Is it worth it to use ADHD meds? A study was done that followed pre-school children over a six year period has reported to have shown that a whopping 160 out of 180 children continued to meet the criteria for moderate to severe ADHD.
What this is saying is that ADHD meds such as ritalin or adderall DO NOT alter the long term outcomes.
I would like to go on record to set something straight here – my intention is not to come across as judgemental towards parents who make the choice to go down the medication route. The last thing I want to do is cast judgement on someone else’s parenting choices. Goodness knows you don’t need any more of that (and neither do I!)
My point and desire is to help get the word out that there is an alternative – you do have other options. I am acutely aware that there are many, many times that parents feel there is no choice – that nobody understands – and that is a dark and lonely place to be. Often it’s the culmination of everyone else’s opinions, and the feeling that you are going to tip over the edge yourself, that we reach out for what feels like the only choice you have.
ADHD meds definitely do have an impact in a child’s behaviour and demeanour. During those times when nothing else is working, it may even be useful to use medications until you can stabilise yourself and the situation.
Meds should not be seen as a long term solution.
What the meds do is alleviate the symptoms – it’s the same as we are all accustomed to in our fast-paced world – if we have a headache, we pop a pain pill and just keep on with the day. Wouldn’t it be better to stop and delve into what is causing the headache?
Could you not also apply the same concept to our kids – why are they acting out? What’s going on in their body that is making them behave so off the chain?
I refused to believe with my son that his bizarre behaviour is normal. Getting to the bottom of it is the goal. To me, this is the only solution – a true, long term solution. Once the imbalances are discovered and corrected, then and only then, can the true personality and soul of that child shine through.
Think for a minute what it must be like for them – to have no control over what they do or say – to always be in trouble and get told off day in and day out. No-one was meant to be like that, and I know for sure that it is a great relief to them once they regain their own control.
Every person has the right to be the best version of themselves. For some of us, there’s a ways to go before even getting to the start line..
If you’d like more information on how to take steps to heal the underlying cause please email me @ Shelley@ShelleyBelcourt.com.
If you have any comments on this please leave them in the comments box below.
Best
References:
http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(12)00993-8/abstract
3 Responses
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Good one! I don’t have kids so I can for one minute understand the day to day challenges of living with a child with ADHD! I have worked in coaching environments with ADHD kids so from that stand point I know the challenge. The medications scare me long term for the kids. These are powerful drugs that some use like cocaine! I have heard diet can make a huge difference and I also have nutritional supplements (herbal formulas) that have had years of success in totally getting the kids off Ritalin! They are super and none of the side effects of the drugs. And like you I would not judge anyone. Thanks for the post!
Wendy Bottrell recently posted..Are you Free?
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I researched bioflavonoids on livestrong, and webMD, and elsewhere, and it appears to be a bit spooky to use them in supplement form, for children. (harming DNA, causing leukemia in children, affecting hormones) Makes me nervous! As much as I’d like to help my adhd/aspergers child, desperately, I can’t bring myself to take risks with natural things any more than I can take risks with the horrible Rx’s. I guess I’ve resigned to do nothing… except maybe plow through working on her brainwaves and sensory integration exercises, along with consistent and positive discipline and “coaching”. (Parenting is NOT for sissies!) I can’t do any harm with those things, I feel sure, but I may not get results… or may go insane in the process! Maybe take to lots of prayer as well… Thank you for your noble goal Shelly, I’d be the same way if I weren’t so exhausted, but please research just to make sure you’re completely knowledgeable about what bioflavonoids can do with children in particular. I am FULLY aware that you mean well in what you do here.
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Shelley Belcourt Reply:
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Hi Angela
Thanks for your comment. I hear ya – parenting is no easy ride.:-) It is also made much more complicated when we get conflicting messages about what’s right, and what’s not. While there will always be a study for and against something, I am confident that using supplements wisely to correct nutritional deficiencies is absolutely fine. The study that has called bioflavonoids into question was one study done using test tubes. There was no causality found, just a possible change that might possibly lead to leukaemia.
The supplements I recommend are never in mega-doses, as is tested in the study (http://children.webmd.com/news/20000418/childhood-leukemia-bioflavonoids), rather in a concentrated form to ensure the person gets a daily level (within the daily recommended limits). It is always difficult to get adequate levels of nutrients from the diet due to many factors. Supplements ensure this. Basically it’s the same as eating a couple of servings of foods which are high in bio-flavonoids
I am also very supportive of correcting metabolic disturbances that our children so often have in order to strengthen their weakened immune system. This would ensure a much better chance of defending against many of the complications, such as cancers, and other chronic diseases, down to improving their resistance against colds and rashes.
Can I also say that it totally depends on what type of supplements you are using, as to their efficacy and safety. Also what the rest of the diet is like, which has such an impact on us.
See these links to show other research where bioflavonoids are helpful for children, with no mention of any problems in usage:
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/19025005/reload=0;jsessionid=z111JzNV5DD76WCaI36Z.2
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1955.tb42523.x/abstract
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0090429500006087
http://icspponline.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/RitalinfoodSupplement.pdf
http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2004.10.1033
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/maney/rer/2006/00000011/00000004/art00004
Shelley
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