have ADHD , and i have extreme difficulties concentrating on anything.

Im on adderal xr 30mg right now but im going to try and get it switched to a higher dose of regular becuase it isnt helping too much.

What are the best Natural Supplements to use in combination with a stimulant medication?

I've looked at many websites and collected a list of a bunch that may help ADHD. If anyone knows which are best and why please clue me in. Or if you know where i can find these awnsers. Thanks

Heres the list:

5-HTP - seratonin precurser, helpful for depression
St. Johns Wort - active ingred - hypericin
SAM-E
African Cola Nut - energizing tonic
Blue Vervian
Damiana
Ginko Biloba
Lechithin
Inositol
L-Tyrosine - seratonin precurser, helpful for depression
DL-phenylalanine - dopamine precurser?
Licorice Root - energizing tonic
Omega 3 Fish Oil - omega 3 fatty acids
Grape Seed Extract - strong anti-oxidant
B-Complex Vitamins
Methionine

I take a magnesium/calcium/zinc complex once or twice a day for hyperfocus and hyperactivity. It doesn't help much w/ my concentration though. :(

Please don't take anything your doctor doesn't know about. There are interactions, as you may know, from the the active ingredients in supplements and nutritional aids.

Especially with St Johns wart, as some have died due to a reaction with their meds.

Always always always tell your doctor about every single pill, powder etc that you place in your body so he or she can check for mixing etc. I have to take my meds four hours after taking my vitamin and other suppliments as they inhibit my meds.

I've been taking my Concerta, Omega3-fish oil and a multi-Vitamin at the same time in the morning.

I will take the Omega3-fish oil and a multi-Vitamin bottles to work and try taking them just before lunch.

Thanks for the heads up.

NP but if you talk to your doc or pharmcist they may be able to let youknow if its ok to do it all at once. Something in mine interferes with my particular meds absorption

Hi,
I'm new here. I started taking some supplements and a mental focus beverage a little over a month ago. I noticed immediately how much better I felt. It felt like a light bulb was turned on in my brain. Because of this, my husband that that I was crazy and made me see many mental health professionals and a few MD's. This led to the discovery of ADD.

To make a long story short, he did not like me feeling better so demanded I get off supplements and go on Adderall XR. I was on 10mg for a week and had the most horrible side affects. At least with the supplements I never felt jittery, never encountered insomnia, and was able to function "normal".

The supplements contain many ingredients including some of the ones already mentioned in this thread. I've always struggled with depression as well and the Zoloft never worked. These supplements and drink have changed my life. Since taking them, I started to read as many books on nutrition as possible and have decided not to go back to prescription medication for anything unless it warrants it. The supplements I take have over 60 vitamins and herbs.

I did have 5 different doctors including a psychiatrist look at it. They all told me and my husband that if its working for me that I should continue to take them. The beverage I drink has helped me cut down on my 3 cups of coffee and 5 cokes a day habit. It basically has a small dose of caffeine that works as a delivery truck to the brain feeding the brain with neuactive agents and vitamins to help me stay alert and focus.. not jittery,.. and non addreneline. I was told Nascar drivers drink it before they race.

I understand my non-add husband is having to process a lot of things right now.. but I don't think its fair he discounts nutritional supplements as a alternative sort of treatment. I guess this is all part of the cycle of ADD. Out of this whole thing I am happy to finally know I am ADD. I am so textbook ADD its not even funny.

I'm sorry to be rambling.. I just feel very passionate about my supplements I just had to post.

Hey, Fresh - I'm also a supplement fool and take a lot of what you take.

One caveat - do be careful w/the damiana; I can't recall anything specific right this minute but after a lot of research decided not to take it b/c I figure if I'm taking something I'm always going to be taking it (part of my ADD coping mechanism routine thing) and there was something dangerous about long-term use of damiana, and "long-term" wasn't even defined, so it wasn't clear whether they were talking about use after 6 weeks or 6 months. I will re-research it when I have a second and re-post it here.

Those are my only issues with suppliments, the abiguoty ( waiter! spell check please!) of the statements. If the scientists would give main stream suppliments a more across the board definition, such as long term use= over six weeks etc, and if there was regulations regarding potency etc. They also need to place reactions with other known medical and health chemicals. I was a granola head, am working my way back to semi granola head status, but I am extremely careful checking into interactions of meds and suppliments so as to not throw off my already delicate brain chemistry. All I know is that my son did better on a more natural, lower processed food diet, as did I. My other two show lesser symptoms and seem to be more clear with a more controled diet. I want to work ginseng and ginko into my system along with ginger, peppermint oil, glucosamine for my joints, co q 10, ....the list goes on....

I have the inattentive type. I don't take any meds, but have been supplementing with L-Tyrosine, Grape Seed Extract and Ginko...plus a MultiVitamin Complex with high B6 and B12.

Feel like it's been a very successful, endeavor...and I can really notice a difference if I miss taking them.

I take the Tyrosine at 500mg three times a day. 1mg of Grape Seed Extract per pound of body weight, so 60mg at three times per day. And the Ginko, three times per day at 60mg. so up to 200 mg.

I would highly recommend finding a book on Herbal Supplements and researching these. I have one (not in front of me at the moment) and it lists all herbal supplements and their interactions with certain medications as well as potential side effects and dangers. I suggest this not only from an ADD standpoint but if you are female MANY supplements will tamper with your hormone levels (the reason I bought the book to begin with) and some can have the same effects on men's hormone levels as well. The thing with supplements is they do not all come from one reliable source, and the purity, quality can vary from batch to batch, manufacturer to manufaturer. I do take 5-HTP but only if nothing else has been added to it, such as B6. I also take L-Tryptophan but it is by Rx and I get it from a compounding pharmacy. Please do some reading and research on these. Just because they are readily available over the counter does not necessarily render them safe.

Here's a good link for research:

http://www.vitamins.com/vf/healthnotes/HN75_English/index.htm?Hcontent=All_Index

And the resourse for the regime:

http://www.amenclinic.com/ac/addtests/inattentive.asp

oops, almost forgot... thnx for the word of caution Alexa! that's sound advice! : )

I found Tyrosine helpful, but I could only take 500 mg/day. If I took more, I was soon very depressed, emotional, lots of negative thoughts. It was making me crazy. 500 mg was great, but more was very bad. So if you try these "natural" remedies, start slow and if you have mood changes, cut back.

Tyrosine is an amino acid that is the precursor to the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine, which regulate mood. Be careful when you are tweaking your brain chemistry - it's more serious than taking a vitamin pill.

Hi all, its mind researher, dont worry ill try not to write a book!. But some nutritional supplements which may help ADD may vary. Due to the 6 different types, and ADHD, one supplement may not work for another person. But ill use Type 2 whichis what symptoms I have, lack of motivation, Drive, Incentive, constant boredom, Drug cravings, moderate depression, and moresoe, a reduced dopamine activity in the reward centers, or reward deficiency syndrome, which may be related to this.
Just a quick example of R D S, It used to be like, nothing would make me happy or motivated, zest for life, (not suicidal or major depression),but lethargic type feeling, and laying around, thus I would have drug use on my mind every second of the day for 5 yrs. Due to the chemicals i used, Hard opiates and GHB, which effect the dopamine system, esp, GHB, due to the constant release and block, i feel, even though it has not been researched in long term abuse, but after quitting this drug, and then using opiates, then i basically tried everything. SSRI'S, Natural supplements, Desipriamine, with no luck. Back to my old self.
Well , for a person who would need to say relax yet have some motivation, There are a few supplements I have yet to try. One is Phenibut, Or Gabatropin, by Ergopharm. This supplement is tooted as a substance which increases GABA without the sedation like benzos. Also, crosses the blood brain barrier easily. It actuallly was developed in Russia, and used clinically since the 1960's for a variety of purposes.
Structurally, Phenibut, is related to Gaba, Baclofen, and Beta-phenylethylamine (PEA). The phenyl ring allows the passage through the BBB. Baclofen, a Gaba B receptor agonist, also is clinically used to trat severe spasticity of cerebral origin. PEA is a naturally occurring biogenic amine which is similar in structure to amphetamine, and like amphetamine, it is a stumulant that causes the release of dopamine , and also promotes anxiety in high enough doses. (PEA)
Phenibut is a gaba receptor agonist and also causes the release of Gaba. Also, As stated above, it is an agonist of Gaba B receptors. Gaba B , stated in this article, the most established role is the release of some neurotransmitters, and it may also serve as a negative feedback mechanism for gaba release.
Because of the structural similarities to PEA, phenibut may share some similarities and differences with it. When phenibut is administered along with PEA, it antangonizes or blocks many of its effects, such as promotion of anxiety, seizures and hyperthermia. This has lead some to postulate that antagonism of PEA, rather than the Gaba-mimetic activity, may be the important mechanism of action for the anxiolytic effect of phenibut. Phenibut also as stated, increases dopamine levels.
In studies on animals , phenibut decreases the Fear response in the animals for one. Also, increased social behavior, and decresed some of the physiological responses to stress. THe decrease of fear response of Phenibut is caused by electrical stimulation and conteracts the anxiogenic effect of the beta-carboline DMCM. Basically a quite established lowering of inhibitions or anxiety?
Animal studies also compared Phenibut with Valium, which has pronounced anxiolytic properties, and piracetam, which has weak anxiolytic properties. The study comparison between Phenibut and Valium resulted in similar tranquilizing effects similar to, but weaker than valium. Its also causes sedatioin and muscle relaxation, but again these effects ere weaker than those of valium.
In Russia, PHenibut is commonly used to treat many neuroses, including post-traumic stess disorder, stuttering, and insomnia. In a double binded study, phenibut has reportedly been found to improve intellectual function, improve physical strength, and reduse fatigue in neurotic and psychotic patients.
Nootropic effects. Although, it does not seem to mee all the requirements of a nootropic, it does have many similarities to piracetam. Without explaining the entire study, a test was performed with animals, and briefly, memory was improved, and also has an antihypoxic effect, a triat commonly seen among nootropics.
Another trait phenibut shares with nootropics is neuroprotection. Multiple animal studies have indicated that pheibut administration increases resistance to the detrimental effects of edema on mitochondria and energy metabolism changes causes by chronic stresss. It also was found to prevent changes in plasma electrolytes causes by cerebral injury, and also protects Dopaminergic neurons and improved the condition of patients being treated with antiparkinsonic drugs.
Other effects. Phenibut has anticonvulsant activity against some drugs or conditions, but not others. It also potentiates the action of some other anticonvulsive drugs, and has been used to treat patients with epilepsy. ALso, phenibut has been reported to reduce motion sickness, and used in the treatment of alcohol and morphine withdrawl. Finally, some studies suggest it has anti-arrhytmic properties in humans, and has cardioprotective properties, and helps heal gastric legions.

Side effects of Phenibut has low acute toxicity. Some report drowsiness , but not nearly as likely or severe as benzos.
One should be aware of potential drug interactions when taking phenibut. In many cases, it will decreases the threshold dose and potentiate certain actions of a drug. It amplifies some of the effects of anesthetics(ether, chloral hydrate, and barbituates), diazipam, alcohol, and morphine. It also has been presumed that an interaction with rellated drugs, such as other opiates and GHB. In contrast, taking phenibut with some other drugs, such as stimulants , will more thanlikely just blunt there effects or quell the anxiety. ( boy i got a chill when i typed those two drugs above )!!! My demon addictiive drugs oxycontin and ghb, yet, now i come to think of it, maybe this phenibut will lower cravings for those drugs!! Boy, if so, ill be buying alot of it.

Well, i know this was a long article, but there is just too much positive informaton, and I have yet to hear of any positive feedback. Dosage for this supplement is 250mg which half life is around 5.3 hrs, but reports state up to 1500mg can be taken, in divided doses.

Well, im not going to post about picamilon , but in another thread to make it less of a long topic. IF this is true about this substance, well, why in the world is the drug companies or herbal/supplement companies making tons of money in sales!. Unless it is not known , But the name of the supplement is called GABAtropic by ergopharma, the maker of 1-AD. But basically you have to order it. Totally legal, and can be ordered within usa, unlike alot of nootropics.

Post back if anyone has any experiences. If need bee, i will give you the information research to where i found such. Basically a top notch supplement company which sells some nootropics., such as piracetam, and aniracetam.

Pric e Range is about 35.00 for I believe 30 or 60 casules.

M Research

For me I take 2000mg ginko every mornings, but lately I did not, I just take 500 or 250mg vit C and Vit B12 50mcg oral, vit B2, 6 about 2 or 3mg, just the basic requirements as stated in the RDA, actually I know people take alot more than that. I feel abit worry about taking too much as I am worry about being dependent on it and in such a way that one day if I happen to run out of money to buy them, I cannot function. But so far I think for me, this is working well. Beside this I also drink coffee every morning to wake myself up. I don see anything bad, and I see that I concentrate better and less depression feelings. In the past before I became depressive and suicidal, I don take any vits or supplements, I only started on it after I had prolonged like 2 years of feeling really depressed. I think I really need them and not like abusing although my friends think that I don't need it, but I feel I do.
Opps I got carried away, heh :)

For me I take 2000mg ginko every morningsYou're kidding me right? The MAX recommended dosage is 160mg PER DAY! You are taking (****13 TIMES****) the recommended DAILY dose, and taking it all at once!

Side effects from that much Ginkgo at once, and over a long period is severe blood thinning - meaning if you get cut, your blood might not clot and you'll bleed to death. Just a warning. You might want to check with your doc about that dosage - it's crazy.

You can hear of my (weird) Magnesium experience at my ADHD blog


I am now trying to limit my Calcium intake and see whether it changes anything.

Good luck.

Please check the guidelines about posting URLs please.

I"d be careful against forming conclusions so readily based upon your experiences. You say you eat a lot of bread then say you feel good, perhaps because of the magnesium, when in fact large amounts of quickly digested carbohydrates will make one feel good in any event because of serotonin being more active in the brain or something like that.

I've often eaten lots of bread like this and not had this happen before. The feeling is quite a lot different than an ordinary feelgood feeling. It's just like all the symptoms of ADHD-inattentive vanish and I feel as if some kind of motor has been shut down.

Hello all,

Has anyone looked into the XTEND-LIFE products?

It seems amazing BUT i'm always sceptical until convinced otherwise hehehe...

I wonder mostly about DMAE, around which seems to be a lot of controversy whether it actually increases or decreases lifespan.

I've just emailed them about the DMAE question specifically, let's see what they say.

The Total Balance formula and the Neurological Formula both have DMAE in a cumulation of almost 500mgs. As I haven't done much research about DMAE I don't know what this means, but I also asked them for their view of it and can post the reply later.

I value your feedback, thanks and have a nice day :D

By the way I'm "on fire", I usually wake up pretty stupid, very slow etc... what's the news? I set a timer for a strong light pointed to the roof 5 minutes before the radio alarm... I woke up with the light and before the radio sounded, I was already up and running. I've read about this way to start the day gave it a try and hey... seems to work :D

Cheers

Ric

Ric please check the guidelines about posting live links.

Pycnogenol - expensive but works.
DL-Phenylalanine - works.
5-HTP - works for mood.

Hey, Fresh - I'm also a supplement fool and take a lot of what you take.

One caveat - do be careful w/the damiana; I can't recall anything specific right this minute but after a lot of research decided not to take it b/c I figure if I'm taking something I'm always going to be taking it (part of my ADD coping mechanism routine thing) and there was something dangerous about long-term use of damiana, and "long-term" wasn't even defined, so it wasn't clear whether they were talking about use after 6 weeks or 6 months. I will re-research it when I have a second and re-post it here.
Hey all, re Damiana...like near everything its detoxified by the liver, and its generally considered to be a little much but not anything nasty, so its more a use once in a while herb as compared to a daily herb. Interesting to hear of it being used for ADD. Its an herbal aphrodesiac, enhances sensory tactile feeling. Probably would be used therefor to help with proprioceptive being in the body sense, addressing the dyspraxia or awkwardness/clumsiness that many of us ADDers also have.

IN Mexico its sold as a wonderful liquor in groovy earthy goddess shaped bottles, also now available here in the US. Traditionally sold to women to get their husbands interested in them again... try some with a lover...lol, it works.

My favorite herb for ADD is gingko tincture, works immediately after putting under toungue. Increases microcapillary circulation in the brain, works on the ATP energy cycle in brain cells too I believe. I prefer the southern Oregon based brand HerbPharm (orange bottles, dark green type...). Im not affilated with them, just prefer them, serious clinical strength. Lemon balm aka melissa is my second favorite.

Im an herbalist not a doctor, this is educational information sharing, not treatment.