ADHD: Alternative Treatments Main MenuADHD: The Fact and the FictionThis project is intended to make connections between media portrayals of ADHD and their impacts on alternative treatments such as neurofeedback, behavioral therapy, parent training, and diet-alteration therapy.ADHD MedicationsToday, the use of ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall is still the most popular treatment method for ADHD. Let's explore the adverse side effects of the medications, which are a reason alternative treatments have been gaining more attention recently.Common MisconceptionsHow YOU Can Avoid Parent ShamingThis page is designed to promote an active learning style for parents to avoid feeling shamed by media surrounding ADHD. The media often uses fear and anxiety to shame parents into trying treatments they are not comfortable with or spreading false information. I will teach you how to spot these things and avoid them!NeurofeedbackBehavior TherapyBehavior therapy is the most common alternative treatment for ADHD. It is currently recommended as a supplement to drugs but some parents believe that this treatment alone may be just as effective as a supplementation.Parent TrainingDiet RestrictionDiet restrictions are gaining popularity as an alternative treatment for ADHD. The Feingold Diet has stood out as a diet that improves behavioral issues with manipulation of diet.About MeKaty McCarthy52d4dc2d6cf99de1642c9855dd2bae6c30ec3e42
12017-04-21T23:50:43-07:00Shortcomings of ADHD Medications8ADHD medications although widely used to treat ADHD have been linked to long term negative effects.plain2017-04-22T07:17:34-07:00The long term effects of ADHD medications have been debated and are currently a popular area of research. There have been confirmed long term effects of stimulant medication use and there are many plausible theories that surround the use of ADHD medications.
Growth Hindrance: The most prominent shortcoming associated with the use of ADHD medications is stunted growth. In a study published in 2015 by Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, body measurements were taken from 410 children and adolescents who had been using stimulant medications long term. This research found that stimulant medication use is correlated with a reduction in body weight and a temporary stunt in growth.
Low body weights and stimulant medication use are commonly linked because these medications act to suppress appetite. This side effect is particularly dangerous for children and adolescents, coincidentally the age groups that are prescribed a majority of the ADHD medications, because proper nutrition is important for development and growth during these critical periods of life. It may also be implied that if the body is not being supplied with proper nutrients, it will have negative effects on cognitive development and function as well.
Substance Abuse: Ritalin, Adderall, and Concerta are all stimulant medications and so are cocaine, methamphetamine (crystal meth), and nicotine. There have been concerns surrounding the use of stimulant medications to treat childhood ADHD because dependence on the drug could lead to abuse of illegal stimulants later on in life. Substance abuse concerns are posted on the front page of most ADHD medication websites.