Medications for Attention Deficit Disorder

www.wiman.us	Education Issues Topic Index A-Z Index	ADD Medications, natural and otherwise
	Education Issues Topic Index A-Z Index	ADD Medications, natural and otherwise

ADD medications, natural or otherwise

The concept of medication for treating Attention Deficit Disorder is controversial. At the heart of the question is a bundle of new questions: Is ADHD (I’m including ADD here) really a disorder, or just a personality type? (In Europe, the psych community feels that the latter is true.) Is it caused by some imbalance of body chemistry? Should it be treated with SSRI’s, NRI’s, stimulants? Is there a nutritional component? Aren’t drug companies trying to get rich off parents’ concerns? Could environmental toxins be to blame? (Low levels of lead or mercury can certainly cause ADHD symptoms in children) Is there a magic bullet, that is, one simple treatment that works for nearly everybody in the same dosage?

Let’s start with that last one - the magic bullet. As much as drug companies would like to have you (and your doctor) believe otherwise, the magic bullet doesn’t exist. ADHD symptoms can be caused by lots of things, from subtle airway obstructions that interfere with proper sleep, to ‘mild’ lead poisoning, to an inherited prediliction for high stimulus (“classic” ADHD.) So there’s no one medicine or nutrient that will ‘work’ for everybody. Anecdotes are interesting but not normative because everybody’s body chemistry - and experience - are different.

One thing I have observed firsthand is that if you mention possible nutritional treatments for ADD/ADHD (or any other disorder) to a medical doctor, they become visibly uneasy. I don’t know why, but they don’t seem to be able to cope with the idea that nutritional supplements can be used to treat any disorder. You will hear that “it hasn’t been fully studied” and “it could be placebo effect.”

Of course, how would it ever be studied? You can’t patent a nutrient, and most studies are paid for directly or indirectly by ... drug companies. This leaves the individual with little more to go on than anecdotal evidence, which isn’t that useful. (Which is why you should smile noncommittally when someone tells you a lengthy story of “what worked for them” whether the subject is nutritional suppliments OR medications.)

But before dismissing the idea, ponder this: given the aforementioned biochemical individuality, wouldn’t the well-studied effects of the pharmacutical solutions also be subject to the differences among individuals? In other words, the study might reliably show that treatment X worked fine for most people, and you might not be like most people.

Following are some comments on a few common chemical/nutritive treatments for ADHD. Readers are encouraged to suggest new items for the list:

Ritalin - also known as methyl phenidate. A stimulant that has the paradoxical effect (in people with “classic” ADHD) of calming and helping focus. ‘Normal’ people get nervous and jittery on Ritalin, but ADHD people often calm down and focus better. The reasons why a stimulant medication would have this effect are endlessly debated but there is no debate that it does work for many ADHD people. It’s a controlled substance, somewhat hard to get, and can be abused by non-ADHD people looking to get high.

Prozac - prescribed for a wide range of mood and attention disorders. Regulates seratonin levels in the brain. Similar drugs include Paxil, Zoloft, etc. also norepinepherine reuptake inhibitors such as Strattera. Work quite well for some people. If the decision to stop taking this type of drug is made, it should be tapered off, not stopped all at once!

Amphetamines - same class of drug as methylphenidate, with all the same controversy and handling problems. Very helpful, for some people. No one is sure why.

Grape Seed extract - a natural antioxidant with many claimed benefits, of which one is improved concentration for ADHD people. Popular in Europe.

Maritime Pine Bark Extract, or pycnogenol, is similar chemically to grape seed extract and is also popular in Europe for the same reasons.

SAM-E - popular in Europe (by prescription only) for mood disorders and also joint pain. Apparently quite effective, for some people. Available over-the-counter in the US.

5-HTP - hydroxytryptophan, is a nutritional precursor to seratonin. Used to treat mood disorders, social anxiety, sleep disorders, and now ADHD. Generally 1 before bed as it does make one sleepy. Of course, if it provides a good night’s sleep, it IS effective for treating all the things mentioned above! Available over-the-counter.

Melatonin - for treatment of sleep disorders or jet lag. Of course regular, deep sleep is beneficial for ADHD.

Again keep in mind that what is an effective treatment for one person may be ineffective or even disastrous for another because body chemistry is very individual. Your best guide is how you and your support people discover a given treatment works.

Also keep in mind that your doctor has one thing I don’t have: malpractice insurance. You are responsible for your own treatment, so act intelligently, get information from many sources, and make up your own mind what to do.

- George Wiman