Ever wondered what the short term and long term side effects of stimulants are on your child? Stimulants are the treatment of choice for many doctors who treat children with ADHD but that does not mean they are totally safe. In fact, many complications and dangerous side effects have been reported with the use of stimulants.
The problems with stimulants are that they are not a cure-all and do not help your child achieve permanent recovery. Many parents mistakenly believe that they can get rid of their child's ADHD if they give them stimulants. Some children may benefit from them, but others may not. Some children may simply be unable to take them because they suffer from too many dangerous side effects.
Some of the common side effects of stimulants on ADHD patients (both children and adults) are:
o Increased blood pressure
o Increased heart rate
o Increase of the level of glucose in the blood
o Euphoria
o Increased locomotion
o Restlessness
o Irregular heartbeat
o Palpitations
o Headaches
o Stomachaches
o Dizziness
o Insomnia
o Anxiety or nervousness
o Hallucinations
o Skin allergies
o Suppression of growth in children
o Extreme weight loss
o Loss of appetite
o Fever
o Hair loss
o Psychosis
These are only some of the many side effects of stimulants. There are many more of them that are not included in the list. Some of these side effects, though, are only very mild on some patients and can be treated easily with the help of a health professional. Also, in some patients none of these side effects are observed. It is perhaps because they tolerate the medication well. However, there are also many instances where the side effects are adverse in patients.