When taken appropriately, stimulant medications are considered safe by the vast majority of experts. As with many medications, however, there are certain groups of people for whom stimulants should be approached with caution, such as children with pre-existing heart conditions or tic disorders. In these cases, parents should work closely with their child’s doctor to determine whether a medication can be used safely. Parents should also take possible side effects into account when deciding whether or not to medicate, such as decreased appetite or insomnia.