This summer, some people with ADHD are going on "medication holidays"—but is that wise?

Some TikTok producers are bragging about the positive effects of taking a break from their ADHD medication, which is also known as a "medication holiday," "medication vacation," or "drug holiday."

Taking a break from medication over the weekend may provide some persons with ADHD with a welcome change of pace. However, some TikTok parents are advocating for a lengthy break from their child’s ADHD medication throughout the summer months.

Anish Ranjan Dube, MD, head of the Council on Children, Adolescents, and Their Families at the American Psychiatric Association, noted that the decision to take such a break from doctor-prescribed medicine is not one-size-fits-all and should not be swayed by individuals on social media platforms.

Because of differences in biology, severity of the pathology, and circumstances, "recommendations by individual users or content based on the personal experiences of such users may have social value in that others may relate to them," he told Health.

Dr. David Goodman, an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, concurs. He pointed out that many of the individuals sharing their personal experiences on social media have had really unusual ones.

Goodman, director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland, told Health that "all those lived experiences are very individual and so what one person says has worked or hasn’t worked for them doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to work or not work for you." Call your doctor or pharmacist for guidance regularly.

Possible Consequences of Abandoning ADHD Medication

Many TikTok users with ADHD create the idea in their "medication vacations" that the medicine’s effects would disappear as soon as they stop taking it.

According to Goodman, stimulant medicine, the standard treatment for ADHD, fits this description. Stopping the usage of a stimulant drug will have little to no effect on your condition.

"In terms of how long it will be in your system, it will be gone from your body after a day following your final dose. "The benefit is recaptured when you use it again," he explained.

Goodman, however, cautioned that it takes a few of weeks to detect an impact if you quit using non-stimulants like atomoxetine or viloxazine.1

It takes two weeks for the effects of non-stimulants to become noticeable, and even after discontinuing use, the effects might linger for up to two weeks. This is similar to the mechanism of action of antidepressants.

The Case for Taking a Break From Medicating Their Kids

There are a number of scenarios in which parents could consider temporarily suspending their child’s ADHD medication treatment. Some parents have taken to TikTok to announce that they are weaning their child off of ADHD medication so that the youngster may be more like their "true self."

Goodman suggested that parents’ concerns about their children’s "muted down" emotional reactions and social participation may be what they mean.

To combat their focus problems in the classroom, some kids take medication for ADHD.2

Dube speculated that these children would be able to handle a pharmaceutical break throughout the summer without suffering any ill effects.

In any case, he emphasized that certain people (particularly teenagers) may have symptoms of ADHD that are debilitating while activities such as driving, causing easy distractibility or carelessness, thus it is necessary for them to continue taking their meds.

A pharmaceutical holiday may trigger a return of symptoms and accompanying impairment "if the medication is helping treat a symptom (or symptoms) that severely affect(s) multiple aspects of one’s life," as stated by Dube. According to the article, "in such cases, it may be more beneficial to remain on the medication."

Goodman said that stimulants can cause children and teenagers to lose weight and height, which is another reason why parents would want their children to take a break from the medicine.3

The idea is that "the impact on appetite and weight will be less if you decrease the exposure [of medication] over time," he added.

Do Adults Benefit from Taking a Break from Their Medications?

Goodman stressed the need of maintaining regular dosing for people who have been diagnosed with ADHD and provided medication.

Because "ADHD symptoms show up in work, social relationships, and emotional control," he advised taking medication around the clock. "Adults are also not as worried about their size as kids are."

However, he did say that there are times when pausing or changing medication is required.

Reducing Adverse Reactions to ADHD Drugs

According to Goodman, people can experiment with different dosages of ADHD medicine until they discover the optimal one. However, if undesirable symptoms emerge, doctors may reduce the dosage.

"Before you change the dose, you have to figure out if the side effects are from the ADHD medication or are a function of additional medication that was added that is now having an interaction with your ADHD medication," he said.

Avoiding withdrawal symptoms by suddenly quitting pharmaceutical use is not recommended.

Goodman claims that "more than 30 different stimulant preparations are available." As the prognosis goes, "it’s very likely you can find something that you can take that does what it’s supposed to do, that lasts as long as you’d like it to last, and doesn’t cause problems."

Preventing Problems with Tolerance

Tolerance problems are cited by several TikTokers as the cause for their drug break. Goodman, however, claims that most persons suffer micro-tolerance, meaning that the following day’s dose has a greater impact if the previous day’s dose was missed.

According to Goodman, when tolerance becomes a major problem requiring additional review, this is known as macro-tolerance and is related to the gradual increase in dosage over time.

That’s physiologic tolerance, where you need a higher dose to get the same effect, which is why you went from 10 mg to 20 mg to 116 mg after five years. That’s a major issue," he remarked.

It’s Important to See a Doctor

Goodman recommended discussing the possibility of getting a tattoo with a physician before giving in to peer pressure from TikTok users.

"Patients will often not have conversations because they don’t want to upset the doctor or they think the doctor wouldn’t agree," he added. However, "competent clinicians are eager to learn this information in order to assist the patient in determining the most appropriate next steps."

It’s time to look for a new doctor if you feel like they aren’t listening to you.

Goodman cautioned that just because a doctor prescribes a medication doesn’t mean he or she has to give in to the patient’s every whim. To paraphrase, "We’re here to provide what we believe you need before we give you what you want."