My daughter is currently on concerta.

Question

Is it ok to have her off of it during the summer and then put her back on it when school starts

Answer 1

     There is no harm in taking someone off of Concerta for the summer but no real benefit either in most cases.  Some children are moody when they come off the drug for a day or two but then that goes away.  

     Teenagers with ADD who drive are 4 times more likely to get in wreck if they are not treated with medication than those who don't have ADD.  That raises the question of whether children should be on medication year round and every hour that they are awake.  Doctors are not sure on this but there is no harm to not giving Concerta in the summer for younger children.