There is controversy surround the use of stimulant medications and antidepressants in children and adolescents. One of the arguments surrounds why they should not be used are the side effects. When children are taking medications, such as Ritalin, they may suffer from side effects like weight loss and sleeplessness. Stimulant medications may cause damage to the cardiovascular system and it is not clear how they affect the developing brain. Another side of the argument is medication use for children seems to have become a quick fix solution for behavior problems. It seems like it is easier to pick up a prescription than to go through non-medication options to fix the child’s behavior. The medications only invoke a short term span of concentration.
