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Weighing Nondrug Options for A.D.H.D.
NY Times ^ | June 17, 2008 | TARA PARKER-POPE

Posted on 06/17/2008 12:20:07 AM PDT by neverdem

About 2.5 million children in the United States take stimulant drugs for attention and hyperactivity problems. But concerns about side effects have prompted many parents to look elsewhere: as many as two-thirds of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or A.D.H.D., have used some form of alternative treatment.

The most common strategy involves diet changes, like giving up processed foods, sugars and food additives. About 20 percent of children with the disorder have been given some form of herbal therapy; others have tried supplements like vitamins and fish oil or have used biofeedback, massage and yoga.

While some studies of alternative treatments show promise, there is little solid research to guide parents. That is unfortunate, because for some children, prescription drugs aren’t an option.

The drugs have been life-changing for many children. But nearly one-third experience worrisome side effects, and a 2001 report in The Canadian Medical Association Journal found that for more than 10 percent, the effects could be severe — including decreased appetite and weight loss, insomnia, abdominal pain and personality changes.

Although the drugs are widely viewed as safe, many parents were alarmed when the Food and Drug Administration ordered in 2006 that stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta carry warnings of risk for sudden death, heart attacks and hallucinations in some patients.

What about the alternatives? Last week, The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the first study of the herb St. John’s wort worked no better than a placebo to counter A.D.H.D. But the trial, of 54 children, lasted only eight weeks, and even prescription drugs can take up to three months to show a measurable effect.

But the larger issue may be that in complementary medicine, one treatment is rarely used alone, making the range of alternative remedies difficult to study. Natural...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: add; adhd; disorders; health; medicine
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To: MortMan
Reducing carbohydrates and increasing the intake of protein are important in a holistic approach to overcoming a true case of ADHD.

Atkins works! : )

21 posted on 06/17/2008 3:12:25 PM PDT by Tamar1973 (Catch the Korean Wave, one Bae Yong Joon film at a time!)
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To: Apollo 13
I conjecture that a few phenomena could be involved, such as: a sudden rise in fooling around with ‘neurotic stimuli’, which are massively present in computer games, for instance.

I do believe it's been around longer than that. My wife had a student in her first year of teaching that today would be call ADHD, I think they just called him hyperactive. That was in 1971-72. His "medication" consisted of a big thermos of strong coffee, to be administered when needed. It worked, most of the time. The other times I think he was being the typical 11 year old boy. Given his home/family situation, poor as church mice, I doubt he got a lot of TV time, even in black and white). I know the one time I interacted with him, he wasn't either hyper or "down", he was just being a brat. he paid for it by having to stay on the bus while the rest of class cavort around a park and zoo. However he was told that if he didn't straighten up, he'd miss the tour of the computer center, something he really wanted to see. He straightened up, albeit with some difficulty, and got to see the computer center. (The IBM 360 room sized computer). I've heard that he grew up OK.

22 posted on 06/17/2008 3:51:34 PM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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To: El Gato
One shrink I know uses a caffeine pill on kids he suspects ADHD and observes the child for about 30-45 minutes for change in behavior. It's harmless yet tells him pretty much if ADHD or ADD is likely or is it something else.

Before I took any kid suspected of being ADD ADHD to a shrink though I'd see an Audiologist or Speech Pathologist for sensory processing disorders testing first. In doing so you get a pretty well uninfluenced opinion away from Big Pharm as they can not write prescriptions.

BTW this is not the same thing as deafness either. But these disorders can wreak havoc on some very primative but powerful responses by the brain which is programned for self preservation.

23 posted on 06/17/2008 5:26:52 PM PDT by cva66snipe (Three Blind Rats. Three Blind Rats, See How They Run. See How They Run. Hillbomacain)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham
ADHD appears to be yet another of these scams driven by drug sales.

I recently began work at a children's behavioral treatment center.

They are of the opinion that ADHD is a fraud, that much of the behaviors can be treated with the same approach that the Dog Whisperer Uses: first you take them on a walk (exercise) then they can focus.

Many of these youngsters need some old fashioned recess activites like Dodgeball, then they can focus.

P.S. I'm a boomer, lived all over the US as a military brat, grew up with a wide variety of kids all over the US.

Boys of my generation did NOT suffer from ADHD.

24 posted on 06/17/2008 6:13:20 PM PDT by happygrl
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To: norwaypinesavage; All

I also was not subjected to hideous government schools...a far worse punishment than any I had ever received...


25 posted on 06/17/2008 6:21:36 PM PDT by stefanbatory
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To: momincombatboots

I wanted to try Ritalin, being a major ADHD sufferer (I’ve been called everything from space cadet to the absent-minded professor). Instead I medicate myself with coffee. Fortunately not gallons of it, since I have another problem — acid reflux. However, enough to keep me alert. I can never give it up. I also forcefed myself non-fiction and writing exercises to bolster the intellect & make myself more tolerable to others.

I made up a saying: When you have ADHD, your brain has a mind of its own. Although I don’t base my whole identity on it, it does, unfortunately, control my life. Every time I find myself staring off into space or forgetting something 5 seconds (literally) after reminding myself, I get frustrated. People don’t realize how crippling it can be.

At the same time, though, as you said, it can be a blessing. My ability to think out of the box & make sudden, creative decisions or solutions has been an asset at work. Like many ADHDers, I like media, maybe because of its visuality & blending of disciplines. So far — knock on wood — my biggest fear of ending up homeless has not materialized & I’ve remained employable.

Guess when you’re stuck with lemons, you make lemonade.


26 posted on 06/17/2008 7:39:44 PM PDT by MoochPooch (I'm a compassionate cynic.)
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To: happygrl
P.S. I'm a boomer, lived all over the US as a military brat, grew up with a wide variety of kids all over the US. Boys of my generation did NOT suffer from ADHD.

My situation was pretty much the same--my father was Air Force; I went to military-sponsored schools from 1957 to 1971, where the discipline was no-nonsense, and class sizes averaged about 32 kids, with recess twice a day in the lower grades, and gym once a day in the higher. No ADHD, or anything like it. My own belief is that a better name for ADHD would be "bad child syndrome."

27 posted on 06/17/2008 9:50:37 PM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Barack Obama--the first black Jimmy Carter.)
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