Presbyterian | Your Story | Centennial Care | Summer 2020

8 Medicine can make a big difference in the lives of kids with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It can help them focus more and fidget less—at home and school. It can help them have better social skills too. The most widely used ADHD drugs are called stimulants. They have a calming effect in people with ADHD. Studies show that about 80 percent of kids with ADHD improve a great deal with this medicine. But it must be taken as directed. Work with your child’s provider There are different kinds of stimulants. And some children respond to one but not another. That means it can take some time and maybe more than one follow-up visit with a primary care provider to find the right stimulant at the right dose. The best way to find an effective match is to work closely with your child’s primary care provider. Keep an eye on your child’s behavior. And tell your provider if your child’s symptoms improve or, as important, get worse. Watch for side effects too. Most can be eased—for example, by adjusting the medicine’s dose. Be aware, too, that medicine is never a replacement for other ways to help your child control their behavior, such as rewarding positive changes or using calm discipline. One last tip: No matter how much your child improves, stick with your child’s treatment plan, including their medicine. Never stop your child’s medicine without an OK from your child’s provider. Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Presbyterian Health Plan online provider directory Presbyterian Health Plan (PHP) has an online provider directory on www.phs.org . Choose “Find a Doctor” in the middle of the screen. Both members and nonmembers can search for providers using this online tool. In the directory, you can search the following information: • Name • Gender (male/female) • Specialty • Hospitals where they practice • Board certification • If they are accepting new patients • Languages they speak in the office • Office locations and phone numbers You can search for one or more of the items listed above. To get all of the information you want, fill in as many blanks as you want on the search page. The search page has instructions for both smartphone users and computer users. You can also get provider information on paper or by phone by calling the Presbyterian Customer Service Center at the number on the back of your member ID card. Parents: Stay the course with ADHD treatments