Over the past two years my grandfather has been seeing this doctor who specializes in hormone therapy. He swears up and down that it works and helps his mood and energy. Anyway, the same doctor states that the cause of ADD is solely related to a deficiency of Progesterone. Which, is a hormone that both men and women share. Hes been pushing me and pushing me to try this hormone therapy. Even to the point of talking with his doctor about it and purchasing the medication for me.

Im not sure what side of my family i have gotten ADD from, as my father passed away when i was 16 months old. However, the way my grandfather and mom describe my dad as unmotivated, but smart, and my mom had to really push him to get a better job, try harder, etc (sounds familiar doesn't it??). Since my father died when i was so young I have never met that side of my family. So its hard for me to gather information about him.

My grandfather hasn't really given me a solid answer to whether or not he has ADD so i don't know. Also, he has NEVER mentioned this hormone therapy to benefit his focusing ability and attention span. I don't think he knows enough about the condition.

Anywho, i've been seeing a doctor who prescribed me adderall, which i will be filling prescription tomorrow, so wish me luck! I will be changing doctors as this one obviously only cares about getting as many patients in and out as possible. Ive considered an ADD/ADHD specialist but don't really know where to start with that.


I found a brief statement out of one of his books regarding ADD and ill let you guys decide it for yourself. Im pretty skeptic about it and dont feel like having to take medication 3x a day and messing with my hormones. Not to mention, im underweight, but dont have ADHD, i have ADD. So his theory kind of goes out the window. Ive researched a lot about dopamine and neurotransmitters etc and their impact on AD/HD paitents and im a firm believer in that research.





So tell me what you guys think.





Dr. Michael E. Platt's Breakthrough in Natural Hormone Therapy to overcome Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These are two conditions probably 100% related to hormonal imbalance. Read "Natural Hormone Therapy For Men, Women And Children" by Michael E. Platt, MD

<!-- Article Start --> [ClickPress, Sat Apr 02 2005] There are many kids struggling in school today because of difficulties focusing. The reason for this inability to pay attention in class or to do homework is that they are hypoglycemic.

Any time sugar is taken from the brain, it cannot focus. The reason for the low sugars is that they are over-producing insulin. Because of hypoglycemia there is a persistent craving for foods that provide sugar i.e. fruit juice, soda, candy, etc.Very often kids with ADD have a weight problem since they are continuously eating high glycemic carbohydrates.

So what about ADHD? This condition starts out the same way – too much insulin leading to low sugar levels. However, kids with ADHD have to contend with another hormone, namely adrenaline.Kids with ADHD are usually thin. The hyperactivity burns up the sugar before it’s converted to fat for storage. Often times the hyperactivity is masked by the child being actively involved in sports.Kids with ADHD are treated with drugs such as Ritalin, Adderal, Strattera, etc.

However, approaching these conditions from a hormonal standpoint eliminates these conditions in most cases without having to resort to using medication. Go to www.books1234.net (http://www.books1234.net) to read more about Natural Hormone Therapy For Men, Women And Children written by Michael E. Platt, MD

doctor states that the cause of ADD is solely related to a deficiency of Progesterone.

I don't think this doctor has any idea what he's talking about. As you've stated, ADHD (when I say ADHD, I mean both ADHD and ADD/ADHD-PI) has been found to be very closely related to dopamine and norepinephrine.

There are a lot of other conditions that can produce symptoms similar to ADHD. I think a lot of these fringe doctors stumble on a way to fix a problem that has some outward similarity to ADHD, and then claim they've found the cure/cause for ADHD. Unfortunately, what they cured was not actually ADHD.

My grandfather ... I don't think he knows enough about the condition.

I've found this seems to be a common problem. Most people have an understanding of ADHD based on a vague concept of "kids who are naughty or have lots of energy", and don't understand that it is a far deeper and more disabling problem than just having lots of energy. I've spent a lot of time explaining to my family what exactly ADHD is.

Anywho, i've been seeing a doctor who prescribed me adderall, which i will be filling prescription tomorrow, so wish me luck! I will be changing doctors as this one obviously only cares about getting as many patients in and out as possible. Ive considered an ADD/ADHD specialist but don't really know where to start with that.

Good luck! I'm also ADHD-PI (aka ADD) and I take dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine). When I first took it, it completely changed my world, I had no idea that this is how "everyone else" lived. I hope your experience is as good as mine initially was.

I think it would be a good idea to see a ADHD specialist if you can, the extra experience treating patients with ADHD could make all the difference. I don't know how things work in the US, but where I'm from you have to go to your GP and get a referral before you can see a psychiatrist specialising in ADHD.

As for the article, there are some very flaky claims there.

The reason for this inability to pay attention in class or to do homework is that they are hypoglycemic. Any time sugar is taken from the brain, it cannot focus.

But it doesn't follow that if you can't focus, then you must have some kind of sugar deficiency. It's a bit like saying that any time the head is struck with enough force, the brain cannot focus. And then declaring that therefore the cause of ADHD is baseball bats. Hypoglycemia (or a baseball bat) is not the only cause of poor focus! And just as importantly, poor focus is not the only symptom of ADHD.

Also, does this doctor think that other doctors don't check their patients' blood sugar levels? I've had my blood sugar checked at least half a dozen times since I was diagnosed just over a year ago. It's always been within healthy range.

However, kids with ADHD have to contend with another hormone, namely adrenaline.

Doc seems to be implying that kids with ADHD have high levels of adrenaline, and this increased adrenaline then causes hyperactivity. But adrenaline itself is not psychoactive; it doesn't directly affect the brain. Adrenaline's close cousin, norepinephrine, is psychoactive as well has having similar effects on the rest of the body as adrenaline -- but several common treatments for ADHD work at least in part by increasing the effect of norepinephrine in the brain! The problem people with ADHD have is that parts of their brains are understimulated, not that their bodies are overstimulated.

To wrap up, there are actually some hormonal issues that can be confused with ADHD, such as hypo- and hyperthyroidism, and a thorough diagnosis of ADHD will usually rule these out first. This doctor is doing a disservice to his patients by telling them they have hypoglycemia or hormonal issues instead of ADHD, and is marginalising everyone else with ADHD by misrepresenting their condition.

Kids with ADHD are usually thin. The hyperactivity burns up the sugar before it’s converted to fat for storage.Scuse me a sec.

*Leaves forum, closes door behind*

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAH!

I do believe that there may be something to what this doctor says. I wouldn't be suprised if a good number of folks experience hypoglycemia - some maybe every day, severely and frequently. And isn't hypoglycemia a condition that cam mimic ADHD? (I really am asking, can't remember . . .) So in that sense, I could see why he might believe that many folks with ADHD are actually hypoglycemic. ????? Maybe??????

I don't believe it is that simple to dx hypoglycemia - is it?

Just wonderin . . .


Sue

I do believe that there may be something to what this doctor says. I wouldn't be suprised if a good number of folks experience hypoglycemia - some maybe every day, severely and frequently. And isn't hypoglycemia a condition that cam mimic ADHD? (I really am asking, can't remember . . .) So in that sense, I could see why he might believe that many folks with ADHD are actually hypoglycemic. ????? Maybe??????

I don't believe it is that simple to dx hypoglycemia - is it?

Just wonderin . . .


Sue

I'm sure there are many people with symptoms similar to ADHD that are hypoglycemic. It doesn't sound pleasant -- I imagine it feels like when I haven't eaten anything all day, it makes my ADHD worse.

The language is fuzzy, he doesn't directly say "ADHD is actually hypoglycemia". But it's one thing to say "when diagnosing ADHD be careful to rule out hypoglycemia where possible", or even something like "hypoglycemia can produce symptoms similar to ADHD". It is quite another to say "if you can't focus then you are most likely hypoglycemic". He's making out like the only real cause of poor focus is low blood sugar.

Having just hypoglycemia wouldn't be all bad... instead of popping dex, I could just pop M&M's...:D

I thought hypoglycemia was a symptom, not a disease. :confused:

I've NEVER seen or even heard anyone make a statement like that.

In order for that to (literally) be true, then all of the other research is somehow inaccurate?

I'd be glad to read anything that supports such a statment.

Thanks for raising the question though.

It's definately a stimulating one.

tc

mctavish23

(Robert)

I had a total hysterectomy two years ago at age 33. I can be the first to tell you that my ADD started long before the loss of hormones. And while the Adderall helps maintain a balance with me mentally, I also have to take estrogen in a form of a patch to help me physically.

If I go off my patch for two days or more, I am a wreck physically. I feel very tired.

Hormones do play a huge role in how a woman feels. I'm not sure how it works with men.