Recommendations for supplements for kids - ADHD

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2/5/13 5:42 P

Racermom, just reread your post. "Discerning palate"...that's one way of putting it, right? ;) After school homework time is a big problem for us, which is why we had started the Clonidine after school. We just started the Kapvay last night.

Have you tried just giving him snacks, like nuts or other protein after school? Sometimes they just need to level out their blood sugars to stay on track. Sometimes this works for my DS.

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2/5/13 5:39 P

Hi, this is actually my first SP message board post. I've been kind of lost on where to go, and this is the first thread I've read where I feel like I can contribute. I have a 10 y/o DS that has ADHD and ODD. He was dx at 4 y/o and has been on meds since. Because of the ODD, we do not take weekend or summer breaks. Thankfully, he does not suffer a lot of the side effects some kids do. He doesn't have much of a lunch appetite most days, but he makes up for it later in the day.

We have not tried dietary changes, like GF, food dyes and other things you read about. I know some people say it works, but the Physchologist that diagnosed him with ODD said that there's a very small percentage of kids that are truly sensitive to those things and it's hard to follow. I know for my family situation, it's not something we're going to try.

My DS currently takes Vyvanse 50mg in the morning. It lasts him until a little after he gets home from school, about 8-9 hours. We just added Kapvay (long acting Clonidine) at bedtime, to try and level him out over a 24 hr. period.

I thought I had read a few years back that Concerta was for older children, or seemed to work better for older children.

My kids only get soda on special occasions. They drink mainly water, milk, and sometimes V8 Fusion or 100% juice watered down.

I have heard of a couple natural supplements, but haven't tried any. They don't seem to have a huge amount of success from the stories I've read.

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2/5/13 2:06 P

Realistically, that's a question you want to direct to his doctor. Kids DO adapt to the medication, so it may be time to change things up. My daughter started on the lowest dose of Concerta (she's also 7) but after a month, she has started to adjust, and it's wearing off sooner, and she's having more inappropriate behaviors than she did the first couple of weeks.

One thing that helps her (at the recommendation of her psychologist) is a caffeinated soda/other beverage with her afternoon snack. The caffeine is a stimulant like the ADHD meds, and seems to calm her down. I even tried it on my younger child to see if it was a placebo effect. Lord no, it's not... my youngest just about lost her mind. ;)

You can get the little 8 oz cans (my doc suggested diet/no sugar to avoid the sugar rush/crash) and when he's particularly having a hard time, give it a try.

I don't do soda with my kids, but this has helped her a lot.

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2/4/13 10:46 P

I read somewhere that taking gluten & dairy out of the diet . You will notice a difference with in a few days if it works or not ..also consentraction games help all the best to you.

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2/4/13 3:13 P

I went to my local natural health food store and asked them what they would recommended: the one my kids take is from Solaray called FOCUS for children, they make an adult one too that I take. They also recommended liquid fish oil. Along with a much more vegetable and fruit heavy diet with hardly any processed food and sweets, this combo has helped quite a bit. I didn't see results right away, but over time it has gotten much better. So far, we have not had to go to medication. Hope this helps!

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2/4/13 12:23 P

My son is going to be 7 on Wednesday and I suspect very much that he has ADHD, like his father, uncle, big brother, possibly his younger brother as well...I give him coffee. Caffeinated coffee seems to have the opposite affect on him-calms him down and mellows him out. A four ounce serving seems to make him concentrate better (only organic sugar or agave syrup to sweeten and some evaporated milk) and a full 8 ounce serving helps him go to sleep. Plus, coffee has potassium.
I don't know everything and don't pretend to. While I wait for the diagnosis process to take place, this works-especially on hard/frustrating days for my mancub.

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2/3/13 10:35 A

My 7 year old son began taking Concerta 4 months ago. The afternoon rebound is difficult due to his irritability and frustration in completing homework. I've been researching supplements and am more confused than ever. There seems to be no good source for a comprehensive supplement that is child friendly. I'm interested in magnesium, zinc and have tried flaxseed with limited success due to his discerning palate. I would love to hear from other parents that have tried supplements.

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