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Post by Becky on Mar 3, 2018 11:06:23 GMT
Hi I was wondering if anyone has had any success following a non medication route and tried alternative supplements? My 17 year old son has ADD inattentive type, he was only diagnosed 18 months ago. Since diagnosis has tried Equasym, Concerta and Vyvanse. All of these has horrible side effects, really low mood, sleep problems , lack of appetite. We made the decision 6 months ago to stop the medication as it was just causing more issues than it was solving. He is a really bright boy but is now struggling in his first year of A levels to get focused and motivated to work. The psychiatrist has said that medication is obviously not the right route for him but unhelpful you not got any other advice as he strictly believes the only route is medication. I have been reading up on alternative meds - optineuro and other nootropics and wondered if others out there have experienced the same issues and felt this or any other non med routes helped?
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Post by ADDP on Mar 3, 2018 16:33:40 GMT
Hi Becky
Mindfulness Meditation
Yep, it's for ADHD, I've been using it recently and it's the best thing ever! I'm sure your son will prefer it, half hour meditating then hit the books.
HTH
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Post by jp on Mar 5, 2018 11:04:18 GMT
Did he ever try Atomoxetine? Different type of action. Guanfacine? And others. But those are meds too! There may be herbal alternatives - Ma Huang, Ginseng etc. I don't know. And they are also meds! Being bright is not enough. Success is more based on persistence IMO. Or rather given that he is bright, persistence and motivation will be the limiting factors to his acheivement. As someone once said "99% of success is just turning up." I wish I'd understood that as a bright young teenager. It might have helped. CBT? He has perhaps already started forming some unhelpful ideas about himself which will sit on top of- and exacerbate the ADHD, but are not a direct result of ADHD. Catch them, and learn how to fight them as early as possible. Or they will only get more embedded into his identity (sorry to say). Does he have a passion? I'd recommend following it no matter how frivolous and unbankable it may seem to be. Passion will drive persistence. Persistence = success. Perhaps some ADHD coaching would benefit? Its helping me ALOT - my coach has given me permission drop the things I'll never do, or find ways to not need to do them (designing them out of my plans or paying someone else to do them) That one thing has saved SO much mental energy. I can now see the wood despite the trees! No time to explain now - but there's loads more stuff she's suggesting that seems to be working. I would try to encourage him to 'own' and understand ADHD. There are alot of YouTube videos which I think are very positive. Several great Ted talks... There are loads by Dr Barkely that are VERY informative but IMO not encouraging. My favourite is a whole YouTube channel "How to ADHD" presented by an amazing young woman called Jessica McCabe. Accessible, positive, informative, inspirational. How to ADHD Best wishes to all of you going through this. JP
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motorhead
Member's not posted much yet
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Post by motorhead on Mar 10, 2018 14:40:11 GMT
Yes it's a struggle,but I think stick with the medication for now and just try to make sure that his sleep is as effective as possible, does he use devices and screens in the evening? do you know if he eats any junk during the day? You may have sorted all this so apologies if I sound patronising! Schools and colleges can be hot and stuffy with uncomfortable seats and all manner of distractions, just get him through it. Me? I had no medication and a worried mum who tried everything in the 1970s, the result was academic oblivion and over 100 jobs, the rest you wouldn't want to hear. Best of luck with whatever you do.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2018 10:50:10 GMT
Alternatives to medication:
1. Have a team of people at your beck and call so you can remove virtually all responsibility from your life.
2. Have as few aspirations as possible. i.e. learn how to be content living on the absolute minimums.
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