By Koby Taylor, PharmD

ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a common mental health condition in which individuals have a hard time focusing, have difficulty resisting impulses, and are constantly on the go. The most common treatments for ADHD are prescription medications like Adderall or Ritalin, which can have unwanted side effects like loss of appetite, nausea, headache, and trouble sleeping.

However, there are ADHD medication alternatives that are safe to use and can still treat ADHD successfully. Let’s talk about some of the most popular and most effective ADHD medication alternatives, and where you can go in southwestern Utah to see a skilled pharmacist who can help you find the right solution for you.

How Can ADHD Be Treated Without Medication?

The following are the most popular ways to treat ADHD without medicine:

Supplements

One of the easiest-to-use and most effective alternative treatments for ADHD are supplements, as they do not require a prescription and they have few side effects. Three popular supplements for treating ADHD are amino acids, omega-3s, and melatonin:

Amino Acids

Amino acids are important nutrients that are the biological building blocks for proteins. Proteins do more than just build muscle – they are important in healthy brain function as well.

There are three types of amino acids: essential, nonessential, and conditionally essential. Essential amino acids must be acquired from your diet. Nonessential amino acids are those that the body already makes, so it is not necessary to get them from your diet. Conditionally essential amino acids are those that your body makes but can be in short supply if you have a particular disease or illness.

By working with a pharmacist, you can figure out which amino acids you are not getting enough of and take supplements of those specifically. Pharmacists can recommend specific combinations of amino acids for treating ADHD with great results.

Omega-3s

Omega-3s are a type of fatty acid that is essential for proper brain function. Most people who consume the typical Western diet do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids, including people with ADHD for whom it could help the most.

Supplementing omega-3s into the diet has shown marked improvements in children who have ADHD. Omega-3 fatty acids are abundant in fish oil supplements.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that the body releases internally at the end of the day when it gets dark. Some people with ADHD experience sleep difficulties because their mind is always racing, or because they have trouble staying still while trying to sleep. Melatonin can be taken before going to bed in order to help your body wind down for the night, and so you can stay asleep through the night.

Elimination Diets

Another popular alternative therapy for ADHD is an elimination diet. This is when you eliminate specific substances from your diet, see if your symptoms subside, and then reintroduce them back into your diet to see whether that was indeed what was causing your symptoms.

Some studies have shown that eliminating monosodium glutamate (MSG), preservatives, artificial coloring, artificial sweeteners, sugar, and common allergens like wheat, eggs, and milk can reduce the symptoms of ADHD.

Keep in mind – always talk to a healthcare provider before starting an elimination diet. Elimination diets can cause a degree of malnutrition, so a medical professional can give you good advice about how to prevent that from happening.

Computer Training Programs

Interestingly enough, an unexpected treatment for ADHD is specially designed computer games that target inattention and distractibility – which are the most common symptoms of ADHD. These video games also target executive-function deficits that are seen in people with ADHD, such as issues with working memory (the amount of information you can temporarily remember in order to properly solve a task) and with low inhibition (the inability to resist impulses).

ADHD Medication Alternatives in Southwest Utah

If you are interested in amino acid therapy and other supplements for ADHD treatment, look no further than Fusion Specialty Pharmacy. We can create customized supplements specifically for you, and we will work with you to modify the formulation as necessary to provide you with the most benefit to treat your ADHD.

We can also formulate the treatment in the easiest way for you to take it, whether that’s through capsules, tablets, creams, suppositories, or injections.

To learn more about how we can help you treat ADHD without medication, call us today at (888) 963-9923 or fill out our online request form to schedule an amino acid consultation. We look forward to serving you!