ADHD medications are safe for most children ages 6 years and older. A doctor may prescribe a stimulant or nonstimulant. Doctors often recommend behavioral therapy too.

Some children may outgrow their symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Others may continue to experience symptoms into adulthood.

The goal of any ADHD medication is to help reduce your symptoms — no matter your age. With behavioral therapy and counseling, medication may make the symptoms of ADHD more manageable for children.

With treatment, your child can live a well-adjusted life with ADHD.

For children ages 6 years and older, medication may be a safe and effective first-line treatment for symptoms of ADHD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Experts recommend behavioral therapy alongside medication for this age group.

However, in its 2019 Clinical Practice Guidelines for ADHD, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that medication is not recommended as a first-line treatment for children under 6 years old.

Instead, parent training in behavior management and behavioral therapy for your child is recommended. If behavioral interventions don’t improve your child’s symptoms, medication may be used.

The CDC says this is because in young children, medication may not be as effective, and the side effects may be worse.

Work closely with a mental health professional and your child’s pediatrician to determine the right treatment plan and to discuss your child’s options. You must receive a prescription for ADHD medication.

If you and your child’s doctor have determined that medication is right for your child, several Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved options are available for children:

Stimulants

Psychostimulants, also called stimulants, are the most commonly prescribed first-line medication for symptoms of ADHD.

They act very quickly but leave your body quickly. Your child will likely need to take a stimulant daily.

According to the Child Mind Institute, there’s a long history of research backing the safety and effectiveness of stimulants.

The idea of giving a child with hyperactivity or inattentiveness a stimulant may seem like a contradiction. However, stimulants have calming effects on children with ADHD. They increase brain chemicals linked to concentration and thinking.

The following classes of stimulants have received FDA approval for the treatment of ADHD in children:

Your child’s symptoms and personal health history will determine the type of drug their doctor prescribes. The first one your child tries may not work. Their doctor may need to switch their drug and dosage.

Use stimulants with caution

Because of side effects and possible misuse, mental health professionals and doctors prescribe stimulants with caution. Make sure your child takes their medication only as prescribed.

Nonstimulants

Nonstimulants don’t work as quickly as stimulants. But they still have a long history of research backing their use and received FDA approval in 2003.

A doctor may prescribe a nonstimulant when you want to avoid the side effects of stimulants or when stimulants aren’t safe or don’t work for your child.

The following nonstimulants have received FDA approval for the treatment of ADHD in children ages 6 years and older:

Q: What ADHD medication is most commonly prescribed for children?

A: Stimulants are the most commonly prescribed class of medication for ADHD in children. For younger children, methylphenidate is often used as a first-line medication. Nonstimulant medications may be more often prescribed for older children and as second-line medications. For children 6 years and older, the AAP says that any FDA-approved medication (by age) may be considered.

— Karen Gill, MD

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Common side effects

Many of the same common side effects reported in adults may also be reported in children. These may include:

Your doctor may need to adjust your child’s dosage to relieve some of these side effects. Most of the side effects will fade after several weeks of use.

If side effects persist, ask your child’s doctor about trying a different medication or changing the form or dosage of medication.

Less common, adverse side effects

Some medications, particularly stimulants, may cause less common, more adverse effects, such as:

Speak with your child’s doctor about whether the benefits of a certain ADHD medication would outweigh the risks.

Suicide prevention

If you think someone is at immediate risk of self-harm or hurting another person:

  • Call 911 or your local emergency number.
  • Stay with the person until help arrives.
  • Remove any guns, knives, medications, or other things that may cause harm.
  • Listen, but don’t judge, argue, threaten, or yell.

If you think someone is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

ADHD doesn’t have a cure. Medications are meant to help treat and manage your child’s symptoms.

The right combination of medication and therapy may help your child lead a productive life while coping with ADHD. This may take time, but it’s possible.

Regular monitoring of your child and interaction with their doctor may help ensure your child’s treatment is working.

Medication isn’t always required to treat ADHD. Sometimes behavioral therapy and psychotherapy are successful treatments for ADHD in children.

Your doctor can connect you with a therapist or psychiatrist who can help you and your child learn to cope with their ADHD symptoms.

Some children may also benefit from group therapy sessions. Your doctor or your hospital’s health learning office can help you find a therapy session for your child and possibly even for you, the parent.

All medications are safest when used correctly. Learn and teach your child to take their medication only in the way their doctor instructs. Diverging from this plan may cause serious side effects.

Until your child is old enough to wisely handle their own medication, you should administer it every day. Work with your child’s school to set up a plan for taking medication should they need to take a dose at school.

Treating ADHD is not a one-size-fits-all plan. Each child, based on their individual symptoms, may require different treatments.

Some children respond well to medication alone. Others may need behavioral therapy to learn to manage some of the symptoms.

By working with your child’s doctor, a team of mental health professionals, and even staff at their school, you can find ways to effectively treat your child’s ADHD with or without medication.

ADHD medications are safe for most children ages 6 years and older. Some may be used in children as young as 3 years.

Medication may not always be required, though. It’s not always the first-line recommended treatment for ADHD. Before starting your child of 6 years or younger on medication, it’s recommended to try a behavioral intervention.

If your child is older than 6 years, it’s recommended to use medication alongside behavioral therapy.

Speak with your child’s pediatrician and a mental health professional to determine the right course of treatment.

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