Most children who take medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) will continue to require it in adolescence, and more than 50% will need to take it as adults. Recent research indicates that this medication can have serious side effects, including dizziness, severe nausea, and suicidal ideation, as well potentially damaging the heart and liver.
In a recent study conducted during the winter months, adults with ADHD who were treated with light therapy saw significant reductions in many ADHD symptoms, including:
- Inattention
- Impulsive response to stimuli
- Difficulty in sustaining efforts
- Fatigue
Light therapy, which can be administered via a light box involves exposing the person to 10,000 lux light for approximately 30 minutes per day, though exposure times can be increased or decreased as required because individual responsiveness varies. Light therapy is ideally implemented at the time of day when the person usually feels tired or sluggish, though it shouldn’t be done too late at night as this may cause insomnia.
While light therapy shows some promise for treating ADHD in certain individuals, it should be considered a complementary therapy. Ideally, conventional therapy would be implemented year-round and light therapy used as an adjunct treatment during the darker months of fall and winter.
Tags: ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD light, SAD lights
