[Aeternitatis]

Just came upon this MSNBC spot on cannabis as ADD treatment... more effective and obviously safer than Ritalin.

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann interviews a bold and honest physician/pediatrician from the University of Southern California who explains how medical cannabis can be used to treat ADD in children.



Tell me again why this highly versatile and generally safe medicinal herb is illegal.

[bioman]

Turned my ADD around 180 degrees along with Piracetam. I only tried it when I was about 27. In many ways, I am glad I never used it when I was younger and I can't justify medicating kids with it, but data is data.

[warnerve]

bio, if you don't mind, could you offer up how you used the piracetam for ADD? I.E. doses, timing, etc.? I would like to eventually stop with my prescription drugs or at least cut back pretty far. Thanks in advance

[Aeternitatis]

Originally Posted by bioman

In many ways, I am glad I never used it when I was younger and I can't justify medicating kids with it, but data is data.

Just as you can't justify medicating kids with Ritalin.

[bioman]

True that. Doping up kids is doping up kids. I'd rather see a nutritional therapy like krill oil than meds. I'd like to see MJ legalized for both recreation and medicine, but I think it's waaaay too early to be talking about it in relation to children. In the PR sense, that's going to cause a backlash and MJ just doesn't need that sort of negative attention.

Warnerve- I stayed fairly low on the Piracetam doses using about 700mg to 1500 mg per day as opposed to 2-3 grams as is often recommended. It really stimulated me at first, gave me some insomnia which was dealt with by MJ use. Was there synergy or was it all the result of one compound or the other? I can't say, but I feel it was the combo and it helped me a lot.

This method was used along with daily journal writing as well as posting on boards like this one. I feel this helped me to "re-learn" how to focus my attention which used to be all over the place, but is now fairly well focused and less prone to overstimulation.

[warnerve]

Thanks for the help bio, much appreciated. I am trying to find ways to deal with it, I would say I am above average intelligence and have done poorly/mediocre in school since 7th grade or so...although, it's definitely a combination of my brain chemistry and TERRIBLE study, sleep, work, etc. habits. If they made a prescription for a swift kick in the ass, my parents would be the first person in line. Unfortunately, the closest thing available these days will put me in between sunnis and shi'ites

[warnerve]

and aeter, sorry to take your thread so far off topic, lemme know if you want me to erase these posts or something. The study you brought up is definitely interesting, but I get extreme paranoia, to the point I can't even do it recreationally anymore

[bioman]

Perhaps substitute something like NeuroBalance for the MJ to help deal with the anxiousness. Also, I think chronic magnesium deficiency plays a role in ADD as things like Mg asporotate, and now Poseidon, really help my mind and body relax.

And like it or not, yoga and meditation (guided or solo) are your friends. Accupuncture is not a bad idea either.

[Chippewa]

My son is on ritalin, and he's not even close to being "doped up." The idea that medications are always a child sedative of some sort isn't correct. My son was always very intelligent but unable to concentrate and in danger of failing first grade despite stellar intelligence test results. When he started ritalin, he caught up on 6 months of work in one month, and became very popular in class where before he was an outcast because of his behaviors. He even says "I like how my brain feels now" and "I feel happy to be good." Ritalin has been a miracle for him, and he's just as full of spark and wit as ever.

[Jayhawkk]

The problem is when parents will not handle a child being a child and wants them diagnosed with ADD when all it is, is lack of parenting and then doping their kids up to use Rit. as a baby sitter. The other problem with using weed as an alternate source is that in most of those same cases the parents would be using the product over the children.

[christopher]

Originally Posted by warnerve

and aeter, sorry to take your thread so far off topic, lemme know if you want me to erase these posts or something. The study you brought up is definitely interesting, but I get extreme paranoia, to the point I can't even do it recreationally anymore

Ive been told that the paranoia is directly related to increasing/increased estrogen levles, perhaps coupled with lowered/low normal progesterone levels....

When one says progesterone, immediatly you think that its a female hormone....its also important in males , normal levels that is, (for one it serves as a natural inhibitor of 5ar) but not alot of clear data surrounding it....From what I know, its ok to increase progesterone levels naturally/indirectly, but not by directly supplementing progesterone (as in bio id cream, etc)....

[Aeternitatis]

Originally Posted by Chippewa

My son is on ritalin, and he's not even close to being "doped up." The idea that medications are always a child sedative of some sort isn't correct. My son was always very intelligent but unable to concentrate and in danger of failing first grade despite stellar intelligence test results. When he started ritalin, he caught up on 6 months of work in one month, and became very popular in class where before he was an outcast because of his behaviors. He even says "I like how my brain feels now" and "I feel happy to be good." Ritalin has been a miracle for him, and he's just as full of spark and wit as ever.

You do know that Ritalin causes permanent brain damage, right?

[Chippewa]

Originally Posted by Jayhawkk

The problem is when parents will not handle a child being a child and wants them diagnosed with ADD when all it is, is lack of parenting and then doping their kids up to use Rit. as a baby sitter. The other problem with using weed as an alternate source is that in most of those same cases the parents would be using the product over the children.

Oh yeah, I totally agree with that. It's like using the TV as a babysitter. But we read everything we could find on parenting boys, from Dr. Gurian to Dr. Thompson, and it was brilliant stuff--those guys should be on the bookshelves of anyone who has sons. And yet despite our best efforts, the process was limited until ritalin filled in a very obvious gap.

[Jayhawkk]

I've seen Ritalin work wonders too. It's just the abuse by parents is so high it covers the good that can come of it.

[Brother]

There are many types of ADD and its a physical thing not just a parenting problem. The prefrontal cortex is normally stimulated while at rest, however when required to concentrate its becomes under stimulated. Its about proper diagnoses, proper medication, proper diet and exercise with follow up therapy. Some kids are diagnosed with ADD then as they age they find out they have a form of Autisim. Its bad doctors that have given the meds a bad name along with bad parents who assume that once the kid gets a pill they are "normal".

[warnerve]

Originally Posted by christopher

Ive been told that the paranoia is directly related to increasing/increased estrogen levles, perhaps coupled with lowered/low normal progesterone levels....

Interesting, I never realized that. But yeah, I have always gotten extremely paranoid from it to the point I can't even enjoy it recreationally.

I do feel like ritalin has done very well for me as far as school and such, and it definitely does not make me feel doped up. I would certainly say that such a drug being given to kids worries me though as aeter mentioned. Psychological drugs are serious stuff, I was given strattera before I was on ritalin and had TERRIBLE side effects with it, and it was presented to me as the "safer, side effect free" alternative to adderall and ritalin