Tighter Safety Guidelines for ADHD drugs

Tighter Safety Guidelines for ADHD drugs a positive step

The Ministry of Health’s announcement of tighter safety guidelines for drugs for controlling hyperactivity is a positive step which may encourage those affected to seek alternative treatments for this common affliction according to learning difficulty organisation Dore.

Dore general manager Peter Sargent says many of the children and adults Dore works with have been diagnosed with Asperger’s, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia, and some are on medication to manage their ADHD tendencies.

Sargent suggests that if a ‘medication holiday” is taken, as alluded to by the Ministry, parents might consider this an opportunity to try alternative drug free treatments. He says they may well find alternative treatments enable them to take a permanent medication holiday.

Dore is a drug free programme, and although participants may be on medication to control their ADHD symptoms when they start the programme, it is often the case that by the time they have completed Dore their symptoms have reduced to such an extent they can cope adequately without the need for medication.

“In a recent case a boy came off his medication after six months on the Dore programme and his teachers did not notice he had stopped taking it. However, that becomes a decision made by those participating in the programme in conjunction with their medical professional and Dore staff have no involvement in that decision.”

Rather than addressing the symptoms, Dore works on the part of the brain that develops skills – the cerebellum. This part of the brain plays a major role in the process of learning by making tasks automatic.

Poor literacy, difficulty in concentrating and a lack of social skills are often a result of the brain’s skill development centre – the cerebellum – underperforming. The Dore exercises focus on stimulating the cerebellum and making it work more efficiently.

“Medication is about helping people cope with their symptoms. Our exercise based programme takes a completely different approach – the exercises stimulate the cerebellum and assist the body to address the affliction from within, providing a more lasting result – and without any side effects.”

The programme takes an average of 12 months and requires dedication and commitment to do the ten minutes of exercises required twice a day.

However many who have completed the programme have seen dramatic, and often life-changing results.

ENDS

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