Summer Medication Breaks for ADHD: Pros and Cons

As summer approaches, some families wonder if their child can take a “medication holiday” from ADHD medications like Adderall or Ritalin. While understandable, it’s important to consider the potential downsides.

The Benefits Don’t Outweigh the Risks for Most Kids For the majority of children, stopping ADHD medication leads to a return of symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Keeping them consistently on medication is usually the best approach for managing their ADHD. Brief holidays tend to disrupt their progress.

Some Families Still Want a break from ADHD medications. Families may have various reasons for wanting a medication break, like:

• Thinking the child has outgrown the need for medication
• Concerns about side effects like weight loss
• Wanting a break since it’s summer and less academic focus is needed

If a family feels strongly about trying a break, it can be considered – but with conditions.

How to Safely Try a Medication Holiday If you decide to try stopping medication temporarily:

• Discuss the likely re-emergence of ADHD symptoms and make a plan for what you’ll do if that occurs
• Look at the child’s summer activities – a medicated state may help them get more enjoyment and stay safer
• Set a specific time frame, like 1-2 weeks at first
• Identify ahead of time what behaviors would signal it’s time to restart medication
• Schedule a check-in to re-evaluate whether the break is still advisable
• Be prepared to restart medication if problematic symptoms return

The bottom line: Medication holidays aren’t ideal and come with risks of reversed progress. But some families still want to try. Close monitoring is essential to minimize disruption if ADHD symptoms return.

As you know, we will continue to see your child through the Summer via telemedicine or in person.