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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Over the counter ADHD medication

28 replies

ZOeZebra35 · 18/06/2024 22:22

I’ve tried finding over the counter ADHD medication and a company called BRAINZYME on Amazon seem to have some amazing products. Too good to be true? Anyone used? One is called “Focus elite”

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Ottervision · 18/06/2024 22:29

There's no such thing as OTC ADHD medication. Adhd medications are controlled drugs and can only be initially prescribed by a specialist in that area and then subsequently by your GP. What you've found is a supplement. It might help a bit, lots of people take things like lions mane for focus. But its not an adhd medication in terms of it being a drug to specifically treat it, it's a supplement that may or may not make any difference.

ZOeZebra35 · 18/06/2024 22:43

@Ottervision thanks otter. It’s had good reviews.

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Nn9011 · 19/06/2024 00:11

I looked at these but instead went for the women's menopause brain supplements from boots. They are quite big so I have to admit I find them hard to take but they have all the vitamins recommend for women with ADHD. I'm a long way off menopause but there's nothing in them only for menopause.

This is the first link I can find for them but I got them buy one get one free in boots

https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/health-her-perimenopause-mind-supplement-capsules-60059890?skuid=059890&utm_campaign=shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=pmax&&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4MSzBhC8ARIsAPFOuyUlh82TCtrKCNsQSSsw63FZevEBAp3vNNiyI-VsukQHDaIMi93EDWcaAtWjEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 05:24

@Nn9011 thank you for this! Have you had any side effects?

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Nn9011 · 19/06/2024 09:25

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 05:24

@Nn9011 thank you for this! Have you had any side effects?

No negative nothing so far, just a bit more energy which can only be a good thing 🤣

NC10125 · 19/06/2024 09:34

If you’re interested in dietary supplements for adhd our occupational therapist recommended a book called finally focused by James greenblatt which l really recommend.

Its a bit American but it is written by an adhd doctor includes info about the research etc which I found reassuring. The suggestions in it can be used by itself or alongside proscribed adhd drugs. Aimed at adults and kids.

Supplements haven’t been a perfect solution for us, but have really made a difference.

BertieBotts · 19/06/2024 12:34

Be aware that a lot of reviews on things like that are written by bots, or people are paid to give a positive review.

In general I would be massively suspicious about anything to treat ADHD because it is currently such a buzzword with extremely predatory marketing.

If you think you or your child have ADHD, the most effective treatment options are the prescribed ones. If you have access to this, strongly recommend trying these first, under supervision of a trained expert professional, rather than turning to some alternative unproven option. There is so much stigma about ADHD medication and a lot of the alternative med providers capitalise on this and on people's fears and claim that their product is just as effective but safer, more natural, etc. This doesn't make logical sense because if that were proven, then that product would be offered as the first line treatment.

If you don't have a diagnosis, get yourself on a waiting list as a first port of call. Also look into Right to Choose.

Then while you wait, it's worth ruling out some other medical causes of symptoms.

  • Get blood tests at GP for vitamin defiencies, thyroid check up, if you're in the right age bracket query menopause/peri. When you get the paperwork back, consider topping up any vitamins which are not considered low enough to supplement but are still in the lower end of the "acceptable" range (which will usually be printed on the results). You can discuss this with the GP in terms of any potential risks.
  • Ask about having a sleep study done, or do a sleep diary over a few days or weeks. Wearable devices which track sleep automatically can help here if you struggle with habits and consistency.
  • Look honestly at any elephant-in-the-room causes of stress. Are you in an abusive relationship? Do your kids have undiagnosed SEND and/or do you have an unhealthy relationship with them? Is your job completely stressing you out to the point of burnout? Are you addicted to alcohol, painkillers, gambling, in massive debt etc? Are you living in a physically stressful environment e.g. mould, pollution, dust (from building condition or too much stuff)?
  • Look at depression, anxiety, and burnout with your GP and discuss whether any medication or talking therapy may be appropriate here. DBT tends to be more effective than CBT for ADHD, but CBT can be effective especially if it's delivered by someone with an ADHD specialism (on the NHS, this is unlikely).
Then you can also look at what can be done to help manage ADHD symptoms in the absence of prescribed medication, what has an evidence base behind it.
  • Exercise is THE most effective intervention after medication. Again, tricky, if you struggle with habits and consistency but I would look into how to obtain consistency with this over and above a random supplement. Put money into it. Use a wearable fitness tracker, a game like Pokemon Go, sign up to an exercise class, maybe with a friend, sign up to something like a marathon or fun run so that you have a deadline. Buy a bicycle and cycle where you can rather than driving or using public transport. Join a dance class if you don't like exercise. Literally anything here will help.
  • Nicotine and caffeine are both mildly effective against ADHD symptoms. If you are an adult and you are already using nicotine, consider using it more strategically in terms of boosting your most effective times. DO NOT start using nicotine if you're not already addicted to it because obviously, that's not a good idea, it is VERY bad for you, and may be extra hard to quit - nicotine cravings make ADHD symptoms worse.
  • If you're trying to quit smoking ask your doctor about Wellbutrin - this is a smoking cessation aid and may be especially effective for patients with ADHD (who often find it extra hard to quit smoking).
  • Caffeine is difficult to dose if you're having it in the form of things like tea, coffee and energy drinks. Consider cutting those sources of caffeine out, and using a more controlled method of delivery such as tablets (e.g. Pro Plus) which you use like ADHD medication. Consider discussing this with a doctor or pharmacist first, because it is essentially self-medication, especially if you have any risk factors e.g. family history of heart issues. Do not do this for a child without medical advice.
  • DBT is a form of talking therapy which can be effective for ADHD. Ask your GP if it's available on the NHS or look at private providers.
  • Private providers of CBT specialising in ADHD may be helpful.
  • For children with ADHD, even without a diagnosis, positive parenting courses such as Triple P, offered in most areas (referrable through GP, school, or self-refer sometimes) can be helpful, or there is an online course by Yale university called The ABCs of Everyday Parenting. The tools in here are effective for children with ADHD and can be extremely helpful for reducing parent-child conflict.
Lastly, learning about how ADHD works, affects the brain, what symptoms it causes, how other people manage it, what is effective etc are all extremely useful and has been the 100% most useful thing for me. Although I do now take ADHD medication I was unmedicated for 7 years after diagnosis and I was able to make positive changes within that time just by understanding my ADHD. I did this by reading books, listening to podcasts and participating in online discussions.

ADHD coaches exist and you can hire them often online - I'd exercise caution with these because while I agree that the idea makes sense - one person who helps educate and make plans for how to manage your individual ADHD - it's entirely unregulated and you have no idea what credentials the person has or how they work. This may suffer from the same thing many people with ADHD do, where you buy a million self-help books and become a temporary expert in that self-help method and gush about it to everyone you know, but do not manage to actually complete it yourself. So, beware of that.

I'd do all of this before exploring any supplements because otherwise you can end up in a rabbit hole of supplementation, sometimes this can lead into a dangerous slope of anti-mainstream-medicine propaganda, and it can end up being expensive and delay other treatments which are more effective. Bear in mind that ADHD is a condition which is very susceptible to the placebo effect, because it involves neurotransmitters which the brain will generally try to be as "efficient" as possible at producing, so it is in theory possible to trick your mind into thinking that you need more. But this in itself will cause people to gush about a product even if it has no actual effect. On top of fake reviews, it's hard to separate these things out.

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 18:07

@NC10125 thank you do much! x

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ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 18:08

@BertieBotts amazing advice. Thank you so much.

everyone else too thank you. Sorry I’m at work but I will respond to the questions soon xx

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Benmac · 19/06/2024 19:22

I use brainzyme focus pro. Brilliant product. Definitely notice a difference on concentration and mood when I use it.
The company behind it seems very responsible. I buy direct from them and they have lots of helpful information on their website.
Not a chance of a medical assessment or prescription meds where I live.

dahliadraws · 19/06/2024 19:25

total utter shite.

dont trust any of these responses either.

AffIt · 19/06/2024 19:42

dahliadraws · 19/06/2024 19:25

total utter shite.

dont trust any of these responses either.

Completely agree.

Sick of these fucking threads which are basically marketing sock puppets.

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 22:02

@dahliadraws are you referring to the brainzyme post? Or another product? Sorry! I just want to understand

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ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 22:08

AffIt · 19/06/2024 19:42

Completely agree.

Sick of these fucking threads which are basically marketing sock puppets.

Sorry I’m not understanding your post m, do you mean I’m trying to market something or one of the posters are?

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ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 22:09

this is 100% a real thread! I don’t know why you would think it isn’t.

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Hankunamatata · 19/06/2024 22:11

We use equazen capsules (liquid for the kids) you can buy anywhere they sell vitamins

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 22:13

Someone told me today at work if caffeine relaxes me and makes me feel calmer then I’ve got ADHD but if it makes me tense and agitated then I haven’t! How much truth is in there? I felt no different after caffeine btw.

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soundsys · 19/06/2024 22:13

I take these:

the-herbtender.com/products/focus-clarity

Not specifically marketed as for ADHD but I find they really help me focus (how much is a placebo effect I can't be sure but I tell myself they'll help me focus so they do so 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Ottervision · 19/06/2024 22:15

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 22:13

Someone told me today at work if caffeine relaxes me and makes me feel calmer then I’ve got ADHD but if it makes me tense and agitated then I haven’t! How much truth is in there? I felt no different after caffeine btw.

It does effect some people with ADHD like that but a diagnostic tool it is not. You'll only know for certain if you get an assessment.

You can do an online screener which will give you an indication of whether you'd need a further assessment.

Adhd can present really differently from one individual to another.

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 22:22

Otter can you recommend an online test please? I tried looking but got really overwhelmed. I did one which at the end asked for payment and then my results but I didn’t want to pay.

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Shiningout · 19/06/2024 22:23

If you want to get diagnosed with adhd then you have to see a psychiatrist. Supplements won't help much if you actually have it. And I say this as someone who is medicated for it and has been for many many years.

Ottervision · 19/06/2024 23:11

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 22:22

Otter can you recommend an online test please? I tried looking but got really overwhelmed. I did one which at the end asked for payment and then my results but I didn’t want to pay.

I think if you look at one of the adhd charities they have them, it's just a screening. Your gp can do it with you too.

BertieBotts · 20/06/2024 14:26

This is a good screener - evidence based and used by the WHO and doesn't require email.

https://psychology-tools.com/test/adult-adhd-self-report-scale

BertieBotts · 20/06/2024 14:26

The caffeine thing is BS. If it was that easy to detect they would give caffeine as a diagnostic test and measure your response.

Yalta · 11/01/2025 05:38

ZOeZebra35 · 19/06/2024 22:13

Someone told me today at work if caffeine relaxes me and makes me feel calmer then I’ve got ADHD but if it makes me tense and agitated then I haven’t! How much truth is in there? I felt no different after caffeine btw.

For me coffee is a bed time drink

The meds for ADHD is effectively amphetamines

If caffeine doesn’t really affect you then I would look into ADHD