Disclaimer: This material is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor does it replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. Reference to a specific commercial product or service does not imply endorsement or recommendation of that product or service by CPCMG.
Sometimes certain physical conditions may mimic or worsen symptoms of ADHD. Therefore, it is important to consider these possibilities when evaluating a patient presenting with possible attention deficit and/or hyperactivity. For example:
- High levels of thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) may cause restlessness and jitteriness.
- Sleep apnea may cause poor quality sleep leading to both difficulty concentrating and hyperactivity (especially in younger children).
Certain medications can slow the brain’s ability to focus. For example:
- Allergy and anti-itch medications such as diphenhydramine (brand name Benadryl) and hydroxyzine (brand name Atarax)
- Sleep-aid medications
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Opioids
- Some seizure medications
- Benzodiazepines
- Antipsychotics/mood stabilizers.
Your clinician will take a careful history of your child’s overall health and determine if certain tests and referrals may be indicated. It is also important to let your clinician know of ALL the medicines(prescription, over the counter, and homeopathic) that your child is taking.