Progesterone for ADHD

by Mary
(Pasadena)

Hello, I have a friend that has a 14 year old boy with ADHD. Do you have any information on the use of progesterone cream for this condition?
Thank you

Comments for
Progesterone for ADHD

Click here to add your own comments

ADHD AND PROGESTERONE ADHD AND PROGESTERONE
by: Wray

Hi Maz, Do hope the info I gave Mary is of help too. Take care Wray

ADHD
by: Wray

There has been no definitive study on the possible affect progesterone might have on someone with ADHD. But there are plenty of research papers showing it's interaction between the serotonin, dopamine and GABA pathways. These are three of our most important neurotransmitters.

Amongst other things serotonin raises mood and lowers anxiety, dopamine helps memory and attention, helping us to focus, GABA is our major calming neurotransmitter, a low level causing anxiety and panic. Progesterone raises levels of all three, it also activates the GABA receptor sites, so using the two together is even more affective for calming.

Using a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in early pregnancy has been found to cause ADHD in the child. A low level of omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy is also implicated. Children with ADHD have been found to have low levels of the omega three essential fatty acids. In fact studies have found that animals and humans deprived of omega 3 have similar symptoms. If a new born comes in contact with the endocrine disruptor, bisphenol A, it disrupts the dopamine pathway resulting in hyperactivity.

Although the jury is still out, many papers are suggesting that the disruption of the dopamine pathway results in ADHD. Others that a low level of pregnenolone (the precursor to progesterone and DHEA) and DHEA and DHEAS results in ADHD.

I would suggest he tries 1ml/day (33.3mg progesterone) of the cream, plus 500mg/day L-tyrosine (the precursor to dopamine), increasing this gradually if no effect is found, 100mg/day DHEA, Omega 3 fish oil giving 1500mg EPA and 1000mg DHA per day, a good vitamin B and antioxidant complex.
Hope this helps Take care Wray

Physiology & Behavior
Motor inhibitory role of dopamine D1 receptors: Implications for ADHD
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0P-4NTB97R-
Y&_user=5417390&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search
&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1
&_urlVersion=0&_userid=5417390&md5=051d077
993639b0df5528627abaa06b3

Nutritional Neuroscience
Increased Levels of Ethane, A Non-invasive Marker of n-3 Fatty Acid Oxidation, in Breath of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/content/aw
uyg353edkd0cul/

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/71/1/32
7S

The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
Analysis of neurosteroid levels in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstra
ct?fromPage=online&aid=85753

LE Magazine February
A New Therapeutic Option for Behavioral Disorders
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/feb2006_c
h_01.htm

X Close Editor

Rating

Submitted by: Wray

Title

Comment
There has been no definitive study on the possible affect progesterone might have on someone with ADHD. But there are plenty of research papers showing it's interaction between the serotonin, dopamine and GABA pathways. These are three of our most important neurotransmitters. Amongst other things serotonin raises mood and lowers anxiety, dopamine helps memory and attention, helping us to focus, GABA is our major calming neurotransmitter, a low level causing anxiety and panic. Progesterone raises levels of all three, it also activates the GABA receptor sites, so using the two together is even more affective for calming. Using a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) in early pregnancy has been found to cause ADHD in the child. A low level of omega 3 fatty acids during pregnancy is also implicated. Children with ADHD have been found to have low levels of the omega three essential fatty acids. In fact studies have found that animals and humans deprived of omega 3 have similar symptoms. If a new born comes in contact with the endocrine disruptor, bisphenol A, it disrupts the dopamine pathway resulting in hyperactivity. Although the jury is still out, many papers are suggesting that the disruption of the dopamine pathway results in ADHD. Others that a low level of pregnenolone (the precursor to progesterone and DHEA) and DHEA and DHEAS results in ADHD. I would suggest he tries 1ml/day (33.3mg progesterone) of the cream, plus 500mg/day L-tyrosine (the precursor to dopamine), increasing this gradually if no effect is found, 100mg/day DHEA, Omega 3 fish oil giving 1500mg EPA and 1000mg DHA per day, a good vitamin B and antioxidant complex. Hope this helps Take care Wray Physiology & Behavior Motor inhibitory role of dopamine D1 receptors: Implications for ADHD http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0P-4NTB97R- Y&_user=5417390&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search &_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1 &_urlVersion=0&_userid=5417390&md5=051d077 993639b0df5528627abaa06b3 Nutritional Neuroscience Increased Levels of Ethane, A Non-invasive Marker of n-3 Fatty Acid Oxidation, in Breath of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/content/aw uyg353edkd0cul/ American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/71/1/32 7S The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology Analysis of neurosteroid levels in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstra ct?fromPage=online&aid=85753 LE Magazine February A New Therapeutic Option for Behavioral Disorders http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/feb2006_c h_01.htm

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

ADHD AND PROGESTERONE
by: Anonymous

Hello Wray,

I too have a boy who has so called "adhd". We have been down the road of many medications and then come back to none, using only now natural remedies like fish oil, magnesium, zinc and a very natural diet. Would love to know if Progesterone can be used to help with behaviour issues etc. I noticed that your webpage covers aggressive behaviour but what about concentration issues. Look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards
Maz.