Stimulant medication makes ADHD symptoms manageable for a lot of people, but some will always choose supplements and dietary changes instead.
And some — myself included — will experiment with supplements in addition to stimulants. Stimulants have been a lifesaver for me, but I still suffer from emotional and memory problems.
After reading Daniel Amen’s Healing ADD from the Inside Out, I decided to experiment with a few of the supplements he recommends. It’s been about a month, and I’ve learned a lot.
The many faces of ADHD
ADHD doesn’t just mean lack of focus: it often comes with emotional disregulation, forgetfulness, and a host of other problems.
When I read Healing ADD, I related to Dr. Amen’s description of “temporal lobe ADD” quite a bit. While Dr. Amen’s ADD subtypes haven’t been adopted by the wider community, they can be useful to guide conversations about common groupings of symptoms.
For example, Dr. Amen describes people with temporal lobe ADD as having a quick temper (often with little or no provocation) and suffering from dark thoughts and unpredictable moods. Some are especially prone to déjà vu, and others experience odd sensory effects: objects changing shape, shadows that aren’t there, buzzing sounds, etc.
In Healing ADD, Amen goes into more detail, talking about memory issues, violent thoughts, and patients whose personalities changed completely following a minor head injury.
My experience with supplements
Intrigued by Dr. Amen’s claims about supplements, I decided to try adding GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and ginkgo biloba to my standard medication routine. GABA can help with mood stabilization, while ginkgo has long been touted as a memory aid.
I can’t really say whether the ginkgo has helped my memory — it’s possible it went from unbearable to pretty bad, but that’s a crude measure — but I’ve noticed some surprising changes since starting the GABA.
GABA is actually an inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning it keeps your brain’s activity in check (low GABA levels have been linked to anxiety and panic attacks). GABA supplement supporters claim its calming effects can soothe ADHD, anxiety, mood instability, sleep troubles, and even PMS. In some cases, Dr. Amen suggests trying it before prescription anti-convulsants like Depakote, which works by increasing GABA production.
A science-y aside: now is a good time for a reminder that correlation doesn’t necessarily imply a causal relationship, and there are very few controlled studies on the effects of supplements. Some scientists argue that GABA doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier and, consequently, has no real effect beyond placebo.
Then again, some parents of children with autism or ADHD have reported big successes with GABA.
The reality is, there just isn’t enough science for us to be sure. All we can do is try it, and if it doesn’t work, scrap it and move on.
And what has my experience been with GABA supplementation?
Most noticeably:
Increased mood stability; tamer peaks and valleys; fewer “all-or-nothing” moods- Reduced intensity and frequency of migraines
- Reduced morning coffee cravings
This is similar to my experience during pregnancy, where I could do with coffee or tea in the morning, whereas previously I needed coffee to feel even minimally functional - Possibly even reduced overall food cravings
- Gentle lift in mood; more calm, controlled energy/motivation in the morning after taking supplement
Though I was on the lookout for mood changes, the migraines (or lack thereof) were a nice bonus, if not a surprise. While Dr. Amen goes into detail about the temporal lobes’ effect on mood, memory, and social skills, the temporal lobes also play a huge role in epilepsy and migraines. Interestingly, Depakote is prescribed for all three issues — as a mood stabilizer and to prevent seizures and migraines — so there is a clear link. I wonder how many of Dr. Amen’s temporal lobe ADD cases also suffered from migraines. (Fun fact: migraines are not all that dissimilar from seizures, so if you find them debilitating, cut yourself a break.)
While I don’t see any way a GABA supplement could eliminate the need for prescription medication, it does provide — for me, at least — a helpful boost. Of course, there’s also a chance I need to adjust my medication and dosage to manage my ADHD symptoms more effectively. There always is. But for now, combining traditional stimulant treatments with a few natural supplements seems to work better than either would on its own.
Have you tried treating ADHD with natural supplements? What was your experience?
Note: hopefully I’m stating the obvious here, but I’m by no means a doctor, and this post is not medical advice. Before starting any new supplement or natural remedy, you should check in with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you — especially if you’re already taking other medications. Just because it’s “natural” doesn’t mean it’s zero-risk!
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