I was on Ritalin and then Metadate ER for 5 years, after being unmedicated for 53. About two months ago I heard an ad for a "food supplement" which is really a herbal medication, "Focus Factor." I started it and dropped the Metadate in two days because I didn't need it anymore. (No, I do not sell it either.) It has in it an herb used in Aruyvedic medicine in India for years called Bacopa monneira, and I did some web research on it and it seems to me to be safe and effective. My opinion, of course, but my doctor is delighted! I think it will be safer for my blood pressure than the methylphenidate. And being 58 years old, that makes a difference. I couldn't figure out where to post about this. I didn't have any withdrawal effects from stopping the Metadate. The only down side is that it costs me $50 a month instead of $5 for my Rx copay.

Kathy E.

I'm glad that you have found something that works for you.

What else is in the Focus Factor?

Ok...Here are the ingredients in focus fatcor....


Looks like pretty similar to what I'm taking already.
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=128

I buy my supplements at the local drug store. I pay less than the $75 per bottle that the are charging for focus facor.


Serving Size: 4 Tablets
Servings Per Container: 30 Amount Per Serving %
Daily Value
Vitamin A (from natural beta-carotene and mixed carotenoids) 4,000 IU 80%

Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, potassium ascorbate, zinc ascorbate, and ascorbyl palmitate) 250 mg 417%

Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) 100 IU 25%

Vitamin E (as natural d-alpha-tocopheryl) 30 IU 100%

Thiamin (as thiamin mononitrate) 3 mg 200%

Riboflavin 1.7 mg 100%

Niacin (from inositol hexanicotinate and 50% as niacinamide) 25 mg 125%

Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal-alpha-ketoglutarate, pyridoxal 5-phosphate) 15 mg 750%

Folate (as folic acid) 400 mcg 100%

Vitamin B12 (on ion exchange resin) 20 mcg 333%
Biotin 300 mcg 100%

Pantothenic acid (as d-calcium pantothenate) 12 mg 120%
Calcium (as calcium citrate, calcium succinate and calcium ascorbate) 50 mg 5%

Iron (as Ferronyl® carbonyl iron) † 5 mg 28%

Iodine (Kelp [Ascophyllum nodosum]) 15 mcg 10%

Magnesium (as magnesium citrate, magnesium malate and magnesium taurinate) 100 mg 25%

Zinc (as zinc citrate and zinc ascorbate) 10 mg 67%

Selenium (as selenomethionine) 50 mcg 71%
Copper (as copper citrate and copper Chelazome™) ‡ 0.4 mg
20%

Manganese (as manganese citrate) 2 mg 100%

Chromium (as chromium polynicotinate) 100 mcg 83%

Molybdenum (as molybdenum amino acid chelate) 10 mcg 13%

Potassium (as potassium citrate, potassium aspartate, and potassium ascorbate) 50 mg


Synergistic and proprietary formulation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diemethylaminoethanol (as DMAE bitartrate)
L-glutamine, Bacopin®(Bacopa monnieri extract; leaf) ‡‡
L-pyroglutamic acid, phosphatidylserine,
docosahexaenoic acid concentrate (15% DHA from fish body oil), choline (as choline bitartrate), inositol, N-acetyltyrosine,
bilberry fruit standardized extract (25% anthocyanosides),
gamma-aminobutyric acid, grape skin extract and Activin™, (grape seed extract) ‡‡‡, vinpocetine, Trace-Lyte™ electrolyte concentrate, huperzine A (extract of huperzia serrata; whole plant), boron (as boron citrate), and vanadium (as vanadyle sulfate).
* Daily value not established.

Ok, so to summarize for me....You can buy the same thing in a single pill at the healthfood store, or these are all seperate pills?

I have a supply of Focus Factor. At first I thought I felt something, but over time I realized I did not experience any significant benefit. I was taking 4/day as instructed. I did not try taking higher doses. I had already been taking a multi-vitamin before taking Focus Factor. I agree that it is very expensive. In fact, I have a little chip on my shoulder, because it seems to me that whenever there is a group of people with any condition, the group becomes a marketing and profit center for numerous enterprises, many of which provide little or no benefit and most of which are highly overpriced. I have spent so much on magic formulas, from Noni Juice to Green Algae, and that is just the beginning. I have received accupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic, blood tests, hair analysis, intraveneous vitamin and mineral therapy, digestion enzymes, vitamins, minerals, essential oils, picnogynal, Coral Calcium, change of diet, colon cleansing, detoxing, allergy testing, food avoidance,...you name it, I've probably tried it. Unfortunately I always felt an initial subjective response to most of these treatments but over time realized I was getting little objective benefit. I do wish that the answer for me was in an herbal remedy...but so far, that has not been the case for me. Most recently I have been resisting the urge to try a very expensive treatment (110.00/mo) of several different types of sugars, supposedly essential sugars that we are supposedly not getting through our under ripe fruits. Maybe someday.....lol. Unfortunatly I have a record of trying just about everything once. I wish I had all the money I have spent on these formulas and treatments and multilevels; if invested somewhere it would add up to quite a sum.

Jon

There may be a single pill availble at some place like GNC but I haven't really looked.

I have take 5 different types of pill/capules. I actually swallow 7 pills/capsules in all.


The I believe the Focus doseage for adulst is 4 capsules.

I usaully end up buying the 5 different bottle at different times. With the ammounts that I take most of the bottle last about 2 months. So I would say on average I spend maybe $20 per month.

Well I used it successfully instead of Metadate for three months, but after that it seemed to be causing my autoimmune bladder problem to flare up. So back to the Metadate. I suppose it was a good "drug vacation," though.

I know what you mean about trying everything although I have omitted the Noni juice. I have a lot of medical problems, including systemic lupus and a genetic immune deficiency, besides A.D.D.

Peace,
Kathy E.

I'm now on a liquid vitamin called Body Balance. One to two ounces a day is what I drink. Its based on body weight, 1 ounce per 100 lbs weight. I added up the weight of my whole family and figured out that a gallon a month will do all the supplements we all need. The cost is $99.00 for a gallon. That is much less than all the vitamins and supplements I was taking. And one swallow and its done, very easy, compared to swallowing pills. The kids actually love it!

Best of all, I feel 200% better. Its only been about a week, so the placebo effect might be at play. I'll know better in about 3 months too. Until then I'll keep everyone updated. I have no intention of dropping my medicines; I'm doing this in addition ot my medicines. It seems to be helping me with my weight loss too, but I'm not sure. I just noticed my appetite seems more normal and not so much craving of sugars and carbs. And my body looks like it is actually getting leaner. Again, placebo effect could be at play so I'll report in a couple weeks again. My weight is currently has been hovering over the 170 mark for over a week, and my goal is 140. Considering that I was on a vacation for 5 days, and ate at restaurants for those 5 days and did not gain weight, I'm looking at that as a positive result.

Jon

I have been taking Focus Factor for 3 weeks now and I can't believe the results. I am focusing better and make connections between things with much greater clarity. Has anybody else tried this? I would be interested in others results with this approach??

I have a freind who gives the wafers to her son instead of prescribed medication, but to be honest, I don't see any improvement in him. I must admit, I would rather give that to my daughter than a prescription, but there are so many different types of ADD that I don't know if it would work for her either.

Sixes...read the entire thread...you might find some good info.

The Body Balance is making a big difference in my energy and my calmness. I'm VERY calm.....and I actually felt like going out for a walk today....and even did it! I'm seeing a better grip on organization tasks. I'm also planning my goals out much more intensely. Although there is plenty out there to worry about per se, if I choose to, I am not choosing to worry, just living, enjoying the day to day.

J

PS I believe the body balance is actually balancing me out quite well. In all my relations, in business, and in friendship, and in just acqainatances, I am in a better mood, a smoother, not excited but pleasant and peacefully happy mood, a mood I have never experienced for as long as I can recall.

Jon

I personally am having good luck with the focus factor. Maybe it is a placebo effect, I don't know. But, I'd much rather use it than adderall which is the only other thing that worked for me. Now, I don't have to deal with the headaches, that were a side effect of the adderall. I also have been doing meditation for a period of time each day. That helps me to unwind and slow down all the thoughts that race thru my head.

BTW- I also have been using a supplement called Total Brain made by a company called Nutri West. It is what they call nutrition for the brain. I do believe it helps to. I am going to stop the focus factor for awhile and see if just the Total Brain works on it's own.

living, and you're not taking any drugs to help your ADD? Or is all that in addition to? I'd really prefer to do vitamins, I had been taking Acetyl-L-Carnitine and it did help me focus, but I developed a tolerance, and so I've stopped taking it...

There were links someone posted somewhere on ADDFORUMS about an article Dr. Aman (Amen?) wrote regarding using natural vitamins and such instead of meds and now I can't find it, could someone throw me a link please? Thanks!

I am coming off Dexedrine and will be starting Strattera, but to be honest, I am fed up with taking medication and am getting increasingly paranoid/afraid regarding side effects (though I haven't suffered from any with the meds I have tried).

So I am starting to look at natural remedies, there seem to be a few claims like this "focus Factor", but no proof has been brought forward, anyway, just read this post and did a search for Focus Factor and found this :

http://www.berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsFocusFactor.php

Agree to the Body Balance user -- husband took it and it was the ONLY thing that helped him lose weight -- for whatever reason he didn't crave all the sugar, junk, etc. It's such an experiment to find what works for each person with ADD -- it's amazing how we can all be so different.

Honestly though, the best thing I've ever found for ADD is regular exercise and weight lifting.