Study: Young children diagnosed with ADHD often prescribed medication too soon
10 days ago
- #medication
- #child health
- #ADHD
- Young children diagnosed with ADHD are often prescribed medication too quickly.
- The study examined health records of nearly 10,000 preschool-aged children (3-5 years) diagnosed with ADHD between 2016-2023.
- 68% of diagnosed children were prescribed medications before age 7, mostly stimulants like Ritalin.
- 42% of children received prescriptions within 30 days of diagnosis.
- Clinical guidelines recommend starting with behavioral interventions before medication.
- Side effects of ADHD medications can include irritability, aggressiveness, and emotional problems.
- 76% of diagnosed children were boys.
- Researchers call for further investigation into the appropriateness of early medication treatment.