Has anyone found supplements that have been helpful? Please share.

I've inattentive ADD but my symptoms were so severe that the doctor wants me to have an MRI, EEG & blood tests before prescribing me anything. Things got bad before I saw a doctor. Oops.

I'm smart and my hyperfocus let me graduate top at University. However, I can barely put my life in order. There is someone at work who says he is never bored. He is pretty much the opposite of inattentive ADD. How do I get that level of interest in things? The guy seems boring as hell, but he isn't bored. I probably don't seem boring (I'm crazy), but I'm bored. I drive like a maniac and it barely affects me.

I'm trying...

iron (helped a lot, i was probably deficient)
phenylpiracetam (helped at first)
exercise (think this helps me focus)
energy drinks (yup, then i crash. develop a tolerance quick)

I'm not sure about the rest of these though...

picamilon
aniracetam
piracetam
multi-vits (esp magnesium & zinc)
centrophenoxine
pyritinol
idebenone
acetyl-l-carnitine
l-tyrosine (think this did something at first)
inositol (if you have anxiety, take a heap of this. works like valium)
vinpocetine
pramiracetam
oxiracetam
l-huperzine
a few herbs... sceletium might have helped me. might just have made me feel good.


....actually, I might try taking 5-htp again. Elevating my mood should increase my interest in things, right?

multi-vits (esp magnesium & zinc)
acetyl-l-carnitine
idebenone
l-tyrosine (think this did something at first)
inositol (if you have anxiety, take a heap of this. works like valium)
vinpocetine
l-huperzine


Tried those though inositol only a few times I bought it for plant tissue culture.
Acetyl-l-carnitine is the only thing that I found OTC that has a lot efficacy. But I could have a mitochondrial dysfunction and it may not be as useful to others. I take 3 grams of acetyl-l-carnitine hydrochloride + 3(or more) grams of potassium bicarbonate to neutralize the hydrochloride and as a potassium supplememt(potassium is another thing that might help a segment of ADHDers).

Here what else OTC in the US I have tried:
Ginkgo
Ginseng
Dl-phenylalanine
DMAE
Choline
Phenibut
Carnosine
Niacin
Peppermint
melatonin
l-tryptophan
l-arginine
kava
nicotine
valerian
Ephedrine and psuedoephedrine.


(undoubtly many more thats just things I can easily remember)



I take now:

***************** antioxidants that stimulant users should consider******
Q-10 (just started it 200 mg daily)
N-acetyl-cysteine (1200 mg)
selenium (200 mcg l-seleonmethione)
acetyl-l-carnitine hydrochloride (3 grams)
r-alpha-lipoic acid (200+ mg ran out but often take it)
******************
Green tea (but not everyday or enough to make a real difference)
DMSA (100 mg ever now and then to lower heavy metals)
l-thyroxine (its a drug 100 mcg but I have not taken it regularly I think acetyl-l-carnitine blocks it anyway).
potassium bicarbonate (3-6 grams daily)[I'm likely one of the ADHDers effected by potassium levels].

I say supplements can improve attention but are not particularly effective at impulsivity. Impulsivity is a greater problem in most ADHDers. Oh acetyl-l-carnitine is proven to reduce impulsivity in mice consistently but its not a very
large amount of reduction. In my case I see clear signs of reduce impulsivity when I take it. But again I may have a mitochondrial disorder and others may not see potent effects.

Tried those though inositol only a few times I bought it for plant tissue culture.
Acetyl-l-carnitine is the only thing that I found OTC that has a lot efficacy. But I could have a mitochondrial dysfunction and it may not be as useful to others. I take 3 grams of acetyl-l-carnitine hydrochloride + 3(or more) grams of potassium bicarbonate to neutralize the hydrochloride and as a potassium supplememt(potassium is another thing that might help a segment of ADHDers).

Here what else OTC in the US I have tried:
Ginkgo
Ginseng
Dl-phenylalanine
DMAE
Choline
Phenibut
Carnosine
Niacin
Peppermint
melatonin
l-tryptophan
l-arginine
kava
nicotine
valerian
Ephedrine and psuedoephedrine.


(undoubtly many more thats just things I can easily remember)



I take now:

***************** antioxidants that stimulant users should consider******
Q-10 (just started it 200 mg daily)
N-acetyl-cysteine (1200 mg)
selenium (200 mcg l-seleonmethione)
acetyl-l-carnitine hydrochloride (3 grams)
r-alpha-lipoic acid (200+ mg ran out but often take it)
******************
Green tea (but not everyday or enough to make a real difference)
DMSA (100 mg ever now and then to lower heavy metals)
l-thyroxine (its a drug 100 mcg but I have not taken it regularly I think acetyl-l-carnitine blocks it anyway).
potassium bicarbonate (3-6 grams daily)[I'm likely one of the ADHDers effected by potassium levels].

I say supplements can improve attention but are not particularly effective at impulsivity. Impulsivity is a greater problem in most ADHDers. Oh acetyl-l-carnitine is proven to reduce impulsivity in mice consistently but its not a very
large amount of reduction. In my case I see clear signs of reduce impulsivity when I take it. But again I may have a mitochondrial disorder and others may not see potent effects.

Theta, this is interesting, could you give a few sources that explain how you found these, and why you find them helpful?

Acetyl-l-carnitine

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=591140&postcount=12
http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=591140#post591140
(thats the entire thread it has other interesting studies on Acetyl-l-carnitine)

The antioxidants are all mentioned in this thread on neurotoxicity and stimulants.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48296

quote from that thread:

Methamphetamine can trigger mitrochondrial dysfunction/damage that will result in it spitting out: free radicals/reactive (superoxide, hydroxyl, peroxide)
and nitric oxide. That process can be greatly reduce or eliminated by
l-carnitine or derivatives like acetyl-l-carnitine. Superoxide and nitric oxide can combined to form very reactive peroxylnitrite. Selenium is proven to lower peroxylnitrite. The safe max RDA of selenium is consider to be 400 mcg.

The other antioxdants I mention likely work on that same process. You can find the abstract in that thread for each substance mentioned.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47578&highlight=potassium

Thats on potassium. One of the studies investigators even popped in and made comments.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14935&highlight=Theanine&page=2

Green tea.

I have diagnosed hypothyrosim is why I take thyroxine. I also had high lead exposure is why I take DMSA. There are studies showing lead can cause damage that is very much like ADHD. Particularly inducing impulsivity.

Thank you! That's a lot of reading, and it is all very interesting. I'm concerned about long-term effects of taking Adderall, and these abstracts give me some pointers about ways I can take care of myself. Thanks again!

for mitochondrial malfuntion take d ribose 5 grams 3 times a day for 3 weeks. this is direct quote from the book "from fatigued to fantastic"