About this episode

Ryan and Mike discuss the safety and management of ADHD medications, addressing common concerns and emphasizing informed decision-making.

Hosts Ryan and Mike tackle one of the most frequently asked questions from parents: Is ADHD medication safe? In this first installment of a two-part series, they break down what the long-term research actually shows about stimulant medications, address common fears around side effects — including appetite suppression, sleep difficulties, growth concerns, personality changes, tics, and cardiovascular risks — and explain how each is typically monitored and managed by prescribers. They also discuss the medication holiday debate, make the case that medication decisions should be adult-guided with input from the child rather than child-decided, and explain why pharmacogenetic testing doesn't deliver on its marketing promises. Throughout the episode, Ryan and Mike emphasize that the right question isn't just whether medication has risks, but what the risks of untreated ADHD look like — and that informed decisions should be made with a licensed clinician, not strangers in Facebook groups. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}}[00:00:00]…

People in this episode

Hosts: Ryan, Mike

Topics covered

• ADHD medication
• safety of ADHD medication
• side effects of ADHD medication
• medication decisions
• pharmacogenetic testing
• untreated ADHD risks

Keywords

• ADHD
• medication
• side effects
• treatment
• parenting
• growth concerns
• pharmacogenetic testing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: www.grownowadhd.com, www.adhddude.com, Facebook

More episodes of The ADHD Parenting Podcast

• Top Three Tips For A Successful School Year (High School) · August 26, 2026 · 20 min
• Top Three Tips For A Successful School Year (Elementary & Middle School) · August 12, 2026 · 26 min
• Competent Roles for Kids with ADHD · July 22, 2026 · 26 min

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