Dr. Mercola December 01 2007 29,571 views
Research has shown that treating children who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with drugs is not effective in the long-term. After three years of treatment, drugs such as Ritalin and Concerta work no better than therapy.
Long-term use of the drugs can also stunt children‘s growth, and the benefits of the drugs have been exaggerated.
An influential 1999 study seemed to find that medication worked better than behavioral therapy for ADHD after one year of use. This finding caused a vast increase in prescriptions.
But now, after longer-term analysis, the report‘s co-author, Professor William Pelham of the University of Buffalo, has stated, "I think that we exaggerated the beneficial impact of medication in the first study. We had thought that children medicated longer would have better outcomes. That didn‘t happen to be the case. There‘s no indication that medication is better than nothing in the long run."
Pelham said that medication had "no beneficial effects" and that in fact, the drugs had a negative impact in terms of growth rate.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence in England is currently revising their treatment guidelines for ADHD to include strategies that will likely involve training for parents as well as "behavioral interventions".
"The important thing is that we have an approach which doesn‘t focus just on one type of treatment," Dr. Tim Kendall, chair for the working group, said.
The number of children being harmed, perhaps for life, by unnecessary drugging is truly heartbreaking. Especially when there are so many simple, safe, and healthy options. Many are reluctant to adopt unproven alternatives, but the great news is that scientific proof supports these non-drug, non-invasive alternatives.
Even if Ritalin, the primary drug used for ADHD, were proven effective, would you really want to give your child a drug that is very similar to cocaine?
More Scientific Proof Food is the Answer – Not Drugs
For example, research by the University of Adelaide in Australia confirmed that fish oil improves the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without any of the side effects of drugs like Ritalin and Concerta -- and more effectively at that!
They gave 130 children, between the ages of 7 and 12 with ADHD, daily fish oil capsules. The children’s behavior improved dramatically within three months. They also found that:
Improvements were still being seen after the study ended, which suggests that fish oils may have long-term effects.
What’s the Real Price of ADHD Drugs?
ADHD drugs are known to carry serious side effects, including:
So, why – if these alternatives work – treat millions of children with drugs that are more powerful stimulants than cocaine?
Money! Huge Profits!
And, as you may already have noticed, more and more adults are now “diagnosed” with ADD/ADHD. And why not? As Matthew Emmens, chief executive of Shire Pharmaceuticals (a British manufacturer of Adderall) stated in a 2005 article, "The adult market is three times the size of the 1.14 billion-a-year children's market and is ripe and moving in the right direction." This should be a telling statement for anyone under the illusion that these drugs are created for the betterment of society.
But can it really be said that a community of drugged adolescents and adults is a good thing? Using brain imaging, scientists have found that, in pill form, Ritalin occupies more of the neural transporters responsible for the 'high' experienced by addicts than smoked or injected cocaine… We’re essentially creating a generation of legalized drug users.
Strattera, the only ADHD drug approved for use in adults, was found to cause serious liver damage. In 2005, Eli Lilly agreed to put a “black box” warning label on the drug, listing the following signs and symptoms that might indicate potential liver problems:
Does Anyone Know What Causes ADHD?
Most would answer no, we don’t. However, we do know the food choices of most children are beyond poor. How could you possibly expect a child to have normal behavior if he is fed refined grains, sugars, processed foods loaded with chemicals, and juices and sodas instead of pure water? Add to that 90 percent fewer vegetables than what is required for health, along with an overabundance of omega-6 fats and a virtual lack of omega-3 fats.
If you are a cook you will immediately recognize that this is a recipe for disaster. You simply cannot have a healthy functioning brain in a child that is not given the proper ingredients to develop optimal brain function.
This is not rocket science, folks. But it is easy to understand why there is so much confusion regarding this issue when the drug companies spend BILLIONS of dollars to confuse you with direct-to-consumer ads on TV, in addition to brainwashing physicians to stick to the belief system that drugs, not foods, are the answer for children with behavior problems.
Five Powerful Tools to Virtually Eliminate ADHD!
Additional helpful techniques:
I have a 13 year old son who has been on a gluten, casein, polysacharide (which limits carbs greatly), sugars, yeast, red meat, artificial anything, as organic as possible, diet for over four years. He never eats fast food except for an occasional baked potato which has only recently been re-introduced to his diet. He has been taking a number of supplements, including fish oil among many others I've researched or his DAN! physicians have recommended, for over 10 years. He has had behavior therapy, sensory integration therapy, sensory learning, occupational therapy, interactive metronome, biofeedback, and auditory integration therapy. We have done hyperbaric oxygen treatments, enrolled him in different sports and/or martial arts programs over the years, followed homeopathic recommendations, tried acupuncture, take him still to counseling weekly, done NAET, and reflexology. Yet, inspite of all this, he remained very, very bright, but very, very difficult to manage. He has been diagnosed ADHD, with Oppositional Defiant Disorder characteristics, has Asperger's characteristics, but not enough to be diagnosed, and has mood disorder characteristics, but again, not enough to be diagnosed. The result is a young man who cannot live up to his potential because he forgets where he is standing, cannot keep track of his life, is disorganized beyond belief, is temperamental and usually angry. When his emotional and academic existence became stressed to near breaking points, after more than 10 year of trying consistently everything we could research to help him, we gave in and put him on Concerta. It has helped with his mood - he is actually affectionate now, a bit more able to concentrate, although still very lacking in organization, maturity of thought, and common sense. I hate having him on medication even though we continue with diet and supplementation, but feel we are against a wall. Any thoughts ?
Wow, you have done SO MUCH to help your child and I applaud you for that. I have two boys ages 12 and 15 that are on the autism spectrum and I haven't tried even half of the treatments you have...Something we wanted to try, but we ran out of money, was chelation for the heavy metal toxicity. My oldest sounds a lot like your son. He is very intelligent but has great difficulty dealing with the day to day routine of life. I know that I will have to take care of the younger one for the rest of his life as his disability is severe and I fear for the older that, despite his intelligence, he will not be able to make it in the real world. Anyhow, big hugs to you from a mom that knows what you are going through. I think you are doing a fantastic job and I applaud your efforts!
Wow, you are a super parent! Just wondering...have you tried chelation therapy through a DAN! doctor? My daughter is 4 1/2 and we are currently using EDTA to chelate for lead. Next, we hope to try DMSA again for mercury since we "had our child back" while she chelated with DMSA last summer but needed to stop due to diarrhea, lethargy (low iron) and loss of appetite. I would love to hear from other parents who found success with chelation through Mercola's website.
The psychologist who diagnosed my son with ADD/ADHD/Dyslexia (yes, all of them separately) told me that allergic reactions to some random environmental exposure (in one case, eggs, in another a household chemical) can cause the symptoms of all the problems you have listed, and has urged me to get my son to an allergist. I can't afford to, but is certainly worthwhile to do so if you can. If you can eliminate one or more things from his environment and stop using the drugs, you and he are both way ahead.
The other thing is that organization, maturity of thought and common sense are all learned; putting him on a drug that improves his emotional level will not teach him these things. In those respects he's starting at square one. Now, maybe, he has a chance to learn them. Just be patient.
I just read your experieinces with your son, Ailedsnge....I have a similar son. I adopted him two years ago (he is 16) and tried most of the natural methods to help him that you described. Finally, after being "anti-drugs" we tried Concerta. His best traits can come out now - he went from flunking out of literally ever school he has attended to getting A's!!!!!!!!! He has friends for the first time and he is a loving and sensitive kid. I hope this will not be a long-term option but there are cases when one has to weigh up the consequences and we both decided together that he has a better life with the drug...at least for now! (And this IS a kid who comes home and asks for carrots, not sugar!)
Concerta seems to be the best treatment for my daughter who is nine years old. We tried others and are getting the best results with the Concerta. Best Wishes!
I have heared that sleeping on magnetic and sun's energy bed,and wearing magnetic insoles and necklace during the day helps with ADHD.
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Hi Ailedsange,
We are in a similar situation. I have tried nearly all the same "remedies" as you, the diets, supplements, OT, biofeedback, even the unusual ones like NAET and metronome, for my 9 y.o. son. But still, without the Concerta, my son is a mess. When I even try him on a lower dose, he starts to lose friends, can't keep up with school, and gets in trouble for being hyperactive and crazy. And his self-esteem goes in the toilet because he knows everyone is frustrated with him. It is very hard to be around him without the medication.
I am still searching for the "solution" that will help him fit in without drugs, but for now, it is the only way my son can have the life of a typical 9 year old boy.
I really trust most everything Dr. Mercola says, but on this issue he needs some more research!
You might like to join a listserv for parents of gifted kids with special needs. I have found it very helpful. google: gt-special
Amy
I have had great results with my son using glyconutrients and phytonutrients. There are also some great products that remove heavy metals without the side effects of chelation.
I know this is an old post but have you heard of Quantum Techniques? It is a form of healing that gets to the core of issues when nothing else works. I have personally done it for myself and think that maybe this may be a missing link for you son. www.quantumtechniques.com You would have to go to the website and read about it because it is hard to explain what and how it works. You have already done most of the dietary changes that are important parts of the healing but there is something that is deeper that Quantum techniques may be able to help. It may be that your son has hidden bacteria or viruses that are contradicting his healing to full potential. The web page is very informative and helpful and they are wonderful. I personally have worked with Stephen and Beth. Many blessings on your journey to good health.
Let's not forget that even before the children in this country are given unhealthy food, they are injected with vaccines that contain a cocktail of chemicals and heavy metals. And in most places the water they drink and bath in contains fluoride and chlorine.
AMEN!!!!!!!
That is not a true statement that EVERY child on Ritalin (or Concerta) turns into a Zombie. You, obviously, have never lived with a child with ADHD. I adopted a child from Russia who has EVERY symptom of ADHD and without the medication she was running into walls and could not focus AT ALL. She has been on the medication for years and although it does NOT cure her ADHD it does help her to organize her thoughts, constructively, enough to help her to do well in school. We eat a healthy diet with organic food and I keep no sweets, junk food, etc. etc. around the house and she is given fish oil EVERY day. I, also, have a child with CP and with all his special needs it does not compare to the stress of living with ADHD. I am NOT an advocate of drugs and take her off the medication during the summer months because I prefer to use the drug only for her academics. Also, my child with ADHD is a very happy child and is still full of energy and has been taking the medication for years. I can't say how the drugs affect a person who doesn't need it and I KNOW that it does not help EVERY child with ADHD, but it has made our lives MUCH MORE tolerable. Try living with a child with ADHD and then think about what you said!