Natural treatments for AD/HD?

[doubtfull24]

Originally Posted by Bay_Kat

I've tried several and what works the best for her is Adderall (not sure the spellng). We've settled on 20 mg, 25 was too much, 15 wasn't enough.

My son used to be on that but the Doctor switched him to vyvanse and that is currently working. He used to take ritalin then adderal and now vyvanse.

[fernie323]

Originally Posted by doubtfull24

My son used to be on that but the Doctor switched him to vyvanse and that is currently working. He used to take ritalin then adderal and now vyvanse.

Sounds like you've had to go through trial and error as well. Did you experience any bad side effects from the others?

[doubtfull24]

Originally Posted by fernie323

Sounds like you've had to go through trial and error as well. Did you experience any bad side effects from the others?

My son took concerta but he said it made him feel like he had creepy crawlies on him. The adderall worked for him except it made him pick at his skin and it decreased his appetite . It is also a different class of medication and he needed to be seen every month for a new prescription.The ritialin worked for him when he was younger but not when he got older. It also made him have to use the bathroom a lot. All of the ADHD medications have made him more thirsty and so I have always asked the teacher and or school to allow him to be able to get a drink when needed or use the restroom when needed. I guess every medication has it's risk of side effects and works differently on everyone. I guess if you decide to go the medication route try to remember to not get frustrated if takes awhile to find the correct medication. I finally feel that vyvanse is the correct medication for my son and he has little to no side effects. Like I stated we still have some issue's and I still deal with the attitude but that's fine. I am just thankful he is improving in school.

[doubtfull24]

Originally Posted by fernie323

Well he's already having issues going to sleep and that's without any meds. He goes to bed then lies there talking or singing or sneaking the gameboy under the covers. Next thing you know he's up and wants to tell you something/give you a kiss/get a drink/something to eat/go to the bathroom. Once he gets to sleep he's fine but for the first few hours its a battle. I've heard a lot of good things about the melatonin. That might be something of a benefit to him.

We went threw this with our son. I feel this is just a normal thing they grow out of. My son did all of that for years. He is 12 now and still has some issue's he will come to my room a few nights a week...My stomach hurts I am hot I am cold did you lock the door? Every time I ask him to go back to sleep. We would let him read in bed with a little flash light. Yes he would lay there for an hour or two but he would eventually fall asleep. We had to take his gameboy and or ds away from him at night and would return it the next day. Before the medication my son would not sit still to do anything for very long. He got bored very easily. After on the medication he would sit and draw the most beautiful pictures and is very proud of himself. He loves to read now and is reading at a 9th grade level! The biggest issue we deal with is homework by the end of the day the meds wear off and he has a hard time concentrating on his school work. We spend hours working with him. We are currently looking for a tutor to help him. We hired one over the summer to help him with math and other things and it made a huge difference!

[BernieP]

Some thoughts on AD / HD (having some experience here)

1. I'd say over diagnosed.
2. Kids (and adults) with AD / HD are not discipline problems in school. In some kids it's not obvious, only a professional would see the sings. (I had one of those, good grades, not a problem)>
3. Meds only seem to work so long and then they have to be changed.
4. One teacher had a novel approach, sort of like "speed" teaching. Kept the pack up, changed topics more frequently.
5. While it may be over diagnosed now, it's not new. We were "day dreamers" (because we would get "distracted").
6. People with AD/HD tend to have an IQ above average.

Good nutrition, sleep, exercise and medication are all important, but don't forget to talk to their teacher about different learning styles. It could make more of a difference than the medication.

[BigBlue]

Originally Posted by doubtfull24

My son took concerta but he said it made him feel like he had creepy crawlies on him. The adderall worked for him except it made him pick at his skin and it decreased his appetite . It is also a different class of medication and he needed to be seen every month for a new prescription.The ritialin worked for him when he was younger but not when he got older. It also made him have to use the bathroom a lot. All of the ADHD medications have made him more thirsty and so I have always asked the teacher and or school to allow him to be able to get a drink when needed or use the restroom when needed. I guess every medication has it's risk of side effects and works differently on everyone. I guess if you decide to go the medication route try to remember to not get frustrated if takes awhile to find the correct medication. I finally feel that vyvanse is the correct medication for my son and he has little to no side effects. Like I stated we still have some issue's and I still deal with the attitude but that's fine. I am just thankful he is improving in school.

Any tics?I ask becuase my grandson has AD/HD and when the medication wears off he gets a little hard to handle,but he does have a few whistles or noises from the medication.

[NextJen]

Originally Posted by doubtfull24

I know a lot of people are against medicine to help ADHD. However I am not one of those. My son is 12 and is ADHD and is currently on meds and the difference is night and day. When he is on his meds he is a different child do we still have issue's of course he is a boy and a pre-teen. I know boys have a lot of energy and are active. Since being on proper meds my son went from doing very bad in school to a's and b's for the most part. Does it solve everything no and it's not suppose to. It is to help manage it. We also take medication breaks on the weekend or if on vacation. I hope if he does have ADHD you choose what you believe is best for your child and your family. Like I said medicine isn't for everyone. However when you see your child is suffering and having a hard time and really wants to be able to concentrate and do better in school and you have tried everything else then whats wrong with giving them medicine to help?

My son has been on several ADHD meds over the years. I found that he would get really terrible headaches - enough to make him nauseous - when we would skip his medication. I tried doing the medicine breaks before, but it wasn't worth him going through the sickness to get a break from the meds. That is just my (his) experience. I'm sure all kids are different.

Also, I debated long and hard about putting him on any medication. I, like many others, didn't want to 'drug' my child and make him be some sort of zombie. However, after a couple years of doing so poorly in school, consultation with his pediatrician, day care provider, teachers, and other parents, we went through a battery of tests from the school and the pediatrician and decided to take a course involving medicine. I already watched his diet closely to restrict sugar, red dyes, etc.

The medicine has been the best thing for him. We have changed the brand/type and dosage a few times over the years, but it has helped him tremendously in school. I will tell you this, it never made him a zombie. Truthfully, he has slowed down very little. The meds did help his concentration though. Think of it this way, ADHD is a medical condition, if medicine can help a child concentrate, why not try it to help the child? You wouldn't not treat other conditions like diabetes if you knew your child had it. You may limit their diet and try exercise and such, but if none of that worked, wouldn't you still put them on medicine?

I wish the OP the best on their journey of figuring out what is best for their child. It can be a long and sometimes frustrating road.

[drivingdaisy]

Just a thought... I'm pretty sure my husband and his brothers and sisters are all ADHD. (Each with various to none classroom problems.) My SIL was the only one to take meds and didn't take them until highschool and only during testing time. Because she was diagnosed ADHD she could have some testing/exam allowances during highschool and college. Even if you don't go with meds, having the diagnosis could help (if your child needs it) during tests and exams.

[HeavyChevy75]

You can make some diet modifications until the appt and see if that helps.

Gluten, Casein free diets. Reduce the amount of sugar.

I tend to be AD/HD and don't take meds. WHEN I am not eating the way I should my attention span is short, my brain doesn't stop and I don't sleep. When I have sugary stuff it is unreal.

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by HeavyChevy75

You can make some diet modifications until the appt and see if that helps.

Gluten, Casein free diets. Reduce the amount of sugar.

I tend to be AD/HD and don't take meds. WHEN I am not eating the way I should my attention span is short, my brain doesn't spot and I don't sleep. When I have sugary stuff it is unreal.

I've read about these. My son has a learning disorder he was born with. He's generally a very good kid, and most of his teachers love him - but he does need medication, because without it, it's like trying to take a test during a rock concert - he can't concentrate at all.

I go to a Yahoo group and a lot of parents recommend a GFCF diet (gluten free, casein free). The premise is that for some kids, improper digestion of these things create certain peptides to create an opiate effect - basically, the kid is always slightly high. My concern is, like a lot of studies in this area, there's not a lot of peer-reviewed science on the subject.

I've also read up on the efficacy of choline, and piracetam, but only for adults.