DMAE or PediActive | ADHD Information

This is an old thread but thought I'd bring it back to life as I am just starting my 7 yr old on DMAE. He's been taking fish oil for a while now and I think that has helped him quite a bit.
His issues are ADD, dyslexia, odd, mild cp and speech impairment.
He was also a preemie and was on oxygen for the 1st 6 months of his life.
He has no interest in academics but can remember anything about whatever he's interested in (dinosaurs, spiders, etc...)

I too notice behavior problems just before he shows symptoms of illness, I can usually tell when he's getting sick just from his behavior.

He also needs to eat on time or will start getting hyper. Occasionally I give him magnesium if he's too wound up but not often. Does help though.

The product I'm giving him is Sea Buddies (got it from Swanson Vitamins)
"...is a sugar-free formula designed to support healthy focus and attentiveness in children without diminishing daytime alertness. The ingredients in this formula have been clinically studied to promote relaxation and support healthy brain function, including phosphatidylserine, DMAE (100mg), taurine, L-theanine and NAC. Easy-to-swallow UltraCaps may be opened and mixed in your child's favorite beverage if necessary." serving size is 2 capsules

They also have DMAE caps which I just started too. I could use a memory/concentration booster :) I think I paid less than for a bottle (on sale).

I'll let you know how it goes.

I would be interested to hear others results too...

~Christine

ChristineM39590.5394791667i've never bought anything over the internet before..

i don't know why but it just makes me so nervous to pass my credit card details over the net..

i'll get one of my internet junkie friends to do it.. they buy absolutely everything over the net, even their groceries!!
and this is what i am trying to get my hands on here but can't seem to locate it anywhere.. even naturopaths here haven't heard of it..

instead we eat loads of sardines.. i think that i may need to eat a couple of kgs a day to get the equivalent to a dmae pill
If you can't find PediActive locally it is available via the internet. Be sure and order lots. Then the cost would average about the same as if you bought it in the store.
Some say it takes six weeks to see any difference. Let me know what your results are. I will do the same. Embarrassed

My son is 10 years old, and I had been giving him the pediactive for a few months. I really thought I could see a difference in his ability to focus. I asked his pediatrician about it and she was very negative about it. She said that these suppliments are not regulated properly and that you are taking a chance in giving them to your child.

What do any of you think? I can't find any negative info about DMAE, only positive. She also says this about fish oil which I want to start my son on for the omegas. I'm so confused!!! Any advice? We tried Adderall with HORRIBLE results-never want to go there again!! Thanks for any comments!!For reference on DMAE being a mild stimulant search DMAE stimulant on either Google or Yahoo.

Here is one such website:

http://www.life-enhancement.com/LE/...rint.asp?ID=105

Brain Function Enhancement

DMAE is normally present in small amounts in our brains. When supplemental amounts are used, the brain-function enhancement effects are remarkable. DMAE is a naturally-occurring nutrient found in seafood such as anchovies and sardines.1 Perhaps this explains why fish has often been called brain food.

Throughout the scientific literature, DMAE has been reported as helping to elevate mood, improve memory and learning, heighten intelligence, increase physical energy and, in laboratory animals, extend the life span. It is used by many people for its mild, safe, stimulant effect, and yet DMAE also makes it easier for most people to get to sleep and to have more lucid dreams.2 Many people report less fatigue in the day and sounder sleep at night, as well as needing less sleep when taking DMAE.

The stimulant effect of DMAE is significantly different from that produced by coffee, amphetamines, or other stimulant drugs: DMAE does not have a drug-like quick pick-up and quick come-down. People who take DMAE have reported that after three to four weeks they feel a mild stimulation continually, without side effects. Also, when DMAE is discontinued, no depression or letdown occurs. [QUOTE=crazycat] I have had my son on DMAE and omegas since August;have seen very nice results and no funky side effects-his grades have vastly improved,his moods are better,more stable,and he seems just better all around.Cynthiatweedle,thanks for the explanation of DMAE,now I can finally understand what this is and how it works,thanks to you.

[/QUOTE]

Thanks crazycat. I really appreciate your feedback. cynthiatweedle
It will be interesting to see what the school has to say. Well so far no changes that I can tell, but it has only been twelve days. Seems longer than that. I have done a lot of reading since my last post. I am going to try the omegas along with Pedi-Active (DMAE) because I have read so many good things about them and have heard more than once that they were used together. So, we'll see what happens. Oh yeah, I am also giving her a good vitamin supplement. So far she seems almost eager to take them.
cynthiatweedle38671.8469212963Dmae supposedly made our son worse so the school said. I think it was there food in the cafafteria that made him worse.

How on earth would a school (in general) know anything about DMAE (or at least enough to say it's making your child "worse."? I mean WE hardly know enough, and we're INTO this "alternative" stuff. Know what I mean? I don't mean to be so cynical (wait.....yes I do), but a school in general is WAY more likely to push meds.....so I guess it shouldn't surprise me too much that they'd claim the DMAE doesn't work. I just find that a little funny (unless the school officials making that statement also own health stores or are NDs on the side....something of that nature). Sorry.

My son took "Attentive Child," by the way. It has DMAE and another ingredient called Phosphatidylserine, both known to help ADHD symptoms. I noticed no changes at all after six weeks. After looking up more about these things on the Internet, I saw that the dosage recommended for my son's age was a lot higher than the dosage in "Attentive Child." We started seeing a ND right after stopping this product, though, so I never bothered going further into the subject. I'm just going with the supplements the ND suggested. I hope to see changes for the better in 4 to 6 weeks.

Leigh - Thanks for your input. I will check out the dosage for this one to see if it is low. I have to admit I'm dreading hearing what the school may say, and it may not be as bad as I think. I know they thought Concerta would be a good choice. But I am determined to give alternatives a good try. I wish we could afford an ND, but that is just not possible right now. Anyway, I appreciate what you had to say.

I started my son on PediActive (4 tablets a day) and Natural Nordics omega (1 tsp a day). I may add ADHD Focus to it (I cannot find this at my local health stores). I noticed that I could not find the omega chewables with a high enough dosage. From what I've read you need about 650 mg a day of DHA. After the financial holiday hit is over, I've located a ND in my area that I will be contacting.

From what I can tell on this board, it seems like a few people hit the target selecting supplements on their own, but the majority cannot find the right combo on their own?

An ND is the way to go if you can. I realize ll am just guessing with what I am doing but it seems the most successes out of those who are guessing are the omegas and magnesium and then some other type of supplement.

I don't know if it is the majority or not that do not hit it. There seems to be a lot of success with the Omegas.   They are the lucky ones, I guess.

I give my granddaughter six of the Pediactive. She is eight years old and four didn't seem to do anything.

We are also using a few behavioral therapy strategies to help her learn to control what she can. I think her ADHD is milder than a lot of those who post on this board, thank goodness.   It gives me the chance to try different things.

I am glad that you are able to see an ND. Do post on the results.    I'm not sure that an MD even knows that much on this topic, so personally, I'd take her comments with a grain of salt. I mean, how much time do you think she's really spent researching DMAE and fish oil? I think I read that the state recently licensed naturopathic doctors (NDs). Maybe you should get guidance from and ND on dosages, etc. It might allieviate your worries and get you were you want to be faster.I think some doctors discount alternatives because it is the medication which keeps you coming back. Also medications may be all they know, and some think if it doesn't go through the FDA then it can't work. It is a very negative viewpoint and I think very closed to any new information that doesn't come out of the medical system.

Don't let it get you down. It is her system which didn't work for your child not alternatives.

I have started my granddaugher on the Omegas and magnesium also because of all the good things I've heard about them.

There is a lot to learn on this section of the board.   It is a lot to read but I suggest you do read about the omegas and the threads about naturopathic doctors. They can actually test for things your child is high or low in now. If I could afford it I would try the testing because they can tailor the supplements and even medication to your own child's needs.

I am stuck just following the more commonly known supplements which have worked for many. I figure it's worth a try and that it CAN'T hurt.   If it doesn't work then it doesn't work. That's just my opinion. But I certainly think the doctor is off the beam on this.
i believe that the main reason alternatives are "poo-pooed" is because they are under researched and because they are not money makers for the pharmacuetical companies.

since there aren't as many studies regarding the success of natural products, many docs won't suggest these partly because of liability.

pharmacuetical companies rule the world! they even target patients now via tv commercials to, "ask your doctor" followed by 10 minutes of medical disclaimers on the side effects that may occur.

doctors are wined and dined by drug representatives (pharm companies) recieving many "perks" for prescribing certain drugs. sports/entertainment tickets, dinner, cars ect... they'll frequently bring lunch/treats/gifts to the doc's staff to buy their way in to see the doc. between appts.!!!

sorry, i take issue with these companies. they are after one thing, and it's not our health!!!!!

kppy

i had to add...

i do believe that modern medicine is amazing in terms of what they know about the human body and in terms of diagnostics tools that have been developed. i know i thank god everyday for emergency care...

i think the problem lies in the approach to treatment- specifically in treating the body as a bunch of separate parts and treating the symptoms that are being manifested from disease. the body is a complex, interelated system not a bunch of pieces that separately become ill. have i confused anyone yet?!

simply put, when we become ill we need treatment that addresses the entire body instead of just that part that appears ill. an example would be when someone has strep throat. docs. give antibiotics to get rid of the infection but never address why the strep occured, like maybe a weakened immune system. the infection returns later in the form of bronchitis or pneumonia because the immune system is still weakened. why do they not treat the cause?

okay, sorry to rant more but i thought i'd explain a bit.
kppy

[QUOTE=kppy]i believe that the main reason alternatives are "poo-pooed" is because they are under researched and because they are not money makers for the pharmacuetical companies.

since there aren't as many studies regarding the success of natural products, many docs won't suggest these partly because of liability.

[/QUOTE]

Yes!! I read on one website a doctor saying "Let's stay with something safe", meaning medication. Safe for whom??

If there were problems with DMAE, the omegas and magnesium you would certainly find it on the internet. This is the age of information and anyone can check out alternatives or medications.
She has only been taking the omegas about a week. So we have probably not seen yet how that will affect her fully. I think the DMAE is kicking in.

I'll try the food journal. I appreciate your help with this. Your right. After exercise like running sometimes she does the same thing. It is good to hear from someone else with the same experience.
eating at my house has become a science! i have figured out a few things about food and behavior. i'll share some examples from my family....

i have 2 in my family that NEED to eat or they get pretty ugly to be around! my husband is one of them

.

i noticed that all my kids (hubby too) need to eat "good" food or they are more irritable. we pretty much hit all the food groups and then we have a little peace at our house!

lastly, all three of my kids play competative soccer and must "refuel" after games or they are miserable to be around. after school is another time they gotta have a little snack to remain cival!

blood sugar levels, i think, is the culprit here for all three "food" issues. it's like they are depleted and a deterioration in behavior follows. when they eat well, the behavior improves. amazingly simple!

keep a "food" journal and see if there is a pattern to her behavior and what foods may be contributing to problems.

how long has your grandaughter been taking the omegas? it took a couple/few months before i saw significant improvements.
kppy

Wow. We had a much better morning today. It has to be the DMAE. It's too soon for the Omega to be working, I think. Found out that a sick day can throw her back temporarily to her old behavior. She is back to her new behavior now. Just thought I'd let you know about that, that there can be off days with the Pediactive. If you experience that don't get discouraged. That's exactly what I saw. As she was coming down with something, her behavior deteriorated. Unhappy

i think in the end, it may actually be a good thing to know. as he gets older and better able to take more responsibility for his actions, he'll be better prepared to help himself when he notices the change in mood/behavior. he has actually started to notice the changes himself. (he's 9) next step will be do something about it!

for me, it helps me "gear up" for illness and maybe even bring about a quicker end to it! we use homeopathy and it has been helpful to know what changes are taking place in selecting a remedy to help him get better.

maybe look at exra vit.c or echinacia (sp?) when you see behavior changes?
I just bought a new multiple vitamin with 250 mgs of vitamin C. But I hadn't started them before she came down. I'm ready now.

I agree. I want her to have enough control that she can see for herself when her behavior is sliding and learn to deal with it. Before she thought it was everyone else's fault. Now I don't see her blaming so much.
just an aside but my son's behavior ALWAYS deteriorates just before he comes down with something. it's like all his energy is used to fight the illness and is being re routed. he's tough to be around.

like your grandaughter cynthia, it's temporary at least. i have learned to expect illness when his behavior takes a turn for the worse and usually that's exactly what happens!

another bump in the road. keeps things interesting! arrrgh!
kppy
[QUOTE=kppy]cynthiatweedle-
that seems to be a good amount. so the improvements you see are that she's not as hyper? what about mood? any changes there? or is this not an issue for her?

this may sound dumb, but could you put the magnesium powder in say, peanut butter, cream cheese or mix into butter? won't settle in these! something to think about till you find another form.

kppy
[/QUOTE]

She is not as hyper and moody. And I think it will keep improving as it gets into her system.

One thing I have noticed about her is that if she doesn't eat on time, she gets whiney and moody. I don't know why that is.

I'll try the peanut butter idea.

Thanks for your input.

I am giving my son 4 tablets of PediActive (400 DMAE), 628 mg DHA, and 410 mg EPA daily. He's always been a great sleeper but now he's having problems getting to sleep and staying asleep and he is more irritable (probably due to the sleep problem). I'm giving 200 mg of the DMAE with dinner. Has anyone had this issue with DMAE? Maybe this is over-stimulating him, I'm not sure. What time do you give the DMAE? My child does not have a hyperactivity problem, he has an attention problem. Maybe PediActive is the wrong thing, afterall, the bottle does say "for active children" on it.

No tellin - I think you're right. The DMAE is like a stimulant and that is probably what's causing the sleep problem. If you stop it let us know what happens. My granddaughter is ADHD and I think it's the DMAE that is calming her down some. Sounds like it is having the reverse effect on your son.

Thank you for all your posts! I will follow and try DMAE soon. My son (7 y.o.) strated doing much better about 8 months ago, after I started him on Melotone syrup. But lately, I kind of see a regression in him. Also, I have been supplementing with Omegas from Neutraceuticals. Funny enough, now attention is not as much an issue as it is hiperactivity, at least that's what I think.

What bummers me is that the Melotone syrup is pretty expensive ( a bottle which lasts a whole month), I had to switch from the Nordic Naturals Omegas to the Neutraceuticals, due to price. I am very afraid to substitute Melotone for something else.

But, hey, I'll try everything before going into meds.

Will let you know about the DMAE!

JP Mom - isn't it great that there are alternatives.

I got an indication from school today and yesterday that she is doing better behavior wise. And I noticed today she had less of a problem with her spelling words. I hope that is not just a fluke because she is also dyslexic. Wouldn't that be great if it could help that also. I'm dreaming.

Well it is a relief right now that the behavior is better. It's the school issues that worry me the worst. Hopefully we'll keep seeing improvement. Do let me know how it turns out. If you don't notice anything in a couple of weeks we can compare mgs to see if we are doing about the same.

Good luck.

cynthiatweedle-
that seems to be a good amount. so the improvements you see are that she's not as hyper? what about mood? any changes there? or is this not an issue for her?

this may sound dumb, but could you put the magnesium powder in say, peanut butter, cream cheese or mix into butter? won't settle in these! something to think about till you find another form.

kppy
Haley - You can give up to 8 chewable tablets per day. I give my granddaughter three in the morning and three after school. I suspect they would have worked faster had I been giving eight per day. Also, you are supposed to give two at a time, but due to my bad memory in forgetting to give them at night, I give her three at a time. Even not following their directions it works.

One thing I have found out is important is her diet. She told me she didn't eat her pizza at school and it threw her for a loop. I am not sure if it's the protein or what but I have noticed if she doesn't eat on time or doesn't eat well, she's off the mark again. It's a noticeable difference now that she is doing better.

I am giving her omegas too but those don't start working for two months. I really won't know if they will make a difference. It may do only the same thing. Not sure. Another thing I do when for some reason she is irritable is to give her magnesium. They work pretty fast. I don't like giving them to her all the time as they work as a laxative and I am just leery about using them all the time. I may be wrong on that, but she doesn't seem to need them all the time.

The DMAE acts as a stimulant. The other ingredient in them and the DMAE also help with memory. If I could afford it I would be taking it myself. I have ADHD myself and have never been on medication for it. But the memory thing is a real pain in the neck. At least it helps me to understand her.

I hope this is of help to you. Good luck! Smile

Thanks for the info-I am going to start giving my son the Pedi-active again! I had posted before about my confusion about DMAE. I had mentioned it to my sons Dr. and she was pretty negative about it. Since he has not been taking it, he has been less focused at school and is getting frustrated over his writing assignments that he had been doing o.k. with. What type of omegas are you using and what amount? Thanks for the input!!!I am giving Omega-3 which includes DHA 500mg, EPA 250 mg with 50 IU of Vitamin E . And the magnesium --- approximately 150 mg. I am not sure how much of the magnesium she gets because it comes in a powder that I put in juice or milk and it tends to sink to the bottom.

I take the magnesium too and it helps me calm down. So if I can find magnesium in a form that I can make sure she gets the right amount, I think she might do better.

Thanks for your Yay.
Hey! I am starting to see some improvement with the DMAE and recently added omegas and magnesium. Also some behavioral modification strategies.

She is not bouncing off the walls so much. I can't wait to see how she does at school.
yay! good to hear cynthiatweedle. how much omega and mag. are you giving daily?

kppy

For omegas she's getting 500 mg of DHA and 250 of EPA. Vitamin E 50 IU. I'm buying Carlson for Kids chewable DHA, but it is too low on the Vitamin E. I've been told it should be up to 100 or 200 IU. So I am in the process of looking for another Vitamin E. I like this brand because there is no fish burp with it. I wish I could find one without the fish burp that has the right amount of Vitamin E. If you come across one let me know. Well, I'll answer my own question. DMAE among other things is a memory booster.
Pedi-Active also includes LECI-PS which helps with memory.
cynthiatweedle38688.8356712963 as I've mentioned here in the past few months,my son is doing really well on Omegas and DMAE..and as "proof",his spelling test scores last year in 4th grade,were a constant"F" and it was rare to see a single word on any test spelled correctly.This year he is consistently bringing home "A"s on spelling tests and seems to have a much better ability to recall the word and its correct spelling.I truly believe these alternatives are working!! Sure beats the insomnia,moodiness,and loss of personality we saw when he was on Strattera!Crazycat -- I noticed that my granddaughter seems to have better recall on spelling. Do you think that's the DMAE or is it Omegas?

She also has dylexia so her spelling and reading won't improve too much, but if she can continue to have good recall then she may be able to learn phonics as well as everything else.

My daughter was against using meds from the start. I was upset about it at first, but now I'm glad we didn't go in that direction. Approve

Hey cynthiatweedle, so happy that the Pedi-Active seems to be helping! How many tablets does your grandaughter take a day and when? Thanks!!

kppy wrote:

"just an aside but my son's behavior ALWAYS deteriorates just before he comes down with something. it's like all his energy is used to fight the illness and is being re routed. he's tough to be around."

I am amazed! The same happens to my son when he is going to get a flu or cold. I have to say that you ladies are very good at making connections.

Instead of the DMAE, I ended up choosing L-Theanine and gave it a shot first. I liked what I read about it, and after two weeks using it, I swear I see changes in JP. He is a lot more reflexive. His big problem is impulsivity, and he stops a little more often and think.

His grades have gone up in a very remarkable way, but socialization is still a huge issue, and with it, his self esteem is going through a very tough time.

In short, he is taking 2 tbs. of Melotone syrup, 4 to 6 capsules of high-dose fish oil (1 gram each) by Neutraceuticals and 4 capsules of L-Theanine (100 mg. each).

Great!!! Glad it's working. I am very impressed with the grades going up. Would you mind giving the specific brand name of L-Theanine? I may give that a try later.

BioSynergy is the brand. I bought it throught the internet.

I might add that we have gone into psychological therapy this week. As I said, socializing has become a challenge, and that is hurting his self esteem. I hope that the psychologist will be able to give him some good pointers on how to make and keep friends, and control his emotions.

I will keep everyone posted on how that goes, too.

JPmom - thanks! I found it on the internet and bookmarked it.

Yes I can relate to that. My granddaughter went through some of that. I think she was too aggressive with some of her friends and it got her in trouble at school. For some reason it doesn't appear that she is doing that anymore.   She lost her best friend but they made up.   Can't really tell what's going on for sure, but her attitude changed some after taking the DMAE.

I will keep an eye out for your update. Good luck with that.
From another alternates board, this information on DMAE:

Clinical studies conducted using DMAE as an ADHD treatment -- and finding it effective -- used 500 - 700mg daily.

DMAE is a nice safe one. There have been some isolated reports that it may cause drowsiness, insomnia, or elevated blood pressure, so keep an eye out for that.
Has anyone had any experience with DMAE or PediActive? I just started my grandchild on it yesterday and understand it may take awhile.   Pedi-Active is made by Nature's Plus. It is a chewable supplement and is suggested to take 2 tablets three to four times a day.
From the analysis, ingredients for two tablets:
LECI-PS        &nb sp;         &nb sp;         &nb sp;         &nb sp;     108 mg
(phosphatidylserine-rich
purifeid lecithin concentrate)
supplying ativated phosphatides
     Phosphatidylserine (PS)                  21 mg
     Phosphatidycholine (PC      & nbsp;        21 mg
     Cephalin (phosphatidythanlomine     12 mg
     Phosphoinositides  &nb sp;         &nb sp;         &nb sp;      6 mg
DMAE
   (2-dimethylaminoethanol bibartrate) 127 mg

Statement by the manufacturer: Pedi-Active is a precisely calibrated formula designed for the active child.

They do not make the claim that it is for ADHD but it was recommended to me by a nurse who has a son who takes it and who has had good results.   She said her son was now making straight A's in school and is able to focus much better playing baseball. The health food store where I bought it said this particular brand was high in demand by parents of children with ADHD. They also recommend to take DHA along with it. I haven't yet bought it.

The nurse also gives her son the usual vitamin supplements. Presently I am giving my granddaughter a good children's multivitamin from Life Source, and B Total for stress and because the B vitamins are usually recommended for ADHD.

At this point (third day) I see no difference but I think it is way too soon to tell.
I hope I have given the information you were wanting. cynthiatweedle