Medications for childhood ADHD basically work by having an impact on the neurotransmitters in your child's brain that are responsible for attention and motivation. While stimulant drugs have long been considered the first line of defense in treating the disorder and are still widely regarded as the most effective, many nonstimulant drugs, including antidepressants, anticonvulsants, waking agents, and even estrogen, have proven beneficial in treating childhood ADHD symptoms. Many experts believe that Strattera, a nonstimulant drug recently approved for treating ADHD, will eventually replace stimulant drugs and become the standard treatment for the disorder.