Seeking Moms'

Hi, Y.,

As my kids are still very young (one and two), I am responding as a teacher, not a parent. Some of my high school students took medication to treat ADD and ADHD. Some of the kids told me that they liked the effect (they felt calmer); some of the parents (independent of their kids, my students) told me that they, too, liked the effect. I've heard of some mild, negative side effects, but none of my students and none of their parents have mentioned experiencing any negative side effects.

Good luck,
Lynne E

Y.,

If you are looking for a potential solution that doesn't involve meds, look at www.feingold.org Feingold is a diet (and more) that eliminates artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. For some kids, it is an absolute miracle.

My son has autism and is very hyperactive. We haven't been able to totally follow the Feingold program because he's very self limiting on foods (he eats less than a dozen things!) but we seriously try to limit his intake of artificial "stuff" in his food and it makes a huge difference. We also limit his intake of pizza and ice cream because those things make him really hyper too. Food can make a HUGE difference in the behavior of a hyperactive kid. The worse case scenario is that if it doesn't work, there is no danger in trying it. We did try adderall with my son and it made him manic - which is hyper x10 with a little psycho added in for fun... It was absolutely awful. Some kids react well to meds and others don't.

T.

Try the homeopathic store on Colorado and 7th in Sm ask for either Greta or Kristin and see if they can't help you

I raised twins with ADHD and healed them naturally.
Some quick tips:
Remove all food dyes from his diet such as fruit loops..
Have him tested for heavy metal toxicity
Up to 38% of children with neurological issues are having seizure-like activity. A QEEG should be done to rule out seizures

Side effects of ADHD Meds:

*Difficulty sleeping
* Loss of appetite
* Irritability
* Nervousness
* Stomach aches
* Headaches
* Dry mouth
* Blurry vision
* Nausea
* Dizziness
* Drowsiness
* Tics

Other Ritalin side effects can include:

* Hypersensitivity
* Anorexia
* Heart palpitations
* Blood pressure and pulse changes
* Cardiac arrhythmia
* Anemia
* Scalp hair loss
* Psychosis

The following, though rare, have also been reported as Ritalin side effects:

* Abnormal liver function
* Cerebral arteritis
* Leukopenia
* Death

D. Merlin
Mother/author
www.victoryoveradhd.com

I am not a big fan of the meds. There is much you can do nutritionally. As much as possible stay away from processed foods, sugars, simple carbs-white breads, white rice, pasta, white potatoes. Superfood is really recommended. Superfood is dehydrated greens such as wheatgrass, rye grass, spirulina that you add to a smoothie or juice. Great stuff, everyone should drink it. You can find it in any good health food store, Whole Foods and Trader Joes both carry it. In addition to that,believe it or not, chiropractic adjustments can help. I am including the following link with an article on this subject. Regular chiropractic adjustments will definitely help with the headaches.

http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Children_ADD_ADHD...

A couple of suggestions on insomnia. Rub lavendar oil on the bottom of your son's feet at night when he goes to bed. Essential oils can be helpful with the ADD as well. You will see lavendar listed in the article. It is also helpful for headaches.

http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/essential...

Also, to help with the insomnia you could have your son soak in a warm tub with epsom salts. In lieu of that just soaking his feet in a tub of warm epsom salts can be very relaxing. Soaking in epsom salts is a great way for the body to absorb magnesium. A magnesium deficiency is a possible contributing cause to ADD.

You might also see if he has food allergies. Food dyes are often implicated in ADD. Check to see if he is allergic to wheat. It is a very common food allergy. Food allergies often manifest themselves with behavioral problems.

I commend you for looking for alternatives. I had a friend who was on ritalin as a child and it still creeps him out to this day whenever he talks about it. Good luck.

My friend Jennifer works with kids who are ADD, autistic, etc., you may want to talk to her before you put him on meds. There may be some other things going on there.... Her phone number is ###-###-####.

hi Y.
My son is just a toddler but I wanted to chime in on this because I was watching The Doctors tv program the other day and Dr Jim Sears said that 25% of kids diagnoised with ADD are suffering from sleep deprevation! Are you sure yours is getting the correct amount of sleep for his age? I haven't searched but it's worth checking out. Try "required sleep for a 8 year old" on google. Try the askdrsears.com site too because I think they suggest diet changes to help with ADD drjaygordon.com may also have some non-medicated suggestions.
If you are in reasonable driving distance to San Clemente Dr Bob Sears will accept new patients, you just have to call the office, he's my sons ped and I'd recommend him to anyone

My advice to you would be to get a second opinion. Read more about ADD and ways to cope without medication. Another thing you might want to try is a change in the foods your son is eating. Not saying that what your feeding him is bad. A change in his diet may be all you need. I wish you the best!!!

I just have to respond to Y. (and a few other remarks). A few people have made very negative remarks and comments toward teachers and their inability to determine certain diagnoses. As a Kindergarten teacher who sees 50 children daily we do have a pretty good handle on appropriate behavior and inappropriate behavior. The general public need to respect teachers and react to their concerns. There are plenty of disabilities in the classroom that have not been diagnosed, especially in the primary grades. I'll bet that this child has had difficulty throughout his school years and teachers have had conferences with the parents throughout. Some difficulties can be traced back to the lack of parent discipline or a dysfunctional family life, but not all of them. However, it also doesn't always need to be linked to the teacher's inability to teach to the child's needs, they way he/she handles discipline in the classroom, etc. Most parents need to view the child's teacher as a team player and not try to put the blame on someone else...or blame at all. By the time the child reaches 2nd grade he should be developmentally able to control impulses, understand his expectations within the classroom, etc. If he is still having difficulties in the classroom by the time he is 7 or 8 then this has probably transferred over into self-esteem issues and how peers view him/her. I, too, am not one for a quick diagnosis and then medication, but rather a team approach in helping to control/teach this child how to handle his/her impulses.

I have seen the most wonderful transformation of a child in 1st grade with the aid of medication. His family had tried everything before they "tried" medication. His school work has improved. His illustrations are detailed (not scribbled), he is able to concentrate and produce written work, and he can complete assignments in a timely manner. He would even talk to me about how he felt with and without medication. He preferred being on meds.

If I was this child's parent, I would be well informed on any decision you choose to make, look for side affects, make sure you are consistent with applying it, and also realize that anything can be temporary whether you choose holistic or medication. Also keep the school (teachers, health office, and possibly the counselor) informed on the methods you have chosen. They can support and inform you of your child's behavior during the day so that you can make the best decision for your child.

Hi Y.,

You are getting a lot of conflicting advice and many strong opinions. I hope you are finding comfort in at least some of them.

Although I am a mother, my experience with ADD/ADHD is as a teacher of learning disabled students. You mention the teacher, the tutor, and the pediatrician think your son needs ADD meds, what do you think? What is his behavior like at home? If a child, particularly at your son's young age, is only demonstrating "ADD/ADHD behaviors" at school there's a possibility he either doesn't have ADD/ADHD or his behaviors can be treated by alternative methods. The term "school day" ADD has validity because ADD is over diagnosed by undertrained, overworked teachers who are trying to get 20-35 students to fit in a state defined box of what a learner should be. Our school systems don't support the alternative learner because that would require extensive teacher training and enormous pay hikes for the profession. (But I digress.)

One other thing I learned from my years of experience, NEVER let the pediatrician diagnose a learning disability. As lovely and trusted as many of us feel our pediatrician is, they do not see enough of our children to diagnose a learning disability. They will survey the educators in your child's life and look for trends in the answers that indicate the disability. It's not enough. You need to see a neurologist and a child psychiatrist (preferably specializing in learning disabilities). They will do an extensive battery of tests (non-evasive like puzzles, etc.) and possibly a functioning MRI along with the survey of you and your son's teachers.

If the diagnoses the neurologist and child psychiatrist arrive at is ADD/ADHD they will be able to assist you with making treatment decisions. I have seen all of the alternative methods mentioned in other posts work with the various students I have had with the exception of the Drake Institute (families I know who tried it were not pleased with the results). Most parents elected for a combination of many of the methods. Diet and behavior modification plans are tremendous in treating ADD/ADHD. However, medications can also be very helpful and for some children they are necessary. Meds have many side effects-sleeplessness, lack of appetite, bounce back when they start wearing off-but there a many medication options and the side effects vary with med choice and individual. It takes a doctor who specializes in the treatment of Learning Disabilities to be able to help you manage your choices so you receive maximum benefits with minimum side effects. It may take several attempts of different meds at different prescription levels to find the one that is optimal for your son if it is determined he would benefit from medications. Also as he grows, matures, and takes to a behavior mod program and any dietary changes you make, his medication will need to be adjusted. It isn't a one size fits all type of program. You will have to be very proactive and create a team of professionals you trust to assist you.

Best of luck. You are asking the right questions and following your motherly instincts. That will never fail you.

K.

My daughter was diagnosed in second grade also with ADHD. I fought the idea of meds, but I was homeschooling her and she really had problems focusing. (Most children with ADD are very intelligent.) We would spend hours just doing math or spelling. I finally gave in, our Ped gave us Concerta. It works, but she lost alot of weight, and did not sleep well. I look at her softball picture from that year and she looks horrible. Also as we went up on the Concerta, she got very angry. That was the final draw for us. Our normal fun loving happy go lucky child had changed. We took her off for the summer and got her back. When fall started this year, we talked about meds again, but tried without for 1 month. Back to the doctors. She prescribed FocalinXR. We love it. It takes a couple of hours to work so we take it at 7:00 am and by 5:30-6:00 its almost worn off. We have not had any of the sleeping or easting side effects, and when asked she says she likes it better. Thats our story. Good luck, and don't be afraid to tell your doctor if you try whatever medication and you don't like the effects.
K. E

Y., I was wondering have you ever thought about researching homeopathic and natural remedies for your son instead of medicating him? Sugar, dyes, different food combinations and even toxins (in the environment and home) can truly make a difference in a child's behavior. But, please also remember that kids are ALIVE and have feelings and spirit and do not deserve to be labeled or medicated. IN FACT, I STRONGLY, STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU NEVER PUT HIM ON ANY PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE, INCLUDING HIS TEACHER, TUTOR AND PEDIATRICIAN SAY TO THE CONTRARY! I definitely know from personal experience psych medications do more harm than good and that, in fact, there are many natural solutions that can actually help with what your son is going through.

Please call the CITIZENS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS (CCHR). Their # is: (323) 467~4242. And, here's their website: http://www.cchr.org/. They can definitely help you!

I also highly recommend contacting Dr. Anita Pepi who is truly an amazing Chiropractor and Nutritionist and would definitely be able to help your son naturally.

Here's her data:

2950 Los Feliz Blvd. Suite 101
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 666~1088
http://www.drpepi.com

If she is too far for you, please let me know as I may know of an incredible nutritionist that is closer to you.

In addition, I suggest contacting the most amazing Occupational Therapist/ Life Coach that I know: Dani Sigal. She approaches her work from a holistic perspective, using fun child and family-centered approaches to support children in developing the skills and foundations they need in order to thrive. She can be reached at ###-###-#### or via e~mail at: ____@____.com.

I'd also recommend checking out 5 organizations validating why going the natural route is best for you and your son:
http://ablechild.org/
http://www.cchr.org/
http://www.fightforkids.org/
http://www.psychsearch.net/teenscreen.html
http://www.labelmesane.com/

You'll also find some amazing data regarding alternatives at: http://www.cchr.org/solutions_and_alternatives/

And, Y., please watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Xjx0gdL83I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRJN_NfyiH4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgMovNmtRF0&feature=user
http://www.psychconflicts.org/
http://www.cchr.org/#/videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73SRn1gdAdM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcvCtxaiOGg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58UZqr3fiZ

Please free to contact me at: (323) 906~2784 or via e~mail me at ____@____.com.

I'd love to help you and your son however I can.

With love,
L. (MAMA to 13 month old Dylan Orion.......29 September 2007) : )))

Yes you do have other choices. The Drake Institute is a great place to start.
http://www.drakeinstitute.com/
The link is above. They are experts. They have a few locations but definitely check them out.

Hi Y.,
I do not have any kids who have been diagnosed with ADD, but I felt I needed to respond. I am a former elementary school teacher and I saw ADD "diagnosed" way too often. First, please understand that no teacher, tutor, or even pediatrician can diagnose ADD or ADHD. For ADD, or ADHD, you need to get your son seen by a neurologist. He needs to really have someone who is qualified to test for the neurological conditions which occurs in ADHD. If in fact your son does have ADD, please ask a million questions about treatment. Not all kids need meds, and there are medication free treatment optins including biofeedback. If you as a family decide that the medication will be right for you, research all the side effects online. I have been told by doctor that a medical treatment option I had was safe, and had no side-effects, but when I researched it I found that not only did it have lots of side-effects, but they are clearly listed in the literature that she gave me, as well as what the manufacturer gives to Dr's. She was wrong, whether she mean it or not, and I am glad I did my research and did not choose to go that route. Once you do your research, and ask a lot of questions, you will then be prepared for all the side-efects that may occur. Every person is different, so don't expect that wht happens whith one person will happen with your son.
I truly hope you will find something to help your son, and your family, whether it be that he truly has ADD or not. You are your son's advocate, and never allow anyone to take that power away from you.

Whatever you do please wait on the meds. Whatever else you do is going to require work on your part and sometimes it is going to be difficult but the payoff is so much better than giving your child drugs that could affect him negatively for the rest of his life.

First thing I would do (and have) is change the diet. Remove all dyes, preservatives, gluten (wheat, oats, barley), no more diet drinks and go organic as much as possible.

While doing this, get the book by Dr. Kenneth Bock, Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders

Then you can start planning your next step.

Good luck, know you are not alone in this and that there is to be no shame or to feel pressured to do anything from others.

Drake Institute is a great idea and worked for my son for awhile because we had not changed the diet or added supplements yet. Once we did those then it has been moving smoothly, until the next thing (head shaking).

J.

Dear Y.,

There is nothing wrong with your child! Do not put him on meds! Please watch the following clips.

#1 Video:
http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?swf=http%3A//s.ytimg.com...

or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73SRn1gdAdM
(8-1/2 minutes):

#2 Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcvCtxaiOGg
(7-1/2 minutes)

#3 Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58UZqr3fiZI
(6 minutes)

The side effects are horrible and the damage is permanent. Please reconsider. Your tutor doesn't know how to help your child. If you need help with this, send me a message. I work with children with these exact problems and they can be managed without medication.

Thanks,

M.

I know this will come across as old-fashioned, since I'm 72 and a grandmother, but let me tell you our story. Of our 7 children, including a sibling family of four adopted children, 2 were extremely hyperactive, one of those extremely dyslexic-dysgraphic, with many school and learning problems. At that time, the drug was Ritalin, and frankly, in many respects, it did wonders. A third child was not hyperactive -- just the opposite, dreamy and disconnected and unable to concentrate. With him also, the medication seemed miraculous. All were able to participate in school. One of the sons and my daughter graduated from college, and both went on to fine careers (although my daughter unfortunately died of cancer at 38). Unfortunately, the other two sons of the four both inherited bipolar disorder from their natural parents, and also suffered from many more emotional problems from being in orphanages their first 7 and 8 years, so they have not done as well, but their learning problems did go away as they were able to concentrate in school, and both can read fluently, and discuss many topics with intelligence. Although they complained as adults that the medication had made them sometimes feel "bland," and expressed resentment at having to take it, I think I was able to see what their school years would have been like without the medication.

More recently, we have had a young man in our household -- since about age 7 until now, at age 16. It took a long time for me to convince his Mom (who is a licensed nurse) to take him for evaluation and help with his complete inability to concentrate. Since he took medication, his grades have soared, and his teachers now recognize his intelligence and verbal abilities. Before, he was pigeon-holed, as a Latino, as a poor learner. I don't believe he still takes the medication, as junior at University High School, one of the toughest and best high schools in the country, but he is doing well and is proud of his ability to complete his homework and participate in class.

I will mention another experience, although it doesn't relate directly to medication. As a middle school teacher, I formed a class of the "misfits" that no other teacher wanted to take on. Probably some of them were on medication, and others might have done better had they had medication, but what they needed and craved was a stable classroom environment that did not present them with a room, teacher, and student-mix change every 45 minutes. Having me as a teacher for at least two periods, and usually for two years, and being presented with some very achievable goals and rewards (When the bell rings, you are seated with feet on the floor, unbroken pencil and eraser, leisure reading book or magazine of choice, textbook and notebook, ready to learn!) that later offered a choice of treats and prizes, did wonders for many hyperactive students. Added to that was the fact that as the class time went on, they were allowed to fashion study holes for themselves under tables, etc, and we often went outside to listen and discuss things. These are all substitutes for medication for some children, and adjuncts for others.

Sometimes it just takes that small break-through in learning how to concentrate, and in receiving praise for doing well in school to push the person to learning how to better control his or her own behavior. I think my daughter learned that, and certainly, although she remained a very "hyper" person until her death, she was able to channel it into getting three separate certificates at community college and being an outstanding art student at Long Beach State, as well as going on to a career at Disney and also as an individual ceramics artist.

At this age, I frankly do not place as much faith in medication for any of a variety of emotional and mental conditions as I once did, and I think all have to be approached with care, and with a sense that one size does not fit all, but with that many people recommending medication, I would give it a try, and make sure that other ways of helping were present as well. Your son's early start will mean how he goes on.

S. Toji

try the natural approach first. ask your sons dr about natural aides. my niece and nephew are both adhd and they take b12 which helps them. their mom mixes it into their cereal. maybe get a second opinion if you want. it does take a while to find the right dosage for your son and it can take up to 2 months to see the real results of the meds. also you can research what foods aggravate add and do your best to eliminate them. good luck!

Dear Y.,
While I respect any decision you make regarding medicating your child I want to tell you of at least one student of mine that I have had in the past (I have had several that sound similar to yours). I had one student, whose parents I became very close to. This student could not sit still, had trouble interacting appropriately with other students, never remembered to raise his hand, had difficulty finishing work (even when it was modified). He clearly had signs of ADHD and his parents took him to the doctor who also agreed. Parents however did not want to medicate. I was understanding and continued to support their decision. Their child continued the same behaviors and had few friends. By the time this student was in 4th grade his self-esteem started to suffer and teasing from the other students really began. Parents were now dealing with some very difficult behaviors at home. Grade were suffering (and he was a VERY bright student). Parents decided to give the medications a try and guess what? Everything turned around for this student. EVERYTHING. Parents began to feel bad about not medicating, but I reminded them that they did what they thought best at the time and that is what good parents do. I tell you this story not to scare you, but to show you the other side. I would not call myself an advocate for medicating children, but I can tell you that I have seen first hand MANY times how much changes when some children start the medications. I know that this a big decision and you may want to try all the alternatives possible before you decide. My heart goes out to you.
Love,
J.

I would not take my pediatrician's advice, nor that of your teacher or tutor. In the first place, CA law expressly forbids teachers from diagnosing or recommending. If they feel a student has a problem, they confer with the principal, who in turn calls you and makes arrangements for a meeting. Find a SPECIALIST in ADD/ADHD testing (board certified medical doctor, often a psychiatrist) and have your child tested. This doctor needs to spend at least 3-4 hours with your son before making a diagnosis--often after 3+ different appts., where they spend time with the child, talking and testing. Then and only then, can you be confident of the diagnosis. This isn't cheap, but it's the best investment you can make in your child. There are many other medical conditions that present as ADHD, but in fact, aren't. UCI in Irvine has an ADHD clinic and you can probably call them for help and advice. Good luck and God bless.

P.S. I would pay for an independent specialist to make this determination---not the school district. They have therapists, (often very young) not medical doctors evaluationg the children.

Hi Y.,

Please, before you think about medication, call my holistic doctor. He has been succesful in treating ADD without any side effects. His name is Jaime Kaiser & his number is ###-###-####. He will talk with you over the phone about your situation and is really knowledable.

Please remember that your son's body is not ritalin defecient, so medication would only mask symptoms and would also have side effects........please consider getting to the root of the problem.

Best wishes!!

I have had many friends and relatives that have been told by their kids teachers that their children should be put on ADD medications. I think it is more a problem with the schools not having enough teachers for the the amount of children they have.

Don't consider medicating your child until you have exhausted all other possibilities.

Hello Y.,

You will get a lot of different views on ADD/ADHD and to medicate or not to medicate. The decision is totally up to you. When my son was 4 I had 3 psychiatrist, his pediatrician, and teacher tell me that he was likely adhd. I am a teacher too and have seen both positive and negative effects of medicating. But in the end it really depends on your child, his/her needs and how add/adhd effects them. For me, when my child started hitting (and he wasn't being mean, just couldn't help it... and he was able to state that he could control his brain) I tried medication. It took a few different kinds to find what worked best for him. Yes, he lost weight, but he gained friends, self esteem, and is learning. You have to weigh the pros and cons. I would start with behavior modifications first and other routes before going to meds. In the end it's what works best for you child. What works for one child may not for another, so I would look at things individually. Good luck!

Hi Y.-

My daughter was diagnosed with ADD in 5th grade, but we actually knew before that. She was not able to focus in class and was very spacey. I didn't want to go the diagnosis route because I didn't want her "labled." I tried homeopathic remidies, and neurofeedback bet they did not seem to work for her. Well, in 5th grade she went into crisis mode and we had to do something to save our daughter. Her self-esteem was so low because she was missing instrustions in school and wasn't able to focus during sports. We did end up medicating her. My suggestion on that is to really watch your son, because there are many side effects. The first medicine turned her into Dr Jekkill/Mr. Hyde. The second medicine stopped her from eating and sleeping. She is on a 3rd medicine and the higher dose zones her out so she is on a lesser dose, and it does seem to be working, but she really needs to self-moniteer her attention, because she still wants to go into space. But socially, and acidemically she's doing well so we are not changing it.

Good Luck!

If he isn't hyperactive just inattentive, I would ask the school district for an IEP and have him tested for other learning disabilities. Has he had a recent physical to determine that he is not hard of hearing or nearsighted (he can't see the blackboard from far away)? Before you resort to medication, BE SURE there are no medical problems and you have tried other non prescription treatment such as biofeedback. Get a second opinion from a learning disability psychologist. Also contact your Regional Center for information about the law, the school district and parental rights. ADD drugs can work wonders, but they should not be the FIRST thing that is used. It might be the easiest way, but it might not be the best way. Good luck and let us know what happens. By the way, my son uses music to increase his ability to focus. He taught himself how to play a keyboard in high school and when he gets frustrated he plays for half an hour or so and then he can concentrate on his schoolwork. We tried music when he was younger but he wasn't ready for it yet. You just have to find the right therapy for your child. My son has ADD without the hyperactivity.

I just put my 6 yr old daughter on ADHD meds. (Focalin) It is a long lasting med. I decided to put her on it because she couldn't pay attention long enough to read one word. The teacher (who is awesome and very experienced w/ challenging kids) noticed the improvement the first day! My daughter is so proud of herself for learning to read "big kid" books. It has really been a positive. However, there are issues --- she's always been a strange eater -- picky and a grazer -- never eats a meal at once. Now she has less appetite. After 6 weeks on meds, I just added a second dose at school to help w/ homework time at home. However this has made it much more difficult for her to sleep (like still awake at midnight!) so I may have to cut back or use a medication for sleeping. Unless your pediatrician is well versed in prescribing ADHD meds. you should find a specialist. They are definitely worth trying! Sometimes you need to try a few different kinds and a few different doses. It is most important in the early grades so he learns to read well.

I don't have any experience, so take my advice for what it's worth. I feel as though you are second guessing them, so go with your gut feeling. If you have to find a new ped, so be it. This is you kid, not theirs.

I do not have a child on meds-but, it may happen in the future. But, I can write as a former user or ritalin. It was a god send. I have a groovy mom and I did all the diets, vitamins etc. But I took "happy pills" (I have no idea if I gave them that name or some one else did) on school days. My grades immediatly improved. Okay, not just academically, but, I also gained friends. I think I was a real pain, and no one wanted to hang out w/ me. My husband was also hyper (that is what they called it back in the day) and his parents didn't medicate him. And, he had problems through jr high.

If I were in your shoes, I would try other things than meds first. Just so you know, the meds do not stay in the body-they are completely gone in hours, so, you see results immediatly, and you know when you miss a day. Good luck.

My son went on ADD meds, and it was the worse thing for him. He lost weight, developed mind turrets syndrome (SP?), he was the class clown, but after meds he withdrew. It was a terrible time. Try diet. I know it sounds strange, but gluten free diets really help. Listen, if it doesn't work after 30 days, try something else. But in the mean time, at least it is natural and healthy! A win-win!!!

Good luck,

M.

My son, who is now 22, was diagnosed with ADHD in first grade. I was very fortunate to have a doctor who was not pro medicine and allowed me to try different approaches. Regardless of what you choose, behavior modification is key. You have to be very specific with your son. We tried meds for about 4 years, very low dosage and only when he was at school. Then we reduced it to once a day. Then not at all. On test days I would send him with a Mountain Dew (high caffene). And I am a mom who never buys or drinks soda! It helped calm him down. My biggest fear about meds was that I didn't want to change who he was. I needed to find something that would help with the headaches, stomache aches and dizziness that he was experiencing while trying to stay focused and centered in class. He also had huge impulse control problems. When he started 6th grade, he was med free and his maturity level was way up. I never allowed him to use ADHD as an excuse for poor behavior. It was a reason for certain behavior, but never an excuse. I told him that the world was not going to change for him, that he needed to find his way in the world. Most kids with ADHD are highly intelligent and thier brains just run at a different level. He was best taught with a Humanitas program that allowed verbal debate and interaction. The best book I ever read is called "How Your Child Is Smart". It really lays out the differentiated learning styles and how best to teach to them and what tools you can use at home. Another note, my son has never been a "sweet" eater, so his diet had no baring on his behavior. I buy very little processed food and try to go as organic as I can afford. The best you can do is stay consistent (they really are creatures of habit), make him responsible for his actions, and listen to your "mother instincts". As to the answer to your main questions: No, he never had a loss of apetite, he never was a sleeper so his sleeping pattern did not change (when he was an infant I was lucky if he slept for an hour a day) and his headaches were more of a result of his frustration of having to try to control himself in class. Good luck to you! Oh and BTW, at 22 he is an awesome young man with a bright future and quick wit who has no problem fitting in in any situation.

My daughter was diagnosed with Adhd I took her to two clinics one was Simply Healing in Irvine, medicine works wonders it is all natural, and Envita medical center in Scottsdale. I refuse to give the amphetamines that come in those regular drugs. I changed her diet to glutein free, and dairy free, and try to keep her natural sugar in take to forty grams a day. It has helped alot. They both have websites check them out.

E.

This is definitely not meant in judgment of anyone else since I only have a 7 week old but my husband was extremely unmanageable & hyperactive when he was a child and his pediatrician advised medication. My mother in law refused to give him medication. He threw tantrums anywhere & anytime for no reason and did not sleep much at all. She soldiered on through it and a few years later he seemed to outgrow it. He is an extremely intelligent, focused, organized, and kind person now. She thought his personality would have been muted with meds.

I only tell this to give a moment of pause before medicating. If you can (it's got to be challenging being a working mom) try everything else before meds. Good luck!!!!

Hi: Another avenue to explore instead of medication is being treated using NAET. You can read about it in a book by Dr. Devi Nambudripad entitled "Say Goodbye to ADD/ADHD". I go to an NAET certified practitioner whom I love. Dr. David Karaba with the East West Medical Group in Fullerton.

I would definitely get a third and fourth opinion. We live in a day where we quickly turn to meds or the "quick fix". Years ago I was told that my son was ADD and needed meds. In my heart of hearts I knew this wasn't so. He was just a rather rambunctious child with lots of energy. I never did put him on meds and he has been fine and is a great human being. He is now in college with an academic scholarship,student leadership scholarship, two music scholarships and holds a 3.92 GPA...... carrying 20 units.

Also, you may want to look into a nutritionist or alternative medicine. Please, please look at all the options before you put him on any meds. Blessings upon you!

HI, I tried Drake... Seemed to help at first, but really didn't make a significant improvement. It is also VERY expensive. We went thought the first phase... 5K cost, and were told to keep improving we needed to do the fast forward phase.. another 5K. During that my son actually seemed to get worse...where he could not even finish a session without them asking him to be taken home due to his poor behavior... and these are the experts? I have mixed feelings... I definitely wanted to try alternatives to meds... but Drake was not the answer we were looking for and came with a big price tag! My son did not finish his treatments...but they are non refundable. He is now on meds... did make a difference right away... so...so far that has been a better alternative. Some parents at drake did feel that it made a huge difference in thier kids... but then I heard many others say that the effects did not last... So your choice...Bottom line is you can try alternative first... b/c you can always go to meds if nothing else seems to work. good luck! Cindy

I haven't had time to read all of your responses yet, so I hope this is not a repeat, but I read an interesting article a few years ago from a doctor who had done case studies and found ADD/ADHD linked to certain preservatives (among other things) in foods. He said to stay away from food dyes and petroleum-based preservatives such as BHT and BHQ (those are the only two I can remember), commonly found in cereals. The one cereal I can remember that he said was safe was Cheerios (only the original, some of the variations have the petroleum-based preservatives).

I have also heard that an overall healthy diet, adequate sleep, and staying away from sugar are helpful. I am not speaking from experience. My kids are just pre-schoolers now, but I am tucking away all of this information now because I expect that I may face this in the future. It is so common now, my oldest is already the most hyper kid I have ever known, and my husband believes he probably would have been diagnosed and drugged if they did that when he was a kid, but we do not believe that drugs are the answer so we are trying to educate ourselves in order to live as naturally and healthy as possible.

I wish you and your son all the best!

Hi Y.,
This is such a hard decision. First, has he been formally diagnosed with ADD(now it is called "innattentive ADHD")? This is done by a Pedi or Psychiatrist. You don't have to medicate...but sometimes it can really help the child. The teacher should not be suggesting meds to you...that is innappropriate and out of her professional realm. Anyway, you may want to also ask the school district to test him formally for any learning disabiliites...they often go hand-in-hand w/ ADD. We waited until 4th grade to medicate...at first it didn't do anything for him...but then a very small increase...wow! That really worked! At 1st he had a decrease in appetite, headaches ...the appetite normalized anfd the headaches got better, but after 4 months he developed a facial muscle tic...so he off now and I'm not sure we will try another or not. It is certainly not perfect and I would never have tried it had his learning not been compromised...he was just off in dream-land and off task so much that he was missing important lessons in school.
best of luck in your decision. By the way, if you choose a stimulant med, he should have a baseline EKG of his heart done before taking the meds.

Hello Y.. I went through the same thing. One day "they" wanted to put my son on meds for ADD, the next day it was meds for ADHD and then finally ODD. I personally just believe that people (teachers, doctors, etc...)are too quick to diagnose a child with either of those, and don't really take the time to find out what the underlying issues are. They are also very quick to medicate, which I don't agree with unless it is absolutely necessary. For my son, he needed anger management, but you wouldn't know it based on their "expert" opinions. I refused to put my son on meds, especially at such an early age. I just wanted to give my opinion, and I'm sorry that I don't have any sort of solution to offer you.

I have not personally had any experiences with ADD, but my neighbor is a holistic nutrionist and she often talks about how foods can cause the symptoms of ADD. With all these crazy man made additives it is messing up our bodies.. you may want to check with a nutrionist in your area.. wouldn't hurt.. good luck.

I've first hand experienced what ADD meds can do to little kids, and honestly I think it's not fair to do to someone so young...I mean they are still learning 'how' to control their urges and impulses. Reactions and timing, in my opinion, are something that kids learn from example and guidance.

If your son is experiencing a tough time concentrating in school it may be the type of approach that the teachers/tutors are using to try to get through to your son. Has he been evaluated for his learning style? If not, that is something you can ask your school to do. And, then ask what the teachers do to accomodate his learning style. As a former teacher of k-2 graders, I experience kids who were medicated without addressing what kind of things the school could do to help their children. If you go to your district office, they should offer various types of testing that can help assess the needs of your son, and hopefully prevent medication being necessary. He's so young, and meds, as I've seen can cause depression, lathargia, anxiousness, headaches, irritated stomach and loss of appetite.

I'm so happy to hear your concern for your little guy, as so many parents are quick to think that meds will 'cure' their kids problems.

More often than not, the issues are not behavioral but learning challenges. For example, my son's father is a visual learner stimulated by images and sound...but, as a kid he was diagnosed with ADD because he could not sit and do a 'workbook' type activity without losing focus and becoming distracted. So, he was medicated and fell behind in class because he became lethargic and depressed. It wasn't until we were in 7th grade that our English teacher took notice and asked if he could be tested for 'learning skill sets' and he was taken off meds and given tutoring that helped him improve based on his learning abilities.

As a teacher, I was always more than happy to discuss the alternatives to meds with parents and encourage seeing a dietician and even a educational therapist that can help with evaluated learning abilities. Please don't hesitate to get a second opinion, and ask your district office for help with the situation.

Good Luck.

My oldest who is now 17 years old was diagnosed with ADD at about the same age as your son. One thing that a pediatrician told us to try, that seemed to work and my daughter liked it, was to have her drink a small caffeinated soda in the morning. It got her through the day and it worked a lot better than medication, for her. Also, on testing days, she was allowed, only during testing to chew gum. This was approved by the teacher. As long as she had something else to do, she was able to control her concentration and not distract others. She was also able to keep small things at her desk, pennies, beans, buttons and why the teacher was instructing, she was able to stack and unstack those and that kept her focus on the teacher. One teacher even put her at the back of the room so if she felt the urge to walk around, she was able to at the back of the room without much distraction to the teacher or other students. Best of Luck!

I have had two children on ADD and ADHD medications. It is all up to the family. I have one still on medication and he is doing very well in school.

If you don't want to have your child on medication, you can try a different diet. I have noticed that when I use ORGANIC foods, all my children do better. It may also have to do with allergic reactions in foods that use pesticides.

Also try not giving your child a lot of sugar. This may be a contributor to the problem. I do know that there are websites and books about ADD and ADHD and the types of foods trigger it.

My children have had a diet change, and they are still on medication. Some children just need it. I hope this is helpful.

J.

Yes, there is something other than drugs you can do. Here are the two testinomnals I got just this month from my clients.

From Kim, Mom of Garrett age 10, Amber age 7 and Shelby age 15. "After struggling in school for two years with not being able to focus and regulate his behaviour, my son, Garret, after 8 weeks on Isagenix nutritional shakes has not had one incident since the startup of school in September. Normally he would at least one incident a day and sometimes multiple! His doctor told me to put him on the "doctor recommended medicinal program to regualte his behaviour". I chose food instead. Garrett is able to focus and moderate his own energy so he can get the most out of his studies and relationships at school. We have noticed the change at home also. All our kids now take the Isagenix shakes in the morning as their step towards achieving optimal health! B. you are a blessing. Thank you."

And Angela mom of Nyah age 2 and Jared age 7
"My son was heading down a very BAD road in school. He was RARELY focused, always "fidgety," becoming increasingly defiant and a behavior problem, and he HATED THE ALPHABET!!! By the bizillionth time his teacher reported a bad day with him, I decided ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! That was a Friday. I decided to give him an Isagenix shake every day for a week and see what happened. By Monday morning, he'd had three shakes. Off to school he went. THAT DAY, his teacher reported an EXCELLENT day with him! Tuesday = AWESOME DAY. Wednesday = amazed look on her face = GREAT DAY!!! By the end of the week, he had had the best week in school he'd ever had! I have known for months that I needed to get these shakes into my kids, but my son refused. I TRIED forever, but he's a stubborn little cuss!!! Anyway, we are finishing up our second week of shakes, and school has become an awesome experience for him rather than a drudgery.

My little girl was born with special needs and has always been pretty much "in her own world." She rarely paid attention to anyone around her. She would never interact with others. She would tire easily and constantly take "cat naps." Once I started giving her a shake every day (starting end of September), the difference was night and day. Her aide reports that she pays attention to the other kids at school and even LAUGHS at them!! She's focused on the activities (NEVER BEFORE!!), and she's engaging in activities that I never thought she'd be able to do. AND she can go all afternoon WITHOUT A NAP!! In other words, she's wonderful! Thank you B. and Isagenix"

Y., I believe in education not medication. If you feel the same, call me. All you have to do is ask. One phone call, we place the order and your son will be on the right path. If you want, we can get your entire family on a nutritional program that will better your relationships, increase mental clarity and give you the patience to handle stressfull situations.

This is what I do, let me help you.

B. H., B.A.:B.Ed.
Family Nutrition Coach
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Don't let anyone tell you what to do with your child if they don't even know him! There are a lot of approaches to kids with attention deficits. We used behavioral methods with our child--reward systems--but you absolutely need the cooperation of the school/teachers to make that work. Ours worked with us. It was a long haul, but ultimately successful throughout elementatary school. Check out books at the bookstore or library. There is a lot out there on nutrition--especially omega-3 supplements (fish oil, flaxseed oil.) These upset our daughter's stomach. When she was in high school she finally did go on medication. But by then she knew herself and was tired of all the problems that go with add. She was first on Concerta, which caused terrible mood swings. That was a nightmare. She ended up on Strattera, and it has made life much easier for her. Definitely get more advice than you have now. Pediatricians and psychiatrists are quick to medicate, because that's what they do. And teachers want you to medicate, too, because it is an easy fix to the problem they see themselves saddled with. There are many, many kids who do great on meds. You have to read everything you can find and become an expert yourself. Nobody knows your child like you do, and nobody will advocate for his best interest like you can. It will pay off. If your child is diagnosed with ADD then they have legal rights in the classroom, too. I can give you more on that or anything if you need it. Just message me back if you are interested. I've been down that path!!

Another mom recommended the Drake Institute. I looked at the website and it does look very interesting. What I found helpful: chess lessons (eventually chess competitions). It has helped lengthen my kids' attention spans.

I feel for you - I was told the same about my son many times however, whenever he is given a prescription of anything the side effects are opposite of what they say and off the charts. I decided to really, honestly look at our diets and realized my son was not eating a balanced enough diet and was having to much sugar - it comes in things we don't even think about. They say the average child eats a 5lb bag a week of sugar. I added a product called Juice Plus+ to my sons diet and made some changes and he is now on the First Honor Roll and a changed child!! I hope this helps. Remember being totally honest about what your family eats can be hard but is key.

Hi Y.,

There are always alternative options you can try first before resorting to prescription meds. There are some very good responses here regarding preservatives, etc. I have read many articles about the links to processed foods, etc and many illnesses, including ADD/ADHD.

There are also many environmental links to illness. You may want to take a look into the types of cleaning and personal care products you are now using. If they are from the store shelves, they may be contributing to some of your son's concentration issues. Many of these products contain toxins that can affect a childs brain development. They are called neurotoxins. Here is an excerpt taken from the Safe Shoppers Bible on neurotoxins:

"These are chemicals that adversely affect the nervous system, reducing emotional wellbeing, mental alertness, coordination, and other functions associated with intelligence. Long-term effects of neurotoxins include behavioral changes, memory loss, emotional disturbances, and in adults organic brain damage that can proceed to dementia.

Many household products that contain neurotoxins are aerosolized or highly volatile (i.e., they become gaseous at room temperature). That means exposure occurs not only through skin absorption but also through inhalation."

Y., I have a 10 minute video that also explains the dangers of environmental toxins to the human body. Please feel free to watch it if you'd like at www.sharethecause.com/T.

I hope this has helped you and best wishes to you and you family,

T.

Hi Y.,
I am also a working mom with a 7 yr old boy diagnosed with ADHD last yr. We haven't gone the meds route yet but I wonder every day if we need to. Just be sure your school is doing every thing they can to support him - have you had an IEP, etc. And there can be a cost to NOT doing meds, like if he starts feeling bad about himself because he can't do his work or is too hyper to make friends. Check out the Ned Hallowell books "Delivered from Distraction", etc. He's an MD who has ADD and a father of 3 with 2 of his kids diagnosed with it. His stuff is the only book that helped me feel better instead of worse. Also ask you pediatrician re the drug Vyvanse - it's a newer treatment. Good luck and hope to hear how it goes for you - I know it's such a hard decision. J.

I do not have a child with ADD or ADHD but I have worked with many students with these disorders and have done a lot of research to help them be successful in my classroom.

I do believe in medication. I understand that parents do not want to jump into medicating their child, but I think it benefits the child, helping them to be on an even playing field with their peers. Most of my ADD students were among my brightest, but their inability to focus and stay organized hindered their success in the classroom. Whether parents chose to medicate or not, the teacher has a responsibility to accomodate your child in the classroom.

I do believe my students that were medicated were the most successful. I know that their parents had to be patient with allowing time for the medication to work and also trying a new medication if side effects were too severe. Many times, parents did not want to medicate their child and at the first sign of a side effect, they took their child off the medication to never give another medication a try. Research does show that kids that truly struggle with ADD and NEVER get help, will eventually self-medicate as teens or adults. I don't say that to freak you out but to encourage you to do all that you can to help your child cope, be successful in school and also help them navigate the social world as well.
Sometimes it takes 3-4 different attempts to find the meds that work best for your child.

All that being said, I want to encourage you that with patience and perserverance, your child can be coping with their ADD very successfully. Make sure that you are always in close contact with your child's teacher. Do what you can to maintain a positive relationship with the teacher so you get their full cooperation and support. You guys are a team and you should be working together in that way. Your child is entitled to modifications but teachers can be so overwhelmed with their responsibilites and 35 students different needs so be supportive and appreciative of their work as well.

I hope you find this feedback positive and supportive.

K.

Y.,
My neice was diagnosed with ADD when she was little. My sister put her on meds to treat it, but she was very sleepy and lethargic while on the meds. I would seriously get a second opinion before putting your son on any of the meds to treat ADD as they do alter the chemical balance in the brain. Some children are just much more energetic than others and find the pace of class to be too slow or too fast and then "act out". No teacher or tutor should be diagnosing your son nor should they be telling you to put your child on any medication. Get a second medical opinion and go from there.
I wish you much luck and patience,
T.

You should look into the Feingold diet (www.feingold.org). It's been around for over 30 years and I have heard many success stories, though I know it does not work for everyone. You can find an overview on wikipedia as well. The Feingold Program eliminates three groups of synthetic food additives and one class of synthetic sweeteners that have been found to cause hyperactivity:

Synthetic colors (FD&C and D&C colors) (this is like red dye)
Synthetic flavors (several thousand different chemicals)
Synthetic preservatives (BHA, BHT, and TBHQ)
Artificial sweeteners (Aspartame, Neotame, and Alitame)

You can check out the book at the library as well.

You ultimately need to do what you are comfortable with. My son was diagnosed ADHD in Kindergarten. We tried everything we could think of until second grade and finally gave up and reluctantly turned to meds. He has tried them all, it took a long time to find one that worked well. Some didn't seem to help at all, others wore off too fast, one gave him insomnia, one upset his stomach, one made him drowsy, one ruined his appetite, etc etc etc. We finally found one that seems to have NO side effects and he's doing great in school - Concerta. We did find that Omega 3 supplements helped, but not enough. So, you might give it a try if his case is not severe. Good luck and God bless.

a co-worker of mine switched her son to a gluton free and low sugar diet. Caffeine is also supposed to help calm ADD symptoms which worked for her son. Eventually he did have to be put on the lowest dosage of meds. The first one he had an allergic reaction too and made his behavior worse. he is another now at the lowest dose and is responding well to diet and meds. You'll just have to try several things to see what works best for him.