drug holidays | ADHD Information

I am looking for recently published scientific literature on drug holidays and the negative effects associated. Has anyone come across any good papers about this topic. Specifically, my step-son has ADHD and has been on medication since September. His mom has decided to lower his dose and start weekend and vacation holidays and I believe that this could have a long-term detrimental effect. He does wonderfully on his prescribed dose of medication.....my concern is that he learns certain behaviors and coping mechanisms while his symtoms are under control (on medication) and then doesn't have the ability to control himself when he is not on medication (drug holiday). I am wondering if there are any parents that have witnessed frustration on the part of the child when on drug holidays because they cannot focus or think clearly? Also, any published literature about studies done with longer acting dosing regimens that resulted in more controlled behavior in the evenings and actually wiped out the rebound effect. Just trying to get more information from more than 1 source.

I am also curious as to what the public opinion is about treatment strategies. We have had great opposition to medication (from my ss mom), while I believe whole-heartedly in it (I work for a drug company though). My husband and I view medication for ADHD as you would treatment for diabetes and argue that you wouldn't take a drug holiday from insulin just because you didn't have anywhere to be that day. Long term effects of stimulant medication have been chronicled for 50 years without any serious detriments, so why would you not have your child on medication every day for their medical disorder if it is proven effective? Despite side effects which are common, but often subside with increased use or can be managed effectively....why would you not give your child medication? This is just an impromtu survey. Thanks! 

I don't agree with drug holidays, I remember my doctor saying I could take a break from my meds on weekends if I wanted to. Tried it a few times when I was low on money and wanted my prescription to last and it was horrible. I have adhd. I have it bad enough to need meds so obviously I also have the disorder on the weekends.I also do not agree with Med Holidays.  That would require getting your body re-used to the Meds every Monday, I'm sure that would not be fun for any child.I have given my 8 year old son drug holidays as often as I could because he is so small (40lbs).  He is very sensitive about his height and weight because he has a 6 year old brother who towers over him.  The holidays were no holiday though for us as a family.  He is out of control.  We as parents get crazy and the whole family suffers.  If you have any suggestions regarding ways to get my son to eat without taking a "holiday" I would appreciate it.My son is on Ritalin and I have given him med hoidays. I have never noticed any side effects and I always speak to him about how he feels because I worry about anxiety and depresion, and he has made it pretty clear that he feels fine.
It probably depends a lot on the child, the med, and the dose....maybe even age.
I am coming at this from a different view I suppose. We have had 3 years of drugs from Ritalin, to Concerta to Adderall XR. My son has horrible rebound but I don't add more meds in the afternoon because he doesn't eat at all when he take the meds. None of the drugs have been any different for the irritable, uncontrollable anger that comes with the rebound effect.
I do believe in the drug holiday, he spends the summer without it and long breaks, not necessarily weekends because on Saturday it's still rebounding out of his system. It's just not worth it. But with this Christmas break I've found all the wonderful things to love about my child again.
Yes, he's wound up but also HAPPY and that to me makes it worth. The loss of the anger is well worth it, he's pleasant, entertaining, plays well with his sister - now maybe he's just outgrown some of the things that put him on the medicine to begin with, I don't know. It will be an issue with school because he will have no attention at all but I'm looking into natural alternatives because the meds are so hard on him.
If anyone else has experience with alternatives, I'd like to know about them.I totally agree with you about not having drug holidays, it doesn't make any sense, if the add trouble is all day everyday, as mine is.  It sounds like your son  would not benefit at all.  I have never understood this term either.  This goes along with meds and dosing intervals too, have you noticed?  My ritalin lasts 2-3 hours, my Rx says take four times a day.  That obviously leaves several hours of the day that my coworkers and/or family get to experience my ADD.  Same with kids, how does that make sense to give ritalin twice or three times a day?  Sorry, I don't have any papers to site.  I have just tried to gently educate my doc, try not to get them uncomfortable.  If not, find another one.  Good luck. I do give drug holidays to my son, 5 years old on dexadrine 2.5mgin am.  I like the drug holidays, and he does pretty good.  I have not had any problem with him getting used to the meds or bad side effects on Mondays.  He eats like a horse, sleeps better on weekends.  This answer may change i future but so far so good.   He has only been on the dexadrine for about a month, before we used Strattera and did not do any holidays.