Any success stories? | ADHD Information

Thanks Meg and coach.

Coach, to be honest, I don't know what helped with the focus. It must be one of the three supplements he's on through the ND. There's one other little motivation that seems to have helped. I just sort of mentioned to him one day in January a few days after report cards came out that two of his best friends come home every day and do their homework without their moms helping at all. I told him they also study for their own tests and do well. This is all true, by the way (nothing I made up for motivational purposes). Anyway, he soon just sort of started doing it all on his own. He comes home every day and just does his work without even being prompted. This canNOT be my child. Will this continue? I have no idea, but I'll take any successful changes we can get. I DID ask him recently what caused the change in his homework and study habits, and he said, "Because I want to be like my friends who do it on their own."

His teachers have reported a lot fewer focusing issues. Relief! Anyway, the supplements he's on are called Prolent, Procite and Lentra (Sanesco Lab).

Here is some info about them that I copied from the Sanesco website:

Prolent™
Anchor Inhibitory Formula

Prolent is a primary Anchor formula, providing important support for the inhibitory neurotransmitter system. 5-HTP is included as the direct intermediary in the synthesis of serotonin. Threonine is included for the production of CNS glycine while Serine contributes to peripheral glycine production. Suntheanine is an excellent GABA agonist. Rebuilding these inhibitory neurotransmitters generally constitutes the first step in the Initial Phase of addressing neurotransmitter imbalance. Without a strong, optimal inhibitory system, excitatory biochemicals, including adrenal hormones, can soar—particularly in the face of an up-regulated HPA axis in response to our stressful lifestyles. It is recommended that inhibitory support such as Prolent be given before addressing the imbalances involved in excitatory biochemistry. It is also often needed throughout the Restoration Phase of the therapeutic approach. Prolent is useful as a part of many patients’ Maintenance Phase, as well.

Procite™
Anchor Excitatory Formula

Procite is a primary Anchor formula designed to support balance in catecholamine neurotransmission. Neurotransmitters of the excitatory catecholamine family are dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. They constitute a main biochemical response to stress, requiring upregulation of the HPA axis. In the face of a deficient inhibitory response, the catecholamine rise in response to stressors is relatively uncontrolled. Clinically, such excess excitation often results in anxiety, insomnia, even panic.

The first step in treatment is to restore inhibitory control. The second step is to address the catecholamine system. Restoring HPA balance indeed requires a proper balance between inhibition and excitation.

Procite contains key ingredients required in the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway. L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine are building blocks for the catecholamines. Vitamin B6 (P5P form) is a cofactor for the conversion of L-dopa to dopamine. SAMe is a methyl donor, required for the production of epinephrine. Selenium is added as an antioxidant while L-cysteine provides support for biosynthetic activities in this pathway. To this formula is also added the NSB blend, a combination of enzymes, essential fats and lecithin, to assist in delivery across the gut wall. NSB allows for lower doses and fewer capsules while still maintaining efficacy—which encourages better patient compliance.

When a baseline test shows deficiency/depletion of one or more of the catecholamines—and the patient does not present with excess excitatory conditions but complains of fatigue instead, Procite can be used in the Initial Phase of treatment to restore balance. If anxiety is an issue in such cases of depletion, Procite may still be used for repletion, but only once an adequate inhibitory system is in place. In depleted patients, Procite is usually needed throughout the Restoration Phase of treatment.

Adjunctive support for the HPA axis if often necessary as well, because depleted catecholamines implies chronic stress issues. Depression with apathy, fatigue, and lack of drive or ambition are signs of low catecholamine levels and signal a need for ongoing support. Use Procite in concert with Prolent and/or Lentra after the Initial Phase to restore HPA axis function.

Lentra™
Ancillary GABA Receptor Formula

Lentra is a primary Ancillary formula designed as a direct support for the inhibitory GABA system. Without optimal inhibition, neuro-endocrine balance is not possible. Inadequate inhibitory response allows for over-excitation of the HPA axis, and the harmony of balance is lost, often resulting in anxiety, nervousness and difficulty with sleep. Clinically, Lentra has been used for daytime anxiety, insomnia, menopausal heart palpitations, and sympathetic nervous system overdrive, where dopamine and/or norepinephrine are elevated in the face of inadequate GABA or serotonin.

Lentra’s three ingredients, Lactium, Suntheanine and L-taurine, have been documented to assist in the binding of GABA receptors and therefore are excellent anxiolytics. As opposed to pharmaceutical GABA agonists, sedation and tolerance do not occur.

Application is suggested for conditions where calming is needed, for example during periods of nervousness, irritability and anxiety, when over-activation of the HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system is present. Use Lentra in the morning and/or afternoon during the Initial and Restoration Phases when GABA levels are suboptimal (wherever GABA receptors exist in the Communication System) to address these issues and restore HPA axis balance and calm peripheral pathways.

We have been doing Omega 3 for about 5 months now and we notice a difference. His teacher noticed, too. We also do "reward" therapy and stay clear of red and yellow dye. I don't know if it's the combination or what but we see a big change in him from last year. Could be a maturity thing, too but whatever it is we LIKE IT! Leigh,

Thats Great!

What do you think helped the Focus part?
coach138772.535150463

hi i have posted on the complementary board about a cd i have discovered which works really well have a look. its been so sucessful for me!

Florrie

I'm seeing success! It's not with those two things you mentioned, but I'm seeing success!

Once I took my son off stimulants last spring and started him on omegas his behavior problems practically vanished. That said, the behavior problems were mostly crying fits, anxiety, relentless pleading for things......but they pretty much just ENDED after a month off meds and on omegas. We started a number of other supplements, too.

Problem was.....his focusing was a nightmare once school started. A NIGHTMARE!

So, we started with a Naturopathic Doctor in October and had a lot of testing done. He was put on some pricey supplements, and I was seriously skeptical after two-plus months and no change in his ability to focus. Here we are, though, four months into it, and my son, although not perfectly focused, is FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE doing his homework and studying completely on his own, making good grades (most of the time) and handling everything much better! I still get notes home from time to time that his grades in certain subjects would improve even more if he could focus better (Duh!), but overall, the difference in him now is remarkable! All of our supplements are costing a lot of money. I do hate that, but what I hated more was life on stimulants. That's a road I never want to get on again!

Leigh! I am so happy to hear that!!!!!! What great news!!!!!! Sometimes I think it just takes awhile for our systems to balance out. I am so glad to hear you are seeing success!!!!!!!!!!!!! (well, more success that is!)

Can anyone share any success stories on using alternative medicines, such as Attend or Focus on their children???Good for you for trying alternatives -- just a few words that you may already know -- they do take time -- sometimes up to 12 weeks to see a difference. I don't specifically know about Attend and Focus but I do know that we have seen huge differences with Omegas (fish oil is better than flax seed) and Magnesium. Just food for thought if your next plan of action doesn't work as well as you hope! Good luck!

I read through them all and have decided to try "Focus". I have had my 8 year old daughter on flaxseed oil but that hasn't worked. If Focus doesn't work, then I will try Attend. I am just too scared to go to the meds right now before trying everything else first. Thanks for the info!

There's a thread called "Attend" just below...There are tons of success stories on here -- not sure they are specific to those products, however. You might check out the "Omegas" thread or "Magnesium" -- I posted one recently entitled "It's Working."I will have to try that. I just bought "Focus" by Native Remedies and we started it yesterday. I will see how that goes after a couple of months first. I pray to God something works...

How much Omega and magnesium did you give him Leigh?

I have my son on Omega's now and plan on starting the magnesium.

Thanks,

Leslie

P.S. Prior to the Naturopathic doctor's supplements, my son had MAJOR success with Omegas (DHA) and Magnesium. These helped his emotions more than I can say. Seriously, we took him off meds, started the Omegas......then the magnesium a little later, and I had a different child. He handled upset and disappointment so much better. Unbelievable........and no more side effects to anything!

[QUOTE=ShelbysAdvocate]

Leigh,

How did you decide to pick those supplements? Did your Dr. suggest them? Do you use them with Omega 3's? There are so many different things that people are taking, I guess it's trial and error.... Thanks for all the info!!!

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I didn't pick them. The naturopathic doctor did. He first looked at my son's medical history (terrible side effects to the stimulants), diagnosis of ADHD. He did a urine test for his neurotransmitters to see where he was with things (too high or too low). He did a blood test which tested him for 100+ food sensitivities (not allergies), and he also tested his iron levels. Based on all that, he came up with the supplement suggestions that my son is now on.

Leigh,