As a parent, you want to take the best steps to properly address any mental health concerns your children may face. If your child has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), doctors may recommend they begin taking prescription drugs such as Adderall. However, starting a consistent regimen of stimulant medication is not always the best option for all children. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you should opt for Adderall or find an alternative over-the-counter ADHD medication for children like Brillia.
What Are Your Child’s ADHD Symptoms?
ADHD symptoms can vary, but generally, those with ADHD tend to experience impulsiveness, hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and anxiety. Symptoms can present themselves differently depending on your child’s age. For instance, 6-year-old anxiety symptoms may look like difficulty sleeping, not wanting to go to school, or an intense fear of the dark. Meanwhile, anxiety in a teenager may look more like panic attacks, increased social anxiety, or sensitivity to criticism.
While homeopathic meds like Brillia are not a cure for ADHD, the non-prescription tablets are specifically designed to target the symptoms of ADHD. The medicine provides a safe solution for lowering impulsiveness, improving focus, and minimizing anxiety without the harmful side effects of prescription drugs.
What Are Potential Downfalls of Adderall?
Adderall is one of the most common drugs used to treat ADHD in children and teens. However, the stimulant medication is associated with myriad side effects, including insomnia, mood changes, decreased appetite, and increased anxiety.
Ensuring your child gets enough rest is important, as inadequate sleep contributes to ADHD symptoms and has an impact on overall health. If Adderall continues to disrupt your child’s sleeping patterns after several weeks on the drug, it may be time to implement a consistent sleep routine or consider switching to an alternative that doesn’t have as great of an effect.
Although most mood changes are subtle once a child starts taking prescription drugs like Adderall, the effects can be more pronounced in some. Keep a journal documenting fluctuations in anxiety, aggressiveness, and anger so you can inform your doctor.
Stimulant medications like Adderall, especially extended-release, have a significant effect on your child’s appetite. Some studies have found that a decreased appetite after starting Adderall can result in weight loss, slowing a child’s growth in their first year of being on the medication.
What Are Possible Alternatives to Prescribing Adderall?
Adderall is not the cure-all for ADHD. Rather, you can try implementing a more holistic approach to caring for your child’s mental health. Explore lifestyle changes such as:
- Limiting screen time
- Establishing a sleep routine
- Focusing on a diet of unprocessed, healthy foods
If your child still experiences ADHD symptoms with these changes in place, consider trying a safer alternative to Adderall, such as Brillia, before jumping to prescription drugs as the solution.
Navigating your child’s ADHD diagnosis can seem stressful, but you have safe options that will not put your child at as much risk as prescription drugs such as Adderall. When comparing Brillia vs Adderall, you can see that Brillia provides a homeopathic alternative that can minimize symptoms, resulting in a happier, healthier child.