No one can tell you if your DS will require mediation throughout his adult years. There are far too many unknowns. You really need to speak with a medical professional skilled in treating ADHD. There a many reasons why medication may become less effective over time, it's not always because of a developing a tolerance for stimulants. For example, metabolism plays a huge roll in how effective a medication is and how long it remains in the body at a therapeutic dose. Typically, while kids are in a growth mode, they metabolize more quickly . When growth slows it's metabolized more slowly. Typically, medications need to be reduced as a person hits their 20s because their metabolism/growth slows. That's why it's important to work with someone skilled in ADHD medication treatment and not a generalist.

My 17-year-old has been on meds for inattentive ADHD since he was 7. He started with Adderall (lost too much weight), switched to Ritalin, then Focalin, then back to Ritalin, with a few breaks during the school year (when he resisted taking them) and a long break every summer. At this point his usual dose is actually lower than it was a few years ago, although he takes more on days with major exams. I expect that he will continue with Ritalin as long as he is in school (if he hasn't outgrown it by 17, he likely won't), but that he'll manage to find a career that interests him enough that he only needs it occasionally.

Anonymous wrote:If ADHD meds work does this mean that your child will be on them continuously through adulthood? I have read that young children don't develop a tolerance to the drug as adults do but I would assume that the dosage increases overtime. Does anyone have a teen who started meds around age 7-8 and has stayed on them for 10 years?

DD's current dosage is the lowest and is having a mild but noticable positive effect with no real side effects. I'm hesitent to up the dosage to get better effects and trade off getting side effects and my concern about how this play out long term.

There is no real answer to the question. For kids who suffer primarily from hyperactivity, many do "outgrow" it at some point and can manage without medication. For primarily inattentive kids, my understanding is that they often do continue on them.

Dosage does tend to increase over time, but again, it depends on the child and how they react to medication. Some kids find a medication and are able to stay on it long-term with no effects. Some never find a medication that really works, and some do need an increased dose. We happen to have a DS who has been on low doses of different ADHD meds -- increasing the dosage in his case has not been helpful at all. So far, he's taken only long-acting meds, but we are considering going forward with more of a mix of long- and short-acting. The long-acting don't last nearly as long as they are supposed to (DS has a high metabolism) and his psychiatrist thinks short-acting may actually work better for him. (DS started meds at 6 and is now 9).

Good luck, OP!

If ADHD meds work does this mean that your child will be on them continuously through adulthood? I have read that young children don't develop a tolerance to the drug as adults do but I would assume that the dosage increases overtime. Does anyone have a teen who started meds around age 7-8 and has stayed on them for 10 years?

DD's current dosage is the lowest and is having a mild but noticable positive effect with no real side effects. I'm hesitent to up the dosage to get better effects and trade off getting side effects and my concern about how this play out long term.