These key steps should be taken before any child or adult begins using an ADHD drug

Kids of all ages

Children are devastated!

Well…that’s the point of view of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

AACAP officials told the New York times that widespread shortages of ADHD drugs are “devastating” for children.

I guess if you think of “running and playing with the carefree joy of a child” as devastating, then, yes — those children are “devastated.”

But more likely, if anyone is actually devastated, it’s teachers and parents who have become accustomed to passive kids, subdued by Ritalin, Adderall, or some other ADHD drug.

Honestly, my heart goes out to all teachers and parents. Twenty-first century kids are bombarded with stimuli from all directions at every hour of the day. Add crappy diets of highly processed, low-nutrient foods, and those young minds are revved up at full tilt.

But with that said, we owe it to every child — and every adult who’s considering use of an ADHD drug — to explore non-drug options.

Adult swim

Dr. Spreen has already outlined his regimen for treating hyperactive children (you can read the details here.)

In a nutshell, he believes that a very high percentage of children AND adults are sensitive to chemicals and other components in foods.

Dr. Spreen: “It’s a case of a foundering ship with all sorts of useless cargo on deck to be thrown overboard. The trick is finding the right cargo to get rid of.

“I’ve seen kids react, big-time, to certain stimuli, i.e., artificial colors, nightshades, dairy, wheat, whatever. The pediatricians say they ‘outgrow’ them. I don’t buy it. I say they go deeper. And they’re chronic, so they don’t show up as more acute symptoms. It takes lots of a doc’s time to figure that out, and then it’s inexpensive to fix — neither of which fits today’s medical model.”

Dr. Spreen says that he starts by looking for foods and artificial chemicals that the patient is sensitive to. After identifying and removing those issues, two questions remain: Is the patient hyper, so he can’t concentrate? Or can he just not concentrate?

Dr. Spreen: “For the former, I’d recommend some tryptophan, or GABA, or DL-phenylalanine (or maybe low-dose valerian or kava, etc.).”

“For the latter I’d pump in the gingko biloba, PS (phosphatidylserine), ginseng and some B-12 (the first two I’d also give the former group). I might even add a little caffeine, though they’ve most likely already done that to excess.

“I would also be supporting their adrenals with adrenal glandular.”

Here’s a quick glossary for some of the items Dr. Spreen listed above…

Tryptophan is an amino acid and a natural sedative

GABA is another amino acid — a neurotransmitter that limits nerve cell activity in areas of the brain associated with anxiety

DL-phenylalanine — also an amino acid — helps replace dopamine, a key neurotransmitter

Phosphatidylserine is an essential fatty acid that helps maintain cognitive function

Adrenal glandular (an extract of dehydrated animal adrenal gland tissue) helps alleviate adrenal exhaustion. Dr. Spreen: “I’d probably use the gingko biloba for the specific situation at hand, while adrenal glandular is more generalized treatment, as so many adults have weak adrenals.”

Finding the ideal balance of dietary choices and supplements may require some trial and error, but most cases of adult ADD can be improved this way without drugs.

Sources:
“F.D.A. Is Finding Attention Drugs in Short Supply” Gardiner Harris, New York Times, 12/31/11, nytimes.com