Accelerated Summer Treatment Program for ADHD and Autism, with remote treatment options for CA patients. To learn more,
click here >>Accelerated Summer Treatment Program for ADHD and Autism, with remote treatment options for CA patients. To learn more,
click here >>For decades, ADHD medications have been the standard approach for managing symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Many patients turn to these prescriptions, following the guidance of medical professionals who recommend them as the first line of treatment.
However, research continues to evolve, and new concerns about the long-term effects of prescription ADHD medications have been reported. Emerging studies have linked extended use of stimulant medications to health risks, including cardiovascular disease.
Given these concerns, we recommend first considering the non-drug alternative ADHD treatment of brain map-guided neurofeedback, which is a non-invasive treatment that works by retraining the brain to function more optimally.
Unlike medication, which only provides temporary symptom relief, neurofeedback helps the brain learn to self-regulate which can lead to lasting symptom improvements without the risks of dependency or adverse side effects.
For decades, the Drake Institute has offered non-invasive, drug-free treatment designed to address the needs of patients suffering from ADHD.
For more information about how the Drake Institute treats ADHD and other brain-based conditions, please fill out the consultation form or call us at 800-700-4233.
While ADHD medications can provide temporary symptom relief, they come with a range of potential side effects that can impact physical health, emotional well-being, and possibly suppress growth. Patients may be unaware of the full extent of these risks when starting medication-based treatment, as they are in need of acute symptom relief. However, based on the results of a new study, we feel it’s important to revisit concerns related to ADHD medications, particularly for anyone with a family history of cardiovascular disease.
Appetite Suppression and Weight Loss: Lack of appetite and reduced intake of food can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Proper nutrition is essential for proper brain function and development as well as overall health.
Suppression of Growth Rate: A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry found that children who were prescribed stimulant medications to treat ADHD showed reduced growth rates compared to their non-medicated peers. Though some patients may have a rebound in their growth pattern once stopping medication, other patients may not.
Sleep Disturbances: ADHD stimulant medications can disrupt natural sleep patterns which can worsen ADHD symptoms, contributing to irritability, poor focus, and emotional dysregulation. Consistent lack of restorative sleep can impact mood, behavior, and ability to learn.
Emotional Blunting and Mood Instability: Adolescents on stimulant medication may complain that they feel like they’ve lost their personality. When the peak effect of the drug wears off later in the day, the child/adolescent may go through a rebound effect, or drug withdrawal, where they regress back to ADHD symptoms, sometimes even amplified. They may be more easily frustrated and be emotionally reactive.
While prescribed medications are the most common treatment for ADHD, growing evidence shows that long term use may pose risks to cardiovascular health. A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry has raised new concerns about the increased risk of hypertension and arterial disease among individuals taking stimulant medications for ADHD.
Researchers found that individuals who had taken stimulant-based ADHD drugs for more than one year had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular conditions compared to those who had used the medications for less than a year or never taken them at all. Over the 14 year follow-up, researchers found an increased cardiovascular risk of about 4% per year of stimulant medication use.
The greatest risk was observed within the first three years of use, suggesting that prolonged exposure to stimulant medications increases cardiovascular risks. While stimulant drugs may offer short-term symptom relief, the increased risk of hypertension and arterial disease should not be overlooked.
Another study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry led by Dr. Lauren Moran revealed that ADHD medication may also be linked to an increase in the risk of psychiatric side effects, including new-onset mania and psychosis. The study revealed a more than five-fold increased risk of psychotic or manic episodes. Patients taking moderate to elevated dosages of commonly prescribed amphetamines used to treat ADHD symptoms had the highest risk.
Given these risks associated with certain prescribed ADHD medication, we recommend considering non-invasive, drug-free alternatives for ADHD treatment, specifically brain map-guided neurofeedback.
At the Drake Institute, our treatment protocols are developed off of the qEEG brain map linked to the patients’ symptoms, providing a safe and effective treatment option. Instead of chemically altering neurotransmitter activity, neurofeedback trains the brain to regulate itself more efficiently, addressing ADHD symptoms at their source.
Unlike stimulant medications, neurofeedback therapy does not come with the risk of growth suppression, appetite loss, or other side effects. By choosing a treatment that supports natural brain function without the risk of adversely affecting physical health, patients can achieve long-term success in focus, emotional regulation, impulse control, and overall well-being—without the risks associated with ADHD medication.
By identifying and improving abnormal brainwave activity, neurofeedback teaches the brain to function optimally, leading to improvements in ADHD symptoms.
Quantitative Electroencephalography (qEEG) is a cutting-edge diagnostic tool that measures and analyzes the electrical activity in the brain. Unlike a CT scan or MRI brain scan that focuses on structural abnormalities, qEEG provides a functional assessment of brain functioning, revealing patterns associated with ADHD, Autism, Depression, PTSD, Insomnia and other neurophysical conditions.
The process involves placing non-invasive sensors on the scalp to detect and record brainwave activity. These recordings are then processed using advanced software to create a detailed brain map analysis, showing areas of dysregulation linked to symptoms.
By pinpointing these dysregulated regions of the brain, qEEG brain mapping provides a window into brain functioning that enables our Medical Director to develop specific and targeted clinical treatment protocols for each patient.
Because neurofeedback is customized for each patient’s unique qEEG brain map, it offers a highly effective treatment for the source of ADHD symptoms, unlike stimulant drugs, which can only temporarily suppress symptoms. As the drug effects wear off, the brain defaults back to the dysregulated pattern again as symptoms return.
Why qEEG and Neurofeedback are a Game-Changer for ADHD
By utilizing the Drake Institute’s qEEG brain mapping and neurofeedback therapy, patients can achieve real change in their brain function—without the risks associated with long-term medication use. This innovative approach represents the future of ADHD treatment, offering a safe, personalized, and highly effective alternative to prescription drugs. The Drake Institute sees our treatment as the primary treatment for ADHD, not an alternative. If we’re not able to help a child, which is very infrequent, then medication could still be considered.
A neurofeedback treatment session at the Drake Institute is completely non-invasive and safe for children and adults. During a session:
By training the brain to recognize and adjust its own activity, neurofeedback offers a natural solution to ADHD symptoms—without the need for medication or its potential unwanted side effects.
The benefits of qEEG brain map-guided neurofeedback treatment for ADHD include:
Neurofeedback therapy is like learning to balance on a bicycle using training wheels, it can show you what proper brain functioning looks like, allowing your brain to self-generate healthier, more functional brainwave patterns.
Because the results from neurofeedback training are self-generated, patients develop a more desirable, healthier brainwave activity baseline, as well as the ability to “shift” their brains into a healthier functioning pattern even after treatment has ended.
Moreover, results generated from neurofeedback therapy are not dependent on external stimulation or medications—so side effects are extremely infrequent, short-lived, and mild.
In the last forty years, Drake has helped thousands of patients with various disorders such as autism, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, panic disorder, depression, insomnia, and migraine headaches reduce or resolve their symptoms and thereby achieve a better quality of life. Call us at 1-800-700-4233 or fill out the free consultation form to get started.
If you or a family member need help, please fill out our confidential online form
Interview with Dr. David Velkoff
Seth's Story
Interview with Dr. David Velkoff
Spanish News Feature
“David F. Velkoff, M.D., our Medical Director and co-founder, supervises all evaluation procedures and treatment programs. He is recognized as a physician pioneer in using biofeedback, qEEG brain mapping, neurofeedback, and neuromodulation in the treatment of ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and stress related illnesses including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and high blood pressure. Dr. David Velkoff earned his Master’s degree in Psychology from the California State University at Los Angeles in 1975, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta in 1976. This was followed by Dr. Velkoff completing his internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology with an elective in Neurology at the University of California Medical Center in Irvine. He then shifted his specialty to Neurophysical Medicine and received his initial training in biofeedback/neurofeedback in Neurophysical Medicine from the leading doctors in the world in biofeedback at the renown Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. In 1980, he co-founded the Drake Institute of Neurophysical Medicine. Seeking to better understand the link between illness and the mind, Dr. Velkoff served as the clinical director of an international research study on psychoneuroimmunology with the UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and the Pasteur Institute in Paris. This was a follow-up study to an earlier clinical collaborative effort with UCLA School of Medicine demonstrating how the Drake Institute's stress treatment resulted in improved immune functioning of natural killer cell activity. Dr. Velkoff served as one of the founding associate editors of the scientific publication, Journal of Neurotherapy. He has been an invited guest lecturer at Los Angeles Children's Hospital, UCLA, Cedars Sinai Medical Center-Thalians Mental Health Center, St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, and CHADD. He has been a medical consultant in Neurophysical Medicine to CNN, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, Univision, and PBS.”
