Straterra-not better or safer

Although Straterra is a non-stimulant ADHD drug, Straterra is not necessarily better or even safer than stimulants. A recent study conducted by pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics found that ADHD children who use Strattera are four times more likely to switch drugs compared to children treated with stimulant medications.

Straterra side effects mimic many side effects common in traditional stimulant ADHD medications. Straterra side effects include dizziness, dry mouth, decreased appetite and weight loss. Depression, tics, mood swings and irritability are also side effects shared by Straterra and other ADHD drug medication. Straterra can increase heart rate and blood pressure like other ADHD drug medications. Though rare, some patients have reported hives and allergic reactions to Straterra. The two most common reported side effects of Straterra are nausea, vomiting and tiredness, drowsiness, sleepiness - with sleepiness the most prevalent.

If you are worried about the side effects of stimulant and non-stimulant ADHD medications, use Attend as a safer and healthier alternative. Attend works as effectively as prescription medications without the side effects. And, unlike prescription medications, Attend is backed by a 100% guarantee.

Asthma and ADD- A Double Whammy

The University of Virginia Children's Hospital researchers believe that until these other conditions are addressed, asthma programs will not be completely affective for young patients. The April 12, 2007 issue of "The Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics" states that asthmatic children report higher incidences of ADHD, depression, anxiety, and learning disabilities. The study also revealed that the more severe a child's asthma, the higher the incidence of these other health conditions.

Researchers believe that physicians can better help asthma sufferers by managing these co-morbidities, and that children with asthma need tailored and precise treatments that address physical, mental, and developmental health.

Divorce and ADD- connection?

Children that come from divorced families are twice as likely to be prescribed attention-deficit disorder medication, than children whose parents are still married. Of the children with married parents, only 3.3% were prescribed Ritalin.
From divorced families, 6% of 633 kids received this treatment, according to a Canadian study. This study began in 1994, with 4,700 families with children, and parents who were not yet divorced. Then, these families were frequently checked up on, to record the status of their marriages, and what their children were being prescribed.
Researchers aren't yet sure why children of single parents are more likely to receive medication like Ritalin, and other mood altering drugs. But, there is definately some connection here, don't you think?

Is 5 minutes enough time to diagnose ADD?

The reality is this; Most pediatricians are booked for two patients every 15 minutes. With about five of those minutes dedicated to paperwork, doctors have about five minutes to spend on each child.

Can your doctor truly give an adequate ADD diagnosis in 5 minutes? It is the opinion of many that doctors simply cannot provide a diagnosis for an issue as intricate as Attention Deficit Disorder in a short amount of time.

What the pediatricians often do with new mental health problems is guess what the problem is, write a prescription and then see if the medication works. This is time efficient for the doctor - they don't have to ask a lengthy series of questions.

However, a child may have ADHD coupled with other issues like anxiety and depression that can worsen with stimulant medication. Or, the child might not have ADD at all but gets stuck with the label - and the drugs to go with it.

If your doctor has not spent at least 15 to 20 minutes to thoroughly address your child's issue, it's time to either get a new doctor or demand the time an ADD diagnosis truly needs.

Feeling Depressed? Go play in the dirt!

This study, published in “Neuroscience” journal, falls under the “Odd but True” heading. British researchers found that a type of friendly bacteria found in soil may provide depression relief.

This “antidepressant” soil bacteria, called Mycobacterium vaccae, is already used as a vaccine against tuberculosis, in asthma sufferers and is now looked at as an effective way to boost the production of serotonin.

Researchers believe these dirty little microbes affect the brain by causing immune cells to release chemicals called cytokines. Cytokines are chemicals known to activate sensory nerves that stimulate the brain.