ADHD Kids With Poor Sleep Benefit from Medicine
A research study was just published in the medical journal ‘Sleep‘ which reports on a study of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and poor sleep efficiency. It documents that a measure of vigilance improves when these children use the medication methylphenidate.
The researchers split 37 children with ADHD into two groups - good sleepers and poor sleepers, based on testing. They then found that the poor sleepers had a significant improvment in their awareness and vigilance on the neuropsychological test called the CPT (continuous performance task) when they took methylphenidate.
Methylphenidate is the active medicine in the following ADHD medications:
- Ritalin
- Ritalin LA
- Ritalin SR
- Concerta
- Metadate CD
- Biphentin
- Daytrana
- Focalin
- Methylin
- Rubifen
- and others…
Sleep problems can be very common in individuals with ADD or ADHD.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends the following:
Experts recommend that children in pre-school sleep between 11-13 hours a night, and school-aged children between 10-11 hours of sleep a night.
Your child should follow these steps to get a good night’s sleep:
* Follow a consistent bedtime routine.
* Establish a relaxing setting at bedtime.
* Get a full night’s sleep every night.
* Avoid foods or drinks that contain caffeine, as well as any medicine that has a stimulant, prior to bedtime.
* Do not go to bed hungry, but don’t eat a big meal before bedtime either.
* The bedroom should be quiet, dark and a little bit cool.
* Get up at the same time every morning.Parents who suspect that their child might be suffering from a sleep disorder are encouraged to consult with their child’s pediatrician or a sleep specialist.
Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Sleep Medicine, Ritalin, Medicine for ADHD
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Written by Dr. Kenny Handelman - The ADHD Doctor
To find get a FREE special report on ADD/ADHD Medication, visit: Medication Mastery
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August 5th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Hi,
The sciencedaily.com website commented ‘ The drug led to improvements in some measures of vigilance for poor sleepers with ADHD, but methylphenidate had no effect on the performance scores of children with ADHD who had good sleep efficiency, the study published in the journal Sleep indicated ‘
The point I would like to make is for some kids the ADHD symptons might be do to lack of good sleep. I have personally heard testimonials of parents who have improved the sleep of their ADHD kids through sleep systems taking kids off ritalin . I think sleep clinics claim this as well
I have noticed that some kids take meds for better sleep. Why would a pdoc not try Melatonin first ?
What meds are good for better sleep ?
Which meds are better taken at night ?
April 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
This is interesting and I am sure that as anything chronic illness and other psychological disorders we are all affected and express our situation differently.
My niece is ADD/ADHD but that wasn’t established until 4th grade and had tremendous negative impacts on her academic achievements, but luckily she has made huge strides since she began being treated with Adderal.
Anyway, the interesting association with her and this topic is she knows that she needs her medication increased when she stops being able to sleep. When dosage is at effective levels she is sleeping by 9 o’clock every night- and she is now 15 1/2- which in that age range I think is highly unusual. When it as stopped performing optimally she goes to bed at the same time but just lays there thinking incessantly, which of course decreases her performance in school.
Also, I notice my other niece when she was younger before diagnoses and treatment would stay up until no end - we’re talking a 5 year old that is still up at 2 - 3 in the morning. My son is the same way, he is now 7, and can literally stay up all night regardless of what we try to do to get him to sleep earlier and longer this just happens.
My son is not yet being treated because it is only recently that I have come to terms with his reality and he is scheduled for assessment, but I have no doubt this is the case. Hopefully with treatment he will sleep better and benefit in curbing his behavior to some extent and his focus.
Anyway, my point - ADD I think does have a significant impact on sleep patterns, and if the stimulants help that it is well worth using