ADHD

Dear Dr. Meletis, I have a 15-year-old son who currently takes 54 mg Concerta® for his ADHD. He has been on it since the third grade. I read your article on ADHD/ADD. It was very informative and good. I want to try natural products for this. He weighs 120 pounds. Which should I start with? And can he take it with the Concerta, too? He needs something to take when in school to help him stay on task and to focus. Thank you. Ms. A.

Dear Ms. A., Far too many children are being put on prescription medications carte blanche and the true underlying trigger for the symptoms is not being addressed. The key is to find out what is going on. Over the years, I have found the following approach to be foundational. Increase Zinc intake, making sure all white dots or lines on nails (other than the moons at the base) disappear. This takes 3 to 4 months. Additionally, make sure fish oil is part of his regimen (2,000-3,000 mg of a good brand containing both EPA and DHA such as Nordic Naturals® Ultimate™ Omega). Total avoidance of food allergies is a must. These are not the allergens that cause hives or asthma, but rather they are hidden food allergies. A Food Allergy Test is available here, directly to consumers. Both Zinc and EPA/DHA are commonly taken with ADD/ADHD medicines. Often L-Theanine also proves helpful to maintain focus and concentration with an AM and afternoon dosing pattern. The key is to build the body strong and nourish the brain. The addition of a good multivitamin such as Extend Core and also extra Vitamin D3 are also important considerations. Sincerely, Chris D. Meletis, ND