Expert: Dr. Kristina Conner - 5/28/2008

Question
I just bought this product for my 11 year old son, he has been diagnosed with ADD since early childhood and I do not like giving him the Adderal XR.  I stopped giving him the Adderal XR as of last year and this is his first year in middle school and he's not doing good in school and when I talked to his teachers a lot of it has to do with his focus in class.  I am looking for natural remedies and was told to try this.  can you tell me what the correct dose would be to give him and when?  And how long will it take to see results?  Thank you.

Answer
Hello Anna,
Thanks for your question.  It is wonderful that you are being proactive in finding better options for your son.  There are many  out there besides just medications for the treatment of ADD.  The foundation for treatment starts with regular exercise, mental challenge (often combined with exercise, like yoga or martial arts; also other interests besides school), quality sleep (& enough of it), and stress management.  Diet changes are often helpful, mainly minimizing sugars, simple carbohydrates, artificial dyes, additives, & sweeteners, while increasing high-quality proteins & fats like fish, hemp, & flax oil.  Often, this helps correct blood sugar issues, which may mask or contribute to ADD symptoms.  I also like to do homeopathic remedies with children with ADD; it works very well & does not interfere with medications or other supplements; for best results in using homeopathy, I'd suggest seeking out an experienced naturopathic doctor (www.naturopathic.org) or homeopath (www.homeopathy.org).  Finally, supplements such as essential fatty acids are essential for maintaining brain function.  The Omega 369 Jr, I assume this is the Nordic Naturals one, which is an excellent brand.  The recommended dosage is 2 a day, for an 11 year old you might be able to go slightly higher, but without a full assessment I couldn't say for sure.  Nutritional deficiencies, such as zinc & B vitamins, are common in kids, so these may need to be corrected as well.  Other supplements to consider are gingko, acetyl-L carnitine, theanine, & DMAE.  You can find these is various combinations in "brain health" products.  For most parents, they find some results within a month, but I have found that it may take several months to see a large change, depending on the child's state of health when they begin treatment.  It's best to think about it as a long-term solution, and since most of these are important to other aspects of health, it is a very positive change to make for your son's lifetime health.  
Good luck!
Dr Conner