Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder should be cautious about accepting free prescription drug samples from their doctors, according to a  Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs report.

Free samples can hook consumers on high-priced brand name drugs that are not any better or safer than less expensive generic medicines, the report said.  According to a 2008 study reported in the journal of Pediatrics,  about one out of every 10 children already taking a medication got a free drug sample from a doctor. According to that study, the ADHD drug Strattera was the 4th most common free drug sample given to children and Adderall XR was in the top 15.

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs said its researchers found that two generic ADHD drugs, dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate, are as safe and effective as some brand name drugs.

By switching to one of those two generic drugs, consumers could save roughly $3,000 a year off the retail price, the report said.

“Parents want to do what is best for their children,” said Dr. John Santa, director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. “But free samples and clever advertising convince them they should be shelling out thousands of dollars a year for brand name prescription drugs when equally effective generics are available.”

ADHD is one of the most common behavioral problems diagnosed among school-age children in the United States and about seven percent (about 4.5 million in 2006) of children aged four to 17 have been diagnosed with the disorder. When ADHD needs to be treated with medication, parents may be presented with advertisements and free samples of expensive brand-name drugs.

Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs noted that many young patients who take ADHD drugs either do not have ADHD or have only mild symptoms. Before starting any drug treatment for ADHD, it’s essential to get an accurate diagnosis by a medical professional.

Children or teens with ADHD exhibit a persistent pattern, lasting six months or more, including impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, and/or lack of focus and inability to complete a task.