Back to School and Dose Changes
As summer winds down, parents nationwide are busy checking off school supply lists, purchasing new backpacks, and establishing back-to-school routines. For many families, this transition also includes managing new prescriptions or dosage adjustments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications.
Physicians typically have an increase in ADHD prescriptions during August and September as students prepare to return to the classroom. New prescriptions can mean different doses or formulations as students grow and adapt to their new classroom environments.
DID YOU KNOW?
Keeping leftover medications in the home poses a real risk to families and pets
When medication plans change, such as different medications or formulations, families should resist the urge to keep the discontinued drugs "just in case." Including any expired or unused ADHD medications.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology recommends not saving medication after it is no longer prescribed; instead discarding unused medication using proper disposal procedures.
Timely disposal prevents dangerous dosing errors, such as accidental doubling of doses, and helps mitigate the risk of drug diversion. This is a significant concern; according to a study published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, 18% of patients prescribed stimulants for ADHD have shared or sold their medication. Prescription medications should only be taken under the supervision of a medical provider.
