ADHD Natural Supplements Vs. Pills

Choosing whether to use prescription medication or lifestyle changes to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be frustrating. Using both nutritional supplements and medication may be dangerous and should be discussed with your doctor.

Food Additives

• Some food colorings and additives have been linked to ADHD. Eliminating them has proven effective in treating ADHD. Medications are not affected by diet, as the dosage can change to compensate for these factors.

Dietary Changes

• When using nutritional supplements to treat ADHD, extra care must be taken to avoid foods that might exacerbate the condition. Although sugar is not one of these elements, milk, wheat, eggs, and chocolate can all make ADHD harder to treat.

Omega Fatty Acids

• Fish ol supplements contain omega fatty acids that lubricate the pathways neurotransmitters travel on. Meanwhile, stimulant medications excite the neurotransmitters, so the extra fatty acids are unnecessary.

Side Effects

• ADHD medications can cause heart problems or make existing heart problems worse. In some cases, this can be fatal. Nutritional supplements seldom cause severe side effects, though they may conflict with other medications.

Addiction

• Many prescription medications for ADHD are addictive as their primary ingredient is an amphetamine. Dietary nutritional supplements seldom have such a potential for addiction.