Looking for ADHD alternatives?

Question

My daughter (13) was recently taken off Adderal XR because of "adverse" affects. We had her tested for toxicity - normal. But now she is having problems staying focused in school - completing work on time and just being restless. Even though her "old self" has returned we are looking for ways to help her at school. I am not a big fan of having to put her back on meds. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

The following can help:

-Creating immediate consequences for accomplishing tasks
-Receiving immediate feedback from others
-Using incentives rather than punishments
-Externalize time; make tasks a timed activity with a clock in view
-Make thinking and problem-solving a physical activity when possible; make index cards, use word processors to brainstorm and write assignments, spend free time doing puzzles, building things, etc.
--Keep a disability perspective; she's not unwilling... she's unable

I've heard of St. John's Wort as an herbal remedy, and there is new research out there suggesting a diet plentiful in omega-3 proteins may also help. You may have to look into that a little further though.

Answer 2

If she truely has ADHD then stimulent medications are her best bet because the research consistently reveals that these types of medications are the most effective of any t ype of treatment, including therapy. Stimulents, however, do have many side effects to them, as do non-stimulents. There are alot of people out there who can tell you all sorts of horror stories about ADHD medications, but very often these cases are poor examples. Anyway, typcial stimulent medications include Adderal (not XR) and its generic equivelent; Concerta; Ritalin; Focalin; Strattera; and in some cases antidepressants such as Wellbutrin. STrattera is not a stimulent but I have seen many children suffer more adverse effects from this medication than the stimulents. Every child is different and will have a different reaction to the type of medication prescribed, so it is not helpful for others to disuade you from trying medications prescribed by the doctors. Hopefully your child is seeing a qualified clinician who has a thorough understanding of ADHD.

Answer 3

One of the aspects of ADHD is total focus on things that interest the person. Since I was always interested in learning, school held my interest more easily than most others with it. Try to find things in school or classes that can interest her.
Even though I hate the practice, the concept of strong rewards and pleasures taken away do work. Just be careful to balance it with certain things that can never be taken away, and a strict routine to follow.

Answer 4

Some are now saying that ADHD lack omega fatty acids. If that tastes fishy try flax oil
Also Maureen S Kennedy has a product called little angels
Some GNC's sell it or you can type her name into the search engine
or I will look it up and add it when I get back home

Answer 5

The ADD Answer by Dr Frank Lawliss might help
http://www.theaddanswer.com/theaddanswer.htm

Answer 6

I struggled with this too before they knew what ADHD was. Talk to her school counselor about an alternative learning approach. Kids with this learn better from hands on and not sitting listening to lectures.

Answer 7

There's many ways to naturally help yourself be more attentive. Your diet, enough sleep, exercise and so on. Most times it's hard to follow those three things.

For me, work can get hectic and zoning out or not paying attention becomes a problem. Recently started looking for natural supplements that help with brain function and I stumbled upon this supplement on amazon called instant att.

It's around 2-3pm that I can lose track of things and so far this stuff has kept me on track and even made more proactive than normal. Would recommend it to anyone.

Answer 8

there is something called Attend that you can buy at a vitamin shop for ADHD. Ask a naturalist doctor about it...