Does the alternative to stimulants for ADHD work?!
Question: Does the alternative to stimulants for ADHD work!?
My daughter is five and was diagnosed with ADHD in September of last year!. At first, the doctor put her on adderall, 10 mg then brought it down to 5 mg and it worked for awhile but it started to cause violent outbursts so the doctor prescribe abilify with it!. That really did seem to help but when I took my daughter to a developmental specialist in June, she seemed outraged that my daughter's pediatrician had prescribed one medication to treat the symptoms of another and so she recommended that we take my daughter off of both of them and put her on Focalin so she has been on 5 MG since June but it doesn't seem to be helping at all!. I had a close family member that took stimulants growing up and he eventually grew into a drug addict so needless to say, I'm not really comfortable with having her on something that people buy off the street to get high off of!. Yesterday, my child's kindergarten teacher mentioned something about an ADHD diet and an herbal medication!.!.!.!. I've looked around on the web and found some stuff on it but what I'm wondering is does it work or would it be a waste of time!? They say stimulants are the best way to treat ADHD but they really dont seem to be helping, any help with this would be greatly appreciated!.!.!. thanks!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I get asked this quite often in my practice, and my heart truly goes out to you and your family!.
While I would LOVE to promote something that is "all natural," herbal, or otherwise, there is NO research based evidence on any of the stuff that is out there!. It is typically sold by multi-level marketers whose best "evidence" is to sell you on the idea of "natural," and anecdotal testimonies that are plugged into their websites!. Trying to find ANYONE who takes this garbage is like looking for a needle in a haystack!. Plus!.!.!.what is so "natural" about pulverizing something and cramming it in a pill!? I don't get that!.
On the other hand, you will have more than enough people on this forum who all have a story of someone they know, heard of, or read about that has "suffered" from a host of horrible outcomes -- like addiction, weight loss, etc!., etc!. Yes, these CAN happen and should be closely monitored, but once again, most of it is anecdotal and the clinical percentages are less than 0!.1% of ALL patients taking traditional meds (stimulants)!.
I've had some kids have these "outbursts" of rage on occasion!. If this occurs, then you will be hard-pressed to find something in the stimulant category that you will not have to use something else (like Abilify) in order to decrease that kind of behavior!. Working on guidance and behavior therapy is essential as well, as I'm sure the specialist promoted!. I disagree, however, in necessarily dumping the Abilify or making such a big deal about it!. If it's working!.!.!.!.leave it alone!. Another non-stimulant option may be to use Strattera!. However, I don't see much more than a 50/50 benefit in my practice!.
It's a difficult decision, and one that you're doing an excellent job in taking your time with!. Don't rush into the idea that all these meds are created equal!. I would suggest you look into a couple of the newer medications "Vyvanse," and "Daytrana (patch)!." I've been using them almost exclusively for the past 6 months and am getting some excellent feedback from the patients and parents!. The main thing is the low side effects they have!. That's a good thing!.
Best of luck to you!!
-----Now!.!.!.!.watch as I begin to get multiple "thumbs down" by people who will just hate and object to what I wrote!. Oh well!.
ADDENDUM: _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
I did recall reading a suggestive study researching the use of Fish Oil in the treatment of ADHD about 4-5 years ago!. However, the subjects had to take about 12,000 mg!. (roughly 12 capsules of OTC product) in order to achieve an, at best, "nominal" improvement!. Now, I don't know about you, but I think you're in for a real fight trying to get a 5 year old to swallow that many capsules!. However!.!.!.it is a well intentioned thought by the commenter!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
While I would LOVE to promote something that is "all natural," herbal, or otherwise, there is NO research based evidence on any of the stuff that is out there!. It is typically sold by multi-level marketers whose best "evidence" is to sell you on the idea of "natural," and anecdotal testimonies that are plugged into their websites!. Trying to find ANYONE who takes this garbage is like looking for a needle in a haystack!. Plus!.!.!.what is so "natural" about pulverizing something and cramming it in a pill!? I don't get that!.
On the other hand, you will have more than enough people on this forum who all have a story of someone they know, heard of, or read about that has "suffered" from a host of horrible outcomes -- like addiction, weight loss, etc!., etc!. Yes, these CAN happen and should be closely monitored, but once again, most of it is anecdotal and the clinical percentages are less than 0!.1% of ALL patients taking traditional meds (stimulants)!.
I've had some kids have these "outbursts" of rage on occasion!. If this occurs, then you will be hard-pressed to find something in the stimulant category that you will not have to use something else (like Abilify) in order to decrease that kind of behavior!. Working on guidance and behavior therapy is essential as well, as I'm sure the specialist promoted!. I disagree, however, in necessarily dumping the Abilify or making such a big deal about it!. If it's working!.!.!.!.leave it alone!. Another non-stimulant option may be to use Strattera!. However, I don't see much more than a 50/50 benefit in my practice!.
It's a difficult decision, and one that you're doing an excellent job in taking your time with!. Don't rush into the idea that all these meds are created equal!. I would suggest you look into a couple of the newer medications "Vyvanse," and "Daytrana (patch)!." I've been using them almost exclusively for the past 6 months and am getting some excellent feedback from the patients and parents!. The main thing is the low side effects they have!. That's a good thing!.
Best of luck to you!!
-----Now!.!.!.!.watch as I begin to get multiple "thumbs down" by people who will just hate and object to what I wrote!. Oh well!.
ADDENDUM: _*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
I did recall reading a suggestive study researching the use of Fish Oil in the treatment of ADHD about 4-5 years ago!. However, the subjects had to take about 12,000 mg!. (roughly 12 capsules of OTC product) in order to achieve an, at best, "nominal" improvement!. Now, I don't know about you, but I think you're in for a real fight trying to get a 5 year old to swallow that many capsules!. However!.!.!.it is a well intentioned thought by the commenter!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Since your daughter is so young I would try the alternatives to drugs because I was too late to help my son!. Drugs ruined him and it took a long time to get him somewhat normal again!. I will never give him drugs for ADHD again!. I would love to give him alternative natural medicines but he is an adult now and refuses to take anything!. Don't drug your kid Look and research hard in the natural remedies cause I know they can help!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter!.!.!. that is so sad that the doctors have messed with her body chemistry that much!.
There has actually been some newer research that suggests simple Fish Oil can help those with ADHD!. I was a bit surprised to find this out (it seemed too simple), but after I thought about it, I wasn't that surprised (because Fish Oil has been known for a long time to help with brain health and development)!.
Personally, I would definitely stick with the developmental specialist and give her a good dose of Fish Oil (you may want to double check with a doctor to find the appropriate dose for his case)!. Although you could probably discuss it with a holistic doctor, and they may have other additional options available to them!. Good luck!
Www@Answer-Health@Com
There has actually been some newer research that suggests simple Fish Oil can help those with ADHD!. I was a bit surprised to find this out (it seemed too simple), but after I thought about it, I wasn't that surprised (because Fish Oil has been known for a long time to help with brain health and development)!.
Personally, I would definitely stick with the developmental specialist and give her a good dose of Fish Oil (you may want to double check with a doctor to find the appropriate dose for his case)!. Although you could probably discuss it with a holistic doctor, and they may have other additional options available to them!. Good luck!
Www@Answer-Health@Com