Summer often feels like a pause button. With the structure of the school year on hold, many families take this time to travel, regroup, or slow the daily rush. But summer also presents an often-overlooked opportunity: reassessing your child’s ADHD medication and overall treatment plan.
At APG Health, we work with families throughout Orlando to ensure that children—and their parents—feel confident about how medication fits into a long-term strategy for thriving, not just surviving, the school year.
Why Summer Is a Good Idea for Medication Review
The slower pace of summer offers breathing room to make thoughtful changes. Unlike during the academic year, where missed school days or classroom disruptions make medication adjustments risky, summer creates space for observation.
Consider these benefits:
- More flexible schedules allow for tracking side effects without pressure
- Fewer academic responsibilities reduce stress around medication performance
- Open time to communicate more with your child’s doctor or care team
If your child is going to summer camp, taking trips, or just spending time at home, these changes in environment can reveal how medication supports (or hinders) social engagement, focus, and mood regulation.
What to Watch For During a Summer Reassessment
Whether your child is entering high school or just starting elementary grades, medication isn’t one-size-fits-all. It often needs periodic fine-tuning.
During the summer, track how your child responds in different situations:
- Is their appetite better or worse?
- Are they sleeping more soundly or having trouble falling asleep?
- Do they seem more irritable, tired, or withdrawn?
- Is focus improving or declining in structured activities like reading or camp games?
Subtle shifts can indicate whether ADHD medication is appropriately dosed or if side effects are becoming more pronounced.
Partnering with Your Child’s Doctor
Before any changes, talk to your child’s doctor or prescribing provider. It’s never recommended to pause or adjust a treatment plan without clinical guidance.
Your doctor may suggest:
- A temporary medication break (sometimes called a "drug holiday")
- Trying a new dosage or formulation
- Switching to a different class of medication
- Adding behavioral therapy or environmental strategies to supplement meds
This is also a good time to reassess academic goals and social development. As children mature—especially when transitioning to high school—their needs evolve. The same medication that worked at age 9 may not be ideal at age 14.
When Medication May No Longer Be a Fit
Some signs your child may need a new approach:
- Increased emotional sensitivity or agitation
- Loss of appetite or significant weight change
- Daily resistance to taking the medication
- Lack of sustained focus, even with consistent medication use
In some cases, these signals indicate that the benefits no longer outweigh the side effects. Your provider may suggest alternatives or combinations that better fit your child’s current needs.
What About Adults with ADHD?
It’s not just kids who benefit from summer reassessments. Many adults on ADHD medication face shifting demands during the warmer months: work slows, vacation schedules vary, or parenting duties intensify.
If you’re feeling more distractible, more anxious, or noticing changes in sleep or focus, it may be time to reassess your own treatment plan. What works during peak work months may not be as effective—or necessary—during quieter stretches.
Building a Long-Term Strategy
Whether your child is preparing for high school, attending summer camp, or adjusting to new routines, now is the perfect time to review these questions:
- Is our current plan supporting both academic and emotional well-being?
- Have we noticed any new patterns that concern us?
- Are the side effects tolerable and manageable?
- Are we incorporating non-medication supports like structure, therapy, or coaching?
At APG Health, we help families integrate medical care with practical strategies that support kids in every area of life—from the classroom to the kitchen table.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to wait for report cards or parent-teacher conferences to revisit your child’s needs. Summer is an ideal time to reset, reflect, and reimagine what support looks like—without the daily pressure of school bells and homework deadlines.
If you’re ready to reassess your or your child’s ADHD treatment plan, contact APG Health today. We proudly serve families in Orlando, and our team is here to help you prepare for the school year with clarity and confidence.