Today I want to talk about what supplements help with ADHD or ADD.
I myself just discovered that I have ADD, and decided to use nootropics to manage my condition as opposed to prescription drugs.
True, I can’t claim the cost of supplements on my health care plan, but nootropics are much easier on my body.
When I was first diagnosed with ADD in April of 2019, my doctor put me on Adderall, which is composed of amphetamine salts.
They’re potentially addictive, and have pretty strong side effects.
I found that I was always thirsty, kind of anxious, and often felt dizzy. The worst thing, though, was how angry I got later in the day once the drugs wore off.
I was an absolute GRUMP with my family!
It wasn’t long before I started fishing around to find out what supplements help with ADHD. I didn’t want to live like that forever.
There are some folks with ADHD or ADD that will choose to do what I did; use nootropics instead of prescription drugs to stay focused.
However, some people are using nootropics AND prescription drugs together for maximum effect.
The choice is up to you, but I would recommend keeping an ongoing dialogue with your doctor, just to be cautious.
Let them advise you, and track your progress. Appreciate their medical expertise, and when in doubt, do more research.
Which leads us to the next question; how do we manage ADHD?
What causes ADHD & ADD? Do we know?
The answer is that we have a pretty good idea, but it can vary from one person to another.
Generally speaking, ADHD and ADD are directly linked to an imbalance of a group of neurotransmitters known as the catecholamines.
Catecholamines are significant to specific brain activities commonly referred to as our executive brain functions. These include attention, working memory, and impulse control.
The 3 neurotransmitters we know of as catecholamines are epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
However, the 2 neurotransmitters we know to have a direct relationship to ADHD are norepinephrine and dopamine.
Essentially, norepinephrine affects the ‘inattentive’ form of ADHD, while dopamine is connected to the ‘hyperactive’ variety.
Typically, most medical professionals will prescribe some kind of stimulant to boost your levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, hoping that this will make people better.
Prescription Drugs vs Nootropics to treat ADHD & ADD
The problem with prescription drugs in general is that they are stimulants that hit your body hard, and when they wear off, you crash.
The issue with ADHD is that the underlying causes of the disorder can sometimes be multi-faceted.
Yes, there may be a shortage of norepinephrine and dopamine in a persons’ system, but they may also have neuroreceptors that are in need of repair.
Simply taking a stimulant may or may not help their condition.
This is why I believe that taking nootropics is a much more effective solution to treatment for ADHD & ADD.
Nootropics are usually naturally sourced substances that provide numerous benefits, and they typically have synergistic effects when taken together.
Which Individual Nootropics are Best for ADHD?
There are 13 stand alone nootropics I know of that can help with ADHD and ADD.
I’ll provide a short list here, with a brief description of how they can counteract ADHD symptoms.
- Ashwagandha – provides users with a relaxed state of mental focus without becoming drowsy. Ashwagandha provides protection from stress hormones like Cortisol, and improves overall mood.
- Bacopa Monnieri – enhances focus, memory, and mood. Bacopa protects brain cells from antioxidants, and promotes relaxation.
- B-Vitamins – improved blood circulation to the brain, assist in neurotransmitter genesis, and the repair of nerve tissues.
- CDP Choline – Choline aids with memory and attention by facilitating the production of norepinephrine and dopamine.
- Ginseng – acts as a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor, thereby enhancing focused attention. Also an antioxidant.
- Lions’ Mane Mushroom – promotes the production of Nerve Growth Factor(NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor(BDNF), allowing the brain and nerve tissues to heal. Lion’s Mane also boosts immune system function.
- L-Theanine – helps boost dopamine levels, and promotes a state of relaxed focus. L-Theanine improves mood, and can help people with ADHD & ADD struggling with depression.
- L-Tyrosine – a precursor to norepinephrine and dopamine production in the brain. Clinical trials have shown L-Tyrosine to improve regulation of attention, stress resistance, and multi-tasking ability.
- Noopept – supports memory, mood, and focus. Noopept also encourages production of Nerve Growth Factor(NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor(BDNF), allowing the brain and nerve tissues to regenerate.
- Pine Bark Extract – has been shown to inhibit the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, thereby providing improved focus, and reduced hyperactivity. Pine Bark Extract also increases cerebral blood flow by increasing the concentration of nitric oxide in the bloodstream.
- Phosphatidylserine(PS) – clinical trials have shown that PS optimizes brain cell membranes, allowing more efficient firing of neurons. The overall effects are better focus, faster reaction times, and reduced hyperactivity.
- Rhodiola Rosea – helps protect the brain from stress hormones like cortisol by inhibiting their release. Rhodiola also reduces fatigue and anxiety while improving attention.
- Uridine – increases neuroplasticity by encouraging more neurons and synapses to be generated in the brain. Uridine also facilitates neurite growth, which builds connections between brain cells, and allows them to communicate with one another.
The next question of course, is how do you take these nootropics to manage ADHD & ADD?
Nootropics for ADHD – Recommendations for Best Results
Personally, I take an all-in-one nootropic stack I like called Mind Lab Pro, because it already contains 9 of the 13 individual nootropics I just discussed.
I also take some ginseng or ashwagandha if I feel I need an extra boost.
I would highly recommend Mind Lab Pro to anyone that has ADHD or ADD, because it works really well for me.
Another good option would be to use Awaken or Awaken Gold from Awakened Alchemy.
Awakened Alchemy takes a different approach to their nootropics formulations from that of Opti-Nutra; the company that makes Mind Lab Pro.
They use less herbal extracts in their lineup, but the ingredients are still extremely high quality.
Awaken Gold only contains 7 of the 13 nootropics I recommend for people dealing with ADHD or ADD, but you need to take this with a grain of salt.
Awaken Gold also contains nutrients that serve the same purpose as those found in Mind Lab Pro, so don’t think of it as being deficient by comparison.
For example, Awaken Gold does not contain Lions’ Mane mushroom, but it does contain noopept.
Lions’ Mane Mushroom and Noopept both boost levels of Neural Growth Factor(NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor(BDNF).
Different ingredients, similar effect.
Although Opti-Nutra and Awakened Alchemy have both done their own research on nootropics supplementation, their findings have found some common ground.
On the other hand, their data also diverge at certain points, and that’s why we are seeing that they have different ingredients in their formulations.
I’ve tried both Mind Lab Pro and Awaken Gold, and I think they are both great products.
I found that Mind Lab Pro worked a bit better for my body chemistry, but you might find that Awaken Gold is your best ‘go to’ stack.
The Best Nootropics for ADHD – Takeaway
I hope you’ve enjoyed finding out what supplements help with ADHD symptoms.
The decision to manage your ADHD or ADD with prescription drugs, nootropic supplements, or both is a very personal one.
I found that using nootropics instead of prescription drugs works better for me, but I’m not everybody.
I know I sound like a broken record, but I would encourage you to keep in close contact with your doctor or another medical professional to find the best treatment strategy FOR YOU.
The causes of ADHD and ADD can be more complex than simply a shortage of norepinephrine and dopamine. You may have to experiment to find the right solution.
I’ve wanted to write this article since I started nootropicscoach.com, because ADHD and ADD can be very tricky to deal with, and most people don’t understand how ADHD really works.
The social, emotional, and economic effects of this disorder are potentially very far reaching.
Before I was diagnosed, I often felt that despite my best efforts, I was wrestling against an unseen enemy.
The problem was, I didn’t even know that I was in a wrestling match to begin with, and things just went wrong without me knowing why.
A very good book on the subject is, Change your Brain Change your Life, by Dr. Daniel Amen. I’ve read it, and found the information in this book extremely helpful.
Dr. Amen has 5 sons, 4 of which have ADD. Needless to say, he’s pretty motivated to help people manage their ADHD!
There is a very notable stigma attached to ADHD and ADD, and I firmly believe that knowledge is the cure.
Those that know how these disorders work will be less likely to take offense if someone with ADHD unconsciously ignores them, for example.
Which I have done on a few occasions, and yes, it rubs a lot of people the wrong way.
But being diagnosed has given me the ability to fight back; to manage my ADD and take my life back!
I can’t tell you how good it feels to know that I can make things better, because before I was diagnosed, I didn’t even know where to look for a solution.
I sincerely hope that you have found this article helpful, and if you have any comments or questions, I would really like to hear from you!
In my next post, I will be looking at the best nootropics for studying!
See you next time!
Michael
It was a good read! My wife has ADHD and the drugs that they prescribed have been hard on her. she’s graper for 5 hours and then boom it’s like she crashes and she gets angry and irritable and all kinds of other stuff. We found your article while looking for other means to help. We had never heard of Nootropics before your article.
thank you very much this is something that we are going to personally look into ourselves and see if hopefully this can help!
Hey Denton,
Thanks so much for reading my article!
If your wife has ADHD, I would recommend that she read, “Change your Brain, Change your Life”, by Dr. Daniel Amen. Yes, his last name is like “Amen” after you say a prayer! He has 5 sons, and 4 of them have ADD. He has helped all of them learn how to manage their ADD, and lead pretty normal lives.
I have read his book front to back, and found it super helpful.
As for nootropics, I wish I could say that I am surprised you have never heard of them before, but that’s pretty normal. The nootropics industry is growing, but it’s still pretty new to most folks.
If you want to know more about them, just do lots of research online. You can even read some of my previous articles on nootropicscoach.
The article titled, “What are the Best Nootropics?” is a good place to start. It just goes over what nootropics are, and some of the most commonly used compounds.
If you have any questions going forward, you know where to reach me!
Michael
Thanks for this very well written interesting post. I didn’t realise people were diagnosed with ADD and ADHD as adults and I never really understood the difference, so thanks for clearing that up. I get what you say about medications. At the end of last year I was prescribed anti-depressants for Situational Depression. I only took them for a couple of days because of the same extreme thirst you describe with your medication. It just felt wrong in my body and really strong and they said that once I was on it properly I could not just come off, I’d have to come off it very slowly. So I used psychological strategies, had a longish break from work over christmas and was able to return to work like a new person. People actually thought the drugs were responsible. So I’m glad you’ve found the Nootropics work for you as a natural method of overcoming your condition. Do you use any psychological strategies as well?
Hey Deb,
Thanks for reading my article! It’s always good to hear that I am not the only one that feels uncomfortable taking prescription medications.
I am really glad that you found an alternative solution for your Situational Depression. That’s usually a short-term condition brought on by stress, isn’t it?
You might also be interested in reading my latest article about Ashwagandha. In my opinion, Ashwagandha is the best natural solution to anxiety and stress.
For myself, I try to have a focused awareness of my surroundings. It takes practice, but you get the hang of it after a while. I practice yoga and meditation if I can make the time.
I work out every morning for at least half an hour, and I try to get omega-3 and omega-6 oils in my diet as much as possible. And of course I take my Mind Lab Pro, along with some Ashwagandha and Ginseng if I feel I need it.
Thanks once again for sharing your thoughts, and if you have any questions later on, write me another message!
All the best,
Michael