Medication Questions
Providers: Feel free to share this with the families you work with!
If you are considering medication for your child, the decision can come with a lot of uncertainty.
You may have a lot of questions or, like many of the families I work with, you may feel like you don’t even know what to ask.
To help, I’ve created a list of questions you can bring with you to your pediatrician or psychiatrist to help you decide if medication is the right choice for your child.
Read on to learn more or click below to download the handout!
Deciding to Medicate
First, you may be wondering whether medication is the right choice at all. For many families, the first question is simply:
“How do we know if now is the right time to try medication?”
Here is how I answer this question.
For me, medication is not a “first” answer. There are many supports and interventions we can try to support your child before considering medication.
These many include:
- Therapy,
- A school plan,
- Parent coaching,
- Executive functioning support, or
- Occupational therapy
…to name a few.
However, sometimes these supports are not enough. It’s as if the resources are there, but something is preventing kids from fully reaching them.
In this sense, medication can be like a step-stool, giving your child a boost so they can reach and benefit from the other supports available to them.
Questions for Your Provider
If you’re wondering if medication could be that missing tool from your toolbox, the next step is to talk directly to your provider. This may be a pediatrician, psychiatrist or other medical professional in charge of your child’s care.
Whether you are simply researching the possibility of medication or have decided you want to try this additional tool, it’s important to make sure you are well-informed about the Why, What, When, and How of medication.
Here are some of the questions you may find helpful to ask:
Why are we medicating?
First, make sure you understand the diagnosis and why medication is recommended. This may sound like:
- Why is now the right time for medication?
- How will this medication help?
- Are there alternatives we haven’t tried yet?
What is the medication?
Next, there are many different options for medication. It can be helpful to know what the provider has chosen and why:
- What is the name of the medication?
- Why have you chosen this specific medication?
- What other options are available?
- Are there side effects or interactions I should be aware of?
- Will this medication change my child’s brain?
When does my child take (or not take) it?
Some medications rely on consistency to work properly, while others can be taken as needed. It can be helpful to know how the specific medication works in your child’s body:
- When should my child take the medication?
- What happens if they miss a dose?
- Can they take a break on the weekends?
- Will they have to take it forever?
How will we know it’s working?
Finally, it is important to have a way to measure if the medication is having its intended effect. Here are some questions that might help you keep track:
- How long does it take to start working?
- What changes will my child experience?
- How often will you check in with us to monitor its effectiveness?
- How do we stop the medication if it’s not working as hoped?
I hope this has been helpful to inspire questions and help you feel confident about your next steps!
What to Tell Your Child
If you’re considering medication for your child, it’s important that they know why they are taking it.
This starts with making sure your child understands their diagnosis and the tools that will help them thrive.
Our Brains is a new book that was built to help guide parents like you through this conversation with your child, and help your child understand their amazing, unique brain!
With colorful visuals and interactive activities, this book encourages kids to explore their differences with the support of a parent or other caring adult.
Feel free to reach out with any questions using the link below.