A.D.H.D - Is there an altenative to medication?

Question

My 8yr son has A.d.h.d. I hate seeing him look like he has just smoked marijuana all the time. I just took him off his medication but got a letterfrom his school complaining about his attention and behaviour. I want to hear from parents who are going through the same thing, and whether there is an alernative to medication. Like a diet or something. The doctors only want to medicate him. I would appreciate serious answers only please. Sorry about the length of this question.

Answer 1

I have a nine year old son and we went thru alot of diffrent things the last meds he was on caused him to hear voices and he was locked in crazy ward at childrens hospital for a whole week and i could only see him for 15 min a day it was awful so i took him off his meds and his teachers did not like it at all but we have learned to deal with his hyperness he was tested in school for gifted and now that he is challanged more mentally he does alot better still not perfect but we can deal with him just be patient and consistent with everything including bedtime and dinner homework time you will learn to deal with him or go crazy one but dont let the teachers make you put him back on meds its your choice not theirs Good Luck and God Bless

Answer 2

try picnogenol(sp?) its like an herbal ritalin. It works even better and doesnt' have the "zombie" side effects. You can get it a an herbal shop. Other than that try some community resources that specialize in behavior modification. Medication alone won't solve the problem, you will need help with behavior management as well. Of course limit the sugar and caffeine intakes. Even NATURAL sugars can cause a spike in his behavior. Also, if none of these things work, talk to dr. about certain anti depressants that help with focusing attn. Zoloft works great!

Answer 3

read books, I think it gets misdiagnosed about 3/4 of the time. Sometimes the kid is really bipolar, sometimes just interesting, or smart, or bored. Sometimes a combination of those things. I would try keeping him home for a week and see how he does. Lots of sunshine and attention. Interact with him. Maybe get a friend to teach him some things and interact so you can get a more unbiased view than your own. There are good books on that, and other docs who might wait awhile with the psych meds.

Answer 4

I have always wondered what pioneers would do if there child had this disorder? I truly agree with the answer prior to mine. I think it goes a little further though. I think it just has to do with all the information we now receive on a daily basis. Think about it - TV shows/new/movies, radio broadcasts, video games, cell phones, PDAs, computers, internet, etc. Maybe these people are like this because their bodies are not able to handle the immense amount of information that they are receiving on a daily basis and the attention span shortens.

Answer 5

My daughter is ADD. She has had her best results from Aderal.
One of the things that helps her besides the drug, is her mother and I persuading her to stick to a set routine every day. Keeping a set schedule forms a pattern that she knows she has to maintain in order to get things done. Check with another doctor if you are not satisfied with the results that you are getting from your current one. They are only human and they don't all come up with the same treatments.

Answer 6

my son has adhd. he is 11, and goes to public middle school. he test in the 11 grade in verbal/language and 10 grade in math. Has really distracting behavior/outbursts all the time. has tried everything currently in use today, but nothing has worked since puberty started showing up. go to your school, tell them that your son needs to be declared other health impaired. has a diagnosis from your Dr to show them. adhd is real, and falls in the guidelines of special education just like gifted(he maybe, mine is)and they will receive payment in addition to regular funding for his educational need(para, tutoring,social counseling, transportation(door to door)and so much more. Ask them to test for everything they can think of at the school, it will only help you and your son later. My son is really smart, but don't fit in at all sometimes. But he has a right to an education, college and the military too(make sure it goes under OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRED, NOT LEARNING DISABLED)and they can do allot to meet his needs. Once you have measured his knowledge base, you should see those teacher types come around to your way of thinking fast. and remember, no one knows your son better than you, you really will have to lead them and demand the best for your son. I hope this helps, play to your strengths.

Answer 7

My son became clinically determined with upload. thankfully, he became not hyperactive. That being the version. habit exchange worked nicely for my son via fact he became not Hyperactive. If he have been, we would have long gone with the medicine. there are maximum of med ideas accessible. that's different from a pair of years in the past the place the only determination became Ritalin. not that Ritalin is a bad direction of meds to apply, it merely wasn't the ultimate med for each infant with ADHD. i might hit upon the therapy with meds. you could continually provide up the meds if there are unfavourable reactions. you could ought to attempt diverse meds to hit upon the single that terrific suits your infant's desires. it is not a precise technological expertise. As you reported, the therapy is as much as the mother and dad, so it form of feels that the rfile and the expert are of little help. they are going by ability of your judgements. provide them the earnings of the doubt till you spot how the therapy works. once you're nevertheless uncomfortable with the surgeon's propose or therapy, hit upon a sparkling rfile and get a 2d opinion.

Answer 8

How can he be hyperactive and look like he just smoked marijuana?

Anyway, I despise the diagnosis of ADD or ADHD and would NEVER medicate my child for it.
Check him to see if his grade level is just to damn easy.
This ADD, ADHD nonsense didn't start until the school system started going down the toilet.
I'm not trying to be a jerk. I simply think ADD, ADHD is the most over-diagnosed disease in the history of man.

Answer 9

I don't say this to be flippant, but I truly believe that television and video games/excessive computer use are causing this epidemic. Famillies I know who got rid of the TV and limit games/computers are no longer having to medicate their kids.

Answer 10

I have heard that chiropractors can help. Call 1 what can it hurt