Need Advice on Giving Son with ADD Medication~

My comments are similar to Jenn S
"A controlled diet can be really helpful, but it takes a lot of commitment. Not that this is bad, just something to keep in mind. Food dyes, processed sugars, corn syrup and other things commonly found in today's foods can cause behavioral issues for many kids. These ingredients were less common in the past so that may be why more kids are being diagnosed with ADD or ADHD than before"

My sister-in-law changed her sons diet to limited sugar and wheat and after 3 years of teachers saying he needed to be medicated (before the diet change) he is showing dramatic improvement.

Hey B.,
Happy St Paddy's Day!
Dr Ned Hallowell's newest book on parenting ADD. He's a doctor WITH ADD! And he's non-medicable. I don't necessarily recommend the meds route--it never worked for my son, but nothing has worked for him because he won't let it--but Hallowell has great insight into this whole matter.

good luck!
L. O

I agree with his dad -- not that I'm on his side -- he only sees his son every other weekend or less, so he can't claim to be some amazing parent.

Think about it -- why is there this ENORMOUS amount of children needing to be put on drugs these days? Does the word FAD come to mind? There is nothing wrong with most of these kids, and it is criminal for teachers to suggest putting a child on drugs to make their jobs easier.

I propose that your and your husband's divorce, the fact that you and your ex have acrimony, and the fact that your son's father is largely absent from his life are the main causes of your son's behavior.

Between my own divorce experience, and having been closely involved with kids for 20 years now, I have learned the devastating effects of divorce on children. See a child with a problem -- and you will almost always find that his/her parents are divorced.

Boys in particular really need their fathers, and 50% of them don't have them these days.

Hi B.

My thoughts would be for you to have him tested, tested and then tested again! Find and pick 3 or 4 Doctors in your area that are experts in the ADD/ADHD problems. Do a little therapy. Do try the ADD diet modifications and read read read! No matter what medications are not something that should not even be considered unless there is life to be saved. Unfortunately our bodys are not built for the chemicals (even if they are in the shape of a "pill") If there is NO ther way, add the posions and hope for the best. These drugs are drugs and not something anyone should take lightly. I will pray about your baby boy and that the pills are not needed.

Blessings,
C.

Hi B.. I just wanted to tell you that my friend was told the same thing and come to find out he doesn't have add or adhd but azbergers (I think that's how you spell it)which is a form of autism. Anyway my point is he took the meds for adhd/add and now he's 10 years older and shakes like he has parkinsons!!! I'm sure medicine has changed over ten years but...I personally would be scared to give my child meds. This must be a hard decision and by the way men always want to blame women for everything so don't think it's you!! Good luck!

My son is now grown and doing very well just wanted to give that to you 1st. My son from very early in yrs was told he was ADD. we went to several dr offices etc and he was ADD.

I am a mother who do not think that medication is the correct way to go. Reason why I say this your child doesnt need to be spaced out and not being a wonderful son that he is, his spirit will not be the same.

I think some teachers dont want to deal with the children and the 1st thing they say is give them pills. My ex husband now didnt think there was anything wrong and also stated it was me who did it to him and Im was baby'ing him. Yea right whatever.

This is what I did. after my son was tested and found out he had this issue, I learn to talk to my son work with him and I will give you some hints that will help his bouncing off the walls.

I refused to let him take meds, its a know study that young men on this medication can become sterle, Do your research.

2nd I also had him removed out of the school so he would not feel different from other children. I had him go to a special school where the children were like him and there are maybe 10 students in the class and 2-3 teachers in the class room and they get the 1 on 1 they they need, and the good thing about this the teachers are counslors, phys, and Drs.

So when a problem comes up they handle it right away in the class they have sessions all the time. It was the best school for my son.

things I did for my son was. I kept him in sports most kids with ADD have special gifts, My son was drafted to Major Leagues 2x.

sports will allow him to think because it clears his head and that is also a known study. it also keep him from jumping off the walls and give him something to get rid of extra energy.

watch the sugar intake and red dyes in his food. watch the amount of juice they are loaded with sugar.

also when my son would get angry I had him hit a pillow until the anger went away. I helped him redirect his anger to something postive.

Kids with ADD dont know how to redirect the anger and that is were the problem comes in.

I hope this helps you... will answer any questions if you have anymore. wishing you the best... and dont allow the husband to blame you, your son has 2 parents. Men dont deal with it well or the same way we women do.

I know you've already received alot of advice here, most of it conflicting! This must be so confusing.

I just wanted to say a couple of things. First, you don't say that your child actually has ADD or ADHD. Has he been diagnosed by an MD? If not, having him evaluated by a specialist is the first step. A medical diagnosis will also help your ex with his denial.

You also say that a lot of people, including his teachers, are telling you to medicate your child. Who are these people? If they are not his Ped or other medical specialist, they have no standing to tell you anything regarding meds. Teachers are wonderful people (usually) and know a lot about kids, but they are not doctors, or trained in any way about prescription medication. If your son does not have a medical diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, it is not his teacher's (or other well meaning friends) place to label him in that way.

As far as whether to medicate or not once you are medically certain of his condition (if any), that is really something that must be decided by you. A controlled diet can be really helpful, but it takes a lot of committment. Not that this is bad, just something to keep in mind. Food dyes, processed sugars, corn syrup and other things commonly found in today's foods can cause behavioral issues for many kids. These ingredients were less common in the past so that may be why more kids are being diagnosed with ADD or ADHD than before. This is not a fad. It is a reality.

In conclusion, I would start with a full evaluation by a specialist, then discuss your options from there. Try the least invasive first (diet, extra excercise, more structured discipline, etc.), and see what works. You may end up with medications, which can do wonders for some, but you may find another solution that works better for your son. Please be strong against the pressures of others and stand up for what is best for your son. Whatever you decided your son can be confident that you are on his side, no matter what.

I have a 9 year old step daughter who was diagnosed with ADHD when she was five years old. As a family we decided not to medicate her but instead changed her diet. Which has helped her to concentrate and focus in shcool. She is now in fourth grade and doing well. She will always have her ADHD but I truly belive a good healthy diet without proccesed foods, white flours, and sugar has really helped.

Good luck and keep your since of humor.

Boy of Boy when I read that did it feel like Dejuvue...I went thru the EXACT thing a few years back with my son. The breaking point for me to put my son on meds is when my sweet guy (son) came to me and said mom....."I dont feel in control of my body and my mind" (but in a 8 yr old's words) We tried several meds until we found the right found for my son. Before we tried the meds I even did the ADD Diet. Its a good diet/book, but hard to do if you have other children in the home, which I do. So do your research and find out what would be best for you and your kiddo.

Good Luck.

J.

I don't have time to read the other responses but I'd encourage you to take more serously the advice of parents actually living with and dealing with a child with ADD or ADHD.

We struggled with the decision to put our son (now also 9) on meds. But every day was just blow after blow to his self esteem. We love him and can deal with the behavior. Even their friends have a hard time dealing with it.

The medication is a miracle. My son takes metadate cd. It is the third med we tried. It really helps. My son is able to work independently in school and has many friends now. It is worth it.

I would caution you to research every drug first and choose a drug that has no side effects.

I would also strongly suggest that you have him evaluated by an educational psychologist to make sure he has ADHD. They will tell you exactly what is up and give non-medication suggestions that help also.

ADD/ADHD is a condition that often truly requires medication to resolve, but because this condition is over diagnosed, I urge you to research the topic thoroughly. Get the opinion of 2 or 3 professionals before you make your decision. Listen to your mamma sense above all. You know him better than anyone else!
Teachers are a great source of information about how your son behaves away from home, but they are not doctors! Also, whatever the issue is, be prepared to have to advocate for your son - It is a simple fact of life that teachers and administrators have limited resources for dealing with individual student issues and they have to consider the classroom as a whole. What's best for them may not be best for your son.

Hi B.,
You've gotten a lot of responses and I haven't read them all so excuse please if I repeat something you've already read. I have to tell you I don't have a child diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. I have 4 girls and they are all energetic, lively, love to play and hate to work like all kids. My second is 4 years old and she is the comedian of the house. She is constantly doing crazy things to make everybody laugh. You would think she's retarded! If anybody in our house would be in danger of being diagnosed with ADHD, it would be her. I doubt that she is as energetic as your boy sounds, though! But what I want to say is this. This is the medication generation. If you don't like the way you feel, you take meds. If you don't like the way your kids are, you give them meds. If you feel a little anxious about your finances, you take more meds. It's become the coping mechanism for so many people, and it is very, very sad. It doesn't make problems go away, and it doesn't solve anything at all. Things still have to be faced and dealt with in the end. I personally hate to see children put on medication at the advice of their doctor or their teachers. Overwhelmingly, these are normal, active, energetic, imaginative kids being kids like they're supposed to be. I think many teachers would like for certain children to be on medication to make their job easier...I'm not saying I can't sympathize with them sometimes because their job is very hard and I have the ultimate respect for teachers. But medication is rarely the true answer for a child. We never used to have ADD or ADHD kids. They were just called kids doing things kids do. I think we stunt their imagination, their creativity, their personality and their ability to cope when we put them on medication. I would suggest having a conference with all his teachers and telling them, I have chosen not to put him on medication, so what can we work out that will be beneficial for him in school and easier for you to handle? These are the types of kids that turn out to be the geniuses of the world. I really recommend you not take that away from him. His personality is what it is, and to change that would be to change who he is. Once we start medicating our kids, it turns into a vicious cycle where they start to believe that medication is the only way to cope. This stage is only temporary, and I encourage you to wait it out and let him be him. I don't mean let him get away with inappropriate behavior, but let him express himself as much as he can when he can and then work with him on controlling his behavior when it isn't an appropriate time or place. Our children are priceless and I wouldn't change one thing about any of my children. Their little quirks and crazy antics make them who they are. You ultimately have to make the decision, and you do what you feel is right for you, of course. But my recommendation is to stay away from the meds and work with other ways of coping, other discipline techniques, and then when you're at home and he has free reign, let him be him. You will find great joy in letting your child be who he is and who he was made to be. God bless.

Have you had your son evaluated for sleep apnea? There was a piece on NPR a couple of weeks back about sleep disorders in children and how the symptoms often present as ADHA type issues. The Pediatrician they interviewed felt that all children presenting with ADHA should have their sleep evaluated. There was a mother of a 12 year old they interviewed whose son seemed to have ADHA but had his sleep evaluated when he was 12 and it was found that his tonsils were enlarged and preventing him from sleeping soundly so he was always sleep deprived. They took his tonsils out and he said he had so much more energy and his mother said it was like having a new child. The mentioned a study of children looking at the bottom 10% of academic performance and found children in that range had significantly higher sleep disorders than children in the higher performing ranges. When they corrected the sleep issues, they saw significant improvement in academic performance. With all the children being diagnosed with ADD and ADHA this really got me thinking. Especially as they said enlarged tonsils is one of the main causes of sleep apnea in children and we used to take tonsils out far more often than we do today and we have far more ADHA today than we used to. Made me think!

Dear B.,
First of all, you have done nothing wrong. Your ex blaming you is not part of the solution and it does nothing to help your son.
My very, very dear friend was having trouble with her son being able to focus and seriously struggling in school. He was in trouble constantly. They tried having him medically checked for everything. They too were very against giving him medication. To make a long story short, he was finally put on Concerta at the beginning of summer to see how the medication would affect him, etc. They did hold him back a grade, but fortunately, it was a combo grade class with the same teacher, so he was very familiar with the routine of things. In conjuntion with the Concerta, they worked with him on his concentration and focusing skills and it made all the difference in the world in him. His grades improved remarkably and his confidence in himself was really boosted. The kid who couldn't remember the slightest thing was memorizing lines for parts in school plays, etc. He was doing so well, that they eventually were able to wean him off the medicine all together.
I know there are a lot of different medications and many differing views on whether or not to medicate, I just know the difference I saw in Logan with my very eyes.
I'm divorced and I know it's difficult, but you and dad will really have to find a way to be on the same page about this for the benefit of your boy. Find out if your son's school has a counsellor that can give you some referrals.
I wish you the very best of luck.

New: I was thinking about this last night and wanted to add something I remembered. Dr. Phil (on tv) had a show or series of shows on this topic. I believe he added it to his website. It was very good. Check it out. I think his website is www.drphil.com

First Comment: There's good advice here and also in the archives. Check back to previous postings. Check out a book called Healing Children Naturally by Michael Savage. Check out different educational environments--charter schools such as Waldorf and Montessori. Use medication as a last resort, but don't rule it out, because I have seen it do wonders.

I'm a teacher, and I would never suggest to a parent he/she should medicate the child. I'm not trained in medicine. I would however mention difficulties the child was having and implement modifications in the classroom (such as allowing the child to stand or listen to an ipod while working). I would also voice concern if the child was having social difficulties.

Get informed, then make a decision. You can always change your mind later.

Hi B.,
My husband and I recently obtained gaurdianship of my three grandchildren, ages 9, 8 and 1 year. My 9 year-old grandson was having trouble in school with focusing on his quiet work. It got to the point that the teacher was at her wits end. I took him to the pediatrician and she had myself and the teacher fill out a questionnaire regarding ADD/ADHD. He unfortunately met most of the criteria for being ADHD. I at first resisted putting him on meds but it got to the point that all his work coming home from school was either D's or F's. The Dr. first put him on a medication called Adderall, which made him a little aggressive. He now takes Focalin and it is working well for him. He is still a precocious little boy who enjoys life to the fullest but with the medication and some diet changes he is able to focus on his school work and is bringing home better grades. He brought his Science grade from an F to a B+ this last report card and his Reading grade from a D to a B+. This is something that you will have to decide between you and your pediatrician. I hope the best for you and your sweet little boy.

First off ADD/ADHD is not a FAD. It's a well established well documented biological condition.

Now as a mother of a child with adhd, anxiety and asperger syndrome, I know where you're at. My husband was ADAMANT about not medicating our youngest son too. He was afraid of the medications "changing his personality". This of course was based on the myths and falacies and problems of past treatments for the condition. But boy once I made the decision to medicate him, it didn't take long for dad to get on board.

I didn't make the decision lightly. And I had tried all those "other" options first. With zero change. Not that a change in diet is a bad thing and for some it is beneficial (it just wasn't with my son) or that counseling would hurt either. But if he's truely add/adhd they are only going to do so much. Research has shown that the MOST AFFECTIVE treatment for add/adhd is a combination of medication AND behaviour modification therapy.

There is obviously a LOT going on with your son and the best advice I can give you is to trust your instincts and have him THOROUGHLY tested by a specialist in the field to either confirm or rule out the add/adhd. And if your instincts tell you the first diagnosis isn't right ... get a second opinion.

For us the medications have been a miracle. They didn't change my son's personality at all ... they just made him able to sit still long enough to actually focus on his classwork. He went from being the bottom of his class to the top within a month of us starting the medication. He was no longer the focus of his classmates irritation because he was distracting them. He could actually be tested to be sure he was grasping the concepts he needed to grasp. Talk about good for a child's self-esteem.

But don't rule out other possibilities either. The situation with his dad IS going to have an effect on him and should be looked into and couseling for it considered. It may end up being the main issue. But it may not.

I live in Santa Rosa and can give you the name of a FANTASTIC doctor here if you want to travel. But DEFINITELY get a specialist in this area.

Also do a TON of research on the net. There is a boat load of information out there. And like I said ... trust your instincts. You know your child best and want what's best for him. And there's nothing wrong with trying the other options first, but don't rule out medication.

Good luck and don't hesitate to contact me if you need an ear.

My first advice is to check out some boards devoted to ADHD (BabyCenter and iVillage are good starting points). You'll be able to exchange information with parents who are experienced with the condition and can avoid a lot of the "ADHD isn't real/it's a sleep issue/try my natural remedy" feedback.

No parent with a child with ADHD is eager to try medications but I can tell you from experience, they're life changing. Made a HUGE difference with our son. He's on Concerta and doing great in school. He's still energetic, but much more focused and less aggressive. He has friends now, too. ADHD is a neurobiological disorder and medications target just the right area of the brain to help.

Also, check out the website for ADDitude magazine. www.additudemag.com It offers a range of information about ADHD, including details about what to expect with medications. I love the magazine -- a quick read and full of highly relevant information for those dealing with the condition.

Best of luck to you! I hope you find the right medication that makes all the difference for your child.

Hi B.-

Choosing whether or not to medicate a child with disruptive "ADHD" symptoms is a very personal thing. I can offer some solid information with encouragement to try every natural option first before resulting to harsh, life changing, medication. I have researched and lectured on the subject frequently. There are options. To save time, please visit my website at www.gernerchiropractic.com. I have an article there about the dangers of accepted medications as well as natural options. I'm happy to answer any further questions you may have.

I hope this helps.
-L.

Hi, I want to pass this info along to you. I'm not saying that this IS the answer. But wanted you to consider this as an option.

There is a wonderful Psychologist who talks about ADD/ADHD "symptoms" being over disagnosed, when, really what the problem is ANXIETY as in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

What is traumatic for a child is different than what we as an adult would think of as traumatic. Often times, after the trauma, the children are not the same. Thier behavior and almost thier personality changes. These children are misdiagnosed as HYPER or ADHD because they have so much anxiety. And that the probelm is the anxiety and the trauma itself.

I would very much like it if you could watch this video. It's from a very "cheesey" talk show, but what the Dr. says is important. It starts getting interesting at about 3 minutes. This is Part 1. Part 2 is interesting too. You can skip Part 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpxbBZzNo4M&feature=ch...

There is also: http://www.youtube.com/user/RegalenaMelrose

Also, if your son's school is saying he MUST be medicated, a wonderful alternative option is homeschooling! Here is a great resource site from a local homeschool group in the East Bay. http://www.hslg.org/

Hi B.,
Wow, what a challenge!! And good for you for seeking out other ways to help your son...I agree that meds are not always the answer for ADD/ADHD. I'm a specific chiropractor and we've actually seen great results in helping kids with ADD/ADHD through specific chiropractic care. I'd be happy to share the research with you, and explain why chiropractic could help, just ask.

Best of luck to you!!
L.
www.thespecific.com

I completely agree with Vicky R... My son started Medidate cd in 1st grade and went from very beginning 1st grade reading and writing to middle of 2nd grade level very quickly. He is now able to concentrate and pay attention to teachers and lessons. He is still very active, and has his same personality, just way more compliant. I also have a student ( I teach reading intervention) who just started meds, and he has improved leaps and bounds!
Find a Dr. that you trust, and go with your gut. There are many ways to treat this, but you do have to treat it somehow. Diet and exercise don't cut it for my son, but for others it works great. He needs to feel "normal" and whatever gets him there is important. Please don't listen to the people who say this isn't real, those of us who live with it 24/7 know that it is!

Dont do it.
I just watched a frontline special called "medicating our kids" and I wanted to throwup after I watched it. It videotaped these kids over the course of 15 years, and they were energetic, bright, loveable kids as toddlers/young kids. As teens, they were not the same kids. One kid had tics , head flopping and rolling to one side, sunken in eyes that were rolling to the back of his head, overweight, slumped shoulders, he looked mentally retarded.You would NEVER know it was the same kid if you had not been told. He could barely communicate when interviewed. It was so sad. The parents were in total denial that the drugs did this to him. Did they forget what he used to be? or are they just choosing to look the other way? The kid was on a handful of meds...a handful. They need to watch the video of the "before" tape of their own son.
Another woman on the show took her son in ( he was about k grade) for his monthy check up with the phsyc,and told him she was concerned about the effects of the meds because she had seen a tv special about the bad effects of the drugs. You know what the doc did? He INCREASED the dose! And she rolled over and let him! Plus he added another med! (all on tape). She walked out, no more questions asked, no resistance, nothing.
Another mom had a VERY BRIGHT young lady around 5 or 6 who liked to make up imaginative stories. She threw in shock value verbage, because it got her attention. They put her on drugs. The film showed her as a teen- a frail, nervous wreck. Filled with anxiety, Had to go take a pill- (to anxious to exist otherwise) scared to go places, a total opposite of the self determined confident and intelligent young child of 8 or 9 years earlier. And then I know personally of my own nephew, who was an energetic,slim, highly talkative kid. He was put on (ritalin?)in K because of his talkativeness and energy level and inability to sit still. I saw him again at 8, he wouldnt eat, he was quiet, and didn't want to do anything. It's like all his spunk, everything that made him "who he was", was gone. He's 12 yrs old now, and is overweight, neurotic, addicted to sugar soda pop, won't eat a regular meal, and was walking like he was drunk. He can only write and read at a 2nd grade level. ALL his schoolwork suffered. This drug didn't do anything for him, but i guess it made those around him happy. It made him an empty shell.

What most people don't know is that parasites (whether it be worms, fungus, or bacterial) can cause serotonin imbalances in the central nervous sytem. Candida albicans, Blastocystosis, tapeworm, and Archiacanthocephala worm can all affect the seotonin, because they reside in the gut, and 90% of your seratonin is in your gut.( and these are just the few that I know of. There are 7 pages of human parasites) Indeed, 80% of your immune system also resides in the gut. The gut is where it all happens! Serotonin affects sleep, appetite, metabolism, aggression, mood, anger, body temp, pain, and more.
There are also parasites that can affect your iron levels causing anemia and also teeth grinding (h pylori is one such bacterium.) Indeed , 30% of kids now a days are anemic, and that will cause inability to concentrate. some parasites will cause vit B disregulation, and some, like borrelia b. will hijack the vitamin D receptor and take all your vitamin D.

People that say diet doesn't work is not looking at the total picture. Unfortunately getting well is a battlefront and it must come from all sides, just as if you are in a war, because you are. Just changing a few foods in the diet wont work, although every bit helps slightly. These organisms have adapted to living anywhere, and everywhere, have put up defenses so your body doesnt see them (Borrelia b.)or even disabled your defenses (H pylori nutralizes stomach acid)Blastocystosis blows up the antibodies that are sent in to destroy it. some go into places you can't even get at, like the gallbladder (dientamoebiasis) or the liver (Amoebiasis.)Some cause symptoms that people would never think are related to them (Guardia causes lactose intolerance and b12 deficiency, and also alters the hosts ability to detect and combat it as well.)Hookworm causes mental dullness. Whipworm causes anemia and fatigue. Some have even been called cancer (Amoebiasis)because it causes tumor-like masses of parasites. Roundworm mimics gallbladder disease, gerd, or chrones, and symptoms get worse when antacids are taken. (so what does the doctor do? ups the dose of the antacid or puts them on a stronger med or combo of meds!)
My point is that doctors now adays are quick to cover up symptoms with the "popular meds of the day", quick to dismiss the possibility of disease by organisms, quick to NOT look for a complete cure. And grossly ignorant on the affects of the drugs they give out. Another thing that sickens me is the ALARMING rate at which newborns are given reflux meds. So giving them a drug labotomy at 5 yrs old wasn't enough, now they are starting in on the babies. Reflux meds cause severe vitamin and nutrient malabsorption, which will stunt and delay their entire body and mind. But now I digress.

The boy above who had head rolling, tremors and tics - in my opinion had "seratonin Syndrome". "a predictable consequence of excess seratonin in the central nervous system and at the receptors." It is basically poisoning.

So as far as diet, Stop all MSG - which is a neurotoxic chemical poison which is basically in everything, and I mean everything. If it is not listed as MSG, it can be listed as "natural flavoring". Basically stay away from all processed foods. Most people who claim they have tried the "diet", are in fact not cutting all the processed foods out. Even if MSG is not added to the food as a product, it can occur in the porocessing ( this is the case in all cereal products that are made into shapes) Do some research on this stuff and become informed.

Soy and your thyroid- Soy has been falsley elevated to a health food. It is not. It reduces assimilation of calcium , copper,magnesium, iron, vit D,and zinc. Soy is highly estrogenic, which disrupts your endocrine system. It causes the thyroid to malfunction, and that can cause memory and concentration problems, hyperactivity, nervousness and depression, among other things. Soy can be listed as soy protien, soy casienate, soy lithicin, soy extract. MSG is formed during soy processing.

Drastically reduce all sugars and processed carbs(parasites bacteria and fungi all thrive on it)this includes juices. A low carb diet with food in as natural a state as you can get it , is the best. Corn and wheat are especially bad, they are full of mycotoxins (fungal spores from the silos.) Look up mycotoxins and get an eyeful. Wheat has the same protien chain as fungus (candida) and can destroy the lining in the intestinal tract/gut.

Take your shoes off at the door, so you don't track in parasite eggs. Kids need to keep shoes on in dirt as parasites can enter through the feet (roundworms). Keep animals dewormed every 6-9 months. You should keep your family dewormed like this as well. (the doctors in the old days knew the importance of this, it has gone by the wayside now.) You can find herbal worm remedies online. As far as cloves- best to buy them whole and grind them yourself. They start loosing potency soon after grinding. put the powder in 00 size capsules.

Detox the heavy metals by taking bentonite clay and fulvic acid. FULVIC ACID does so many great things I would make sure to give this daily. It has all the trace nutrients that are missing in our diets, many of them are anti bacterial, like bismuth, silver, sulpher, and more.it supports the thyroid.
Alpha Lipoic Acid and selenium nutralizes mercury. Heavy metals act as a sheild for parasites against any anti bacterial or antibiotic.

Get his Iron level checked, because iron deficiency is realted to ADD. Remember that parasites can affect iron, so can antacids, low vit a and c. Too much calcium can decrease iron levels.

Iodine is an antibacterial /antiparasite /antifungal /antiprotozoa /antiviral. Deficiency has been linked to ADD. Although it is added to salt, most of us are grossly undernourished in it. The following all block iodine receptors in our body: chlorine, splenda, sucralose, hot tubs and pools treated w/ bromine or chlorine, gatorade, mt. dew. all baked products and percholite(which is in cow milk)
*Potassium iodine is one way to take it, 20 mg a day.

Give vit B complex drops, under the tounge,2 times a day. A must for the central nervous system.
Cod Liver oil is high in Vit A (for immune system) but also vit D (for his mood.)

Lactobaccilus prevents candida, maintains intestinal wall, helps absorption.
to detox the liver- B Bifidium and Lactulose.

I also give my kids samento 5 drops, 3 times a day. it kills bacteria and fungus. At first it can cause moodiness and headaches, and maybe insomnia if you take to much too soon or take it it too late it in the day. My sister has nerve damage... She takes it and says without it she can barely get off the couch. it gives her energy. Look up samento online.
Here this top article can probably answer every question you have:
http://www.sntp.net/ritalin/add_drugs.htm#5
heres a couple more of interest:
http://www.appliedozone.com/parasites.html
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/serotonin_syndrome

Hi B., We are in the mist of having our son evaluated for ADD and I also have a husband that will not medicate our son. I was told by a School pshycoligist(spelled W?)
that the medicaton now a days are so much better than what they use to be. They are only given when needed and only remain in the system for a short time (during school) ect.
She said to look at it like a diabetic needing their insulin? Also, diet has alot to do with it as well. If you would like more info on that, i am a wellness coordinator and would love to give you tips on what to stip out of his diet to help. It does make a world of difference.
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I hope this helps.
W. Vaz

We have definitely had experience with this one! My son is also 9 and was diagnosed when he was 5. If you have teachers talking to you about it as well then that is definitely a red flag being that they often spend more time with them during the day then we do. Being that school is a controlled setting I think it gives teachers a really good chance to truly observe our children in a way that we may not have the opportunity to. I was very worried about medicating my son...after we did I saw such a dramatic improvement in his quality of life at school and at home that I know it was the best thing we could have ever done for him. Plus it takes some time to get the meds right and the sooner your start the sooner you can figure out what medication will be right for him. Alot of his attitude may be stemming from how he's feeling inside and he doesn't know the difference so he will struggle to correct it. The medications help my son focus so that we are able to better determine what behavior is ADHD related and what are truly behavior problems so that we can take the proper steps to address them. It is a long hard road and it something that you will deal with everyday...some good some bad....right now I would start with having him evaluated and talk to his doctor...you will be doing him a favor and would be amazed at how a child with ADHD can thrive when treated properly.

Having worked in first grade for years, I can HONESTLY tell you that in my experience, teacher NEVER advise meds unless necessary. Necessary meaning: child cannot sit on chair and cannot learn. Also child keeps OTHER kids from learning with antics. The attitude may stem from knowing he cannot learn, cannot stay still, etc. Kids can realize at a very young age that they are not able to do what the others can academically, and they act out MORE.
btw, teacher's kids require meds sometimes too. He may not need them over summer break.
Your husband is in denial.
Just one opinion. I know it is a HARD choice, to administer the meds! The teachers know it too! They hate to have to suggest it, but if they are, it is in the best interst of yr kid to try. Good luck.

Dear Breanna,

I am so sorry your son has those problems at school.

I am a homeopathic practitioner and I work a lot with children with ADD/ADHD problems. Homeopathy has pretty high success reatio healing ADD/ADHD. I have a chart on my web page that compares the effects of conventional drugs and homeopathic remedies.

http://www.masharosen.com/HomeopathyforADD_ADHD.html

Best wishes,
M.

M. Rosen, CHom
Certified Homeopath
http://www.masharosen.com
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840 Hinckley Road, Suite 110
Burlingame, CA 94010

999 Commercial Drive, Suite 101
Palo Alto, CA 94303

What type of comprehensive plan do you have in place to help your son with his struggles? Medication is only one tool and not the one I would turn to first.
Is he in therapy? Both individual and social group therapy are very valuable. Another good intervention is therapeutic recreation. A therapeutic mentor can help a lot too. Has he been thoroughly tested to see if there are any other issues than ADHD? You might consider a tutor or a program like Kumon or Sylvan.

I work as a high school counselor and I see a lot of success with medication, there are some great options available. It is a very difficult decision for sure. You can always try it, you don't have to commit to using it forever if it doesn't work for your son and your family.I would encourage you to find a doctor who specializes in adhd and go in for a consult to ensure it is a correct diagnosis as well. Good luck!

Before medicating you may want to see if there are other factors that are causing him to act out. My daughter has always been calm but her Father and I are divorced. People noticed that when he was around her behavior would tend to be more difficult. I am not saying to blame your husband but since you say he is blaming you you may want to consider that your son may be picking up negative vibes from the tension. If you don't have a pediatrician you can talk to openly about it, you may want to find one.

My son who is 7 started medication last fall and it was the best decision we ever made for him. He went through an extensive evaluation and is carefully monitored by his developmental pediatrician here in Santa Rosa. Everything I have read (and I am an information HOUND) and all of the data the doc shared with us was enough for me to try the meds. Its important to do it now- waiting may bring more social issues, and more academic problems. DO NOT let them hold him back a grade. they wanted to do this with my son as well, and after the meds, he has proven himself to be a top student in the class, and his reading is off the charts. I know there is alot of opposition to medication out there, but arm yourself with information, get the facts. if you would like to talk with me privately please email me. I am more than happy to share our experience and information.

Hi, B.,

One cause of ADD is low glutathione levels. Glutathione is a naturally occuring antioxidant in the body. (See article at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16984739) What your body needs in order to make more of it is also natural - amino acids and protein. My friend Robin and her friend have been seeing great results in their ADD children with two products. Ambrotose, a living sugar (www.livingsugars.com/) To purchase, go to Robin's site: www.gomanna.com. The other product was designed by Dr. Robert H. Keller, an oncologist/researcher in Florida. He has made the product available to the public under the name MaxGXL. This link has the product, information and an interesting interview with Dr. Keller.

You are welcome to come to our next Meet and Greet. This is primarily a social gathering of great, friendly, helpful people. Robin and I will both be there. The meeting is at Taste of Tuscany, 7753 Roseville Rd (Home Depot parking lot at Antelope Blvd), Sacramento, CA 95842 April 4 at 7 PM. Hope this helps and hope to meet you - C.

I didn't read all the responses, so I apologize if this is a rehash- None of this is to blame you. I am sure you are doing all that you know how to as well as you know how to- so get your emotions in check and focus on what your kid needs.

As a former advocate for children with special needs in the schools, you need information.

1- Who diagnosed the ADD? Unless it is a person specializing in ADD/ADHD that did a lot of assessment, he isn't diagnosed. The symptoms of ADD/ADHD mimic a lot of other learning disabilities, including dyslexia. Get a good diagnosis from a qualified professional (an educational psychiatrist is best- that is NOT a school psychologist because school psychologists are not qualified to diagnose ADD/ADHD), including looking at learning disabilities or what he sees as chaos in his life.

2- Kids would rather be bad than stupid, bad is socially acceptable. Being stupid at school is unforgivable and sets a child up for being bullied- so a kid will act out when they are having difficulty learning before they will act "weak" or need help. Further, a child with a learning disability, including ADD/ADHD is usually very smart and so they get really frustrated when they know that they should understand or be able to do something and then find out is is difficult or impossible. Be gentle with him, he is beating himself up- he doesn't need help.

3- The school can't hold a kid back and punish him because they don't give him what he needs to succeed. They must give him the assessments he needs and find out what he needs help with and give it to him. DO NOT let them hold him back. The studies show it only hurts the child's confidence, it doesn't catch them up. Get really familiar with www.wrightslaw.com.

4- If he does get diagnosed ADD/ADHD, there are behavorial and diet related programs that are very effective. There are some kids that need meds, however, I'd try the less invasive methods first.

Take care!

While we don't have kids w/ADD or ADHD, I spent a lot of time working w/kids who have both of those. I dealt w/parents in the same sitatuion as you....to medicate or not. It is a big deal. I suggest you get him extensively evaluated, talk w/the dr about the variety of drugs available, their side effects & to also look up the drugs yoruself. Think about how your son feels here....he's probably frustrated as well w/struggling to get his work done & stay focused. Sit & talk w/him about this cuz at 9 he may well do a pretty good job of expressing himself & his frustrations. If you do decide to medicate, make sure that he's monitored regularly by his dr, watch him closely for side effects & take note of them so you can let his dr. know. Keep in mind, too, that it may take a while to find what drug works best & at what dosage. And as he goes thru puberty, you may need to change the drug &/or the dosage. One thing to think about....generally, most people w/ADD &/or ADHD, are very bright, quick-minded & articulate. Best of luck!