There are a variety of non-medication things an adult with ADD can do to improve the symptoms of ADD. Here are some of them:
Take Omega Oils Regularly
The effects of
these may be subtle and may take a month or so to become evident, but a number
of studies have shown that taking omega oils regularly is beneficial for a
variety of psychological disorders. I know of none involving ADD
specifically,
but the cost and risks of taking the oils are low, and there is potentially a real benefit.
You should check with your doctor to see if there are any medical reason you
should not do this. A usual dose is 1 gram twice a day.
Try to Work Where There Are Other People Working
People with ADD
often find that they get more work done if there are other people working in
their vicinity. There's even a term for it, "ghosting". For example,
you might study better if you study at the library reference room. It's a
place where there are other people working and conversations are discouraged.
Of course, this doesn't work if you are too social and engage in frequent chats
with your fellow students.
If You Have Been Taking Wellbutrin (buproprion)
For More Than Six Months and Are Having Memory Problems, Check with Your Doctor
Wellbutrin is an
excellent anti-depressant and also has some beneficial effects on ADD symptoms.
However, a small percent of people who take it find that, after a while, they
start having problems remembering names, phone numbers, and words. Of
course, some people have this symptom as they get older, and there are other
reasons for it as well. But if you start having memory problems
while taking Wellbutrin, and it becomes sufficiently bothersome, you might want
to check with your doctor. If he and you can exclude other reasons for
your forgetfulness, your doctor might want to consider stopping the Wellbutrin
for a while to see if this symptom improves.
Take Naps
Studies have
shown that even brief afternoon naps can improve cognitive functioning in all
adults. If you try this and find that it works for you, if possible you might schedule
a regular time for the naps, writing down the time in your calendar
as if it were the time for a doctor's appointment, for example, "appointment with Dr.
Pillow". Of course, getting a good night's sleep as often as possible is
equally helpful.
Not Saint John's Wort
Research
published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that Saint
John's Wort is no more beneficial for children with ADHD than is a placebo.
Nicotine
A number of studies are under way studying the effects of nicotine on ADD.
Many observers have noted that people with ADD are more likely to use
nicotine products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, etc) and that many of the
effects of nicotine are similar to those of the stimulants (increased alertness,
better concentration, better time estimation, and others). This is
certainly not a reason to start (or continue) smoking, but studies are now
focusing on whether nicotine pills or patches may help people with ADD.
Not Ephedra
Ephedra is a is
substance found in many herbal products. It is a psychoactive and has
stimulant properties. Though it is often perceived as benign, at
least seven cases of psychosis associated with its use have been reported.
In three of these, the psychotic symptoms were persistent and required
treatment with anti-psychotic medication.