Opinions - Looking for natural substitute for ADHD medication

[jardo]

I'm currently prescribed to 80mg / day of Ritalin SR's. However, over the past year or so I've gradually self-prescribed myself to about twice that amount. I end up taking more like 160mg / day which is a prety big concern for me because I feel that I'm hooked. My body likes it too much as well. I'ts got to the point where I need to take a dose in the morning just to wake up.

So that being said, I'm looking for an alternative to Ritalin, or at least something to help with the extreme fatigue (and concentration of course) while I try to stay away from the Ritalin. This is something that needs to be done because I've already let it go way too far. At the end of this month I've made it my mission to finally tell my doc that I want off the drug, so my prescription will be less and less each month starting next.

I've tried Ginkgo and Ginseng before, and it seemed to help a bit, but this was way before I started taking 160mg. I started taking the two again and its help a bit, but the fatigue is still there when I don't take the Ritalin.

I also just bought some Letchin, St Johns Wart, and Melatonin. The St Johns Wart I'm being careful with because of the MAOI/Stimulant complication, but the logic there is that it'll help increase the dopamine levels.. Haven't noticed much with the Melatonin or Letchin but it's only been a day or two since I started.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Any ADHDers out there who've experimented with herbs to help with the symptoms? Anything to help stop the Ritalin cravings?

[Richard_smoker]

I know of one. It's called "brain speed perform" (natrol). Blue bottle. There are others out in drug stores across america, the BEST, in large, oatmeal-box sized, cardboard cylinders--also with blue bottles inside, that do some incredible work on the brain. I fucking hate to say "Focus Factor" because I know that ain't it, but it's along the same lines. Somehow they mix just of enough of this and just enough of that and it really helps. Lots of choline in it. Works great.

I'll edit this post when I think of its name. The other one I can't think of is in a white bottle with a photo of black night-time across the front.... shit, can't recall the name for the life of me!

[Beeker]

As someone who takes 60mg generic Ritalin a day and consider it a life focus drug not a feel good drug, it does add up and every 6 months I take a month off competely to let my body get use to not having a stimulent there.

That being said I find that some days I need to focus longer then 8 hours and take more then 60 mg so at the end of the month I usually loose a couple of days. I find a strong cup of joe and 50mg Ephedrine (yea, with the 400mg of guaffa crud) every 6 hours takes care of the tired mornings and complete loss of a support compound. I wouldn't use more then four or five days though as ephedrine just stops working at an incredible rate.

[psychedelaholic]

Ginkgo biloba is pretty good for concentration if you get the extra strength capsules. One of my mates takes some everyday and swears by it.

[Richard_smoker]

Sounds like your doc might need to step you up to the ADULT adhd meds.

Tell him your problem, tell him an informed 'friend' talked to a pediatrician and he/she said that ritalin really only works well on kids. Adults usually need Dexadrine or Adderall.

I think you'd do a WHOLE lot better on one of those meds.

[Beeker]

Richard is correct, a step to amphetamines is a good choice.

but here is the rub, and it happened to me.

amphetamines moved me into recreational use of my meds and after 6 months of sleepless nights and piss poor feelings when I was on that last pill two weeks early I asked to get moved back to Ritalin.

[jardo]

Thanks for the replies guys..

As for the dexedrine, for me that would be a step in the wrong direction. I'm really trying to stay away from the meds, I want to be able to cope with the adhd naturally, the herbs and junk are just something to help me get there. I just don't like the feeling of having to depend on a drug for the rest of my life, so I figure I should start coping now before it's too late. It's already hard enough as it is to go a day without the ritalin. Infact, it's extremely hard. It doesn't help that I've convinced myself I need it to study and do homework, either.

I'll try and find that "brain speed perform" stuff.. I don't think I've come across that yet. As for coffee and ephedrine, I think it's banned here (again), although I could be wrong. I don't drink coffee anymore either, just green tea. That also helps, but definitely not as quick acting as a strong cup of coffee would.

[INodHardOhYeah]

In terms of a natural method I have the solution, WATER and EXERCISE. Upwards of 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Drinking 8-10 8oz glasses each day, as well as getting plenty of excercise will dramatically enhance your concentration and well-being. I don't know if you already do this or not, and I know it is a pain in the ass to drink so much water and have to pee all the time but I would highly recommend it.

[jardo]

hehe, you make it sound so simple :P

But you're right. It's really more a matter of convincing myself I dont *really* need medication to sit down and study or do homework. But they sure as hell make it easier. I do drink lots of water during the day.. excercise.. mmm not so much.

[Beeker]

For me it isn't a question I was able to fix.. I really am ADHD as well as deslyxic and bi-polar it's not a false thing for me. Mythelphenidate doesn't make me feel good at all, and trust me I've tried to abuse it and nothing happened but an ichy feeling. I can come off mythelphenidate without any addiction like effects (like cigarettes) other then a return of complete lack of focus, 14 tasks that never get finished because my mind was daydreaming about 30 other tasks. If you remember being called a daydreamer by your teachers almost constantly until you were put on ritalin at 15 then I gotta tell you, you got a imbalance in the brain that you cannot easily self medicate away. working out only fixed my bi-polar dissorder by fitness of body and adrinaline rushes. Nothing has help my dyslexia.

[kemistudent]

Jardo, can I suggest you look into Siberian Root, once a day in the morning, 650mg.

It has done pretty good for myself as I have been using it for a week now and it has given me some positive effects, and no noticable negative effects. It has been used to treat depression on a light scale and gives you plenty of energy to motivate those less motiveated. It does a slew of other things, run a google search on it. It's not too expensive either.

[jardo]

Right on! Do you know whether or not Siberian Root is available in pharmaicies or health stores?

[kemistudent]

Not sure if you are in the U.S or not but that three letter store has it for 10 bucks for 100 pills, you take 1 a day and your good to go. I missed my dose today, but that was becuase I haven't slept in almost 36 hours. No drugs either, thats the scary part. I did out of sheer frustration try to use 2mg of Klonopin as a means to tire myself out, but it didn't do a damn thing, and I haven't taken klonopin in over a week!

This isn't attributed to the Siberian Root, so don't worry, you wont be wired for days on end or anything, I just have girl problems...

But I am a guy, a guy, with girl issues.. but not like, hey I myself am having girl issues, like, im having issues with a specific female. I need sleep.

[Richard_smoker]

Kemi, when you say Siberian Root, are you talking about Ginseng??

[jardo]

Richard: I believe kemi is talkig about Siberian Ginseng, yes.

I picked myself up some 650mg and started taking them yesterday. So far I haven't noticed much of a difference, but it's only been 2 days I suppose.

I've still been *extremely* fatgued all day even after taking all these herbs (without the Ritalin), but my energy has been picking up day by day.

I noticed I was getting a slight headache throughout the day, so today I took the St.John's Wart out of the equation and that seemed to alleviate that problem.

Today and yesterday I've had to dose my Ritalin in order to wake up (studying for finals). The herbs have been helping slightly, but if I wouldn't have taken the Ritalin dose today, I would probably still be in bed napping on and off. Maybe it needs more time?

Also, the melatonin works like mad! If i take it before I goto bed (around midnight), I'm knocked out within a few minutes, have some intense dreams, and wake up right about 8-9am. Of course, I fall right back sleep because of the fatigue.. but I can safely say the melatonin works wonders for anyone needing to reset their sleep schedules.

Kemi: I'm surprised to hear that the ginseng works so well for you that you can even notice a difference. How long did it take for your regime to really give results?

[thatsall]

i dont know if you can call this natura but it is sold over the counter as a nutrition supplement. Either superpump or no-explode can be very effective for mental focus and also great for energy, especailly in the gym. I would defintely give it a try. Itr is a nitric-oxide based formula. I was on adderall and that was very harsh on my body, appetite, weight, anxiety, and i kould keep going but you get the piont. Give it a shot, worx great.

Reputation Comments on this post:

nice... thanks a LOT. very interesting idea--not much if ANY focus on this site in previous discussions.

[Richard_smoker]

Originally Posted by thatsall

i dont know if you can call this natura but it is sold over the counter as a nutrition supplement. Either superpump or no-explode can be very effective for mental focus and also great for energy, especailly in the gym. I would defintely give it a try. Itr is a nitric-oxide based formula. I was on adderall and that was very harsh on my body, appetite, weight, anxiety, and i kould keep going but you get the piont. Give it a shot, worx great.

WOW! Seriously!?

This is very VERY interesting... I've been wondering what the hell that stuff actually DID in people who took it... never understood if it were actually working on 'pumps' or just a placebo.

If you check those ingredients, I think they contain something called "alpha-keto-glutarate"--one of the essential products of the energy-producing kreb's cycle that takes place within our cells' "Powerhouses" (mitochondria).

Creatine is essentially the same. It should convert to phospho-creatine in the cells, and act as a phosphate-carrier to enhance the mitochondrial kreb's cycle in producing energy.

Does ANYONE else know anything about these so-called "NITROUS EXPLODE" or any other kind of GNC-type "NO" pump supplements??

I'm very interested in finding out their effects on energy levels and attention-span or concentration...
thanks -Dick

[IHrtHalucingens]

For SWIM marijuana is his add medication, when he cant keep focused and has too much energy he hits a bowl or two and can buckle down and write papers or read a few chapters in a boring text book.

[thatsall]

Yes in contains L-arginine alpha-ketoglularate and many other things including creatine.

Supplement Facts
Calories
Calories from Fat
Total Fat
Saturated Fat
Cholesterol
Sodium
Potassium
Total Carbohydrates
Sugars
Protein
Vitamin B-6 (as Pyridoxine HCL)
Vitamin B-12 (as Cyanocobalamin)
Folic Acid
Magnesium (Phosphate & Oxide)
Phosphorus
-
0%
0%
0%
3%
3%
0%
0%
2,333%
105%
90%
32%
32
0
0g
0g
0g
180mg
90mg
8g
0g
0g
25mg
140mcg
420mcg
350mg
280mg
Serving Size: 1 scoop (20g)
cure or prevent any disease.
Other Ingredients: Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Phosphate, Natural Orange Flavor, Magnesium Phosphate,
Magnesium Oxide, Sucralose, Beta Carotene.
Servings Per Container: 40 Amount Per Serving % Daily Value†
† Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. **Daily Values Not Established.
SuperPump250™ Proprietary Blend ** 20,000mg
L-Arginine alpha-Ketoglutarate (A-AKG), L-Arginine Ketoisocaproate (A-KIC), Tri-Creatine
Malate, Creatine Monohydrate, GuaniproTM (Guanidino Propionic Acid), American Ginseng
Extract, White Willow Bark Extract (standardized to 15% Salicin).
Anabolic Signaling Complex™ (Patent Pending):
L-Tyrosine, NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine), N-Acetyl-Tyrosine, Glucuronolactone, Methylxanthines
(Caffeine), Rhodiola rosea Root Extract (Standardized to 5% total Rosavins), Ginko Biloba
Extract (standardized to 24% Ginkosides & 6% Terpenes), Vinpocetine, Huperzine.
Lipolytic/Xtreme Focus Agent™ (Patent Pending):
Taurine, L-Leucine, L-Glutamine, L-Citruline AKG, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, Acetyl-L- Carnitine,
Turkesterone (11,20 Dihydroxyecdysone from Ajuga turkestanica Extract), Choline Bitartrate.
Myogenic Transcription Factor/Agonist™ (Patent Pending):
Trimethylglycine, Indole-3-Carbinol, 4-Hydroxyisoleucine (from Fenugreek Seed Extract),
Cinnamon Bark Extract (15% cinnamic aldehyde), Bacopa Monniera (Standardized for 20%
bacosides A & B).
Insulin Secretagogue Complex™ (Patent Pending):
Potassium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Gycerophosphate, Magnesium
Glycerophosphate, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Bioperine™.
IntraSORB™ Rapid Absorption - Myo-Hydration Matrix:
[Gaspari Nutrition Novel Compound #250 (Patent Pending)]

[freedom]

try tyrosine, and maybe zinc 200mg. also take multivitamins ontop of that. should help your neurochemistry.

[kingdxm]

There is a supplement that I saw on a site called attention link(I too suffer from ADHD and I don't take any meds for it). It contains the following:

Phenylethylamine HCL, Acacia Rigidula 70% Extract (leaves), DMEA Bitartrate, L-Tyrosine, Gamma Amino Butyric Acid, L-Threonine, Inositol, Throbroma Cocoa Extract (seeds), Citrus Aurantium Extract (fruit), narinigen (fruit), 6-7 duhydroxybergmottin (fuirt), L-5-Hydroxytryptophan, Co_Enzyme B-12 (Dibencozide).

PEA is a natural amphetamine, acacia rigidula contains natural amphetamine and meth, DMAE is a smart drug and is produced in the brain(like PEA) and functions like acetylcholine(which is involved in memory storage), as well as the other substances which produce stimulating effects to the brain. I plan on ordering some to see if it works.