The problem in brief

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is said to affect around 3% of children in the UK and is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance that affects the part of the brain that controls attention, concentration and impulsivity. This means a child's behaviour can be anything from 'very dreamy' to 'always on the go'.

Most experts agree that ADHD can be treated by combining techniques including medication, behavioural therapy, psychotherapy and education. Together these techniques have been successful, but it is the increasing use of largely untested psychoactive drugs like Ritalin which is disturbing.

Ritalin ‘has cocaine-style side effects'

Psychoactive drugs have a fast and noticeable effect on the behaviour of ADHD sufferers. Ritalin, a well-known example, is actually an amphetamine which works on the brain. The result is that children become more compliant and calm – “zombie-like” is one mother’s description – and better able to concentrate, which can be a great relief to harassed parents and teachers.

However, some studies have found that Ritalin affects the mind in much the same way as cocaine. Cocaine is taken very quickly into the bloodstream and gives an immediate hit, but Ritalin is swallowed in tablet form and so works over a much longer period. The hit isn't there, but the effects - and the side effects - appear to be.

Ritalin has been shown to produce a range of side effects including depression, tics, hallucinations and delusional disorders, seizures, headaches, blurred vision, 'zombie-like' behaviour and hair loss. The withdrawal symptoms of Ritalin can include severe and prolonged depression and may even lead to suicide.

Some advocates of Ritalin say that the worst side effects are loss of appetite, insomnia and headaches, which reduce over time. Opponents strongly disagree. The real problem is that Ritalin is a relatively new drug and its long-term effects have yet to be identified. In the meantime, we continue to ‘test’ its properties on those with ADHD, and that means, increasingly, on our own children.

Adding to the problem?

"To a child with attention deficit disorder, particular colourings and preservatives are a danger. Children ... are aroused by them, made very miserable, and virtually uneducable."
Dr Peter Mansfield, Good HealthKeeping (Kindred Spirits, Issue 4, Summer 1999)

Although not proven, some studies suggest that hyperactivity can be induced or aggravated in some children when they eat food containing additives.

Many children are not receiving enough essential nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, riboflavin and folate. Iron deficiency is directly associated with attention deficit disorders, irritability and with poor achievement at school; zinc deficiency with irritable, tearful, sullen, and possibly hyperactive behaviour; calcium deficiency with anxiety neurosis; and magnesium deficiency with fidgeting, anxious restlessness, as well as with learning disabilities.

What can be done

Screening for food intolerance is a necessary first step before any decision to use psychoactive drugs such as Ritalin. Even the simplest dietary changes - such as avoiding foods containing food additives like coloured sweets, fizzy and sugary drinks - can bring about a remarkable improvement in the child's health and behaviour.

If your child has ADHD then you should also encourage them to take Omega-3 oil - specifically fish oil – which is probably the single most important nutrient for a child with ADHD. They should also drink water as their primary beverage, taking care to avoid fruit juices, soda and milk. It is also important for your child to restrict their intake of sugars and grains, which can cause elevated insulin levels.

Do you have experience of this issue? Click here

This item is based on a review by Tuula E. Tuormaa for FORESIGHT, the Association for the Promotion of Preconceptual Care. First published in Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 9(4):225-243, 1994 (16 Florence Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2N 1E9) and on an article first published on netdoctor.co.uk

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