Is fish oil a good alternative to Adderall???!
Question: My son has ADHD. His doctor prescribed him Adderall. But there are many side effects. And i myself never supported taking pills. I have heard fish oil is an alternative.? [please name any other natural alternatives and links/sources if possible]
Answers: My son has ADHD. His doctor prescribed him Adderall. But there are many side effects. And i myself never supported taking pills. I have heard fish oil is an alternative.? [please name any other natural alternatives and links/sources if possible]
Fish Oil Treats ADHD Better Than Ritalin
Fish oil improves the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without any of the side effects of drugs like Ritalin and Concerta -- and more effectively, a study by the University of Adelaide in Australia found.
When 130 children between the ages of 7 and 12 with ADHD were given fish oil capsules daily, behavior dramatically improved within three months. Further:
After seven months, the children were not as restless and showed improvements at school
Improvements in concentration and attention improved by one-third
After 15 weeks, 30-40 percent of the children taking fish oil had improvements
After 30 weeks, 40-50 percent improved
Children taking placebo capsules were later switched to fish oil and subsequently also experienced improved behavior
Improvements were still being seen after the study ended, which suggests the fish oils may have long-term effects. When the researchers compared their results to studies of Ritalin and Concerta for ADHD, they found that fish oils were more effective.
ADHD drugs are known to carry serious side effects, including insomnia, changes in personality, cardiotoxicity, heart attack, stroke and even sudden death. In the UK, nine children have died after taking the drugs.
Sources:
The Daily Mail June 20, 2006
ABC News Online June 21, 2006
No.The health food store may be able to help.
Taking fish oil in moderation is good for you. But, if you take too much and your body can't break them down then you will have fish oil poisoning. Generally speaking, if you follow directions on the bottle or that of a doctor it never happens.
But, fish oil also helps with blood circulation. You may want to see if it would have adverse effect on children long term or not... its like feeding kids aspirin daily.....
Teaching the child discipline and meditation can also help greatly.