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Adhd Medications

Wolicki

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Wolicki Enthusiast
Wolicki
Posted

Hi,

My 9 year old son was diagnosed ADHD at age 5. It has gotten progressively worse and the dosage of the meds has gotten higher. Without his meds, he can't even stay focused long enough to tie his shoes :(

He was diagnosed last fall with Celiac. He has been on a very strict diet since October, with only 3 "slip ups" during that time, when he couldn't resist candy. One of the things I was hoping was that maybe he could get off the amphetamine drugs once he went gluten free. I have not noticed any difference in his ADHD since going gluten free.

So, were any of your celiac children with ADHD able to go off their meds, or at least cut the dose after going gluten free?

Thanks a bunch

Janie

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Yup Apprentice
Yup
Posted

Hi,

Have you had him tested for a sleep disorders? I had an ADHD student who was getting tested for that.

Wolicki Enthusiast
Wolicki
Posted
  • Author

No, no sleep disorder tests. Never even thought to do that. He doesn't have any sleep issues at all.

slee Apprentice
slee
Posted

Hi-

My son has also has ADHD. He was gluten free prior to medication. Although the gluten free diet helped a small amount, it didn't help very much, I think he just felt better. He's now been gluten free and on medication about 2 years. He also takes medication to help him sleep, due to a suspected sleep disorder, so it's not a bad idea to at least talk to your child's doctor about that. We did recently need to change medications, because he was doing worse on the old medicine. Now he's like a different child. I was so resistant to the idea of medication for so long, but now that we've found the correct medicine for him, he's still himself, but as odd as it sounds, even more himself. It's not the ADHD getting in the way. His conference we had last week was amazing, it's made such a difference in his life. People who don't know of this change keep commenting on the changes in him lately. I can see why you would want your son off medication, but it may not be related to the celiac at all and perhaps he's not on the right medication for him yet. It's worth finding the right one, and the right doctor to help. So, I guess my answer is that the gluten free diet did not change my child's need for medication.

Wolicki Enthusiast
Wolicki
Posted
  • Author

Thank you. We have changed meds and dosages several times. He's now taking Ritalin SR 40 mg in the am and a boost of regular Ritalin 10mg in the afternoon to get him through homework. He's actually doing beautifully on this combo. I just still really hate the idea of giving him drugs every day. I have some friends who have kids with Autism. They kept telling me that the need for meds would go away with the diet. I think they are full of beans now, LOL.

Both of my boys have ADHD, and a really bad case. The good news is that the meds work for them. I guess I just need to resign myself to the fact that they will probably be on it for a long time.

The diet has eliminated all of their tummy aches, vomiting and headaches, so in the grand scheme of things, we're all good. Thanks for your comments:)

janie

shayesmom Rookie
shayesmom
Posted

Thank you. We have changed meds and dosages several times. He's now taking Ritalin SR 40 mg in the am and a boost of regular Ritalin 10mg in the afternoon to get him through homework. He's actually doing beautifully on this combo. I just still really hate the idea of giving him drugs every day. I have some friends who have kids with Autism. They kept telling me that the need for meds would go away with the diet. I think they are full of beans now, LOL.

Both of my boys have ADHD, and a really bad case. The good news is that the meds work for them. I guess I just need to resign myself to the fact that they will probably be on it for a long time.

The diet has eliminated all of their tummy aches, vomiting and headaches, so in the grand scheme of things, we're all good. Thanks for your comments:)

janie

ADHD can often also be helped by avoiding certain chemicals (preservatives, food colorings, food additives). There also is often a problem with dairy. I've known of a few people who tried adding omegas and enzymes to the mix with really good results...including getting off the medications. For more info, you can check out this link and the subsequent supporting links. Open Original Shared Link

Glad to hear that things are getting better already!

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      Good evening @EssexMum You are quite right to be concerned about this situation.  Once diagnosed as coeliac, always a coeliac, and the way to heal  is through adopting and sticking to a strict gluten diet. That said... I have travelled twice to France since my diagnosis, firstly in May 2013 and again in August 2019.   My spoken French isn't bad, and whilst there I tried my best to explain my needs to chefs and catering staff, and I read labels very carefully when shopping in supermarkets, but both times I came away with worsening gastric symptoms and pain. Interestingly,  after the second holiday, my annual coeliac review took place the following month and although I'd been very careful to avoid gluten all year, thanks to that August holiday my coeliac antibodies were elevated,  Clearly I hadn't been imagining these symptoms and they must have been caused by gluten sneaking in somehow. When I spoke to my gastroenterologist on my return, who is an excellent doctor, he told me with a smile that this was a very common experience in France among his patients, and not to worry too much about it! In fact, before we went away in May 2013, which was just after I had been formally diagnosed, he told me not to even bother trying to adopt a gluten free diet until I returned, knowing what France was like, but I was feeling so awful at that time I ignored his advice and at least tried to make a start with it. (I ought to say - both these visits were some time ago, so perhaps things are a lot better there now.) So what to do?  I would say at least try to explain to catering staff the situation - they should be able to rustle up a plate of cheese, boiled eggs, tuna, salad and fruit, and if things like crackers and gluten-free pot noodle or oats can be packed in the UK, those can be produced at mealtimes.    Of course, most larger supermarkets in France do now cater for coeliacs, but when I was last there the the choice wasn't as wide a range as we have in the UK but I think that is partly because the French like to cook from scratch, whereas our gluten-free aisles have quite a lot of dried or pre-baked goods in them/convenience foods, because I think we as a nation tend to use them more. I would be worth doing a bit of research on the internet before the trip, - the words you want are 'sans gluten'.  I've just googled 'sans gluten Disney Paris" and this came up.  I do hope at least some of this is of help. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g2079053-zfz10992-Disneyland_Paris_Ile_de_France.html  Whatever befalls in France, at least your stepdaughter can resume her usual diet on her return. On a related tack, would you be happy to post any positive findings/tips upon her return - it might be of use to others travelling to Disneyland Paris with children in future? Cristiana
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