The purpose of this section is to provide a brief summary of medications used with children and adolescents. For up-to-date information on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications for children, please contact your physician, the FDA, NIMH, and/or other government-run organizations. 

Medications may be prescribed for children with mental, behavioral, and/or emotional symptoms when the potential benefits of medication outweigh the risks.  As a parent, you should ask your doctor questions related to the benefits and risks of medicating your child.

Questions to Ask Your Physician

1. What is the name of the medication, and what is it supposed to do? 

2. How and when do I give it to my child?

3. How long is my child going to be on this medication?

4. When do I stop giving it to my child?

5. What foods, drinks, herbal regimes, and/or medications should I avoid having my child take with this medication? 

6. Should it be taken with food or on an empty stomach?

7. What are the side effects?

8. What should I do if I observe these side effects in my child?

9. Is there a Patient Package Insert for this medication available? 

10. What is the difference between brand name versus generic medications (i.e., effectiveness, side effects, and costs)?

Medications should be used with other therapies (see Assessments and Therapies section). If medication is prescribed, it should be monitored and evaluated regularly (e.g., every 3 months).  Approval of a medication by the FDA means that adequate data has been provided to the FDA by the drug manufacturer to show safety and efficacy for children.  Based on the data, a label indication for the drug is established that includes proper dosage, potential side effects, and approved age.   

There are several different categories of mediations: stimulants, antidepressants, antianxiety, antipsychotic, and mood stabilizers.  Information on potential side effects of your child’s medication should be directly discussed with your physician.

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications
• Antidepressant and Antianxiety Medications
• Antipsychotic Mediations
• Mood Stabilizing Medications
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

Links for Medication

http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/learning_problem/ 

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/childmed.cfm 

http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/antidepressantsChildrenTips.cfm 

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html 

http://aacap.org/page.ww?section=Facts+for+Families&name= 

http://www.fda.gov/ 

http://google2.fda.gov/search?client=FDA&site=FDA&oe=&lr=&for+GO