FAQ: What Is a Drug Holiday?
Updated March 27, 2015.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Question: What Is a Drug Holiday?
Answer: A drug holiday -- also called a medication holiday or drug vacation -- is a temporary break from a medication regimen.
In some cases, a physician may recommend a drug holiday for reducing unwanted side effects, or to move toward the gradual discontinuation of the medication.
"Holiday" is used in the term to indicate that some relief is expected to be experienced by the patient, usually due to the drug causing unwanted side effects.
In other cases, side effects are not a factor for taking a drug holiday.
Is it Okay for My Child to Take a Drug Holiday?
A break from your child's depression medication should only be taken with the explicit permission and instruction of her treating physician. Some medications used to treat childhood depression can have serious side effects when discontinued suddenly. Only a trained professional can determine if your child would benefit from a drug holiday.
If you have concerns about your child's medication, its side effects, or feel that it is not working properly, talk to her physician before making any changes to her treatment plan.
Sources:
Psychiatric Medications. American Academy of Pediatrics: Healthy Children. Accessed: May 07, 2011. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/pages/Psychiatric-Medications.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token
Scott A. Bull, PharmD, X. Henry Hu, MD, MPH, PhD, Enid M. Hunkeler, MA, et al. Discontinuation of Use and Switching of Antidepressants: Influence of Patient-Physician Communication. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002. 288(11): 1403-1409.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Question: What Is a Drug Holiday?
Answer: A drug holiday -- also called a medication holiday or drug vacation -- is a temporary break from a medication regimen.
In some cases, a physician may recommend a drug holiday for reducing unwanted side effects, or to move toward the gradual discontinuation of the medication.
"Holiday" is used in the term to indicate that some relief is expected to be experienced by the patient, usually due to the drug causing unwanted side effects.
In other cases, side effects are not a factor for taking a drug holiday.
Is it Okay for My Child to Take a Drug Holiday?
A break from your child's depression medication should only be taken with the explicit permission and instruction of her treating physician. Some medications used to treat childhood depression can have serious side effects when discontinued suddenly. Only a trained professional can determine if your child would benefit from a drug holiday.
If you have concerns about your child's medication, its side effects, or feel that it is not working properly, talk to her physician before making any changes to her treatment plan.
Sources:
Psychiatric Medications. American Academy of Pediatrics: Healthy Children. Accessed: May 07, 2011. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/pages/Psychiatric-Medications.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token
Scott A. Bull, PharmD, X. Henry Hu, MD, MPH, PhD, Enid M. Hunkeler, MA, et al. Discontinuation of Use and Switching of Antidepressants: Influence of Patient-Physician Communication. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002. 288(11): 1403-1409.
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