Treating adhd without medication
Common Questions and Answers about Treating adhd without medication
adhd
To be frank, there is no solid evidence that natural remedies will successfully treat ADHD (the name of the condition, even when hyperactivity is not present - such a child displays Inattentive-type ADHD). It would be irresponsible of me to guide you toward treatments that are not supported by empirical evidence.
My son has ADHD. We have been successfully treating it with medication for 6 yrs now. A therapist recently said that ADHD has been proven to actually be an allergy to chlorine. I have tried researching this online but have not found anything that supports this. I have read where drinking filtered water that has removed the chlorine is helpful but this is the closest I have found online that ADHD might actually be an allergy to chlorine.
My son who is 9 years old was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 6, we have tried adderall, aderral xr, medate, medadate xr and now have gone throught all MG of daytrana patch. He is also taking .2 clonidine at night to help sleep. He also has ODD, my question is what medication can we try him on now that will MAYBE help with both? We have tried the Tenex smallest dose possiblr 1/4 pill in am. And he just could not function.
Many well meaning parents, therapists and medical doctors are fearful that treating ADHD with medication will lead to addiction. Not all people with ADHD need to take medication. For those who do, however, prescribed medication that is closely monitored can actually prevent and minimize the need to self-medicate.
Does anyone know any other options for treating ADHD that do not involve medication? I have read a few sites regarding biofeedback but it does not specifically state what exactly the patient does...
A desperate and frustrated mom who wants the world for her daughter!
classes of medication are available for treating ADHD:
* Stimulant medications, such as dextroamphetamine-based drugs (Adderall, Vyvanese) and methylphenidate-based drugs (Concerta, Daytrana, Ritalin). They are also available as generics.
* Nonstimulant medication, such as the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin and generic) or atomoxetine (Strattera), which is not available as a generic.
//www.betterhelp.
There is little you can do from a behavior management perspective, since you generally do not view her while this is occurring. If she trult displays ADHD, treating this (i.e., with medication) could make a big difference. Has this been considered?
On the other hand, if taking ADHD medication makes you feel good, and euphoric, that means you DO NOT have ADHD. I have proven this a thousand times. For instance, when I take my ADD meds, I get calm and focused. When someone who does not have ADD takes them (and they have stolen from me) they get jittery, start talking a mile a minute and get super hyper active.
This is why generally, people with legit ADHD do not beome addicts to the medication that transforms thier lives positively.
Effect on the developing brain — The long-term impact of ADD / ADHD medication on the youthful, developing brain is not yet known. Some researchers are concerned that the use of drugs such as Ritalin in children and teens might interfere with normal brain development.
Heart-related problems — ADD / ADHD stimulant medications have been found to cause sudden death in children and adults with heart conditions.
Ritalin is considered to be one of the very safest psychotropic medications available, and has been used successfully since the 30s. However, as I am sure you have learned, the variety of medications available for treating symptoms of ADHD has expanded considerably. When you meet with a psychiatrist, you two should be able to have a discussion about what you like about Ritalin and what side effects are a problem.
Research suggests that adults with ADHD get the most benefit from a multi-modal treatment approach that includes medication (when appropriate), but also cognitive behavioral therapy and ADHD coaching.
And, of course, this is because the poor kid has no clue why he is having the problems he is having. Many times in treating the ADHD effectively (both medication and behavioral therapy) the anxiety will be taken care of.
And, sometimes, the anxiety also has to be dealt with depending on the type of anxiety the child has. And depending on the type - its a good idea to first treat one condition for awhile, then the other.
There is lots of info on anxiety (and ADHD).
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