Ritalin drug holidays

Pediatrics for Parents, May, 2004 by Michael K. Meyerhoff

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, and others) is one of the primary drugs used to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Most children tolerate it well with few side effects. It has four dose-related side effects (side effects that increase as the dose is increased): loss of appetite, insomnia, abdominal pain, and headache.

Drug holidays are days off from a medication. The idea behind drug holidays is to give the child's body time to rid itself of the drug with the hope of lessening side-effects. Although methylphenidate drug holidays are not common in this country, they are used in many other countries.

Doctors in Brazil wanted to know if methylphenidate drug holidays affect the effectiveness of the drug and if the holidays lessen the incidence of side effects. The children in this study received their medicines during the week. On the weekends half continued to take their medicines, half received a placebo. The children's behavior was evaluated by their parents and teachers.

There were no significant differences in the behavior of the children in the two groups. However, the children who had the drug holidays had less insomnia and loss of appetite. The holidays had no effect on the other side-effects.

Drug holidays are generally not part of the treatment for children with ADHD in this country. However, in certain cases, weekend medication breaks may help lessen some of the side effects of this medicine.

Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, Summer/04.

Michael K. Meyerhoff, Ed.D., is executive director of The Epicenter Inc., "The Education for Parenthood Information Center," a family advisory and advocacy agency located in Lindenhurst, Illinois. He may be contacted via e-mail at epicntrinc@aol.com.