The meds would make him an emotional train wreak and it has been very distressing to us. What seems to be working is a combination of zinc supplements (not the vitamin c & eccinechea, but the actual supplement) and nordic naturals DHA fish oils for kids. I prefer the nordic naturals because they are flavored and pure. We also have a simple token program at home that we do; certain behaviors earn a token and once he has earned a specific amount that is a challenge for him (ie, he has to be doing really good) he gets to "buy" a toy out of a grab bag with those tokens. We just went to the dollar store and got a bunch of toys. This has been so motivating for him that he has even started vacuuming and doing other chores to earn tokens. The zinc seems to have made a big difference too, I feel that it has improved his impulsiveness and focus. We started it over the holiday break and have not given him his meds since. His teacher has not sent a single note home this week, compared to daily before the break. His ability to do his homework has also improved, I used to have to fight him to get it done and now if he's starting to melt, I just encourage him to earn his token. He doesn't always earn it, but he gets his homework done with out fighting and being obnoxious. I hope some of this helps as I know how heart breaking it is to be trying everything you can to help your child and feel like you're getting no where.

Quote

Thank you Bonnie,

It's nice to know that others have the same problems we do and we're not alone. It feels so impossible to find something to help our son. We want others to know how great he is and not just focus on all his problems. Thanks for your insight-every little bit helps.

Quote

My daughter will be 6 the end of Feb. and we have had her on and off meds, trying to the find the right one, since just before she turned 4. We have found out that she CANNOT take stimulant ADHD meds (like Concerta, Daytrana, Vavanyse (sp)). When she started kindergarten this school year we had a lot of problems, mainly because her teacher was not willing to work with her. I had to go all the way to the school board to get her teacher changed. Thank God for that! Her new teacher has a son who is 14 and ADHD -- so at least she is more in tune with her needs and some of things she just can't help. The only medicine that works for her is Straterra but that only worked for a week because she developed anxiety about taking the pill and we would fight for 3 hours at night for her to take it (she had to swallow this pill). So we just send her off to school everyday and talk to her about being on Green and not touching others, being kind to others, listening to the teacher but that doesn't always work. She was on read 3 days in a row last week! We are seeing a psychologist to work on a routine a home and behavior modification but you know how that is -- they are impulsive and do what they want. Does anyone have any suggestions for us? Thanks

Quote

...but my 11-year-old son took matters into his own hands. We discovered yesterday that he'd been flushing his meds for the last three months. Somehow, God only knows how, he's managed to control his distractability enough to function at school and keep us snowed. I knew that he'd been eating a lot more and his mood was considerably better, but I figured he'd finally adapted to the Concerta. We talked to his psychiatrist and decided it's really good news. He made all As and 1 B unmedicated the last quarter, he's a much nicer kid to be around (he was impossible on the meds), and while his behavior has been really impulsive outside of school and we have definite homework completion issues, it's worth it to have our sweet son back. We just have to find another way to help him. I'll never put him on another stimulant. What it did to his personality...

Quote

I have a friend who didn't want to use prescription medications with her son, and instead gave him mega-doses of omega fish oils at each meal. The treatment is discussed in a book by Jean Carper, called "Miracle Cures". She started her son on 15 1,000 mg capsules per day (5 per meal) and then worked down gradually to 6 capsules per day (2 per meal) over a period of 4 weeks. He was 8 years old at the time and this has worked now for 11 years and counting. My friend told me that after only a few weeks of this treatment, teachers began commenting that they were amazed at the improvement in her son's concentration and behavior. I personally have not tested this program, as my adult child has had success with Adderall; but I have recommended to her that she try the fish oil to see if that approach might help her to lower the dose of medications that she is currently on.

Quote

Quote:

bonnie said: What seems to be working is a combination of zinc supplements (not the vitamin c & eccinechea, but the actual supplement) and nordic naturals DHA fish oils for kids.

Zinc and Fish Oils are something I've always wanted to pursue, but never do (because my bipolar / ADD son is pretty stable right now). Attention is his prevailing problem these days, so I don't think these would hurt to try.

Quote

No, meds don't always work! I've got two teenagers, both ADD, neither was diagnosed until they were teenagers. We went through the whole med trial protocol with both of them. The meds helped for a while for both of them, but eventually the long term emotional effects made the negatives outweigh the positive benefit of better focus. The MD's do not buy into the holistic approach so I was on my own to research and network to find alternatives. Because, in Alberta, the days are so short in winter, there is a depression component for part of the year, as well. (Seasonal Affected Disorder). We discontinued meds last summer and started them both on Omega 3 as well as Vitamin B, D, and high quality multi-vitamins. We still have issues with handing in assignments, hyperfocus and lack of focus on not-so-interesting subjects, but both are doing so much better, and for the first time since Grade 7, both are on the Honor Roll. Part of the answer for us has been coming to terms with having two wonderful, witty, smart (albeit moody and irritable) teenagers who just don't behave the same way as other "normal" kids. When I stopped wanting them to conform to "normal", my expectations changed and so did their behavior. If I'm positive, the chances are better that they will be, too! If meds work for your child, that's great, but for those of us for whom meds do not work, the alternatives are worth a try, maybe even before meds!

My encouragement to you is that, because your children have been diagnosed at an earlier age, you have time to instill habits and methods to help them cope with ADD before they get to be teenagers (when, as parents, we lose our credibility for a few years). When they get to high school and the marks are more critical, they've maybe already learned how to cope with the disadvantages of high-speed minds and become confident in the advantages. It occurred to me the other day to wonder why we are expected to medicate our children to conformity to a less than perfect world. Wouldn't it be great if the school was not a static environment, squashing creativity and confidence, but a wonderland of learning potential and creative outlet where the overly-endowed minds of our beautiful children could flourish! God doesn't make junk!

Quote

One of the things many people miss is the diet. Your child's diet should be full of fresh foods likes fruits, vegetables, and meats. Avoid processed foods, artificial ingredients and colors. Fresh foods meaning those in the produce area (not canned or frozen), and those in the meat department. If you can, get organic foods. You want those that are free of chemicals like pesticides and herbicides and also meats free of hormones and antibiotics.

In my own experince, ingredients and processed foods make me hyperactive and make my head spin. This also includes foods that contain gluten, fructose and fructose corn syrup, milk products, sugar, and these kinds of things. I have done my own research and found that the combination of diet change, and adding a natural liquid vitamin and mineral supplement has dramatically changed my life.

Any time I go back to the foods i shouldn't eat, I feel it really quick. when I don't take my supplement, I struggle all day. I have been off of medication for about 2 years and I am functioning well with very little symptoms.

TJ Chambers

Quote

I have two grandsons who are ADHD - ages 4 and 6 - would it be safe to maybe start the zinc and fish oil along with their ritalin-concerta or stratera?

Quote

I feel the best medication out there is Focalin XR (extended release) ... Focalin is a purer form of Ritalin, and the dosage is less ... I've taken it myself, but the side effects (even at 5 MG x 2 a Day) wasn't worth the benefits to Me (as an Adult)...let's face it, ALL these meds are is "SPEED" (ever taken Speed?) ... they simply raise the RPMs ... every ONE causes a Spike, and then a Valley ... Every One reduces Apetite, and most cause Sleep Problems ...Focalin covers 6 hours, split the Dosage in 2; and administer 5 hours into the 1st dose...2nd Dose 6-8 hours before Bed...

Try Protein BEFORE administering the Meds ... Eggs in the AM, Nuts & Granola for a Snack, Fish/Chicken/Meat for Dinner ... Peanut Butter is alright once in a While ... Protein Bars are also good Fillers ...

Fish Oil is KEY ... as is a good multi-vitamin with Zinc ... try to find a Good Store, not the local GNC ... the pimpled faced cashier won't be able to help you much ...

Behavior Modification is also Mandatory ... it's a Key Piece of the Puzzle ... Reward Systems, Tokens, etc... be Positive; and don't try to Drive a Square Peg into a Round Hole ... your ADD child is not like a Non-Add Child ... They are BETTER ...

I instill DRIVE into my Son by pumping him up ... telling him that he's my Hero (he's also Dyslexic), that ADD is an Advantage (not a Crutch), he even wears an "Ant" necklace (remember the Rubber Tree Plant?)...

My Son is also involved in the Sports that HE Chooses ... Baseball, Football, Wrestling ... he's tried them All ...but the MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR for his Success thus far is TAE KWON DO ... he'll be a Black Belt in 3-4 Months, about the same time that he'll turn NINE ... Discipline, Self Control, Respect, Meditation, it's All Mandatory ... and it's good for self confidence, self esteem, and for tormenting bullies ...

Hang in there ...

Quote