How Do I Manage Medication Side Effects?

Free Resource: ADHD Medication Tracking Log

Learn to recognize the signs that your treatment plan is (or is not) doing its job — and how to solve common medication problems. Plus, use our easy-to-use medication log to track your symptoms over time.

Laurie Dupar
By Laurie Dupar, PMHNP, RN, PCC Verified Updated on February 8, 2023
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We know from years of research that ADHD meds work — in fact, studies show they work up to 80 percent of the time. Unfortunately, many children and adults taking ADHD medications for the first time find their prescriptions don’t work the way they expected at first.

Sometimes, the medication is the problem. Other times, the expectations are the problem. Either way, it’s good to know how to tell when a treatment is a success, and when it’s clearly failing.

Here, author Laurie Dupar, PMNHP details the key indicators that medication is working, bad signs and common side effects, then — most importantly — what could be causing the problem. Included is a medication log to track symptoms day by day.

Using these guidelines, you can determine if a treatment is doing what it should, and optimize the medication’s effectiveness over time.

NOTE: This resource is for personal use only.

How to Treat ADHD in Children: Next Questions

  1. What ADHD medications are used to treat children?
  2. Is ADHD medication right for my child?
  3. What are common side effects associated with ADHD medication?
  4. What natural treatments help kids with ADHD?
  5. What if the medication stops working?
  6. How can I find an ADHD specialist near me?