Some children outgrow the need for it during school years and many more can discontinue medication when they leave school. Some will need it as adults. The side effects of medication have been grossly exaggerated and distorted. In fact, methylphenidate is one of the best researched and studied medications of child disorders. Side effects, if they occur at all, are transient as methylphenidate and dexamphetamine are short-acting medications.
Side effects tend to be dose or timing related.
In practice, problems with short-term memory in ADHD mean that there is a tendency for children to forget to take medication. Many children are able to recognise the improvement of medication on their ability to function more appropriately in everyday life. Clonidine should be cautiously used only by physicians significantly experienced in ADHD management, and after a cardiac examination. Its use has, however, made a significant difference to the effective management of ADHD and severe early onset oppositionality and conduct disorder. If anxiety, depression or obsessions persist once the core ADHD symptoms have been treated, this may warrant the introduction of other medications, such as fluoxetine.