Understanding ADHD medications: What Parents Need to Know - Part One

<p>Hosts Ryan and Mike tackle one of the most frequently asked questions from parents: Is ADHD medication safe? In this first installment of a two-part series, they break down what the long-term research actually shows about stimulant medications, address common fears around side effects — including appetite suppression, sleep difficulties, growth concerns, personality changes, tics, and cardiovascular risks — and explain how each is typically monitored and managed by prescribers. They also discuss the medication holiday debate, make the case that medication decisions should be adult-guided with input from the child rather than child-decided, and explain why pharmacogenetic testing doesn&#39;t deliver on its marketing promises. Throughout the episode, Ryan and Mike emphasize that the right question isn&#39;t just whether medication has risks, but what the risks of untreated ADHD look like — and that informed decisions should be made with a licensed clinician, not strangers in Facebook groups.</p><p>Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.grownowadhd.com/">www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠ &amp; on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.instagram.com/grownowadhd/">IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><br>Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.adhddude.com/">www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>⁠ &amp; on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDDudeRyanWexelblattLCSW">Youtube⁠⁠⁠</a>{{chapters}}[00:00:00] Start[00:02:21] Long-Term Safety of ADHD Medication[00:06:15] Common Side Effects and How to Manage Them[00:10:51] Height Velocity and Growth Concerns[00:12:15] Personality Flattening and the Zombie Myth[00:16:11] Should Kids Take Meds Only on School Days?[00:19:05] Who Should Make Medication Decisions?[00:22:18] Why Genetic Testing Doesn&#39;t Pick the Right Med[00:24:05] Conclusion and Part Two Preview</p>