Herbal meds etc for autism / anxiety / adhd

Hi OP. I'm on the autism pathway and have just been prescribed an SSRI to help with my anxiety and panic attacks. It's called Paroxetine.

Strangely, tea and coffee can be helpful in ADHD. It seems illogical because the caffeine is a stimulant and you'd think that the last thing somebody with ADHD needs is more simulation, but remember that many of the medicines used for ADHD (Ritalin etc) are stimulants of various kinds.

I believe there is some evidence for omega3 supplements being helpful in autism and ADHD.

Lastly, what's his sleep like? If he doesn't sleep well, would you consider melatonin supplements? If he is under a psychiatrist, they may prescribe them for him. If not, you can get them from pharmacies and supermarkets in Europe. In many parts of the world, it's considered a supplement rather than a medicine. The body produces it naturally, but autistic people may be deficient in it, so you're just replacing something that he should be producing naturally (albeit with a synthetic form). If he sleeps better, this may help with his mood. Just be aware that melatonin supplements may contain inconsistent doses (supplements aren't regulated in the way that medicines are) and can also include undeclared ingredients, so be sure to choose a reputable source.

This. Quicker than typing it myself.

If a child patient presented to you at work and their parent had denied them medical treatment because they don't trust doctors, how would you be expected to proceed?

You may not want to go down the medical route, but you NEED to go down the medical route. anything else isnt safe or sensible for you, your son or the general public.

Try connecting with Zen Honeycutt and signing up for her web chats: https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/zensstoryandspeech.
https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/
She is an American mum who has been through a similar situation to you and out the other end. There is plenty that you can do that does not involve medication, to good effect. Note regarding the interview with Zen, that unlike the US we don't have much GM food in the UK or the EU (Zen recommends eliminating it from the diet) as it has to be clearly labelled, but there are many other dietary measures, plus herbs, supplements, homeopathy etc that can be utilised to good effect. And there are of course professionals who can prescribe carefully so that you are not guessing how to use the treatments. Please note that many MNers hate homeopathy so there will no doubt be a pile-on here but it works well for me, my ultra-rational scientist DH and many others I know, including babies and animals. But with all these things, don't self-treat: seek out professionally qualified people to help you.

Helping your son in the best possible way involves seeking medical input. Is this were any other issue (physical rather than mental) then you would go straight to a doctor rather than looking at herbs and supplements, for which there is limited evidence of any benefit.

There is no shame in having a mental health diagnosis. If your son has these conditions diagnosed then he can access help and support as well as any medication. My son is also AuDHD, along with GAD and Sertraline has without a doubt saved his life.

Would he consider a blood test to see if he's deficient in anything?

I'd recommend magnesium and tryptophan at night if he's struggling to sleep. I'm a lifelong insomniac and they absolutely do work. If not supplements, a bedtime snack with both as an alternative, like eggs.

I also recommend these vitamins for the daytime, as well as a fish oil - https://www.boots.com/boots-sharp-mind---30-tablets-10270062

PP is being far from negligent - she wants to help her Son in the best possible way!

This.

I'd look at your own hesitation around mental health 'labels' - if you're not keen on naming the difficulty and addressing it directly, he's not likely to want to either. Same for looking for 'alternative' therapies - you cannot really blame him thinking of energy drinks if you're looking at untested herbs or magnesium...

You need proper meds. The difference that Sertraline has made to my daughter’s life is enormous. Stopped the anxiety, which stopped the panic attacks, which gave her time to think, and make good decisions.

NHS website says “Having 400mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.”
It’s a widely used supplement considered very safe (obviously don’t overdo it). If you’re concerned, you can can use Epsom salt baths, magnesium sprays etc rather than oral supplements

I'd agree with @MyAmusedLemonMaker about seeing a medical herbalist.

Therapist was recommended by someone in my hobby group who has a daughter with ASD and had success with the therapist. I often go off recommendations from a local ASD/ADHD facebook parents group as well. Daughter is more able to regulate herself now. Therapist reckons she’s probably got ADHD as well as ASD. It was ADHD she was originally referred for (aged 6) but not diagnosed with.

So you don't want him to have tried and tested medication that may well help, rather you want to give him snake oil and woo-woo treatments?

There isn't medication for ASD. Anger can be part of ADHD which can be medicated, but he will need a diagnosis. Can you afford to go private? Are you on an NHS waiting list?

There is some evidence around diet and ASD/ADHD. The age old good diet and exercise, not an easy or quick fix, but an important part of managing both.

At what age was he initially diagnosed?. Did he receive extra support at school?.

What does he do of a day now?.

Your son has ASD and anxiety plays into this too. He needs extra help urgently and natural herbal stuff is simply not going to help him.

Read the book Brain Energy by Dr Christopher Palmer and yes there are many herbs that can help and a qualified medical herbalist will guide you. See the NIMH or the URHP websites to find a qualified herbalist in your area.

ASD is NOT a mental health condition.

And like it or not, your son is already being labelled by his peers.

It is no reflection on you as a person that he is the ways he is.

Magnesium supplements can cause cardiac arrythmia if you take them when you don't actually have a deficiency. It can also cause a calcium deficiency because magnesium competes with calcium for absorbtion. Continuous usage is not recommended. This isn't "no downsides" at all. Please get professional input.

This OP. Self medicating with stuff like CBD oil really isn't going to solve this problem, if it would, no one would need the medications via prescription and there wouldn't be such difficulties getting ADHD meds atm.

We'd all love to be able to stop taking medication, having the hassle of getting repeat prescriptions etc, but all that other stuff is just junk that can't help with ADHD.

He has a triple diagnosis so any medications need to be planned carefully, what solves symptoms for one issue might make another issue worse, you really need a professional here.

He is 19. Is he in full time education?.

He may well be embarrassed but that feeling is totally misplaced. And as for he wanting no-one to know, well one of his friends knows already (and likely others too). He cannot afford to listen to perhaps (or not) well meaning but uninformed lay person friends who could do more harm than good.

DD is an expert at Googling things relevant to her. If there was a reputable herbal medicine, she would have tried it and she hasn’t. She goes with medication. I don’t know why parents are so anti medication for ADHD. Let DS try it. If it doesn’t work, he can titrate off it! OTOH, he might find it nice to not be so impulsive, be able to concentrate like other people, calm down the fidgeting, etc?