[lostgirl]

Hey everyone, well for about 5 years now i have been on dexedrine spansule to treat my ADD. However i have recently taken myself off of it because of bad side effects such as not sleeping or eating. Of course, these symptoms are also very close to symptoms of depression as well, which i know that i am dealing with. The thing is it is very hard for me to concentrate without any kind of medication and I was wondering if anyone knows of any herbal remedies out there that could possibly help my situation. Thanks!

[darkeyes]

Wish I could give you advice, actually I wish my doctor would switch me to ADD meds. instead of the meds I am on for mild bipolar, I have become too slowed down and "foggy" on the meds I am on. Are you keeping up with your doctor visits in reference to your med changes?? If not you should check with him/her to see what they recommend before adjusting your meds. yourself, I found out that it is not a good idea to be your own doctor sometimes, and plus herbal sounds great and "natural" but is not always as good as the stuff that is prescribed to you. Take care and stay well.
"darkeyes"

[CamW]

LostGirl - As for the herbal stuff, remember, they are still drugs (ie. chemicals - and lots of them - in plant form, taken to elicite a medicinal effect). Stay away from ephedra products, as hemorragic stroke and arrythmias look good on no one. Most, if not all herbal stimulants will contain some ephedra. If you do plan to use it, be careful to buy reputable (big name), and more costly, brands. It is these guys who will actually have some of the ingredient within the tablet.

Other herbal, or "natural", products will contain caffeine. This is much more cheaply obtained from Starbucks, and you get to lot "chi-chi" ordering a triple Caramel Macchiato - no fat ;^) . Read the label to see what the product contains before buying it.

Another way to attack this is to try something a little less "speedy", like Ritalin™ (methylphenidate) or Cylert™ (pemoline - although they have been scaring people with the abnormal liver function stuff, lately - problems usually only seen in kids).

Some people may say to try Wellbutrin™ (bupropion), but I have found that it's stimulant effects last only 2 or 3 months, then fade.

I hope that this is of some help to you. - Cam

[curlyq]

I think a good aid to helping you sleep is some regular chamomile tea. It has helped me and isn't really strong. If you really want to get into the herbal scene you may want to consult a holistic therapist. They also look at your nutritional habits from what I hear. To be sure though the herbs are drugs, too, and some can even be bad for the liver. I heard kava kava and valerian root are not to be used long term as they can harm the liver. Those 2 are for anxiety and sleep. I would also try to look into therapies that don't involve any substances as an ideal way to go since you seem to be steering away from meds. Consulting a psychologist may be helpful in that way. Good luck to you.

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