Does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with ADHD without medication?

Susan - posted on 03/28/2013

Help Eliminate Learning Problems has been a wonderful drug free resource for thousands of kids. Check out their website at www.helpadd.com.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/13/2013

my daughter is 8 and has been on 4 diff man made meds and is very med sensative..
I have her on 2 natural meds..Natural Calm and Added Attention..I found them at my local Amish bulk foods store but you may be able to find them at a natural store. I also changed her diet I took out artifical food coloring and sugary cerals..suggestions from my daughters TSS is trying a more plant based diet and Occupational Therapy (OT) for senseary skills

Jennifer - posted on 01/08/2013

WOW Jennifer I couldn't say it any better and that is EXACTLY my point there is NO natural things to do they need medication and I had put on another comment that I feel that this is cruelty to a child and as you know it is a HORRIBLE feeling. I was diagnosed with that and Bipolar at a young age I am now almost 43 and still on meds my mom was worried to but she worried about me and school, friends etc and I am totally happy and have NO problem taking medication because I know how it feels with out and it is not fun

Jennifer - posted on 01/08/2013

Honestly, these answers are crap. My name is Jennifer Jenning, I'm 15 years old, and I have ADHD. It sucks. I hate it. Yes, I see your point. No medication would be nice, but there are TWO sides to the story.

I was diagnosed very young. Not many kids liked me kindergarden through first grade. Finally, at the beginning of second grade, I started taking medication. Instantly I became more popular, happier, and had lots of friends, and my teachers liked me more too! There were side effects though, none of them too bad, except the crash. Coming off a medication, you get worked up. Angered. It's horrible, and you can't control any of it, because it's a medication. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT punish your kid when he/she is crashing. It is NOT their fault. Now, if they are fully medicated and still misbehaving, THAT would be the time to punish them. Also, I was put into the "Special Learning" program. Yes, it helped me learn better, but we were with all of the dyslexic kids (which is extremely different from ADHD and we wasted lots of time doing reading activities on), and also, it made me feel labeled. The stupid kid. I hated it. Even today, every now and then I have to remind myself that I am smart enough.

Something else to keep in mind is that you start small, don't take too much of the dosage, because as you grow, you need a higher dosage, and once that dosage runs out, you have to switch to a new medication, which is hard, because you will have a mega crash. Be carful. Listen to your doctor.

Another thing to remember is that in middle school I was picked on because I was more hyper than everyone else. It was partly my meds, but I feel like you really need to expose your kids to social skills and teach them how to make friends. And up their dosage every once in a while (on doctor's order). Middle school is rough, so trust me, this will help.

Still, I recommend taking these medications. Do you want your child to have a better future? A good job? He/She is not going to have that with bad grades. I go to a normal school today, and currently I am ranked in the top 10 of our class of 70. That is pretty good for a kid with ADHD. Don't you want that for your kid? Well if you DO want this, I suggest going to your doctor and asking for some perscribed ADHD medication.

Jennifer - posted on 01/05/2013

I totally agree I have tried to express this on another post ones against medicine and I guess you can remove them because it isn't there just because they don't want to believe it. My daughter is 6 and also has a very severe case as a baby never would barely sleep either. I have tried Strattera first because I didn't want to put her on a stimulant then Ritalin both of those doubled her ADHD it was horrible. The first thing they put her on is Clonodine which works but makes her drowsy so at night time it is great we give it to her around 7:30 and she is in bed by 8 or so. We give her half dose in the morning and half in the afternoon but they are starting not to work anymore but I don't want to up the dose because she will really be sleepy. I hate to try her on another one but I have to that's why I am on here to get ideas. I also have ADHD and Bipolar so I know for a fact that there is no natural or dietary way to get rid of it....

Yvonne - posted on 02/02/2009

I have ADHD myself, I was VERY VERY VERY extreme!

I had ADHD so bad it showed up on brain-scans! (something about the nerve system in the brains? it is hard for me to translate it properly in English).

Yes I managed WITHOUT medication!

And I can tell you truthfully, that this was the only right decision my parents made back then!!!! I am VERY gratefull I have never taken those drugs!

With my daughter I have also chosen to not give her medication!

ANd again I am very happy with this decision!

The most important things are very simple but not lived by by too many parents; Structure, clear rules, No is no and stays no, early bedtimes also in vacations/weekends , being strict, not giving in, clearly being the boss!!!!!

I know what I needed as a child, I was just looking for boundaries, I wanted my parents to spank me, to lay down a clear line! they never did. They were from the generation that was about "free parenting", and that is totally wrong for any child and even more so for an ADHD child!

Children need you to be strict, clear, honest, they need you to say NO and stay with that, they need you to be there, and not be their friend but be their parent!!!!!

If there are not enough rules, if the parents let the child do its own way too often, if there aren't any or many boundaries, children will feel UNSAFE!

and that will cause behaverial issues.

No matter what they say, they NEED you to be the parent, to be the boss!

sometimes they will complain, but in the end they will be gratefull and tell you you were right!

There are not many children out there that can handle too much freedom, too little rules, and there is NO adhd child alive in this world that can deal with it!



I knew when my daughter was only a little 1 year old girl, that she would be diagnosed with ADHD at some point. I knew because I always know. Also with the kids I work with at school, I pick the ADHD children out of a huge classroom in a few seconds! I just recognize their attitude, the way they move, talk, the look in their eyes, I just feel it!

It's just recognition.

WHen my daughter started going to school, the behavior problems started there....

Sure I noticed stuff at home, but I knew exactly how to deal with it, so it never became a problem.

At school the teacher did not know .... so the problems started.

At age 6 she got diagnosed.

Right now she is in a different school. School will never be easy for her, some stuff is just more diffcult for her than for most other kids, but in this school they accept her for who she is, and treat her much better than at the old school !

The teacher even doesnt think she is overactive. when in the old school all I got was complaint after complaint. Now the only problem left is her math problems..... the rest goes soo much better now that we found a school that works WITH us instead of against us.



I can tell you that I lost a lot of ADHD problems in puberty, it just got less and less, and now nobody could guess that I have ADHD unless they know me really really well.

My daughter will be 9 next week, and I also notice her growing over a lot of stuff.



I do not believe in medication, because it just supresses the behavior, it does NOT change it ! it does not teach the child anything at all !

I believe in teaching the child, explaining, showing him or her, and practicing the right behavior !

Not in supressing it.

Sure it will take time.

But aren't our children worth it????

And with meds, it will still take even more time, since it just gets supressed, and the learn learning doesnt start untill after stopping with the medication!

Also there are a l;ot of danger in medicating your child.

Everyone has to make their own decisions.

I do NOT mean to judge any parent who did choose for medication.

I just want to explain why I chose otherwise.

Lisa - posted on 02/01/2009

I have two sons 1 8yrs and 1 6yrs and they both have ADHD. I have put them both on meds but the older one did not like them so we took him off. the youngest is too hyper to pay attention in school so i have him on a patch called daytrana (i think that is how it is spelled) he does really good on it. it seems to have less side effects than concerta did. the oldest and youngest are never medicated at home though. instead i give them diet pop when we are going out to eat. it calms them down. i also always have something for them to do. color, play a game on my cell phone, play tic tac toe, hang man ect. i find that they are better behaved if i keep them doing things. i just know i do not have the kind of kids that can sit quite and do nothing. i also find it helps if i do not get upset when they get hyper. the calmer i am the better they do. good luck!

Shelly - posted on 01/31/2009

My son was diagnosed at age 5. He was on several different meds until I finally said enough is enough! He's been off meds for 3 years now and is doing great! He's 10 and is having a great year in school for the first time! He still has hard times focusing sometimes but his teachers are wonderful and have several different methods they use with him! I agree that routine is very important! I believe that my son has a mild case and he has learned how to control and deal with it and so have we. As a young child it was hard at times. I thought we would never see the day when we didn't get a call from school or e-mail saying that he just can't consentrate. Well I'm happy to say that day has come! To all you Mothers with kids with ADHD...hang in there!

Crystal - posted on 01/30/2009

my daughter is now 20 we tried all kinds of meds ,  diet does help ,  so does routine, behavior modification helps, rewards for good behavior, no punishments for bad, dangerous behaviors had IMIDIATE counciqences,  the bigest problem was not the ADHD it was the way teachers, freinds, and people in general TREATED her noone wanted to give her the time, love and attention she needed. Its hard to care about someone who is soooo anoying and who is so much work.  We eventually stopped all meds and began focusing on helping her see herself as a very valuable and "good"  loving person, giving her self esteam, and self love. We had to realize she could not learn the same as others and instow in her that:    that did not   does not   will never make her stupid   just different.  We stopped drumming the homework,  afterall she was just a child and school and every other thing IN HER LIFE was so hard for her.

  Sadly  she had to try taking her life a few times before we learned how to really help her........... She will be 21 in April and she WILL graduate in June

There is no pill that will teach  them how to behave

There is no pill that will teach them how to learn

There is no pill that will teach them how to cope

There is no pill that will fix or prevent their problems

There is a pill that will help make them manageable    SLOW thier thinking  and thats when we need to teach them the important things in life

 I hope i've been helpful so many forget the psycholoical problems that come with ADHD

Carrie - posted on 01/22/2009

I don't know if you've found an answer yet but I can suggest going to somebody that teaches self-hypnotism. I am going to start that with my son in the next month. It has taken a while to get into the Dr. I am using this to try to get him off of medication. All of this stimulants have horrible side effects and strattera has not been very effective alone so tenex was added but I really don't want my child on blood pressure medicine for his life. It can't be healthy! Good luck!

Cindy - posted on 01/22/2009

I think it also important to remember that there are widely varying degrees of being affected by ADHD. So some people's symptoms might very well be controllable by diet and behavioral modification, while others would not be and need medication. It all depends on your child. If you have been properly evaluated by a psychologist or other professional who specializes in ADHD, they should be able to tell you where on the scale your child falls and whether non-medication regimens stand a chance.

Claire - posted on 01/20/2009

Also a big thing is routine, structure and consistancy in your childs life. One thing that will help is making a routine chart for your child this way your child knows exactly what is going to happen everyday, plus I suggest getting your child a calendar that you can use dry eraser pens on this will help your child know the extra things that might happen on certain days. I use a rewards chart for the routine chart and if my son gets all happy faces at the end of the week then he gets to choose an item from my shop bag. I go to the dollar store and buy $1 items for rewards or balloons, glow sticks or I give him a choice of making cookies, choosing his cloths, choosing his favourite dinner, choosing a game etc. All things don't always cost money. When my son get's 5 x's on his chart then he receives no prize or choice. It has worked extremely well for him. If anything changes on his calendar I always let him know two days prior to the date change and I keep reminding him upto that date.

Claire - posted on 01/20/2009

Hi Kimberly,

My son is ADHD and he is 5 1/2 years old. There are many alternative things you can try to bring your daughter down, one is buy some fairy dust from Sage it's a botanical mixture that when you need your daughter to come down before bedtime or after to high activity it helps calm her body. I always do breathing excercises or counting excercises with my son to help him learn to calm his body down or the help him focus on tasks. My husband and I don't believe in medication there is plenty of ways to work with your child then to medicate them. My husband and I bought our son a small trampoleen to help him get out his extra energy, which is great for rainy days, plus we are always active in either playing ball, basketball or any activity where our son is getting excercise and fresh air. When my son has had an extremely hyper day I do a time share with him which is sitting him on my lap even though he's all over the place with his body and eyes, just sitting and rocking him back and forth, which is a calming motion for about 5-10 minutes talking to him about his day seems to relax and refocus him.

Rennie - posted on 01/20/2009

Hi again! Sorry that first one was so long- a lot to share. After reading through many of the other replies I wanted to add- we modified the diet area as well. Cut back on sugars and added lots of fruit & veggies. He loves v-8!!!! We do not let him snack a lot once he is home from school, unless it is a healthy snack. A big helper was a book by Daniel G. Amen M.D. called "CHANGE YOUR BRAIN CHANGE YOUR LIFE". He teaches us about the human brain and the effects of ADHD/ADD.
Having a normal routine is great but they need to learn to adapt to change as well so a bit of spontaneity is great. Our son is big into sports and group activities which is great.

That is it for now. I hope some of this helps.

Rennie Brent

Rennie - posted on 01/20/2009

Hi Kimberly,
I am a Mom of a boy with ADHD and have been researching for about 6 years. Here is what I have found, because like you I was VERY against the medicating route. After carefully educating myself and reading several awesome books I met a woman who has a son w/ADHD and she is a natural food store owner- so here is what we found...
First of all get a piece of paper & pen.................ok ready?
The regimen is pretty rigid but I am a firm believer in giving it your all! Start the day with a good breakfast and calming music. ( My son likes Classical or light hits. )
We give ourselves over an hour to get the regimen done each morning- Here is a list of the homeopathic items he takes EVERYDAY.

CALMS FORTE (by Hylands)
#6 KALI PHOS. 6X (by Hylands)
LIQUID CAL-MAG+ ( by KAL)
SUPER DHA GEMS -500 mg each (by Carlson)
DMAE- 250 mg each ( by Thompson) these are capsules
CHILDREN'S ZINC LOZENGES (by Thompson)
EMERGENCY VITAMINS (we use pink lemonade flavor)

Ok here we go:
1st- Mix "4" DMAE capsules & emergency (FIRST open the capsules and mix with juice then add the Emergency and stir) we usually only mix a 1/2 a cup so it is easier to get down the hatch.
2nd- give "4" calms forte & "3" #6 kali phos ( these are all sub lingual so they dissolve under the tongue). (THIS DOSE SHOULD BE REPEATED EVERY 15 MINUTES- JUST THE SUB-LINGUAL TABS) We do 3 separate doses each morning unless he is having a "rough" morning. ;-) Then we do 4 doses.
3rd- give "1" SUPER DHA ( only 1 is given each day)
4th- give "1" ZINC LOZENGE ( these dissolve in mouth- do not chew- only 1 a day)
5th- give "1" teaspoon of the CAL-MAG ( this is once daily as well- the great thing about this product is it comes in a pineapple flavor that kids seem to like.)

Now as you try this regimen you will see a dramatic difference in your daughter with in the first week. You can then change up the dosage as needed for the sub lingual tabs. Talk to a person at a natural market if you can- The DHA is a fish oil that the brain needs especially in a person w/ ADHD or ADD. See.... the brain is not "lubricated" enough in a ADHD/ADD brain therefor you may need to increase the amount of DHA at first. The CAL-MAG is a wonderful relaxing agent as well and can be given at night before bed if your child has a hard time falling or staying asleep. We used it for a week at night in the beginning because Michael had a hard time staying asleep. It WORKS great.
I am sure you have heard about some of these items. But did you know that the DMAE was the original "drug" used to treat ADD/ADD until the pharmaceutical companies made the Ritalin and other drugs? Yip it is true. ;-)

My son is now 9 years old and I noticed or I should say "we" noticed attributes early on that made me think....Hmmmmm? Something is not right. But I am happy to say since he has been on this regimen he has changed DRAMATICALLY! He even thanked me. He is a gifted student and is excelling so much in school now. He has been religiously taking this regiment for a little over a year now.

I do hope this helps you and others who read it. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. I am happy to share.

Best of luck to you and your child-
Rennie Brent

Elizabeth - posted on 01/20/2009

We are on the FEINGOLD program.  It's hard, but seems to make a big difference for us.  It is diet and environment based.  I highly recommend it.  Even if it doesn't work, it's something that can't hurt.

Eva - posted on 01/19/2009

my oldest daughter was diagnosed with ADHD in first grade.  i chose not to medicate her because i didn't want it to change the girl that she was.  we focused on finding activities for her to do that she enjoyed, gave her set times for certain things, got her involved in group activities, regulated her diet to contain less carbs, sugars, and caffeine... she is a freshman in high school now and is on the honor roll, varsity and junior varsity cheersquad, and many other activities.  get her involved in something that she is interested in and holds her attention, bordem is the greates enemy to ADHD.

Mandy - posted on 01/18/2009

I agree to be weary anytime that you give your child medication but if your child had seizures would you give then an anti seizure medication??? I think that some children are over medicated, know your child and at first it may be hard to see them acting differently or calmer when you are used to seeing them zooming around the house but just remember that technically ADHD is a disability a disorder that is recognized by social security disability and if you could improve that wouldnt you want too?

Pat - posted on 01/14/2009

" I agree, I'm just learning this myself".

Pat - posted on 01/14/2009

I have been two years without medication, I attend a parenting semimar of 8wks on training with Dr. Russell Barkley who is the guru of ADD. Using token system and rewards routines are important. Diet modification, routines and a multi model approach worked for us. We just added medication two months ago to help in school with focus.
I wasn't anti medication but......meds only are not the answer. The house must be organized and have little clutter for them to work! I've got lots of info. so if you need anything let me know.
Everyday is a new experience with ADD/ADHD

Deborah - posted on 01/12/2009

Hi,

My Son has Adhd and I tried for years to keep him off of medications but the implications of that were far worse than the side effects, you can keep trying different meds untill you find the right one for your daughter. I have a friend that had to try a few before her son was prescribed one that didnt effect him, Good luck with your daughter.

Debbie

Susan - posted on 01/11/2009

  The only thing that helped consistently for me  was to change what I was doing regularily.  I did use medication for those times that it was really necessary.Find some reading on behaviour modification. Also find a good child phycologist that is willing to help your child understand what they have and how to deal with it.  I used this for about six years 8 to 14, This was by far the most beneficial.

Cindy - posted on 01/11/2009

My 7 year old has been taking meds for 2 years and was always lethargic with them. Just like a zombie. He has been off the meds for 2 weeks and has been so much better. He is still out of control when he is tired or hungry but seems to be doing ok in school.  I try to keep him busy when he gets home so he will be sleepy at a decent hour. I have so much trouble getting him to stop and go to sleep. I've heard that eggs in the morning for breakfast stimulates their brains because of the proteins. Stay away from sugars and anything red. I am still learning every day. My 15 year old daughter also has adhd and when she got around 12 she refused to take her medicine anymore because of how it made her feel. She said that people should accept her for who she is and not try and make her someone else. I thought about it and you know she is right. It's like we medicate them to make society and teachers happy and the children can't express themselves because they are zombie's. My daughter has an IQ of 145 but can not make very good grades on a test. I don't understand this but I'm sure one day that brain will be used for something very good. I'm sure every child that has adhd has a huge iq, it's just that their brains are flickering so fast that they can't think about just one thing it has to be many things. Gook luck with having your child off meds, I know without a doubt your child will feel better and be able to have a wonderful life. Just read everything you can on the internet and from books. I read one book about right and left sides of the brain and it talks about how a child with adhd thinks and it helped me see everything from their perspective. I'll have to look for it and let you know what it is called. Take care and good luck!!!

Camilla - posted on 01/11/2009

My son is 9 and he was dx w ADHD when he was 5. He was on meds until he was 8 and then we took him off because we too didn't llike the side affects like poor appetite, hard to fall asleep at night and that he seemed like a Zoombie. He has been off it for more than a year but I am putting him back on the concerta. We tried fish oil every day, exercise daily, trying to eat organic, preservative free foods, behavioral  and parenting classes etc.  You name it, I tried it all! The funny thing is that the hard to fall asleep problem was still there and it was almost worse than on the meds. His brain couldn't seem to relax at all. He was still in dreamland often like he was on the meds. The only thing that changed was his appetite but without the meds he was eating all the time instead. Without meds he couldn't focus more than a few minutes, he had temper tantrums and outbursts, got into trouble at school evert day, poor control over his impulses, very emotional, poor self-esteem and on and on- it was really hard to live with him!!!  I realized that the meds help him not only focus but he himself is happier on the meds. He even said to me that I like me better on meds! Now, although concerta is no miracle drug, he has better self-esteem, better control of himself and that is what is so important! I want him to be happy. The side effects are still there and he still struggles with his concentration and focus but I rather have them than my son not being to handle himself. Now, his friends don't think he is wierd anymore and he is the kind and caring child that he truly is inside. He told me " I like the meds, they make me like other boys" and that's is really important at his age. I guess my advice is think long and hard on who really doesn't like the side effects, is it you or your child? It also depends on what side effects your child has. Mine were definately not worse than how my child was behaving and feeling not being on his meds. I think it is good to take a drug holiday once in a while to see for yourself how your child is NOW. They grow and maybe what was the issue or problem a few years ago isn't there anymore or you'll discover why you put him or her on the meds in the first place. I did! It is also nice to take a break to let them gain weight if poor appetite is one of the side effects. Good luck! I hope you find an alternate therapy that works but you have to try because you never know what will work for your child if you do not try.

Erin - posted on 01/11/2009

My brother was on ritalin as a child and has developed bipolar disorder as a long-term side effect, I was on strattera for a few months but I hated being tired all the time. I refuse to put my daughter on meds unless i feel she or her peers are endangered (like if she starts becoming violent out of frustration) What works for myself AND her is choline. Both of us take 2 flintstones gummy vitamins and they have... 38g of choline, I believe. It works with the acetylCHOLINE (a neurotransmitter) in the brain to make it more receptive. Its not a drug so there are no side-effects, and what kid doesn't want to have a couple gummy's everyday? it works really well on the attention and focus issues but to deal with the hyperactivity I use omega-3 gels. You don't taste the oil since its in a gelcapsule, but its just as effective. There has been scientific research to back up all of this, plus I have experienced the difference of being medicated and not. I graduated high school (never medicated) with a 2.5 GPA, in my last semster of college (taking choline) I earned a 3.6 GPA...

Kathryn - posted on 01/10/2009

Straterra is a non-stimulant that is helpful, but no medication is going to be a panacea. Medication is only helpful. I just spent almost 4 hours today helping my 11-year-old learn 10 vocabulary words for math! So, experiment with medications and get the teacher's feedback each week, but don't tell them when you've changed medication so it will be a fair trial.

Pege - posted on 01/09/2009

What type of side effects and what med was she taking? There is always occupational therapy and conseling. These should be done along with medication anyway with ADHD. Medication is not a cure all. I did everything besides med and finally med is what my son really needed. He is doing so much better with med. I don't like some of the side effects of Concerta either....killed is appetite and just recently been having trouble sleeping. So, we will dicuss with doc and possibly reduce med right now.  You will find that it often takes may trys before the right med is found. I think we've been through about 6 different doses with 2 different meds before we found what worked and now we may need to change. That happens with any medication out there. Just remember that we as parents need to understand that helping our children feel stable is what they need for themselves. I say this as a parent who has lived with ADD since I was 8 and now am raising a child with ADHD. Don't give up....educate yourself and don't stop until you find what works for your daughter...there are all sort of theories out there, but what is true is that it sucks having it and being the parent. Just keep smiling.

Alison - posted on 01/08/2009

my son was finally diagnosed 4 years ago with adhd it was decided by myself that i didnt want him on anyform of medication as i had heard stories  for me personaly i found that the best way of dealing with him was to not react when he started going on a bender as i put it he was and still can be very volitial real bad sevear mood swings .... but his is also a very bright young man .... he would never remember what he had done in one of his rages which upset him loads ( he very loving ) the best method i came up with was to supply him with a punch bag for his aggression but also to talk calmely with him see if he him self could learn to recognise when he was about to have an outburst and see if he could find a way to stop it ...... this worked better than i thought it would as he has turned into a very well behaved lovely young man he found that if he was bored he would fly and so now he is out more often than not and runs his frustrations off and he draws loads to keep his mind active ........i do hope that you find something that helps i hope i may have been of some help to you ..

Cortney - posted on 01/07/2009

It depends on how severe the case is.  My son is 6.  He was diagnosed at 2 years old (we were looking for signs because my husband also has ADD) but we could see something at 18 months old.  ADHD is a result of how the brain is WIRED.  You are not going to change that with diet.  Behavior modification can help but again, it will not treat the symptoms. 

There is NO "TEST" for ADHD, so beware of that.  We took my son to the same doctor that treated my husband during his childhood and teenage years.  He is a specialist of 35+ years in ADHD/ADD and other Behavioral Disturbances and Disorders.  We had to fill out a 20 page behavioral profile for my son that went all the way back to my pregnancy!  His daycare provider also filled out a profile.  The doctor then examined the data from the profiles as well as observed my son in his office during a 2 hour interview.  Based on all that and the doctors experience and extensive knowledge (he also has a son with ADHD which prompted his specialty) he made the diagnosis.

My son is on Tenex for hyperactivity and Vyvance for concentration.  If he was not on these meds he would not be able to function.  His hyperactivity is so severe that without the meds he cannot have a conversation because his brain is going a million miles an hour, he would be LITERALLY bouncing off the walls, he would go into rages because he could not communicate his needs and he would NOT SLEEP!!  Once we accidently missed a dose (only one pill out of the 4 per day he takes) and he did not sleep for 36 hours!   We started him on the Vyvance once he started school.  Before this medication he never had an interest in coloring or drawing and would resist any activity that required any mental effort.  AFTER he started Vyvance, new parts of his personality have emerged.  He is very creative, loves to draw and color, read books, play board games and is able to engage in group activities without becoming overstimulated.  

He needs the meds to act as a bridge in his brain.  The medications reverse the chemical imbalance in the brain and acts as that bridge from what the brain wants to do, to what the brain should do.  You need to work closely with a doctor who has extensive knowledge in the field so find the right medications for your child.  I also agree with keeping a routine and providing a calm environment.

 It also helps that he is extremely intelligent (most ADHD people are) and his vocabulary and thought processing skills are 2 years advanced for his age.  With this, he is able to communicate more effectively and in the future will be able to talk himself through challenges he will inevitably face.

Sharon - posted on 01/07/2009

My daughter has ADHD and i find that if i keep any task she is doing to a maximum of 10 minutes it keeps her focused more. My little girl is 8 and finds it difficult to sit still and keep engaged in most tasks (ie schoolwork, writing,crafts) But also if it was a fun task like arts and crafts i could still see her mind wandering half way through what we are working on and she wants to go do something else. My advise is to keep things to the 10 minute rule and switch between activities. So 10 minutes homework then 10 mintues play then 10 mintues for tea, bath, tidying her room etc. From my experiences my daughter starts getting frustrated when she concentrates on something too long so forcing her to either finish tea or complete homework doesnt work. She knows she will have to eventually do it but at least it isnt as daunting for her when she can do something for 10 mins then do something else. And a reward scheme is a good idea too. I change it every 2 weeks. I have gave her a old credit card of mine that had expired and everytime she completed a task i would stick a gold star on the card when she reached 10 stars she could then trade the card in for a reward of her choice like going to the cinema or going bowling.

There is also games you can play with her that help train her brain into concentrating for longer periods of time. Simple games like catching and throwing a ball to one another, there are more activities that are helpful to ADHD sufferers as you have to train your brain to concentrate. It was decribed to me that if you try and write with the hand you dont usually write with, you have to really concentrate and try hard and with a child with ADHD this is what its like for them doing simple everyday things. I dont want to give my daughter any medications either as i dont think kids should be taking pills everyday unless they were an actual danger to themselves or others. I also give my little girl Efalex vitamins which is omega3 fish oil caps. And to stimulate her throughout the day i give her natural sugar foods like apples, tomatoes etc instead of sugars sweets as they perk her up for about an hour then she lapses in concentration again but with the fruits it releases energy gradually thoughout the day and its healthier. But any kind of non-medicated treatment or help takes time to work there is no overnight remedy for ADHD and it takes alot of patience on your part as a parent. It's tough but ive stuck to my routine for over a year now and my daughter is finally making friends and keeping them and she has caught up in her classwork. She still has alot of catching up to do before she reaches the level she should be at but im seeing the results now even though it takes a while.

I hope this helps, and good luck. :)

Sharon x

Ardeliah - posted on 01/07/2009

You can always ask the doctor for alternative medications. There are more and more types out there and the doctors don't always go through them all to get the right fit for your child unless you push. The alternative route didn't work for my son and we are on our third medication and this one seems to be working great. He has more appetite and can actually sleep at night now. He is on Biphentin.

Nikki - posted on 01/07/2009

My sonis 9, and we have him on concerta, risperdone, and clonidine. they seem to work for the most part, but we find that afterschool he is very wound. i find that when they start him on something new, it works really really well for about 2-3 weeks, then he is back to the same behaviors. its frustrating for our family. we just want him to be able to live a normal life. sometimes i feel as though we focus alot on him, and i noticed my 6 yr old has started acting out, and i think its because of all the energy we spend on getting her brother on track.

Jacque - posted on 01/07/2009

My daughter started meds when she was 4 (extreme case).  I noticed that the side effects get better within a couple of months.  If they don't, you may want to try another medicine.  My daughter has been on three and the third was the charm (Daytrana).

Joanne - posted on 01/07/2009

hi i have a 12 year son who has ADHD, ODD AND DEPRESSION he is on medication and at the moment is on EQUASYM XL capsules 40mg. We have changed medication a few times and this seems to work. He doesnt suffer any side effects with it and his behaviour has improved. I have (hate to admit it) even completed a parenting course, which has helped me express my feelings and now am a lot calmer when my son has one of his moments, give the course a try if you can , anyone who wants to talk can email me. take care xx

Diane - posted on 01/07/2009

When my 9 year old was 5 he was diagnosed with ADD...I was extremely against medicating him.  However he was falling farther and farther behind in school because he just couldn't focus.  I made the decision to talk to his doctor and he told me about a medicine called Straterra.  Its a non-stimulant medicine that helped him focus immensely without the side effects of most.  After a year of taking that he DID NOT want to take it again.  I told him ok we could stop and see if he learned how to focus on his own.  We wouldn't tell his teachers he was stopping and if they didn't say anything then he wouldn't have to take it.  4 months after we stopped he was doing exactly the same at school as he was when he was taking it.  The drug helped him learn how to self focus.  Not to say we don't have a few issues now and then, but he works with a reward system at school now.  His teacher sends home a 5 part behavior card and if the majority of the parts of the day are good, for at least 3 days a week, then he earns renting a video game on Fridays.  Some weeks he gets it some he doesn't but more often than not he does.   Also a thing for them to take to help focus is fish oil, they have some orange flavored ones that you can put in orange juice and they  can't taste a thing.  Sounds nasty but if you look on its label it really helps ADD children.

Diane - posted on 01/07/2009

When my 9 year old was 5 he was diagnosed with ADD...I was extremely against medicating him.  However he was falling farther and farther behind in school because he just couldn't focus.  I made the decision to talk to his doctor and he told me about a medicine called Straterra.  Its a non-stimulant medicine that helped him focus immensely without the side effects of most.  After a year of taking that he DID NOT want to take it again.  I told him ok we could stop and see if he learned how to focus on his own.  We wouldn't tell his teachers he was stopping and if they didn't say anything then he wouldn't have to take it.  4 months after we stopped he was doing exactly the same at school as he was when he was taking it.  The drug helped him learn how to self focus.  Not to say we don't have a few issues now and then, but he works with a reward system at school now.  His teacher sends home a 5 part behavior card and if the majority of the parts of the day are good, for at least 3 days a week, then he earns renting a video game on Fridays.  Some weeks he gets it some he doesn't but more often than not he does.   Also a thing for them to take to help focus is fish oil, they have some orange flavored ones that you can put in orange juice and they  can't taste a thing.  Sounds nasty but if you look on its label it really helps ADD children.

LaTanya - posted on 01/06/2009

Hello Kimberly. I have an 8 year old son who was diagnosed in October of 2006 and I immediately tried Behavioral Therapy. I have also tried him on different stimulant meds and I didn't care for the side effects either, but I also had to learn that if I cut out certain foods in his diet, the side effects weren't bad, if visible at all. The increase in blurting out when not spoken to, wandering off, hyperactivity, amongst other things children with ADHD do have ceased a great deal with age and his diet. Video games, and puzzles are also an excellent way to assist your daughter with focusing, concentrating, and it even calms them down for a couple of hours because they are so into the activity itself.

Sacheen - posted on 01/06/2009

My daughter has been diagnosed with adhd since she was in 2nd grade. She was on meds but she chose not to take them anymore because of the way they made her feel. We were told to stay away from red dye in foods and to keep the tomato products to a minimum. She just watches her diet and sugar intake now and she has been fine. Hope this was helpful to you.Good luck.

Jennifer - posted on 01/06/2009

My husband has adult ADD, had ADHD as a child. We are currently dealing with my daughter, who is 6 and has not been officially diagnosed, but as the wife of one, you just KNOW, you know? :)

We have found several things that help with her. She is not on medication, and after my husband's liver problems due to his medication, we will not be putting her on any. He came off of his medication about 8 years ago, and we've been working with things ever since.

I agree with Michele, diet can help. Avoid foods that process into sugars quickly in the body. The obvious ones are candy and straight sugar products, but also be wary of white flour, corn, and carrots. We use these vegetable sparingly. It also helps to cut juice in half with water to cut down on the sugar, and we don't use mixes for milk because they contain too much sugar. We stick to Rice Krispies or plain Cheerios for cereal. Keep an eye out for artificial sweeteners, which can react in the body the same way regular sugars do.

Also, the biggest thing that has helped us is ROUTINE! And ACTIVITY! My daughter copes because she knows exactly what happens next. She knows when she comes home from school she will have a snack, have playtime, have clean-up time, have dinner, have a bath, read a book, then go to bed. She no longer throws tantrums because she knows what comes next. We also give her a 5-minute warning before changing activities because ADHD kids tend to hyper-focus and can be upset when you make them change activities quickly. We even got a routine for the rest of the little things, like where she puts her backpack and shoes when she comes home, where her clothes for school are in the morning, etc.

As far as activity goes, I try to include her in whatever I'm doing. I'll find little things to keep her occupied, like measuring things while I'm cooking, or a small project. She has become a really big helper! She does laundry and puts away dishes now, because they are activities that will keep her busy while I'm doing the other things she isn't old enough to do yet.

I hope I've helped a little. We've managed to stay medicine-free for a while, and I pray it stays that way. I wish you luck on your quest!!!

Michele - posted on 01/06/2009

Some "experts" say that you can control it with diet. I haven't looked into it myself, but I have heard of it . May I ask what meds she is on ? my son is 9 and he is on Stratera . It is a non-stimulant. he has a irreglar heatr rythym and the stimulants would be hard on his heart . Your best bet is always check with your Dr. If he insists on meds. see about trying another or See about getting a 2nd opinion . Your childs health is most important ,but it is also important that you feel comfortable with the treatment.