8 Yr. Old with ADHD I've Tried Everything but Meds.

I was told that Flax Seed Vitamins help control chemical inbalances in the brain, and help with children that have ADD and ADHD. It is a vitamin and not a chemical. maybe you should consider that. Some doctors can help with a vitamin form of helping with ADHD.

Call Dr. Miriam Mills - pediatrician in Tulsa. She's at the Young People's Clinic at 21st & Harvard. She might just be able to help him - she is amazing.

My son is 8 and in the 3rd grade. He is on Adderall XR. I did not put him on it until all else had failed (and believe me it did). I was getting notes home from school and the daycare was having troubles also. Since starting him on Adderall, which he has been on for almost a year, it has been so much better. The only side effect he really has is difficulty getting to sleep. Once he goes to sleep he can stay asleep. His appetite is fine and has not changed.

I also have an 8 yr old that is ADHD. We put him in Ritalin until he started having speech problems. We instantly took him off of it and the speech problems got better. We now have him on a great new medication called Placebo. The medication is working great. LOL

The placebo we use is just a multivitamin (Equate Complete found at walmart). We told our son that this is for his adhd and it will make him calmer. My son told us that the medication was working great. You can always go that route. :)

I hope that helps and many many hugs!!

I dont have a child with add or adhd.. BUt I have 2 dear freinds with kids who are on several meds..

The one lady has her kids take the meds school days.. and not weekends.. And I think that is wrong.. I mentioned it to an other friend whos daughter is on meds.. and she said she was told by a dr. DONT take kids off it over weekends or summer.. It really will mess with their bodys.. that is what is causing so many probs... It is h*** o* their systems...

I know some meds are stepped up... * that is for a reason!

I understand not wanting your child on meds.. But It takes alot to get them ok with None.. You would need to take your child to a councler and they along with you can try to find ways to work it out see what you can do to help your child...

It will not happen over night... it is a hard road.. I saw a special about it.. and it is very very h*** o* everybody for some time...

IF the meds are taken the way they are instructed to be taken the risk is low.. but when you give it and take it away is when it can cause probs...

* I was told this from my one friend from what her dr said.. I had called her when I saw a report about the risks.. and that is what her dr told her...

SO her daughter is on a low dose... and doing great...

My other friend who takes her kids off it weekends and ALL summer they have been upped and upped and upped and even changed meds and added others.. 2 of her 3 kids are now on 2 different meds... I am very worried for her.. but she does not seem to worry about it..

YOU are the Mother... You need to do what you feel is right for you and your child... I hope you will talk to dr's about things and see what is best for your child... Talk to the teachers too.... It is such an imporant age for your childs learning..

Sending hugs.. and good luck hun!! It will all work out!!

My younger brother has ADD/ADHD. He was on Ritalin for years when he was a kid and all it did was make him worse. When he got old enough he started doing some research on natural alternatives and found out about Grapeseed Extract. You might want to look up some information on this and/or talk to his Dr. about using some form of natural alternative. I hope this helps in someway.

Good luck...L.

My son has Tourettes and ADHD. We tried for years without meds and finally tried some. If you get a good doctor who is willing to work with you and start them out slowly, it can really help. My son was so far behind in school as he could not concentrate, as very impulsive and disruptive. We had to take it extra carfully because with his tourettes alot of the ADHD meds aggrivate the tics. But we found a good doc and slowly got him situated. He made excellent grades last year and is doing well this year. All the teachers love him. and things are very good. Some meds have horribe side effects, however some are ok. It just depends on the kid and how they react. If you have tried everything and nothing is working, start looking for a doctor. My son is not a zombie, or anything like that. He is a happy energetic child. Dont fear the medicines, they are not all bad. I think I may have hurt him a bit before when I wouldnt even consider it, but now he is ok. I hope this helps.

A friend of mine had the same problem. She put her child on Concerta, he only takes it during the school year though. He is doing so much better at school, and he has a break from it during the summer. You might ask your doctor about a similar schedule to see if it would work for your son.
S. C.

Hi Natahsa,

I looked at the responses you have had so far and they seem to only offer medication as a solution. I know it has helped many children, but I do have another suggestion that may give you an alternative and help your son. My husband is a chiropractor in the Springfield Area and works alot on pediatrics and we have seen alot of great results especially treating ADHD in children. To some, chiropractic may seem scary if you aren't famaliar with it, but it has been lifechanging for us. My daughter has been adjusted since the day she was born. If you would like more information regarding Chiropractic and children or specifically ADHD, www.icpa4kids.com is an awesome website to educate yourself on. Then feel free to contact me and I can give you more information and refer you to my husband for treatment if would like.
Hope this helps.
C.

Hi there. Just recently my daughter was diagnosed with ADD. Her doctor tried Adderal @ only 10 mg and it has been so much help for everybody including the teacher. She was in the same situation, I was very surprised she passed 1st grade. Now in 2nd grade at the age of 7 she is bringing home mostly A+ papers in spelling and her math timed tests have practicly doubled! This is all with in about 3-4 days of being on the medicine.It has been very exciting for everybody, especially her.

The doctor did mention the side effects with me. He said alot of children loose their appetite and to let the child eat in the evening time since by then the medicine is out of the system (in the system for apprx 10 hours).She is only 39 lbs. and doesnt have much room to loose any weight. At the 2 week check-up, he said she hasn't lost any weight at the moment, which is very good. The worse side effect of the medication was for a couple (2-3) nights she didnt sleep well. She tossed and turned alot. But now that she has been on it for a few weeks, she honestly feels better with the medication than without it. We tried going w/o it on the weekend and she said she felt different w/o it. Some people might disagree with it on the weekends, but she was able to tell me she happier with it. I suggest to atleast consider all options, I researched everything before the initial visit to the doctor. The site was extremely helpful. Others have givin me links to sites that was very informative.

I decided to go with the medication because I didnt want to waste time searching for the "right answer". I figured that if it didnt work I would consider other options or doses.

If you are interested in the links I have recieved, you can email me at ____@____.com Good luck an let me know how things work out for you! M.

I babysit a kid with ADHD and it just depends on the kid whether or not he HAS to have medication. This one does it really does help. They switched his meds and this one so far hasn't had any side effects it is Concerta. Have you tried the coffee method? Also keep him away from Gatorade and Caprisun it makes it worse. Learned that the hard way. I hope things work out for you and your son. Just remember to breathe. Also alot of doctors are pushing the patch for this I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT at all. It rips their skin and it simply did not work. He got worse and it was just a really bad deal
K.

I have a 14 year old step son and I came into his life when he was 10. He has been evaluated by numerous doctors (medical, psychiatric, and a Psychologist) and only 1 of those several docs said he needed meds, that it was a focus issue, self discipline issue. Now on the flip side, I worked in Pediatrics with specialization in disorders like ADD, ADHD, OCD, ODD. I have seen parents who put their kids on meds because parents couldnt "control" their kids. Also saw kids that really did have a chemical imbalance and needed the medication. There are many factors to kids and that age group during school. From what kinds of actions are happening at particular times during day. From after lunch behavior, first thing in the morning behavior (meaning they might not have had breakfast) or really tired. With our situation, its more of a discipline issue. He will do fine for a few weeks and then all of a sudden spiral down hill with bad grades, behavior problems, etc. You can email me and I can give you more info, don't want to take all the space. Have a great Day!

N.,

My son is 9 & has ADHD. He was on medication for 3 yrs when I decided to take him off due to the side effects. (not gaining weight, not growing). But after seeing what happens to him when not on his meds, I put him back on after 2 months. His grades fell & was just uncontrollable. He takes Adderall XR 20 mg once a day. Believe it or not, it really does work wonders. His grades are up to A's &his attitude is great. My advise to you is to see a Phycologist & get him on meds. It will really help especially with school. If you need help or just want to talk, email me at ____@____.com anytime. I've been where you are at but trust me, the medication really does help alot.

N.

My brother, sister and mother all have ADHD. My mom wasn't on meds untl late in life, and they help her a LOT now. HOWEVER, my brother was on meds for a short time when he was in school (starting when he was in 5th or 6th grade through 10th grade I think) His grades were better, but his behavior wasn't great. He was bored because he wasn't being challenged mentally. Have him evaluated if you think he might be a gifted child...stimulating him mentally may help him to focus more. He was able to control his ADHD, sans medication, as he got older because he was put into the gifted program and was involved in sports. My sister on the other hand was put on meds at a younger age and she is still dependant on them at 21 yrs old. No negative side effects other than being dependant though! It is a tough personal decision, talk to your son honestly and explain to him the situation. Ask him what he wants to do, (but make sure he knows this is just advice, you make the call) and take that into consideration too.

Diet change and supplements are your best bet. There is a natural alternative to "drugs" out there called "Attend" by Vaxa which has a good supply of amino acids, minerals and homeopathics that aid in attention difficulties. There is a phenomenal book out there called "Ritalin free kids" by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Nd Ullman. My pediatrician highly recommends this to his patients. He feels ritalin and the like are most always an unnecessary easy way out for parents and teachers to numb children and not actually deal with the problems root (not my words, but I see what he is saying). Most kids these days can show symptoms of ADHD when they have a super sensitivity to chemicals and things added to foods (red and yellow dye, sulfites and many respond even better when taken off gluten and dairy/casein as well). It is definitly more work to change a childs lifestyle than it is to pop a pill. I hope you find a solution that works best for you and your family. Good luck and be strong. It always makes it harder to avoid the meds when you have the school and doctor trying to advocate them. Just understand that you don't have to go that route. This is your child, and you are in charge. They can't force you to drug him, especially if you are able to follow the guidelines in the book above or find other ways to help him not get so amped up. It can be controlled without drugs! Best of luck and God Bless!

B. :)

Hi N.,
before i became a mom fust a few months ago, i was a child therapist. i have treated many children with adhd. if you have tried many different behavior modification techniques and truly have not seen results, don't be afraid of medication, it may make a world of difference for you and your child. you may have to try a couple before you find the right one. some common side effects are fatigue, lack of energy and often loss of appetite. a different med (there are many out there) may fix this or a change in dosage.
i used to tell parents that adhd is like eyesight. when a child has it, they are walking around with blurred vision and trying their best to go through daily life. medication is often like glasses, it makes everything so much clearer. i too, am a mother and understand your hesitation to turn to meds, but if you have tried other options with no luck, do not be afraid to try meds (you can always stop them - with the permission of a doctor, of course).
good luck!
A.

feel free to contact me "____@____.com"

THIS IS LONG BUT PLEASE READ IN FULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Hi, my 10 y/o daughter has ADHD. I remember when I was first approached by the school that she may have this disorder. I did not think it was a real disease and I sure wasn't going to put her on any drugs. Who wants to drug there kids, right? So I spent two years getting her tested by multiple independant psyciatrists because when one dr would tell me the dx I would move on to another dr for a "second opinion" well 10 second opinions later, I decided I was causing more harm to my child then good. One thing that makes me absolutely insane are people who do not believe this disease is real and/or those who condemn parents for putting their kids on drugs. I decided after exausting all avenues ie exercise, natural remedies etc that I would try medication. Meds are tricky in kids SUCH AS THEY ARE IN ADULTS!!! Not every med works for everyone. I tried three until I finally found the one that works best. The first one was Ritalin and her and I both hated it so we tried Straterra, which worked good but it made her lose alot of weight so we switched to Focalin, which she has been doing great on. (I also have seen NO side effects!!)I also keep her active in sports and have a routine schedule that we stick to as consistency is the key to survival!!! I am not promoting or discouraging medication use for anyone, I just know that it has been a blessing for my child. There have been times that she has missed her meds and will tell me that she does not like being without it. In my daughters words, the med helps her "think" and play with others where with out the med she does not play well with others and her thoughts are, as she says, "rambled everywhere and it makes me dizzy." After finding the right med, it has been a god send for my child. She was two grades behind and we tried private tutoring and putting her in inter-related classes and nothing helped. Now she is no longer recieving the tutoring and is at her grade level. While it's always nice to ask for advise, please don't take to heart those who put their kids on placebo's and say that the child's ADHD was cured. For one, there is no cure and two, chances are if that worked it was a behavioral rather than true ADHD. Speak truthfully to your doctor, share your fears with him/her and make sure that you make the decision based on that-not by what someone who knows a friend whos kid has ADHD does or what another parent with ADHD does. You know your kid best so YOU are the best person, along with your dr, to make the decision of what to do. Best of Luck to you and God bless you and your child!

I have a 7 year old with same problem. We use adderall xr and it works miracles for us. We have never tried any of the others so I don't have advice for that, but if you are going to try something I would suggest adderall. When I did research, it seemed to have fewer side effects. Also, you don't have to give multiple meds throughout the day or worry about the school doing it. Since they have xr versions of it, it's once in the morning and that's it. I have also found that if he eats more smaller meals a day it helps (possibly keeps blood sugar balanced) that he is much calmer and focused. The adderall wears off in the early evening so be sure to do homework right after school!

Good luck,
H.

Hi, I'm a 55 year old who has struggled all my life and only found out 3 years ago that I have AD/HD (combined type).
We were trying to figure how to deal with my granddaughter.

I've had bad reactions to medications in the past and don't have health insurance so I looked into alternative solutions. I've been taking Omega 3 (fish oil) supplements and when I ran out I was scared by how bad/confused I was. I have not run out of the supplements since. I've switched to a supplement that has Omega 3, 6 and 9, and I also take a supplement of Zinc, Magnesium and Calcium... lack of Magnesium can cause problems with brain circuitry.

As far as kids and meds, some do well on the "uppers" like Ritalin or Adderall, but others do better on Concerta or Stratera. It can take quite a bit of trial and error to find which works best for your son, but often taking the right med for awhile gives kids the chance to be less anxious or hyper and learn other ways of managing their AD/HD.

I highly recommend finding a support group in your area. It's great to talk to others who don't think you're being a bad parent or that you don't provide enough structure and discipline... please, who needs that? I also visit the addforum.com a couple of times a week to see what everyone is talking about there. Lots of info on drugs and side effects at that forum.

And talk to the counselor at school about things the teacher can do to help your son, and to get suggestions on what your son can do while he's in school. A LOT of kids with AD/HD are either very gifted or have learning disabilities - sometimes both at the same time. I wish you both the best in working on this.
Gramma S.

I don't have a child with adhd, but a friend of mine has it and so does all 4 of her children, and their father. She has decided not to take the meds for herself or the children. She works as a personnel trainer, and controls it through diet and excercise. She has decided to cut out and completely lower all sugar intake. She suggests using sugar free, not low fat items. Also she buys wheat and whole grain because white flour and grains add tons of sugar. She also suggests eggbeaters instead of eggs, and no chips and pop. The family has been doing fine with just these minor diet changes.

Hi. My mom is actually a co ordinater for an add group in the wichita area. I will forward the message to her and let her know you could use some help.

J.

I have a ____@____.com my daughter has a ADHD son please email her

N.,

I have a six year old son with ADHD. He is in his second year of kindergarten. I understand your fear of medications but I can tell you from experience that my son is a completely new kid since finding the right medication. For the first time he can sit still, pay attention, and follow directions. He doesn't have any side effects from the medication. It took a few months to find the right medication but in the end it has been worth it. I hope this helps.

C. S

Have you tried diet? For example, eliminating things from the diet completely for a length of time to see if there is a change in behavior? I would never have beleived that diet could have such an impact on behavior until I saw it in my own child. Caffeine turns her into a she-devil.

My brother has ADHD and my husband has ADD. Both are on medications. I know that it is scary putting your child on medication, but it really works. I can tell when either of them don't take a dose and I haven't lived with my brother in almost 10 years. They both were doing poorly in school before the medication and once they started it made a huge difference. I would just talk to your doctor and let him know your concerns. Hopefully he can find something that will work for your family.

I have a 9 year old son with severe ADHD. Currently his teacher is threatening to fail him and he IS on meds... I will say though that he does much better with them than without. I did not put him on anything until this past year and he has struggled since he started school. The info I read about untreated ADHD in kids as they get older and how dangerous their behavior can become is one of the things that prompted me to go ahead with meds. I tried all the home remedies believe me as Dad was totally opposed to meds. I also tought that if school is hard for him now and I don't get him treated, how will he be able to get all the way through high school. I am afraid he will get frustrated with school and not finish. I felt like I had to do whatever I needed to in order to assure that he would be successful. I do think it's important to work closely with your doc or wheer manages the meds, there are several options. Some meds have more and different side effects they are pretty easily managed. When he first had bad side effects I took him off the meds and that turnd out to be a mistake. Now thatwe are sticking with it he is much better.He used to have vomiting and headaches but he doesn't anymore. Good luck to you.

I am a 29 yr old mom of a soon to be 11yr old with ADHD. I too was very hesitant and refused for years to put my child on medicine. My son does currently take a traditional medicine (concerta xr) and is doing so much better at home and especially at school. I would just say tht first there are dietary restrictions you can do to such as no red dye in foods or drinks, reduce intake of sugar (pops, sugary foods etc)and many other things. Second, if you do decide to go the "traditional" medicine route, it helped me as a hesitant an concerned parent to find out what medicine my doctor was reccomending and yhen doing research of my own about the medicine and side effects. Take your time before agreeing to anything you have the right to think about it weigh the pros and cons and do your research. And in the end decide what is best for your son in the long run.

My 11 year old daughter has been on ADHD meds for 4 years. She only takes them on school days and it works wonderfully for her! When her meds need to be adjusted or changed, which is common at this age, we can tell by her low esteem and difficulty in school. Once we find the right dose, she skyrockets in all areas of her life. I want what is best for her and I believe this is it, at least for now.

I have a 10 yr old with ADHD, and the medicines are tricky. He is using Conserta, it has less severe side effects than Ritilan does and it doesn't make him seem like a zombie. He still has energy but it helps focus with school work. Talk with your doctor about ALL the different types of medicines out there and what his ADHD rating is before you put him on medicine. He may only need a lite dose. The otehr thing about the conserta is it works over a 12 hour period. If there are other issues you may also want to speak to a councilor to work with him.

My son (who is 6yrs and was diagnosed at 4yrs)also has ADHD and have seen results trying a special fish oil which has been tested in England and was on the BBC (They are starting testing in USA now). It is called "eye q" www.equazen.com It is specially made for children.(Children with ADHD,dislexia,etc. have been found to have low levels of long stem fatty acid cells in the brain, In other words low levels of OMEGA 3 & OMEGA 6 also known as "EPA & DHA") I've heard of mom's giving "cod liver oil" to their children but I DO NOT recommend it, It has vitamin A in it which stays in the body too long for a child and can do damage. I have done so much research on ADHD. Go to Google and search for "Omega 3 or Omega 6 and ADHD" It's definately worth a try. I have also tried 4 different prescription drugs but it did turn him into a zombie.Hope this helps you! C.

hello im S. and all 3 of my boys are adhd and the meds i wasnt sure of either but i gave it a try and it helops alot they can now pay more attition to there work or whatever it is they need to and they are alot clammer now then they used to be so give it a try... i do not give them the meds on weekends or school breaks and the doctor told me that was fine i mean u can but i just dont want them addidicted to it thats all but remember they do alot better in school and at home on the meds

i have 2 children that are adhd and bipolar we have tried all the meds out there nothing worked and the side effects are terrible on a child we have found putting them in a sport and taking them to a track to run off the extra energy has actually helped them improve at school also try cutting out the red meats.

i know that having a child with adhd is a handful i have a son with it and he is 15 i had to put him on meds and believe me they a big help it wont make things easier but they do help a lot and as far as school goes my son does well hes not straight a's but he does ok he never has homework but the meds help him pay attion a lot better then if he wasnt on them you can always try them and if you dont like the way the work then you can always take him off them i hope this helped you out a little i know its a big step to put your child on meds

Hello,

I am the mother of 3 boys. My middle son has ADHD and bipolar. He is also labled as a quirky kid as he falls into several different fields of behavior problems. Ontop of the middle child syndrome!

He is on Strattera for his ADHD. It worked really good for him until his bipolar becomes unstabled. I take him in every 3 months to have his liver tested as alot of ADHD medications have sever side affects.

The one thing that I do with my son is at the end of school we ween him from his medication and he will go all summer without it. And two weeks before school starts we ween him back up to his dose. This works the best for my son.

I am not a big fan of Concerta. I do have a friend whos son was on Concerta and began having seizures from the medicine.

Another friend of mine gives her daughter a can of Mt. Dew every morning. As crazy as it sounds it works! It does the opposite for her. Instead of making her super hyper it brings her down. Coffee is also a trick that I have used with my son on days that are really bad days for him.

Also there is a new thing called Eye therapy. It helps to teach your child to refocus and how to stay on task. It also helps to "reprogram" your childs learning abilities without any meds or surgery! My niece with ADHD is doing Eye therapy and she is a different child. It has worked wonders for her.

All in all you are Mom. The schools can not make you put him on meds. Talk with your doctor, express your concerns and ask for help to research all medicines that your doctor would consider giving to your child. Moms gut instinct is the best way to go.

Best of luck, and God Bless.

My 7 year old nephew was diagnosed with ADHD last year. I don't remember what medication he is on (I know it isn't Ritalin, though), and he is worse when he takes his meds. He stayed a week with me, and my sister demanded that I make sure he took his pill in the morning. She said if he had it in the afternoon, he would be up all night. And she was right. The first day, he hid his pills and I didn't find them until lunch time. He was overly hyper, obnoxious, and just plain mean to everyone that day. The next day, he hid them again, and I didn't find them until after he went to bed. So he didn't have a pill that day, and the difference was like night and day. He was so calm, he was so nice to everyone, he was a dream child. The pills had the opposite effect on him. When he took them, he was so wound up (he even ripped the 10-foot shelf out of the closet wall by swinging from it!), and when he didn't have it, he was amazing. My advice is to be incredibly cautious of medications. Look into alternative or natural medicines first, because from my understanding, they are less likely to have severe side effects. Good luck to you!

N. P,

Here is a great opportunity to find out about natural solutions for ADD and ADHD.

Best Wishes,

L. C

Tuesday Evening Conference Call
Moderator: Gerri Stiner

Tune in to hear a discussion on ADD and ADHD and Shaklee products that
can help with concentration and focus.

Conference Call, Tuesday, October 17th, 2006 - 7PM EST, ADD & ADHD

Phone: 1-###-###-####, pin 2900#

I have heard of a study where they took ADHD children and put them on Fish Oil, the DHA is great for cognitive... and these children improved their grade level by one grade in like three months!!!
Carson's Fish Oil can be found at Whole Foods... it taste like lemon oil, only need like a teaspoon. Just put it in the salad at night or mix it in a smoothie.
Good Luck... let us know what happens!

My 10 year old son has ADHD and we went through two different kinds of meds (he kept claiming he was choking on them).

I feel for you about the meds. I refused to give them to him as well but then I thought I would try a sample week with him. That week made so much difference. Now, he is on Adderall but in powder (the capsule break open and we sprinkle it in his morning glass of juice or milk or his oatmeal). He still thinks he's not taking them. We've been on this one for the past year and no reaction to them.

Have you tried a Chiropractor? The reason it works is this: (simple version) if your back is out of line & pinching a nerve, even just a little, it makes it so messages can't get from your brain to other parts of your body so everything isn't able to work correctly. It's like having a rubber band tied around your finger. Eventually it turns purple & doesn't work right. To fix it, you would remove the rubber band. That's what the Chiropractor can do. It isn't an over night remedy, but I believe in it. I went to one because I wasn't able to conceive after 7+ years of trying almost everything. I now have a 10 month old son & I'm still going to maintain my spine. Dr Ryan Hansen in Edmond is great & would talk to you about ADHD. I know he would listen to your concerns & he isn't judgmental. He also has 2 young sons. The adjustments are made with an activator instead of twisting & turning your body, so they are non-invasive.

All medications will have potential side effects - as so any over the counter meds and Vitamins or herbal medicines. I suggest you discuss your concerns with your doctor about prescription medications. Medication is not always a bad thing and may even help your child. The medication they give ADHD kids is a stimulant. Sounds weird since they are already very "stimulated" - lol - but it works in helping them concentrate more. And if one medication does not work - there are others to try. I'm also a belieiver in congruent behavior modification therapy. (I don't have any personal experience in this but I'm a nurse - so have a learned a few things through that.) I hope all goes well!

I have 13 yr old twin sons. They both have ADHD. One is a really high level of ADHD. Without meds he wouldn't have made it in school. The other is borderline ADD / ADHD. I swear by the difference it makes in their schoolwork. There is a med called Strattera which is a non narcotic med. It made my kids mean but works for others. My boys take Concerta. There are meds that will just be in their system during the day and out by evening as well. My opinion it is not a bad thing to put an ADHD child on meds. Hope that helps. :)

Hi. I just read a million books about ADHD and I got them all from the library. There's some good things to try, including chiropractic care and natural supplements.

Hi, N.! I am S. a mother of 2 boys and my 5 year old is ADHD and on Methylin 5mg 2-3 times a day. I was like you and wanting to do the natural way and help him out, but it was not working. Now that he is on the medication, there has been a big change with him. I can tell a major difference with his ability to learn. He is not in school yet, but he will be going next year. This is my experience and I hope this helps you out. I will be more than happy to answer any more questions if you have any.

S.