ADHD and Medication
ADHD symptoms can impact a person at home, in the classroom or at work. After receiving an ADHD diagnosis for yourself or your child, you might be thinking about the options available to help manage these symptoms. Medication can be an important part of a comprehensive or multimodal ADHD treatment plan that might include behavioral or routine changes, exercise and meditation. However, it is your personal decision and you should not feel pressured into using or not using medication.
It can be difficult to make decisions about using medication to treat ADHD. There are numerous medications which may have varying effects on each individual. The ADHD Association does not prescribe or specifically recommend what treatment is best for you or your child but we offer some thoughts and resources below to help you with that decision.
In making medication decisions, it will generally be useful to:
- Talk to your child’s family doctor, pediatrician or psychiatrist.
- Talk to your family doctor or psychiatrist.
- Talk to other parents or individuals with ADHD. We have both an adult and a parent support group that meet monthly. Come join the welcoming and supportive groups where you can ask questions and talk about medication. Keep in mind that any medical information shared at these meetings is not to be taken as advice but is simply the experience of the individual.
- Browse our Facebook page: ADHD Association of Greater Edmonton for various perspectives and experiences with medication. The opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the ADHD Association.
- Do some online research using credible sources such as the following:
CADDRA GUIDE TO ADHD PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENTS IN CANADA – FEBRUARY 2024
ADHD Medication Options: Stimulants, Nonstimulants & More
CHADD – ADHD Quick Facts Medication in ADHD Treatment
CHADD – ADHD Quick Facts Complementary Interventions for ADHD.
*Information below retrieved from the province of Alberta in October 2020, click here to access the most
up to date coverage information.
Also: https://idbl.ab.bluecross.ca/idbl/load.do
Also: https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/dbl/publications.php
| Formulation | Trade Name | Coverage |
| Long-Acting Stimulants | Foquest | Not covered |
| Concerta | Not covered | |
| Adderall XR | Not covered | |
| MPH ER-C | Not covered | |
| MPH ER (Generic) | Covered | |
| Biphentin | Covered | |
| Vyvanse | Covered | |
| Vyvanse Chewable | Under Review | |
| Short Acting Stimulants | Ritalin | Covered |
| Ritalin SR | Covered | |
| Dexedrine | Covered | |
| Dexedrine Spansules | Covered | |
| Non-Stimulant Medications | Strattera | Not covered |
| Intuniv XR | Not covered | |
| *Information retrieved from the province of Alberta in October 2020, click here to access the most up to date coverage information. Also: https://idbl.ab.bluecross.ca/idbl/load.do Also: https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/dbl/publications.php |
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