Diet and ADHD

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Has anyone changed their childs diet and not used meds for ADHD and seen results in their behaviour etc....Isit right not to give meds at the weekends with teenager boys?

I haven't changed DS2's diet, other than add the fish oils (omega 3-6-9 bought at boots and given in his orange juice each day at breakfast). We're still trying to decide if it's making a positive influence or not. We THINK it is, but how much is wishful thinking or simply LOOKING for improvement?

Anyway, DS2 has such a load of food aversions and can often be hard to get food into, I'm loathe to mess with his diet at all.

He's not on any meds though at present time, and I would be hesitant at this point to put him on them. When he is taller and stronger, I may reconsider that.

I just cut out all food colourings and preservatives and the effect was amazing - we only had to read his school reports and see the marked difference. Fizzy drinks for the most part are full of rubbish, but 7Up used to be OK! I would second the fish oils and vitamins. DS was never medicated but I think he was pretty mild in the grand scheme of things!

Hi I haven't changed my ds diet as he too is picky with foods. However what he does eat is healthy with few additives, have never given him fizzy drinks or ready meals and home cook everyday. He has odd pack of crisps and some chocolate but doesn't like sweets(weird boy!).

He is medicated but we tend not to give him the meds at weekends and holidays unless we are going somewhere he needs to be quiet/comform. My ds is 7.

DS1 eats fairly healthily and we've always been cautious with additives. Sometimes, a chomp on something sweet or carby actually calms him. As a result, we've seen no reason to fiddle with his diet.

He is medicated, but the type of medication he takes is long acting and medication holidays aren't appropriate. Most of the people I know who take methylphenidate and either take medication holidays or give them to their kids have the inattentive type of ADHD, rather than the hyperactive type.

DS (age 8) was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago. No concentration and very agressive. Tried different meds which only seemed to help a bit. After loads of research we did the Sunderland Urine Test and he showed gluten and casein peptides so started the gf/cf diet. At the same time started taking Eye Q fish oils. What a difference, he is no longer aggressive and we have reduced his meds from 25mgs daily to 10 mgs daily. DS had no meds over Christmas holidays and his behaviour and concentration were great but we still felt he needed the meds for school.

We are going to have a break from the meds at Easter with hopefully stopping them and just carrying on with the diet and fish oils.

His teachers have noticed the difference and he has even won awards at school.

do the side effects of headaches and feeling low effect him when you stop and start meds? how do you disapline a child with adhd when they re off there meds at weekends and how does if effect siblings and enjoying the weekend in general etc...

We have tried a few meds and now seem to be on a good dose which doesnt seem to effect him when we stop the meds at weekends and holidays. The main side effects for DS were loss of appetite and not getting to sleep until 10pm (he gets to sleep at 8pm at weekends - always been a good sleeper). He never had any headaches but did get stomach pain which stopped when we got different meds.

Since doing th gf/cf diet and fishoils his behaviour has been much better and when we discipline him he moans a bit but doesnt get angry anymore. Thats why we think we are ready to get him off the meds.

Not building my hopes up too much as he may be less stressed on weekends and holidays as he doesnt have the pressures of school work.