Supplements for ADHD and ADD that respect how your brain works
An integrative, adult-focused approach to vitamins, nutraceuticals and supplements for ADHD and ADD, built around your attention, energy and real daily life rather than a rigid protocol.
ADHD shapes far more than focus. It affects how you eat, sleep, plan, rest and recover, and those patterns in turn affect how your brain functions day to day. I look at the whole system, from meal timing and protein intake to sleep, stimulant side effects and nutrient status, and consider whether a supplement may support your wellbeing. Every option is reviewed for safety and fits around any medication you take.
“The best plan for an ADHD brain is not the most complete one. It is the one you will still be following on a chaotic Thursday afternoon.”
Ten-capsule routines rarely survive contact with ADHD. I keep things simple, specific and easy to remember, because consistency matters more than ambition.
Where supplements for ADHD may play a role
Supplements for ADHD and ADD are not a replacement for an accurate assessment, therapy or medication where it is needed. They may support the physical conditions in which attention and regulation work best.
Many adults with ADHD have a complicated relationship with their bodies. Meals get skipped during hyperfocus, sleep drifts later each night, water is forgotten, and stimulant medication can blunt appetite until evening. None of this is a character flaw, but it can leave the brain under-fuelled at exactly the moments it needs the most support. Looking at these patterns honestly is often where the most practical progress begins.
My role is to bring a clinical, personalised eye to a crowded and often confusing market. Products marketed for focus and brain performance range from reasonable to questionable, and some contain stimulating ingredients that sit poorly with ADHD medication or with anxiety. I help you sort through the noise, consider what may be relevant for you, and set aside what is not.
Because I can assess, diagnose and prescribe, I can also look at whether medication is right for you, review how your current prescription is working, and adjust it if needed. Supplement guidance sits within that larger picture rather than competing with it, so you are never left choosing between a natural approach and a medical one.
Nutrients often considered in ADHD
Omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc and magnesium are among the nutrients most often discussed in relation to ADHD, and low iron in particular is worth ruling out when fatigue and poor concentration overlap. Whether any of these may be considered for you depends on your diet, your lab results and your current medicines. I avoid recommending anything just because it is fashionable in productivity circles.
Supplements alongside stimulant medication
Stimulant and non-stimulant ADHD medications each have their own considerations. Some products, including those containing caffeine or other stimulating botanicals, can add to jitteriness, raise heart rate or worsen sleep. Others may affect absorption depending on timing. I review every supplement against your prescription so that the combination works with you, not against you.
Making it ADHD-friendly
A good plan has to be easy to follow. We think about where you keep things, what you pair them with, and how to make routines visible rather than relying on memory. The aim is a small number of meaningful choices that slot into your day without becoming one more thing to feel behind on.
This may be helpful if you live with ADHD
This guidance suits adults with a diagnosis of ADHD or ADD, people who suspect they have ADHD and want a full picture, and anyone curious about how nutrition, sleep and supplements interact with their attention, mood and medication.
- Forgetting to eat until evening
- Appetite loss on stimulant medication
- Afternoon crashes and brain fog
- Sleep that drifts later and later
- Curiosity about non-medication options
- Taking focus supplements without guidance
- Fatigue alongside poor concentration
- ADHD with anxiety or low mood
- Wanting simple, sustainable routines
Practical, personalised support for focus and energy
I combine psychiatric expertise with a whole-person view of ADHD. We pay attention to your brain, your body and your environment, and choose supports that fit how you actually live, so changes are realistic enough to keep.
A clear ADHD picture
We begin with a careful understanding of your attention, impulsivity, restlessness and emotional regulation, plus how ADHD interacts with your work, relationships and self-esteem. If you have not been formally assessed, we can talk about what an evaluation involves.
Fuel for focus
We look at when and what you eat, especially protein and regular meals, because an under-fuelled brain struggles to concentrate. Small anchors, such as a reliable breakfast taken before medication wears in, may support steadier energy through the day.
Medication-aware guidance
If you take a stimulant or non-stimulant, I check every supplement for interactions, overlapping effects and timing issues. I can also review your prescription itself and make careful adjustments if side effects or gaps in coverage are getting in the way.
Quality over hype
Focus and nootropic products are heavily marketed and inconsistently made. I help you look for independent third-party testing and transparent labelling, and steer clear of blends with hidden stimulants or vague proprietary formulas.
Protecting sleep
ADHD and sleep problems often travel together, and stimulants can make bedtime harder. We look at evening routines, screen habits and medication timing, since better rest may do more for daytime attention than any single product.
Therapy for the whole story
Years of being called lazy or disorganised can leave real wounds. Our sessions make space for the shame, frustration and self-doubt that often accompany ADHD, alongside practical strategies, so support reaches beyond symptoms.
Trial and error versus a guided plan
Experimenting alone is common with ADHD, and understandable. A guided approach simply makes it safer and far easier to see what is working.
Trial and error
- Buying focus products on impulse
- Overlapping stimulants without realising
- Complex routines that quickly lapse
- No check against ADHD medication
- Hard to tell what is making a difference
Guided and personalised
- Choices based on your needs and labs
- Every product reviewed for interactions
- A short, memorable, realistic routine
- Coordinated with your prescription
- Changes introduced one at a time
A straightforward path to steadier days
Each step is built to be clear and manageable, with no long forms to lose track of.
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Free consultation 15 minutes
A short call to talk about your ADHD or ADD, how it affects your days, and whether you are interested in supplements, medication or both. It is a chance to see if my integrative style suits you before booking anything further.
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Full assessment
We explore your attention and regulation, sleep, eating patterns, stimulant or caffeine use, medical history and every product you currently take. Where useful, I suggest lab work, for example to check iron status, or review recent results from your other providers.
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A simple, tailored plan
Together we agree on a small number of changes that fit your life. That may include a carefully chosen supplement, adjustments to meals or sleep, therapy goals and, where appropriate, medication. Each element comes with a clear reason and a plan for remembering it.
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Check in and adjust
We review what is sticking, what is helping and what is not. Supplements that are not earning their place are dropped, medication is adjusted gradually if needed, and the plan evolves as your circumstances and goals change.
Francesca Rome-Marie, PMHNP-BC
I bring together psychiatry, psychotherapy, somatic work and whole-body health, informed by years in primary care and further study in gender theory, feminist thought, culture and visual art.
I keep a deliberately small caseload so that every client receives consistent, unhurried and genuinely attentive care, held within one relationship rather than split across several providers.
Clear, upfront rates
I don't accept insurance. Modern Holistic Psychiatry is an out-of-network provider, so sessions are paid for directly. Depending on your plan, you may be able to claim reimbursement through your out-of-network benefits.
Find out how much your insurance may coverNeed urgent support? If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.
Supplements for ADHD & ADD FAQs
Can supplements for ADHD replace stimulant medication?
I cannot promise that any supplement will do the job of ADHD medication, and I would be wary of anyone who did. For some adults, therapy, structure, nutrition and lifestyle changes provide meaningful support, sometimes with a supplement alongside. For others, medication makes a real difference. We look at your needs and preferences together, and any change to existing medication is made gradually and reviewed closely.
Is it safe to take supplements with Adderall, Vyvanse or other ADHD medication?
Some supplements are generally compatible, while others can add stimulation, affect heart rate, disturb sleep or influence how medication is absorbed depending on timing. Products marketed for focus sometimes contain caffeine or other stimulating ingredients that are easy to overlook. I review everything you take together before suggesting anything, so the combination is considered rather than accidental.
Why do you ask about iron when I come in for ADHD?
Low iron can contribute to tiredness, poor concentration and restlessness, which can overlap with or intensify ADHD symptoms. It is not the cause of ADHD, but it is worth knowing about. Lab work through your primary care provider can clarify your levels, and I am happy to review results with you before any decision is made about supplementing.
What about nootropics and brain-boosting products?
The nootropic market is broad and inconsistently regulated. Some products contain hidden stimulants or poorly studied blends, and quality varies widely. I am glad to look at anything you are using or considering, explain any concerns about interactions or quality, and help you decide whether it has a sensible place in your routine.
I struggle to remember to take things. How do you handle that?
That is a very common part of ADHD, and I plan for it from the start. We keep any routine short, pair it with something you already do every day, and make it visible rather than relying on memory. If a supplement cannot realistically fit into your life, it is not the right supplement for you right now.
Can you diagnose ADHD as well as advise on supplements?
Yes. As a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, I can assess and diagnose ADHD and ADD, prescribe and manage medication, and offer therapy that addresses the emotional side of living with ADHD. Supplement guidance is one part of that integrated care, not a separate service.
Do you work with adults across New York?
Yes. My practice is at 41 Union Square West in Manhattan, and I support adult clients across New York State. If you would like to explore supplements for ADHD within a broader, integrative plan, start with a free 15-minute consultation.
Find support that works with your brain
Book a free 15-minute consultation to talk about ADHD, supplements and medication, and what a realistic, personalised plan could look like for you.