Five Guidelines for Adding a Medication
- A child should not begin taking two or more medications at the same time. Meds should be introduced one at a time, enabling you and your doctor to monitor any side effects that occur, and to measure the effects on his mood and behavior.
- If your child is taking more than one medication, dosages should be changed one at a time. It’s impossible to evaluate the effect of each change if more than one is altered.
- New medications should be added and dosage changes made when your child’s life and routine are as stable as possible. You want to avoid times like the start of a new school year, vacation, a move to a new home or a medical illness.
- When you change or add medications, it’s important to let everyone on your child’s team know — including her teachers and other caregivers — and check in to find out how she is doing.
- When you evaluate the effects of a medication, it’s important to note other changes in your child’s life at home and at school that might affect her emotions and behavior. Don’t assume that any change is a result of the medication.