What do you do when your five-year-old is already on three medications, and the doctor wants to add a fourth? In this episode of The Dr. K Show, Dr. K sits down with Dana Kay, founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute and author of Thriving with ADHD, about the medication spiral that sent her from accounting into functional medicine, and the moment in a doctor's office that changed her family's course.
Dana Kay walks through her theory that most ADHD symptoms trace back to an overloaded body rather than a fixed brain disorder, covering gluten, gut health, and the testing she uses to find what's really driving a child's symptoms. If your child's diagnosis has felt like the end of the conversation instead of the start of one, this episode gives you somewhere else to look.
Key Takeaways:
- Why ADHD diagnoses in children keep climbing, and why Dana Kay believes more than 70 percent of the kids she works with do not have true ADHD
- Inside the medication spiral: how her son ended up on four ADHD medications by age five, and what the stimulant and SSRI side effects actually looked like
- The "trash can" theory of ADHD: how chronic inflammation, toxin overload and gut dysfunction drive ADHD symptoms in children
- Gluten, glutamorphin and ADHD: how a gluten peptide that acts like morphine in the brain fuels meltdowns, anxiety and mood swings
- Why girls get diagnosed with ADHD later than boys, and how inattentive ADHD symptoms get missed at school and at home
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Medical Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or replace professional medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or treatment decisions.
What is The Dr. K Show?
Looking for a functional medicine podcast that actually explains how to fix your health?
The Dr. K Show with Dr. Michael Karlfeldt covers integrative medicine, functional medicine, biohacking, and longevity, with a focus on the root causes of chronic disease and practical strategies for optimizing energy, hormones, gut health, and cognitive performance.
With over 35 years of clinical experience, Dr. Karlfeldt interviews world-leading experts in metabolic health, detoxification, hormone balance, immune function, nervous system regulation, and chronic disease prevention. Each episode delivers science-backed, actionable insights by blending modern functional medicine with time-tested healing principles.
Whether you're struggling with fatigue, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, or simply want to perform at your best, this podcast gives you the tools to take control of your health and longevity.