your child, it would be best to first speak with your pediatrician and a nutrition specialist who can perform allergy tests. You may likely be best off simply following the USDA’s guidelines for a well balanced diet outlined by the food pyramid.

Vitamins: From fish oil to flaxseed to Vitamin C, there are plenty of supplements and vitamins available that many believe could potentially help with ADHD. However, most people do not realize that if they are eating a well balanced and nutritional diet they do not need vitamins – and taking more vitamins that your body needs can be much more dangerous than a potential deficiency. For example, takin iron supplements without the direction or advice of a doctor can be fatal. Again, speak with a pediatrician or child nutritionist before taking any course of action. You can likely get all of the child’s needs in a well balanced diet without the need of supplements. See our article on ADHD Vitamin Supplements.

Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for treatment of emotional or physical symptoms. While there have been proven studies that certain smells do change our patterns of brain waves, it is also another untested territory related to ADHD. It is believed that citrus smells such as orange and lemon can be related to helping improve focus and concentration, where smells such as lavender can help with relaxation. Will burning scented aromatherapy candles transform your child’s behavior overnight? Most likely not, but at least your house will smell good!

Music Therapy: Music therapy is another natural remedy option that some parents may wish to explore. There is some research supporting the effect of music in calming and focusing, though specific ADHD treatment studies are few and far between. You can find meditative music just about anywhere, though there are other audio tracks that work specifically on tuning to certain frequencies and rhythms to produce an effect. Speaking to a reputable and experienced music therapist can give you more information and insight on this type of treatment.

Meditation: Meditation is another possible treatment source for ADHD that does not require drugs or medication. However, it is quite likely that you will have difficulty in getting your ADHD child to sit somewhere long enough to practice meditative techniques. If you can find a child meditation specialist in your area, that may help you learn ways to get him or her interested. While it most likely will not cure ADHD, as there is no cure, it could be a good way to learn how to manage hyperactivity and over stimulation.

With so many different ADHD natural remedy options, it is not surprising that some parents may decide to try these instead or in lieu of professional advice. Many parents are looking for that magical miracle cure when unfortunately one does not exist, and it can take years of experimentation with medications, therapy, and other treatments before finally finding the right combination of things that is best for you and your child. For these reasons, it is imperative to start things off right and as soon as possible by talking to your child’s doctor. The sooner you start seeking help, the sooner you will better understand the disorder and begin seeing hope again.

But when attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is properly diagnosed, for many parents choosing to medicate your child may be the best solution in conjunction with behavioral therapy. Most professionals, despite what the media would make you think, do not automatically prescribe Ritalin or Concerta just because parents can’t stand their child’s behavior anymore. Usually it is only after an extended period of time with behavioral therapy proves ineffective and other alternatives do not provide relief do physicians then suggest the possibility of using pharmaceuticals.

It is important for parents and children to realize that ADD is not just a label for poor behavior. While it may seem unfair to view it as a disability, realizing that it is a medical condition equivalent to other manageable diseases and conditions such as diabetes that need constant monitoring and controlling can help you understand why using medicines may be eventually the only option that can actually result in great improvement.

Much of the concern of using medications for ADHD stems from the potential side effects, which are often loss of appetite, insomnia, lethargy from too high of a dose, and other potential problems resulting from family genetics and history of other diseases. Most physicians will require a full report of family history as well as do a thorough physical exam before prescribing ADHD medication treatment. For example, if there is a history of heart disease or sudden unexplained deaths in a family, most doctors will require testing such as an EKG and a full cardiology exam before writing the prescription to ensure that the child’s genetic disposition does not put him or her at an increased risk for using drug treatments.

All pharmaceutical drugs pose a risk to all people, regardless of age, gender, race, or family health history. Often times an underlying and undiagnosed condition are the culprit in severe side effects or complications associated with using drugs to treat the disorder. If ADHD medication side effects are a primary concern for you, your doctor should be willing to discuss the potential risks with you openly. It is then necessary for you to decide if the potential risks outweigh the possible benefits and vice versa. For example, if your child’s diagnosis is something that makes him or her do dangerous things that may cause injury to oneself or others, it is likely the potential benefits far outweigh the risks. It may also be necessary in cases where daily life has become so unbearable that both the parents and the child can no longer cope or function with other tasks. When all other possibilities for treatment have been exhausted, it is likely that prescription drugs may be able to provide a huge relief for both parents and child.

Finding the proper treatment and dosage is usually the most difficult part for parents and physicians to determine. Most doctors will begin at the lowest possible dosage and then monitor the child’s changes in behavior and progress in order to determine if the right treatment has been selected, or if a higher dosage may result in a much better outcome. There are many different types of brand names for the different prescriptions available, the most commonly known one being Ritalin. Concerta over the past few years has become more popular, and there are also other types as well. Almost all of the different drugs are some type of form of the stimulant Methylphenidate. While Ritalin is the one with the most bad press, it is also the oldest one that has been in use, which makes many doctors feel most comfortable with it because it has been studied for a long period of time (several decades) and is considered to be one of the safer ones.

However, one of the problems with Ritalin is that it is not long lasting. Most dosages may wear off after only 4 to 6 hours, which is barely enough to cover a school day, let alone make it through homework time or other activities. Because of this shortcoming, there are now several extended release formulas available which generally last 12 hours or so, depending on the child’s reaction to the product.

Your doctor should be able to provide you with adhd medication comparisons to help you determine the best treatment options for your child. Since medication legislation, dosages available, new brands and developments, and other important information often frequently change, rather than list all of the possible drugs here for you to compare and decide, we feel that it is best for you to speak about it with your doctor, who should have a list available for you to look at for weighing the pros and the cons.

A well qualified and experienced physician/child psychiatrist will be able to tell you from personal experience as well as the latest news releases and information updates which medications for ADHD are considered to be the most beneficial and pose the least amount of risk for side effects complications to your child. Remember that everyone’s personal health history and situation is different, which is why you will much likely be at more benefit to speak with your doctor than rely on information you read on websites.

Having open communication with your child’s doctor will greatly help clear up any confusion you have, as well as address your fears, hopes, and concerns. Your child’s physicians should be seen as your biggest assets and allies in controlling, managing, and effectively living with ADHD, as they are able to assess the situation objectively and suggest the best possible solutions.