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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on October 20, 2005, at 11:37:01
My 16 year old son has just recently been officially diagnosed with ADDH.
I realize that I probabley have it as an adult...and that many on paternal and maternal side of the family suffered with it, undiagnosed for years.
Apart from the usual drugs ( Ritalin, Adderal, ect...) any suggestions as to other treatments? I dont know how I missed this in my son...but the signs and symptoms are Textbook and Classic.
We need help
BF
Posted by Ezmoney on October 20, 2005, at 19:08:56
In reply to ADDH, posted by Buckeye Fan on October 20, 2005, at 11:37:01
Fish oil has worked miricales.Look it up on google.Fish oil and addh
Posted by Buckeye Fan on October 20, 2005, at 22:19:01
In reply to Re: ADDH, posted by Ezmoney on October 20, 2005, at 19:08:56
Will do...thanks EZ...
BF
Posted by CK1 on October 21, 2005, at 1:41:09
In reply to ADDH, posted by Buckeye Fan on October 20, 2005, at 11:38:19
The non-stimulant meds for ADD are not nearly as effective as the stimulants and they have their own different side effects. Strattera is one, but it's relatively ineffective for most people. Everyone had high hopes when it first hit the market, but most doctors and patients have found that it doesn't come close to Adderall or Ritalin. If he has clinical ADD, why wouldn't you go the stimulant route? They've been around for decades and are unbelievably effective. They have a bad rep though. Also, they can exacerbate anxiety greatly or, paradoxically, can decrease anxiety. I'd go with the stimulants first if you want quick effective relief for your son, but watch out for stimulant induced anxiety and/or depression.
CK
Posted by Buckeye Fan on October 21, 2005, at 1:41:09
In reply to Re: ADDH, posted by CK1 on October 20, 2005, at 11:45:46
> The non-stimulant meds for ADD are not nearly as effective as the stimulants and they have their own different side effects. Strattera is one, but it's relatively ineffective for most people. Everyone had high hopes when it first hit the market, but most doctors and patients have found that it doesn't come close to Adderall or Ritalin. If he has clinical ADD, why wouldn't you go the stimulant route? They've been around for decades and are unbelievably effective. They have a bad rep though. Also, they can exacerbate anxiety greatly or, paradoxically, can decrease anxiety. I'd go with the stimulants first if you want quick effective relief for your son, but watch out for stimulant induced anxiety and/or depression.
>
> CK
I appreciate your input CK.
Your reply contains the reason I dont want to go the drug route.
The side effects...the risks...and the "un naturalness ( is that even a word?) of giving a growing , developing young man stimulants and mind-altering drugs.Again..thanks for your comments...I guesss I am looking a "magic bullet"...an all-natural herbal remedy , that combined with dietary changes will solve the problem.
BF
Posted by alohashirt on October 21, 2005, at 1:41:09
In reply to Re: ADDH, posted by Buckeye Fan on October 20, 2005, at 16:24:16
> > The non-stimulant meds for ADD are not nearly as effective as the stimulants and they have their own different side effects. Strattera is one, but it's relatively ineffective for most people. Everyone had high hopes when it first hit the market, but most doctors and patients have found that it doesn't come close to Adderall or Ritalin. If he has clinical ADD, why wouldn't you go the stimulant route? They've been around for decades and are unbelievably effective. They have a bad rep though. Also, they can exacerbate anxiety greatly or, paradoxically, can decrease anxiety. I'd go with the stimulants first if you want quick effective relief for your son, but watch out for stimulant induced anxiety and/or depression.
> >
> > CK
>
>
> I appreciate your input CK.
> Your reply contains the reason I dont want to go the drug route.
> The side effects...the risks...and the "un naturalness ( is that even a word?) of giving a growing , developing young man stimulants and mind-altering drugs.
>
> Again..thanks for your comments...I guesss I am looking a "magic bullet"...an all-natural herbal remedy , that combined with dietary changes will solve the problem.
>There are no silver bullets that will kill the werewolf.
The funny thing about unnatural medication & natural herbal remedies is that my body can't distnguish penicillin from moldy bread. I have tried nine medications and fifteen herbal remedies.
I'm now taking Focalin XR, fish oil, and exercise.The risk of not treating ADHD is huge - I failed a year of college, didn't get promoted, lost a job, and I'm one of the high functioning ADHD people! When I was diagnosed with ADHD I spent a year reading everything i could find about teh condition - I was extremely skeptical. The more I read the clearere it was that, particularly for children, medication was turning F students into B students, allowing people to focus. My own experience was that medication allowed me to concentrate for the first time. There is a lot of panicked, almost hysterical writing about over-diagnosis of ADHD and dangers of Ritalin. In fact it seems that Ritalin is better tested medication than almost every other medication available and is ten times safer than tylenol.
Medication is only one part of treatment. I can strongly recommend "Delivered from Distraction" by Ned Hallowell a psychiatrist who has ADHD himself. Some people try coaching ro cognitive therapy to help build skills to work around the symptoms. Is also worth knowing that there are some positive characteristics that accompany ADHD. Many ADHD people are enormously creative, persistent and intuitive.
It's worth taking your son to an ADHD specialist who is up to speed with current treatment options.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on October 21, 2005, at 1:41:09
In reply to Re: ADDH, posted by alohashirt on October 20, 2005, at 21:49:55
There are no silver bullets that will kill the werewolf. The funny thing about unnatural medication & natural herbal remedies is that my body can't distnguish penicillin from moldy bread. I have tried nine medications and fifteen herbal remedies. I'm now taking Focalin XR, fish oil, and exercise.
The risk of not treating ADHD is huge - I failed a year of college, didn't get promoted, lost a job, and I'm one of the high functioning ADHD people! When I was diagnosed with ADHD I spent a year reading everything i could find about teh condition - I was extremely skeptical. The more I read the clearere it was that, particularly for children, medication was turning F students into B students, allowing people to focus. My own experience was that medication allowed me to concentrate for the first time. There is a lot of panicked, almost hysterical writing about over-diagnosis of ADHD and dangers of Ritalin. In fact it seems that Ritalin is better tested medication than almost every other medication available and is ten times safer than tylenol.Medication is only one part of treatment. I can strongly recommend "Delivered from Distraction" by Ned Hallowell a psychiatrist who has ADHD himself. Some people try coaching ro cognitive therapy to help build skills to work around the symptoms. Is also worth knowing that there are some positive characteristics that accompany ADHD. Many ADHD people are enormously creative, persistent and intuitive.
It's worth taking your son to an ADHD specialist who is up to speed with current treatment options.
*************************************************
I appreciate your well thought out post.
I will go to any lengths possible to resue my son from this...now that we have identified the major problem.
I WILL look up and find that Book and anything else I can get my hands on to help make an informed decision.
Like a few other things in life...I thought ADDH was a made-up term for bad behaviour in kids.Boy was I wrong
BF
Posted by MM on October 22, 2005, at 3:08:16
In reply to Re: ADDH, posted by Buckeye Fan on October 20, 2005, at 22:17:43
I actually work for some people that do Biofeedback and Neurofeedback with people that have ADHD/ADD (among other things), and I'm not too sure of the results as I don't really get to see that part of it (I just transcribe for them) but that is an alternative you might want to look into and these people are pretty well respected as I understand it. I also heard of a book called "The ADD Answer" but I can't say if it's a good one (sorry). It was thought I might have ADD and I was put on Strattera and I can't say I reccommend it, but that's just me. I do know that some people handle it with behavior modification, too, although I can't say I really know what that is. Sorry if this post isn't helpful but I thought I'd throw out some ideas in case you haven't heard of them and I wish you and your son the best of luck. HTH.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on October 22, 2005, at 10:03:35
In reply to Re: ADDH » Buckeye Fan, posted by MM on October 22, 2005, at 3:08:16
Thank you MM
BF
Posted by JLx on October 23, 2005, at 17:44:11
In reply to Re: ADDH, posted by Buckeye Fan on October 20, 2005, at 16:24:16
> Again..thanks for your comments...I guesss I am looking a "magic bullet"...an all-natural herbal remedy , that combined with dietary changes will solve the problem.
>
> BFA magic bullet isn't likely, but you never know. :)
My sister dealt with her son's hyperactivity nearly 30 years ago with the Feingold Diet. http://www.feingold.org/
She had tried him on Ritalin and they both hated it; said he was like a zombie. He did really well on Feingold, went to college, and today has a good job.
There's lots more info and plenty of anecdotes floating around on the web for which additional supplements may help, such as magnesium, zinc, B6, ferritin. http://www.homeschoolmath.net/other_topics/add-adhd-diet.php
This article makes the important point that it may not be one thing such as ferritin, in isolation, but a combo of nutritional supplements that will help: http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/article/3205/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder.html
This Healthnotes article mentions L-carnitine: http://www.vitacost.com/science/hn/Concern/ADD.htm
See "Alternatives to Drugs": http://www.heall.com/holistic_psychology/addh.html
Some anecdotal evidence of the efficacy of magnesium and zinc. http://www.adhdnews.com/testforum/test2737.htm This article mentions obtaining supplements from a reputable source, such as Kirkman Labs. http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/products/product_index.html.
If you're new to the supplement thing, many of us here order from iHerb http://www.iherb.com/ as they have some of the best prices on the net, as well as excellent customer service (in my experience).
This is a Google cached version of an article otherwise unavailable on a naturopathic site (where, for a price, you can fill out a lengthy questionnaire and get a detailed consult). http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:Lktj-7BXlPIJ:www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C414163.html+magnesium+ADHD&hl=en They advise testing for certain things such as heavy metals, copper and manganese.
Dr. Daniel Amen is a psychiatrist who uses brain imaging to diagnose, and has an interesting article here on supplements for the brain: http://amenclinics.com/bp/articles.php?articleID=10
He also has a couple of brain tests, which can help you narrow down the area of the brain that's the source of trouble; his recommendations which includes drugs and supplements, for each follow. http://amenclinics.com/ac/tests/
Does your son play sports? Magnesium is depleted by sweating and also by stress. And by unbalanced diets too high in sugar/fat/refined carbs/protein; alcohol, caffeine. Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in the body and a deficiency can show up in a number of ways. Before I started taking magnesium not only was I suicidally depressed, but I also used to have very itchy, dry skin, and hypothyroid symptoms such as low body temp and cold hands and feet.
A general article on magnesium by Elson Haas, M.D. http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=2060
A good page on magnesium by a nutritionist. Note the formula about half way down for magnesium supplementation by body weight, and in consideration of the magnesium depleting factors she mentions there: http://www.krispin.com/magnes.html
Magnesium may not be the magic bullet, but unless you son already eats extremely well in terms of none of the excesses above, and with good amounts of nuts, seeds, whole grains, and vegetables/fruits, he may benefit considerably by some supplemental magnesium (which he may not then need long term if his diet improves).
Magnesium taurate would be a good choice, or magnesium glycinate (may be especially beneficial if trouble sleeping).
JL
Posted by Buckeye Fan on October 27, 2005, at 13:24:47
In reply to Re: ADDH » Buckeye Fan, posted by JLx on October 23, 2005, at 17:44:11
> > Again..thanks for your comments...I guesss I am looking a "magic bullet"...an all-natural herbal remedy , that combined with dietary changes will solve the problem.
> >
> > BF
>
> A magic bullet isn't likely, but you never know. :)
>
> My sister dealt with her son's hyperactivity nearly 30 years ago with the Feingold Diet. http://www.feingold.org/
>
> She had tried him on Ritalin and they both hated it; said he was like a zombie. He did really well on Feingold, went to college, and today has a good job.
>
> There's lots more info and plenty of anecdotes floating around on the web for which additional supplements may help, such as magnesium, zinc, B6, ferritin. http://www.homeschoolmath.net/other_topics/add-adhd-diet.php
>
> This article makes the important point that it may not be one thing such as ferritin, in isolation, but a combo of nutritional supplements that will help: http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/article/3205/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder.html
>
> This Healthnotes article mentions L-carnitine: http://www.vitacost.com/science/hn/Concern/ADD.htm
>
> See "Alternatives to Drugs": http://www.heall.com/holistic_psychology/addh.html
>
> Some anecdotal evidence of the efficacy of magnesium and zinc. http://www.adhdnews.com/testforum/test2737.htm This article mentions obtaining supplements from a reputable source, such as Kirkman Labs. http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/products/product_index.html.
>
> If you're new to the supplement thing, many of us here order from iHerb http://www.iherb.com/ as they have some of the best prices on the net, as well as excellent customer service (in my experience).
>
> This is a Google cached version of an article otherwise unavailable on a naturopathic site (where, for a price, you can fill out a lengthy questionnaire and get a detailed consult). http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:Lktj-7BXlPIJ:www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C414163.html+magnesium+ADHD&hl=en They advise testing for certain things such as heavy metals, copper and manganese.
>
> Dr. Daniel Amen is a psychiatrist who uses brain imaging to diagnose, and has an interesting article here on supplements for the brain: http://amenclinics.com/bp/articles.php?articleID=10
>
> He also has a couple of brain tests, which can help you narrow down the area of the brain that's the source of trouble; his recommendations which includes drugs and supplements, for each follow. http://amenclinics.com/ac/tests/
>
> Does your son play sports? Magnesium is depleted by sweating and also by stress. And by unbalanced diets too high in sugar/fat/refined carbs/protein; alcohol, caffeine. Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes in the body and a deficiency can show up in a number of ways. Before I started taking magnesium not only was I suicidally depressed, but I also used to have very itchy, dry skin, and hypothyroid symptoms such as low body temp and cold hands and feet.
>
> A general article on magnesium by Elson Haas, M.D. http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=2060
>
> A good page on magnesium by a nutritionist. Note the formula about half way down for magnesium supplementation by body weight, and in consideration of the magnesium depleting factors she mentions there: http://www.krispin.com/magnes.html
>
> Magnesium may not be the magic bullet, but unless you son already eats extremely well in terms of none of the excesses above, and with good amounts of nuts, seeds, whole grains, and vegetables/fruits, he may benefit considerably by some supplemental magnesium (which he may not then need long term if his diet improves).
>
> Magnesium taurate would be a good choice, or magnesium glycinate (may be especially beneficial if trouble sleeping).
>
> JL
Hey thanks for the info!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I havnt checked the website in a while...I will definetly look into the differnt Links you provided.
I have to believe there is a better way than the side-effect-ridden Drugs by the Pharmacutical Co.Thanks again...I will keep you postd
BF
Posted by Buckeye Fan on October 28, 2005, at 8:38:17
In reply to Re: ADDH, posted by Buckeye Fan on October 27, 2005, at 13:24:47
Just curious if anyone has ever heard or had experience with this supplement"
Here is a recent e-mail I recievedHere is part 3 of your 5 part ADHD/ADD course. This installment will
explain the study conducted at Schneiders Children hospital in New
Hyde Park.Stimulant drugs, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin), are commonly
prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
A study reports that using music as an auditory stimulation may be an
effective treatment for educational problems among ADHD children.The study, published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities (1996,
vol. 29, no. 3), investigated the effect of auditory stimulation on
the arithmetic performance of children with ADHD. Researchers from
Schneider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park, NY administered three
auditory conditions including high stimulation (music), low
stimulation (speech), and no stimulation (silence), while 20 boys
with ADHD and 20 nondisabled boys worked on arithmetic problems. The
music conditions were specific for each child and the arithmetic
problems were at each boy's ability level.The researchers found that the boys with ADHD had a significantly
better arithmetic performance under the music condition (high
stimulation), than the speech condition (low stimulation) or silence
condition (no stimulation). Findings also revealed that the
nondisabled boys had similar arithmetic performances under all three
auditory conditions. However, arithmetic performance was improved
only for the boys with ADHD who received the music stimulation as the
first condition."The facilitative effects of salient auditory stimulation on the
arithmetic performance of the children with ADHD provide some support
for the underarousal/optimal stimulation theory of ADHD," the study
authors conclude.Combining this treatment method with Listol may have even more
effective results. The ingredients in Listol have been clinically
proven to help improve behavior and concentration, read more here:
http://www.progressivehealth.com/catalog/Listol.htmI hope you found this information useful. In a
few days you will receive the 4th part of this course which includes
12 dietary recommendations to help with ADHD.Thanks,
Jerry- ProgressiveHealth.com
support@progressivehealth.com
REFERENCES:
1. Abikoff H, et al. The effects of auditory stimulation on the
arithmetic performance of children with ADHD and nondisabled
children. J Learn Disabil. 1996 May;29(3):238-46.
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