ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. ADHD makes it difficult for an individual to concentrate and learn. ADHD can affect both children and adults. Adult ADHD symptoms include difficulty concentrating, inattentiveness, and restlessness.
ADHD medications help treat symptoms associated with restlessness, inattention, and impulsivity. The medications often increase focus and productivity.
Medication plays a large role in ADHD treatment. Doctors may choose from many types of drugs to control symptoms of ADHD. A doctor should work with you to find out which medications are right for you, along with the ideal dose and schedule. It may take some experimenting to find the best combination.
Medications may not work for all ADHD symptoms or affect patients in the same way. Oftentimes, a combination of medication, therapy, behavioral changes, and skills training is the most effective treatment. This is called multimodal treatment.
What are the Common Side Effects Related to ADHD Medication?
Some ADHD medications are known to cause side effects such as:
- Sleep problems
- Decreased appetite
- Stomach pain
Additionally, ADHD medications can lead to more serious medical conditions and incidents, such as:
- Heart attack
- Cardiovascular problems
- Stroke
- Sudden death
Experts generally consider ADHD medications safe when used properly and monitored by a professional. Serious problems are rare outside of abuse.
Can I Sue If My ADHD Medication Injures Me?
You may be able to sue if an ADHD medication causes you injury. A lawsuit can often be brought under different legal theories, including medication error or defective product claims.
A medication error is defined as administering or prescribing the wrong medication for a patient’s condition. A medication error is usually made by pharmacists, nurses, or doctors. It can also include errors in dosage, instructions, and other elements.
The FDA requires all companies making ADHD drugs to warn patients of any possible psychiatric and heart problems. Drugmakers are also required to inform patients of any actual or increased risk of developing health problems associated with taking prescription medication.
If a drug maker fails to inform patients about side effects or other problems, they can be sued if the product is deemed defective.
What Are Stimulants?
Stimulants have been used to treat ADHD for decades. Stimulants help you focus your thoughts and ignore distractions. Stimulant medications work for 70% to 80% of ADHD patients. They’re used to treat moderate and severe ADHD. Stimulants may be helpful for children, teens, and adults who struggle to concentrate at school, work, or home. Some stimulants are approved for use in children over the age of 3. Other stimulants are only approved for children over the age of 6.
Side effects of stimulants include loss of appetite, weight loss, problems sleeping, crankiness, and tics. Amphetamine stimulants are commonly abused. All amphetamine and methylphenidate stimulants used for ADHD may make heart and psychiatric problems more likely.
Long-acting stimulants have greater effects on appetite on sleep.
What Are Non-Stimulants?
In cases where stimulants don’t work or cause side effects, non-stimulants are used to treat ADHD. Non-stimulants can improve symptoms like concentration and impulse control.
Non-stimulant medications usually take a while to start working. It could be several weeks before you feel the full effects of non-stimulant medications. Non-stimulant medications may not work as well as stimulants. Some non-stimulant medications may raise the risk of suicidal ideations and death by suicide in teens. The FDA warns that anyone taking atomoxetine should be monitored for suicidal thoughts, especially during the first few weeks of a prescription.
Common side effects of non-stimulant medications include fatigue, upset stomach, dry mouth, and nausea. Blood pressure often rises when non-stimulant medications are discontinued.
What Are Antidepressants?
Many people with ADHD have depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. They may use antidepressants to control mental health issues or other conditions along with a stimulant for ADHD.
Antidepressants can be used off-label to treat ADHD symptoms. Doctors can prescribe antidepressants even though the FDA hasn’t approved them for use with ADHD.
Side effects on antidepressants often include trouble sleeping, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, sweating, and changes in sex drive. The FDA has also warned about a connection between antidepressants and a higher risk of suicide in adults aged 18-24, especially within the first month or two of treatment.
What is a Defective Product?
A defective product is considered any type of product that causes harm to an individual. The harm caused fits into three separate categories:
- Failure to Warn: For example, if the manufacturer failed to provide the proper information on the warning labels
- Design Defect: If the product is designed using inferior or dangerous chemical substances
- Manufacturing Defect: The design of the drug is satisfactory, but there was an error during production (manufacturing a batch that has too much of one substance in it)
A plaintiff wanting to win a defective product case must prove:
- The product had a dangerous, unreasonable defect;
- The defect caused the plaintiff’s injury while they used it in the way intended by the manufacturer; and
- The product has not been altered substantially from the way it was originally sold.
Treatment for ADHD and Other Conditions
Up to 80% of people with ADHD also have other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, personality disorders, depression, and substance abuse disorders. These conditions and their treatment can affect ADHD and vice versa.
For example, stimulants can make symptoms of anxiety worse. Treatment plans usually depend on overall mental health. Consult with a doctor before combining treatments for depression and ADHD.
What is Behavioral Therapy Training?
Children with ADHD often display behavior that can be disruptive to others. ADHD affects a child’s ability to pay attention or sit still at school. Additionally, ADHD may affect relationships between family and other children.
Behavior therapy is a treatment designed to reduce disruptive behavior. It is often helpful to start behavior therapy as soon as an ADHD diagnosis is made.
The goals of behavior therapy are to learn or reinforce positive behaviors and remove any unwanted or problem behaviors. Behavior therapy for ADHD may include:
- Parent training in behavior management
- Behavior therapy with children
- Behavioral interventions in a classroom setting
These approaches are often used in combination with each other. It is usually most effective for children in early childhood programs if parents and educators work together with the child.
Children under the age of 6 may try behavior therapy before trying medication. Parent training in behavior management gives parents skills and strategies to help their children. Parent training in behavior management has also been shown to work as well, if not better than medication for ADHD in children under the age of 6. Young children have more side effects from ADHD medications than older children do. Additionally, the long-term effects of ADHD medications on young children have not been well-studied.
Do I Need to Contact a Lawyer?
Dangerous ADHD medications can cause unforeseen medical problems and expensive medical bills. If your ADHD medication has injured you, contact a local class action lawyer about your right to recover from your injuries.
LegalMatch’s services can help you narrow down your search for an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area. Explore LegalMatch’s database today to schedule a free consultation. Our services are always 100% confidential.
