My kid has a mood disorder...

[MO3]

I have a 10 year old son with Asperger's. We take him annually to an MD who specializes in treating Autism and ADD/ADHD kids using supplements. I too have been leary of putting him on other meds. It's not perfect, but it's helped our son a lot. He does take Omega 3 and Omega 6 supplements, but there are a lot of other supplements he takes as well.

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

Since we're veering toward a discussion of non-Rx supplements for mood disorders and ADD/ADHD, and since our son has recently been diagnosed with pretty obvious ADHD, has anyone had any experience with either Calm Child or Attentive Child or any of the others out there?

On the one hand, we don't want to have to medicate our child via Rx, but on the other hand, we're kind of leery of using "unproven" and "alternative" substances without having a good idea of their effectiveness.

My mom gave us a bottle of Calm Child as a suggestion, and we're struggling with whether we should try it or not. She's all like, "OMG, it says it has catnip in it! We can't give him that!" And I'm all like, "Dude, the reviews say it works." And she's all like, "OMG, I can't trust complete strangers!" And I'm all like, "Dude, I trust complete strangers all the time. You should try it! It's fun! Except when they take your wallet." And she's all like, "OMG! When did they take your wallet?" And I'm all like, "Dude, never. I just had a dream about it once." And she's all like, " " And I'm all like, " "

Hmph. Maybe I should try some for myself.

I'm leary of herbs with pharmaceutical properties that haven't been tested like man-made drugs. Some of them do nothing, but the ones that are effective drugs have side effects and risks, just like man-made drugs. Cocaine and opium are completely natural herbal products, after all.

I figure that nutritional supplements can't be too dangerous (unless you consume masive quantities) because they are already a normal part of the diet of lots of people. And avoiding particular foods (like corn syrup) is a completely safe experiment, and there are lots of people with sensitivities to one food or another, so it might help. But taking untested herbs? A lot of the ones that actually have pharmaceutical effects also turn out to be dangerous.

[Loner]

Guys, the OP has been dealing with this for over five years IIRC, we're well past the point of beating him up about going to meds too soon.

[DudeMan]

OP....just let your kid play with his pee-pee again. i bet that solves all problems

[MO3]

Originally Posted by Loner

Guys, the OP has been dealing with this for over five years IIRC, we're well past the point of beating him up about going to meds too soon.

I hope you weren't including me in the "beating him up" crowd. We may eventually have to give our son prescription meds as well, and I wouldn't shy away from that at all if it becomes necessary. I wasn't aware of his past history & was just trying to give some helpful tips he could try if he were interested.

We've been through a lot as well with our son!

[bloodninja]

Originally Posted by DudeMan

what kind of meds they want to put him on? for improved mood try 5-htp and st johns wort

Dudebro, how can anyone ever be in a good mood with all of these fatties around us? Amirite?

[campbell]

I also agree with the fish oil supplements. I've gotten some citrus-flavored ones that I add to my son's milk [I take fish oil as well].

[Arthur Kade]

Originally Posted by Jack

It's good that his doctor referred him to a psychiatrist.

It wasn't the kid's doctor. It was a school counselor. In my experience, school counselors don't know WTF they are talking about.

Do NOT under any circumstances take him to the shrink your counselor referred. It will be somebody with a strong inclination to make a finding of ADHD. Ask your pediatrician for a referral to an appropriate psychiatrist.

Best of luck.

[GadgetGeek]

Is he dyslexic and this is really a Doom disorder and he is obsessed with playing older FPS games?

[DudeMan]

Originally Posted by bloodninja

Dudebro, how can anyone ever be in a good mood with all of these fatties around us? Amirite?

Urite. i'm beginning to like this guy. i like the way you think man. ninja'd.