my son is 6 1/2 yrs old and has adhd,he is on meds at this time.i am so depressed because i dont want him on meds.i am worried about the long term effects of this.is there really another way?i am trying him in behavorial psych. right now.i love him so much and i really dont know what to do anymore.if he is not on the meds when he is in school,he cant focus etc... and he is very hyper at home.please help me...

14 views and no one has anything suggestions?

From my point of view, strong amphetamine drugs should be the last resort in treating Attention Deficit disorders. I used to be on the other side - the pharmaceutical companies really seem to push these drugs and declare their 'harmlessness' and safety. There are many alternative treatments out there. I can't take many psychotropic medications because I am allergic to them, so I've had to seek out alternative therapies. (I don't know if I have ADD as such, but I seem to have a few neurological issues - I get tired easily and then it is harder for me to focus and concentrate. I have Autism and that often has a few other neurological effects.)

I try to ensure that I have a healthy, well balanced diet, and that I get some moderate, regular exercise - it seems to help overall with my energy and well-being. Kinesiology has worked very well for me, and if you have someone in your area who specialises in behavioural/educational kinesiology (different from sports kinesiology) it may be worth having a consultation. There is also biofeedback - which helps change the way brain patterns operate. Some people say that fish oil is very good, though I can't say I noticed much of a difference. Possibly different things work better for different people.

I've also tried Reiki - I went to see someone who practices it and definitely noticed an effect. I learnt how to do it myself and feel that it has greatly helped me become a calmer, more at peace person - it also seems to help with other things, like arthritis and injuries.

As you can see, I was pretty desperate for some kind of treatment - which the conventional medical side of things didn't seem able to offer me. It's not likely that these treatments are going to offer complete 'cures' but they can help make life happier and more manageable. Shop around, don't be afraid to ask questions - and don't end up spending thousands of dollars on any particular 'remedy'. The simplest and least complex remedies are often the best. Good luck.

Just spotted this post (I'm usually on the autism board,) and wanted to tell you about a book I heard about this past winter. I'm not going to remember the name or author -- sorry -- but it was profiled on a Dr. Phil episode. The doctor who wrote it was advocating a number of interventions and actions to be taken before even considering medication for ADHD. Good luck!

if he is not on the meds when he is in school,he cant focus etc... and he is very hyper at home.please help me...

I have two boys, 15 and 9. My 15 year old was called "hyper" by many people when he was small, but I knew that he was not ADD because he could focus on what he was interested in. I think many children, especially boys IMO, need A LOT of activity to keep them from being bored and overactive. I also avoid (to this day) allowing my kids to have caffeine, Red Dye 40. Some otherwise placid kids will rev-up like a wind-up car after drinking a little bit of Sunkist or Tropical Punch. I buy the clear Kool-aid that is available now. Try avoiding any caffeine (soda, tea, coffee, chocolate) and red dye 40. Summer is a good time to try to "tire out" your boy. Take him to the local pool, skating rink, etc... Make sure to only have calming activities before bedtime. No overly stimulating TV shows at night before bedtime. Turkey sandwiches, with milk are good, calming foods for lunch.

Good Luck!

Tex

Fish oil with a combination of more DHA than EPA fatty acids are proven in research to help ADHD, along with the diet suggestions above. Cutting down on white sugar foods and artificial sweeteners and nitrite containing lunch meats also show improvement. Less stimulants, more wild salmon, tuna, whole grains and eating breakfast is important to the child's thinking process.
A reputable fish oil brand for kids is Efamol.