Is it a good idea to give a kid a break from his adhd medication over the weekend?

Depends on function: Adhd affects many aspects of function: school/work, social interactions, participation in sports & other activities, operating motor vehicles & other equipment, etc. Mood dysregulation (low frustration tolerance & poor impulse control) can be problematic anytime, anywhere. If child can function on weekends without med then a break is fine, but most will have problems without med. Individualize.

ADHD breaks good: Boys adrift by dr. Sax states that boys have a 3 year limit for stimulant adhd drug use before you risk burning out his motivation center. (leaving you with a son who has no desire to leave home ever) the more breaks you can give the less likely you will destroy his motivation center. You might want to visit adhdoractivechild.Com and listen to some of the free podcasts.

Depends on med/kid: I recommend weekends/breaks off meds when I use stimulant meds to reduce the long term med exposure.When the kid has a function that requires concentration, like a class or team function, I use it just like school days. Some kids are on daily meds that are different in their function and, like the anti-depressant type and these are continued because breaks interfere with proper med function.