Find a therapist to help with ADHD

ADHD stimulant medications can have different duration of action in different children.

Medications are made to last a certain time, but that can still vary from child to child.

Factors like age and daily demands will impact medication planning .

Just because it's a long-acting medication doesn't mean it will last long enough.

All People With ADHD Are Not Alike

There’s a popular saying in the clinical world: “If you’ve met one person with ADHD, you’ve met one person with ADHD.” Every individual’s ADHD and their medication responses present uniquely to their brain and body. I was reminded of this recently over the course of a single day in my office as several patients and families described their experiences with stimulants—and the stark contrast in their stories caught my attention.

Consider these real-world examples from my practice:

The 1st Grader: Their extended-release Focalin (dexmethylphenidate ER) wore off by lunchtime, requiring a second mid-day dose.

The Young Adult: A single short-acting Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) in the morning lasted all day. Taking it any later meant tossing and turning all night.

The High Schooler: Once thrived on Vyvanse’s (lisdexamfetamine) all-day benefit, but suddenly found it fizzling out after just four hours.

The 8th Grader: As coursework........

© Psychology Today