Switching medication for ADHD is common and part of finding the right treatment for you. It may take trial and error, but the right treatment for you exists.

The first medication you try for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may not work how you expected it to — and that’s OK.

You’ll likely need to try different medications before finding the right one. This process takes time and isn’t meant to be one-size-fits-all.

The important part is that you don’t give up. The right ADHD treatment for you is out there. Discuss with your doctor other options that can help bring you the relief you deserve.

If you currently take ADHD medication

Do not stop your current ADHD treatment before speaking with your doctor about switching. Stopping without your doctor’s knowledge or advice may have negative health consequences.

Before your appointment with your doctor, take some time to jot down your:

Current side effects

You may want to track the side effects of your current treatment in the weeks ahead of your appointment. Of the side effects you’re experiencing, also note the frequency and severity.

Reasons for switching

In a 2021 claims-based study including 122,881 adults living with ADHD, nearly half reported a change in treatment after about 7 months. Of that half, approximately 17.5% ended up switching treatments.

Maybe you don’t like having fatigue as a side effect. Maybe your side effects are severe and make managing ADHD harder. Maybe your medication doesn’t help your symptoms of ADHD as much as you’d like. Include this in your document.

You might also want to include your overall experience with your treatment regimen. What’s working for you, and what isn’t? What do you wish you could change?

In any case, your reason for wanting to switch is valid. Considering your reasons for switching may even help inform future treatment.

Questions or concerns

You may have many questions about switching medications. Have a list ready for your doctor so you don’t forget any on the day of your appointment.

Some questions you might want to include are:

  • What alternate options are available for me?
  • What dose should I take?
  • What new and similar side effects might I experience?
  • How long will it take to see results?
  • How should I stop taking my current medication before starting the new one?
  • What options are covered by insurance?

Do your research

Research and take notes of medications, new treatments, or alternative treatments you may want to try. Knowing what you want from switching medications can help guide the discussion.

It’s important to be open and honest with your doctor during your appointment. Tell them everything you’re experiencing and whether you’re taking your medication regularly (or not).

Being honest can help ensure your new treatment addresses your concerns. It may also help you avoid having to repeat the process.

Some other tips to help speak with your doctor about switching ADHD medications include:

Explain how ADHD affects your life

Does living with ADHD make it harder for you to do certain daily activities? Is it affecting your communication, relationships, or work?

These are the types of questions you want to track, as we discussed earlier.

Knowing how ADHD affects you will help your doctor prioritize your needs and fit your new medication to your lifestyle.

Discuss new treatment options

Research on ADHD medications and treatments is ongoing. Newer treatments have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as recently as 2024.

For example:

  • Clonidine hydrochloride (Onyda XR), a non-stimulant medication, received FDA approval in 2024 to treat ADHD in people at least 6 years old.
  • Dextroamphetamine (Xelstrym), a stimulant ADHD medication worn as a patch, received FDA approval in 2022Trusted Source for those ages 6 years and older.
  • Methylphenidate (Relexxi), a stimulant medication, received FDA approval to treat those ages 6 to 65 years in 2022.
  • Viloxazine (Qelbree), a non-stimulant ADHD medication, received FDA approval to treat children ages 6 years and older in 2021 and to treat adults in 2022. Read more about Qelbree.

Even if the treatment itself isn’t new, it may still be new to you. Bring up any that you want to include in your discussion with your doctor.

Ask about side effects

Every medication has a risk of side effects. Make sure you understand the side effects of medications you want to switch to and how they could affect your daily life.

Your doctor should have recommendations to help manage side effects. Ask them for their expert advice.

Bring up your questions and concerns

Remember that list of questions and concerns we had you create earlier? Now’s the time to bring it up.

Discuss your concerns and ask your questions about:

  • withdrawal
  • tapering off
  • adjusting to new medications
  • insurance coverage

Mention your treatment goals

How do you want your new treatment to work? What outcome do you want to see after taking it for a while?

These are important questions to consider. The answers are equally important to mention to your doctor.

Laying out your treatment goals for your doctor will help inform their recommendations in a way that aligns with your expectations.

Ask about nonmedication treatments

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report estimates about half of U.S. adultsTrusted Source with a diagnosis of ADHD were prescribed medication to treat it in the past 12 months.

According to a 2023 study, of the 77% of U.S. children who received a diagnosis of ADHD, 69%Trusted Source received medications to treat it.

But medication isn’t always necessary to treat ADHD. Though it’s often used, it’s not your only treatment option.

Nonmedication (nonpharmacological), complementary, alternative, and device treatments for ADHD may include:

Medication often works well with these other treatment strategies as part of a combined treatment plan.

Work with your doctor to create a step-by-step treatment plan that includes:

  • how to manage your symptoms of ADHD, including any lifestyle changes, such as diet, or complementary treatments, like therapy
  • how to take your new ADHD medication and stop taking your old one if you’ll need to increase doses of one and taper off the other
  • how to manage the side effects of your new ADHD medication
  • follow-up care, including scheduling appointments to check in on your progress and address new concerns

Laying out a treatment plan may help minimize difficulties and side effects when switching from one treatment to another. It may provide better results.

You may also want to track your side effects and overall experience with your new medication in the same way you did preparing for your first appointment. Bring this to any follow-up appointments.

This way, you can see how the treatments differ and track any improvements in side effects or symptoms.

Finding the right ADHD medication that fits your lifestyle, symptoms, and treatment goals takes time. ADHD treatment won’t be a one-size-fits-all solution. But don’t give up — the right treatment for you exists.

Start by setting up an appointment with your doctor to discuss switching ADHD medications. Prepare questions, a side effect tracker, and your reasons for switching before this appointment.

During the appointment, bring your questions, concerns, and honest experience. This will help inform your doctor’s recommendations and help them collaborate on a step-by-step treatment plan with you.

After your appointment, schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and address new concerns that pop up.

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