Medication and Children — Should They Go Together?

No one should minimize the complex and often highly emotional issues involved in medicating children. The ultimate decision is typically very difficult for parents, and the discussions among schools, teachers, parents and communities are often lengthy, heated, and on-going.

Whatever you read in this document will not resolve the debate of whether or not children should be on medication. Rather, the goal will be to give you basic information on some of the disorders that often enlist the use of medication, and to offer some questions you can ask the appropriate professionals.

When children show signs of inattention, anxiety, or even depression, there may be a need to seek professional help to assess what is occurring. Difficulty in school, poor social interaction with peers, or even family discord can be signs of concern. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in ten of America's children have an emotional disturbance that can cause unhappiness (NIMH, 2000).

Listed below are some of the disorders that often combine medication with mental health therapy for children as outlined by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, (AACAP):

Attention Issues:
Symptoms can include: difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and acting without thinking (impulsiveness).

Anxiety issues:
Symptoms can include: refusing to go to school, separation or social fears, phobias, and/or posttraumatic stress disorders.

Autism:
Symptoms can include: communication delays/difficulties, rigid patterns of thinking, or acting closed off or shut down.

Depression:
Symptoms of childhood depression: continued feelings of sadness, loss of energy, helplessness, and hopelessness.

Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD):
Symptoms of OCD can include: recurring obsessions, intrusive thoughts, and repetitive behaviors.

Severe aggression:
Symptoms of aggressive behavior can include: prolonged self-abuse, aggressive behavior, and property damage.

Sleep problems:
Symptoms of sleep concerns can include: insomnia, night terrors, separation anxiety, and sleepwalking, (AACAP, 2000).

It may not be as easy as finding or identifying just one of these disorders. Your child may have a combination of issues, which may show different signs and symptoms from day to day. Additionally, some of these disorders can be serious and may need direct intervention from a health care professional.

Medications given to children can be concerning and confusing to the parent. Whether you are considering medication for your child, or whether your child is already on medication(s), there are certain questions you can and should ask of your doctors:

1. How do the medications work?
2. When will the medication begin to work and how long will it last? Some medications can take effect within thirty minutes while other medications may take weeks to show their full effect.
3. Are there any medication side effects?
   • What are the signs and symptoms of the side effects?
   • How serious are the side effects?
   • How can the side effects be treated?
4. Will my child need to take this medication on a permanent basis? Will they be addicted to this medication? Will the medication predispose my child to illegal drug use?
5. How should my child act while on medication? (Behaviors among children will always vary, but there will likely be similarities that you can expect).
6. Who are the members of the treatment team (Psychiatrists, therapists, nurses, medical care hotlines for 24-hour care)?

Some of these questions can be reasonable, and others may seem far-fetched. When it comes to children, even the far-fetched questions need to be answered. You can do some research on the various medications, but use your doctor's expertise to explain how these medications work or if there are alternatives that you may prefer.

Expect clear answers to your questions. Open communication regarding your questions and the progress your child is making is of the utmost importance. Of all the factors discussed in this article the most important question you want to ask of your doctor is: Does this medication help my child in his/her daily life?

Information in this document is taken from the resources cited and developed for use by the general public. It is not intended as medical/clinical advice or treatment. Only a healthcare provider can make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment plan. For more information about your behavioral health benefits, you can call the member services or behavioral health telephone number listed on your healthcare identification card.

References:

National Institute of Mental Health. (2000). Your Child and Medication. Retrieved, September 4, 2004 from the World Wide Web.
Website: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/childned.cfm

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2002). Psychiatric Medication For Children and Adolescents. Retrieved, September 9, 2004 from the World Wide Web.
Website: http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/psychmed.htm