Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Five-Year-Old on Adderall and Angry | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
My five-year-old son has ADHD. He is currently on 10mg of Adderall per day. This seems to be the right amount for him, however he is always talking of killing things since beginning this medication. He is also very verbally abusive. What can be done to solve this problem?— About to Give Up on Son in Nebraska | | | ANSWER |
October 1, 2001 | | | Dear About to Give Up,
A five year old who always talks of killing things, and who is "abusive" all day, is really not alright. These negative emotional responses could be a reaction to the medication he is on, or they could be a sign of another problem, such as depression. The solution may be a different dose, or a different medication, or a different non-medication approach. For more on these options, see Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment.
The main thing is, you should understand that the change in mood you have described is in fact a symptom of something being wrong. Any doctor who prescribes Adderall should be available to help figure out what is wrong, and help you fix the situation. The sooner you start working with that doctor to fix the problem, the better.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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