Question: Are there any supplements you recommend to take while on medication to replenish what the medication depletes, or to avoid building tolerance to the medication?
Answer: I don't recommend any supplements.  Many stimulant-treated people with ADHD report that, after some time on the medication, it seems to not work as well. Despite this observation, physiological tolerance to stimulants has not been convincingly demonstrated. Physiological tolerance occurs when signaling molecules in the brain change in response to the medication in a manner that makes the meds less effective. There are several reasons why stimulants may lose their effects over time. As we age, especially through adolescence and young adulthood we face larger and more complex challenges to our executive functions. These increased challenges can worsen ADHD symptoms. For others, they may have had a very good initial experience with medications improving symptoms but may not have realized that some milder symptoms remained. As patients learn about ADHD and their situation, they come to become better observers and see symptoms or impairments they had not noticed before. The best way to deal with this issue is to describe your experience to your health care provider and ask them what is best for your unique situation.
content: Q: Are there any supplements you recommend to take while on medication to replenish what the medication depletes, or to avoid building tolerance to the medication?
   Ans: I don't recommend any supplements.  Many stimulant-treated people with ADHD report that, after some time on the medication, it seems to not work as well. Despite this observation, physiological tolerance to stimulants has not been convincingly demonstrated. Physiological tolerance occurs when signaling molecules in the brain change in response to the medication in a manner that makes the meds less effective. There are several reasons why stimulants may lose their effects over time. As we age, especially through adolescence and young adulthood we face larger and more complex challenges to our executive functions. These increased challenges can worsen ADHD symptoms. For others, they may have had a very good initial experience with medications improving symptoms but may not have realized that some milder symptoms remained. As patients learn about ADHD and their situation, they come to become better observers and see symptoms or impairments they had not noticed before. The best way to deal with this issue is to describe your experience to your health care provider and ask them what is best for your unique situation.