Do vitamins and supplements really work as well or better than meds for ADHD?

My son is very hyper and destructive and his father and uncle (on dad's side) have extreme ADHD and various learning disorders, so many people are suspecting that my son has this too. I really don't mind his being hyper so much but wish that he would stop destroying our home. Just yesterday he took the cheese grater to the kitchen counters. I really can't afford to replace all of the things he breaks. There is little for him to do at home because before I can even get a toy put together he has destroyed it, so keeping him busy is challenging. He even disassembles the furniture. Clearly something has to be done, but I'm scared to put him on meds because I worry about side effects and the spectre of drug addiction later in his life. If anybody has experience or expertise in this I'm all ears. I am thinking of trying supplements but worry that they're ineffective and also worry about the cost (I've heard they can be hundreds of dollars/month).

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!!

My daughter has ADHD. We tried specific diets and gave her omega fatty acids and vitamins. We saw a slight improvement but we finally decided to try medication after seeing a psychiatrist for nearly a year, my grandmother, also a child physiologist, contributed her opinion. We were worried about her falling behind in school and continuing to play catchup for years to come because she couldn't concentrate. Before all this we had her carving into my wood furniture with metal toys, hitting her sisters, crying at the drop of a dime (most likely frustration we believe), taking up to four hours to do her homework and two to get ready for school. It was also affecting her social life. Every kid is different and have different severities but it's a black and white difference with her on the meds. She's happy, enjoys school, comprehends much more then before, the positives keep going. We keep her active with PT and sports, its a great energy burner.

oh with the diet...we make sure that she gets a 1 to 2 carb ratio of protein to carbs. That seems to work best for her. There are certain foods we stay away from .... I went to the book store and bought a few books on the subject. "ADD/ADHD for Dummies" actually has a lot of good info!!

uhm go to the doctor or something they will provide you with the right meds and stuff
nd you can ask the doc wat side effects it could have
adhd can be serious sometimes
the med would calm him down a bit
and yeah you herd correct, medication is a lot of money...nd it all depends on what kind of med it is and stuff

I will tell u that a doctor needs to decide this and a prayer wldnt hurt ...meds r safe these days

ADD and ADHD were created by the drug companies, to get rich. Today's society does not want to be responsible for it's inability to raise children correctly. God said it best, "Spare the rod, and spoil the child."
There is nobody over the age of 30 that would have dreamed to behave like the children of today. When we missed behaved, we were punished by our parents, not forced to take a pill that, not only decreases their physical abilities but, also impacts their creativity, and mental heath.
Do your child a favor, and discipline him/her as your grandmother would have, and they will go much further without having to take a pill for every little bump in the road of life. The backlash from generations of drug altered children has started to show up as increased crime, homelessness, drop outs, etc... Don't be affraid to whip their *** when its needed. Can you image what are parents would have done if we acted like some of these non-parented little demons do today.

Do vitamins and supplements really work as well or better than meds for ADHD?

No.

The single classification of medicines most closely associated with the temporary reduction of ADHD symptoms in some persons (not everyone) is the central nervous system stimulants - alerting agents.

Perhaps the weakest stimulant - alerting agent - available is coffee - caffeine compounds. Stronger stimulants/alerting agents include Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Adderall.

A med for ADHD works for some of those with ADHD, not all.

Good nutrition is important for overall good health for everyone - both those who are ADHD-free as well as those with ADHD.

Good luck.

forgive my frankness but it sounds like your kid just needs an old school *** woppin. Seriously, most kids don't have disorders, there parents do. Don't let your kids run you over. He will never respect you if you do. It sounds like the boys father is a real champ as well. You get what you pay for Hun....in your case you chose before hand to procreate with some one with mental disabilities. You need to sit him down in a loving but Sterne way and explain to him the rules and the consequences for violating them. When he disobeys, you simply proceed to woopin' his ***. I mean bring the smack down. But you must be sure that you DO NOT DO THIS WHILE ANGRY. If you loose controll than you have lost your point. In this case uncontrollable and erratic behavior by your son.