Get the Lead Out

If your child has learning or behavioral issues, removing heavy metals and other toxins can greatly improve symptoms. EDTA chelation therapy is widely recognized as an effective treatment for people with lead poisoning, mercury poisoning, and other metal toxicities. Health professionals have used EDTA for over 50 years for heavy metal removal. EDTA is completely safe, FDA-approved for treating lead poisoning and toxicity.

EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) works by attaching itself to heavy metals and carries the metals from the body. TriCardia, an EDTA oral chelation therapy, is designed to cleanse and detoxify the body of toxic heavy metals and wastes, cleanse the cardiovascular system and cleanse and detoxify the liver, kidneys, gallbladder and lymphatic system. TriCardia uses 1.2 grams of free form EDTA along with 31 other free form amino acids, a series of ascorbate complexes and phytomedicinals to aid the removal of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, nickel and aluminum while supporting the heart, liver and other organs.

Put Your Brain to Work

The brain is a muscle and like any other muscle, it needs to be stretched, pushed, pulled and flexed to keep it strong and supple. The term “Use it or lose it” definitely applies to the brain.

Using the brain often will help you to become a better thinker while also increasing your ability to focus. If you flex your brain muscles often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus.

Meditation for ADHD

According to two new studies, meditation shows great promise as a new treatment of ADHD for adolescents and adults.

A George Washington University study involving middle school children revealed that regular meditation reduced ADHD by 50 percent. In this study, published this month in the “Current Issues in Education” journal, middle school children with ADHD practiced transcendental meditation twice daily. Teachers reported they were better able to teach and students were better able to learn because the students were less stressed and anxious.

Said study leader Sarina Grosswald, a cognitive learning specialist from George Washington University; "What's significant about these new findings is that among children who have difficulty with focus and attention, we see the same results. TM doesn't require concentration, controlling the mind or disciplined focus. The fact that these children are able to do TM, and do it easily shows us that this technique may be particularly well suited for children with ADHD."

Researchers of a second study, “Mindfulness Meditation Training in Adults and Adolescents with ADHD” found that a whopping 78 percent reported reduced ADHD symptoms. Additionally, adults in the study reported significant reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms. In this study, published in “Journal of Attention Disorders,” participants attended eight weekly training sessions and also participated in at-home meditation practice.

Meditation, in a sense, helps develop "mental muscles." With meditation, you focus only on breathing in and out. When thoughts arise, label your thoughts as "thinking", gently push the thoughts aside and go back to your breath. The process of noticing thoughts, labeling them and returning attention back to the breath helps you acknowledge that the mind will wander, but that you don't always have to follow those thoughts. You can remain focused.

Is Strattera Worse for European Kids?

It seems the list of warnings for Strattera purchased in Europe are far greater than when you purchase this ADHD drug in the US.

Strattera's European "Black Box" warning now include psychosis, hallucinations, mania and agitation. However, the US labels are void of these warnings. This does not mean the risk is any less real for Americans who take the drug? Hardly. Yet, the FDA seems to be dragging their feet when it comes to asking Eli Lilly to add yet another warning to their already warning-ridden label.

Strattera was introduced to the marketplace in 2003. Doctors began seeing a trend of mood destabilization shortly after its introduction.

In 2004 the FDA mandated updated labeling with a bolded warning about the potential for severe liver injury. The labeling warns that severe liver injury may progress to liver failure, resulting in death or the need for a liver transplant in a small percentage of patients.

In 2005 the FDA requested that an additional warning be added to the label of Stattera advising it may trigger suicidal thoughts in some children and adolescents.

In 2008 the European Straterra warnings included; “the risk of the onset or exacerbation of serious psychiatric disorders, including psychotic reactions, hallucinations, mania and agitation.” Aggression and hostility are already listed harmful effects of Strattera.

The European medical regulatory agency reviewed 34 cases of homicidal behavior and 2 cases of homicide in connection with Strattera. In 17 of the 34 cases – half - the homicidal behavior disappeared when Strattera was discontinued. In one case When the drug was re-administrated in one case, thoughts of murdering returned.

Murder, suicide, mayhem, aggression, liver failure and heart attacks – and this isn’t even naming all of the Straterra side effects. YIKES!

Do you really want your child on Strattera?

Look, there are many ADHD medications on the market and many effective non-drug treatments for ADHD too. Please exhaust all options before resorting to Strattera.

Heart Tests Urged for Kids Using ADHD Drugs

Stimulant ADHD medications can increase heart rate and blood pressure. This can put some children with underlying heart conditions at a greater risk of sudden cardiac death. To help reduce the heart risks of children with ADHD, the American Heart Association recommends a pre-treatment heart exam, including an electrocardiogram (ECG).

The FDA reported that 19 children died suddenly while taking ADHD medications and another 26 children experienced serious problems, including cardiac arrest, stroke, and heart palpitations between 1999 and 2004.

Even children who don’t show any symptoms might have undiagnosed heart conditions. Furthermore, some heart conditions may not appear until adolescence so children who have had normal results on an ECG in the past may need to be retested again later.

Chances are, your child’s heart is strong, healthy and able to withstand the effects of stimulant medications. Just to be on the safe side though, have your child’s heart tested before starting treatment.

There are a number of pros and cons to using prescription ADHD medications. The best advice I can give is to follow your heart and do what you truly believe is best for your child.

Parenting Tip: Offer Choices

Doing homework, brushing teeth or cleaning the bedroom might be non-negotiable but allowing your child some say in the matter will go a long way in getting the job done.

Instead of laying down the "Do Your Homework" mandate, ask the child if they would rather do their homework before dinner or before their favorite television show.

Ask if they would like the clear gel toothpaste or the mint flavored toothpaste.

Would your child rather clean his room now or when you return from the grocery store?

Would he like a special treat after cleaning his room or would he rather have an extra 30 minutes past his normal bedtime?

The only caveat with this suggestion is that you don't offer too many choices. Too many choices can overwhelm the ADHD kid.

ADHD Adults Annually Lose 3 Weeks Worth of Work

A recent Harvard Medical School study found that an inability to concentrate leads to poor-quality output (no surprise) and excess days off work. From the result of this study, researchers stated that ADHD affects work performance even more than depression does.

"It's more persistent and severe than many mental disorders, and it results in more sick days, more accidents, and more problems interacting with colleagues,” said study co-author Ron Kessler, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Researchers conducted country-by-country ADHD diagnostic assessments on more than 7,000 adult workers and what they found was that those diagnosed with ADHD spent more than 22 fewer days per year working compared with non-ADHD workers.

This included an average of;
- More than 8 days of which ADHD employees said they could not carry out their routine tasks
- Almost 22 days with reduced productivity
- Nearly 14 days of reduced quality in the work they produced.

Researchers noted that many adult workers with ADHD may not know they have a problem. Kessler further noted that it might be a smart and profitable business move for employers to screen their workers for ADHD.

Do we really want employers to start screening for ADHD? I am not sure that is the best route to better productivity.

If you suspect that you might have Adult ADHD, take this online Adult Attention Deficit quiz.

If you have ADHD, you want to find a safe and effective treatment to help you better function in all areas of your life.

Children's Suicide Attempts Raise Concerns About Strattera

The safety of Strattera, a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is in question amid reports that more than 40 Canadian children have attempted suicide after taking Strattera.

Atomoxetine, sold under the name Strattera, hit the market almost four years ago. Since that time, Health Canada said it received 189 reports of adverse reactions associated with the drug. Nearly one-third of the 189 reported adverse reactions were suicide attempts.

Suicidal tendencies are not the only concern that has been raised about Strattera. Just months after the drug was put on the Canadian market, Health Canada warned that the drug may trigger behavioral changes or increase the risk of self-harm. A year later, Health Canada issued a warning that all ADHD drugs, Strattera included, may be associated with agitation, hallucinations and other psychiatric problems among children.

Eli Lilly, the maker of Strattera, provided a written statement saying that Strattera is not the only ADHD drug that has been associated with suicidal behaviors.

If you were the parent of a child who attempted suicide, would Lilly’s statement pointing the finger other ADHD drugs make you feel better? I would think not.

Adult ADHD Tip: Lost Your Keys Again?

Few things are more stressful than running out the door (late as usual...), only to realize you have misplaced your keys, again. Or worse yet, you are running out the door (late as usual...), only to realize you have locked your keys inside the car (again) and have misplaced the second set.

It is a rare adult ADDer who goes an extended time without playing the "Where are my keys?" game. Most play this game on a regular basis. The best way to stop playing this game is to make duplicates or triplicates of all keys.

Carry a duplicate car key in your wallet, separate from your key ring. Leave another spare car key with someone who is generally available. Bury a house key in a secret spot near the house. Better yet, avoid the house key issue altogether by installing keyless door locks. Keyless entries are reasonable in price and often offer a higher measure of security over keyed entries.