some sort of dietary supplement, supposed to be for concentration? (He told me they were "vitamins" ... um, I can READ, big guy.)

Called "Focus for Children"; contains phosphatidylserine, griffonia, dmae l-tyrosine and grape seed extract.

What's your take on this? Does an 8 year old need to take anything other than children's multivitamins? He has had trouble staying focused at school but nothing has ever been said about supplements or meds, his teacher uses a timer with him sometimes and says it helps A LOT. (Getting one for home too, getting homework done has been difficult lately because he is easily distracted.) His 1st-2nd teacher was adamant that he's not ADD/ADHD, just very smart and a challenge to keep busy.

I guess I don't want him forming the opinion that meds/drugs solve everything for you. Am I overreacting? Would it be in his best interest to take this sort of supplement?

I want to do what's best for him. His dad will have a hissy fit if I don't give them like I was instructed *grrr* but that's not my problem.

Never heard of it.

Call the dr. Talk to your pharmacist.

BTW, there are 3 types of ADHD - with hyperactivity, without hyperactivity, and combination.

I bet there is no real research to show whatever this shinola stuff is would do your child any good.

<small>[ October 27, 2003, 06:18 PM: Message edited by: cinderella ]</small>

Buttercup,
DO NOT give those to your dear babyboy until you find out EXACTLY what they are.
But, you know that.
Just validating your gut feelings.
And to HEY w/ daddy's hissy fit.
What would be worse?
A daddy hissy fit or hurting babyboy?

hmmmm........
Gosh that IS a tough one.

Bless you Buttercup,
you are one great mommy.
xo
H.

Princess,

Funny you should ask. Where is Momma Bear when kids need her the most? That side of your personality can be very useful at times.

Trust your own instincts, you know your child better than anyone else.

I wouldn't allow any absentee parent make any such decision. The person who prescribes any kind of medication for the child needs to have an MD after his name. That is short for medical doctor, not master plumber!!

ZuZu might know what those mystery pills are.

I am extremely concerned about any sort of supplement that is touted as 'helping'. I know that there are medications that are harmful and that there are vitamins that are VERY useful. I think that in most cases they are over used and over touted in almost all respects. From shark cartilage to memory enhancers.

I HATE the thought that 'natural' means healthy. That is the biggest load of bull that there is out there. First of all medications are almost ALL derivatives of naturally occuring substances. Saying that it 'comes from the X plant or the Y plant' is meaningless. The amounts of 'medicinal' value is not consistently controlled in almost 80% of the cases (per FDA report on supplement content, year 2003. Hence the push to regulate them as medications rather than foods). The other 'filler' herbs often have effects that are discounted by the manufacturer or are touted beyond their action.

Don't forget, one of the most potent heart medications "Digoxin" is a derivative of digitalis found in the Foxglove plant. Yes, the same one that is growing in half of your flower gardens each year. To say that it is a 'safe' medication because it comes from a natural plant is to negate the fact that when carefully controlled, the digitalis is used by millions of people to help control their heart rate and cardiac output.

I feel that if your child needs a supplement, then get him a once a day multivitamin. They might be useful in many cases and are unlikely to be harmful. Any other medication or supplement should be treated as a medication and only taken when the full understanding of the possible interactions and effects are known.

I am NOT saying that MDs know everything or are always correct. However, we are NOT trying to push a medication in general. We DO NOT take kickbacks (for the most part, I know there have been some that have and possibly still do.) However, try to get that from the homeopathic physician who is selling the medication in his office. Or get a real and honest answer about a question from the supplement manufacturer. Don't be misled about their 'proof and research'. They might say, clinically proven... but really understanding what is being said in their reports is important. I would take the supplement to your physician and have it checked over before I would accept giving it to your child. It might not do any harm, and I am extremely doubtful that it will do any good. But at least, your doctor has the best chance at understanding the potential in any case.

This is the stuff:

http://www.smartbomb.com/slr8378.html

The bottle I have is redesigned, but the same maker and formula.

I am calling his pediatrician. This site is selling it as an ADD/ADHD supp. So my XH is a doctor now?

Anything with the headline 'SMARTBOMB' by definition is pile of 'junk' (NOT the word I was wanting to post). I will take a look at the site, but I still recommend you having your pediatrician who knows your child best be the deciding factor.

Smartbomb is just the website selling it, first match I got on Google. ;}

I guess I have a problem with treating him for a condition that he doesn't have without seeking his pediatrician's advice.

These are the same people who gave my daughter Visine for pinkeye for a week ... have any IDEA what that did for her??

ummmm....
well, my next suggestion is NOT politically correct, but here it goes,
line up all stupid absent stupid parents and <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="images/icons/mad.gif" />
hmmmmmmmmm.......


no lbing no lbing no lbing <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

ummm.......
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="images/icons/blush.gif" />

The good Lord made you the custodial parent for a good reason, Buttercup.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />


Visine for pink eye, huh? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

lets drop a few drops of lemon juice in his eyes for a week straight and see how he likes it.


I am having such a bad evil bio-mommy week.


AAAARRRGGGHHH

do you think they all get together to "brain" storm what they can do next?

God love ya, Buttercup.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

I have a call in to the pediatrician. The nurse I spoke with wants me to fax over the info I found online with the ingredients, etc.

If he were diagnosed ADD/ADHD or something like it, AND this was something that the pediatrician recommended, then I wouldn't have a problem with giving it to him.

Where the 1st-2nd teachers were adamant that he was totally normal for his age, his 3rd grade teacher says that this is something that will need to change before he gets into the higher grade levels or his grades will suffer. (his lack of concentration)

And if he does have ADHD, the world won't end. Look at the accomplishments of people like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin. They all had some learning difference or were such diverse individauls that I'd put money on them having a learning difference.

I agree w/all the other posters. Do not give this stuff to your son w/o checking w/your dr!

Dietary supplements are some of the most dangerous products out there. Rarely are any regulated or even approved of by the FDA, not that that gives any guarantee of safety. Not all ingredients may be listed. Did you see the 2020 episode recently where a professional athlete was fined and benched for testing positive for steroids? He bought stuff in GNC over-the-counter. In addition, many nutritional and dietary supplements contain pills that vary greatly in dosage concentration which in itself is extremely dangerous. Again, this is due to the lack of regulation. It is a multi-billion dollar industry w/a strong lobby that keeps it from being controlled by the govt.

Also, as some other poster noted, natural does not guarantee squat. You can still have deadly reactions from mixing 'natural' substances.

Maybe its a legitimate product, but I doubt it.

You certainly appear to be intelligent enough to not need our advice, but just in case you were doubting yourself because XH 'says' its good for S, be assured you are making the right decision. What the heck is XH thinking?

Let me QUANTIFY this: Your ex wants your kids to take some 'herbal supplement' for his betterment, but he has no problem making his life hell up till now?
Doesn't add up.
I wouldn't do it.
Looks like you've already done the right thing - the natural healthy thing giving him the Multi Vits already.
He does not need some other mess your ex 'thinks' he needs.
JMHO.
May God bless you and your children!
Harold

Heard back from the pediatrician's office. There are ingredients that my son's doctor is not familiar with and she would not condone giving him these supplements. There is no dosing information as far as child's age/weight like with valid medications. There is no testing done on these supplements to prove their effectiveness. There is basically no guarantee of safety.

I'm handing the bottle back to XH. :}

Son already got upset with me this morning over not giving him the pills. He said to me, "Grandma said I HAVE TO take them every day for my concentration!" (The boy has Grandma on a pedestal... hmmm, like father like son?) I flat out told him that I was not going to give him the pills until I heard back from his pediatrician.

Wrath of the Outlaws III in theatres this week. ;}

Will you help me edit a letter penned to prevent "Wrath of the Outlaws III"? I'm not sure of the stuff in italics...

~~~~~

Humperdinck,

I contacted DS's pediatrician regarding the supplements you sent on Sunday.

She could not condone giving him these pills for several reasons:

1.) She was not familiar with all of the ingredients. Natural does not mean safe.

2.) There is no dosage information for children of different ages/weights, like you would find with Tylenol. No "effective" dosage amount is given, therefore any dose could potentially be an overdose or not enough. The problem with this lies in the lack of FDA evaluation of supplements.

3.) There is no proof of effectiveness or safety. This is a huge issue with non-FDA-approved drugs.


Please do not give the children dietary supplements, herbals, etc. without consulting their pediatrician.

If you have concerns about ADD/ADHD (conditions that this supplement is suggested for) let me know. DS was reviewed for symptoms in 1st-2nd grade and was found to have a few of the symptoms but not nearly enough to diagnose. I can get you a copy of the diagnostic factors if you wish.

Concentration and distraction is a problem that we work with daily. Setting a timer for tasks helps DS immensely, in school and at home. I do not want our children thinking that they need to take a pill to be 'normal', especially when it is done with no doctors' involvement.

xpButtercup

BUMP for help with letter... I need to finalize this in an hour because I have to deal with XH today!!

expButtercup,

I looked your letter over, including the italicized parts, and my response is, there is nothing offensive in any of it. There are no accusations, disrespectful judgments, or insults. There are just facts and your expressed wishes. There is also an offer to provide Humperdink with the report about DS should he want it.

And of course everything should be run by the pediatritian before the children are dosed.

Don't worry. I would not be offended to receive such a letter. (Humperdink may be off the wall though. That doesn't mean you have to let him give food supplements to the kids if there isn't enough information about them.)

You did good. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Princess,

That is an excellent letter. You put the child's welfare and best interests up front.

Best of all you kept the anger out of it. Smart move.

Once again, trust your own instincts. They are excellent.

Humperdinck was not there when I arrived to pick up the kids, which should have been a nice thing except it meant I had to talk with his mother.

Son came out of the house saying "I NEED those pills!" and even yelling it from the car as I was trying to politely exit the one-sided conversation she was having with me about the lack of quality of the school portraits. She made quite the face when I told son that I was not going to give him the pills because the doctor said not to.

Yep, SHE is the one who bought them.

Oh, is it too much trouble to check a kindergartener's homework before you sign it? There were two mistakes and we are supposed to help them correct their work... DD said dad wasn't there when she did homework, Grandma was, dad just signed it when he got there.

I want to move to Hawaii ... we liked it there so ...