Dr. Mercola January 02 2008 1,179 views
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood appears to increase the risk of antisocial personality disorder and substance abuse in adulthood. The researchers note that these results confirm findings from earlier studies and strongly suggest that children with ADHD are at significantly higher risk for a specific negative course marked by antisocial and substance-related disorders. COMMENT: ADHD is a challenge to treat, but nearly everyone who has it can improve with dietary modifications. Stimulants, like Ritalin or amphetamines, are rarely required. Traditional doctors will jump up and down and claim that sugar has nothing to do with this illness, but I am convinced that it does. Part of the confusion relates to the fact that one requires a comprehensive approach to the dietary changes. Sugar needs to be eliminated, but so does milk, soda, juice, fruit and most grains like bread, pasta, rice, cereal and potatoes. When one applies the more rigid sugar restriction, improvement is quite consistent and dramatic. The Heller's wrote a new book called Carbohydrate Addicted Kids which is an excellent initial introduction for the treatment of ADHD, No More Ritalin by Marianne Block and Is This Your Child by Dorris Rapp are also useful texts. The goal is to solve the problem in childhood so the child does not have his entire life ruined with antisocial behavior and substance abuse.
American Journal of Psychiatry (1998;155:493-498)
I'm an adult with ADD. Finally diagnosed at age 40. All my adult life I have watched my diet....low carb, high cal/mag, fish oil, nothing has worked. I am now 2 months on Ritalin after trying Adderall, too stimulating, and of course it's working for now, but i know it will poop out soon and not sure what to do next. Also, I feel guilty taking this drug, as if I'm cheating in life. Had a staff infection in sinus's at age 6 and it changed me forever.
Why is it cheating? You are the one who has been cheated- you have been provided with a brain that has significant localised blood flow and function problems. I know , I have one too- I intend to have words with my maker if ever we cross paths.
The effects of amphetamines on restoring the functional deficits that can be radiologically demonstrated in ADHD brains do not fade with time.
Sometimes though people with ADHD may need other drugs such as anticonvulsants- or certain antidepressants. We really are entering a new phase in medical treatment of psychiatric conditions where we can target drugs to quite specific brian functions. SO- look for an up to date doctor.
"Traditional doctors will jump up and down and claim that sugar has nothing to do with this illness, but I am convinced that it does. "
Well that is easy to prove- find some patients who can fund a couple of SPECT scans and do some before and after studies. I'll take evidence over conviction any day.
I just wrote to Dr.AndrewK under the "Ritalin on the Ropes" page my comment. Here again the importance of controlling Vitamin B 6 and Zink levels in your metabolism. If they are to low, because you metabolze them in the wrong way, a simple supplement could help. Look it up under Cryptopyrrole or at the German sites under "Kryptopyrrolurie". Maybe the Ritalin is not needed anymore, when taking supplements.