You guys- wild discovery that I'm sharing here. Not sure how I happened upon the benefits of saffron, but DS has always had problems with stimulants -- side effects with everything we tried. Decided to order saffron extract (available in a dropper) and Olly Happy gummy worms.
TL;DR: Saffron is supposed to be as effective as methylphenidate for ADHD-- and that's exactly what we've experienced so far. The extract arrived first, around dinner time, so we gave it to him before bed. Around 8 PM, he said he was tired and ready for bed. Went to sleep easily. BUT woke up at 5 AM with a nightmare -- turns out I'd given him the adult dose. The next evening, the gummy worms arrived. That night, we gave him one of those (DH and I took one, too): all three of us slept soundly, with DS going to bed easily and sleeping more than 11 hours. Feeling emboldened, we gave him another gummy worm this morning, and the difference from his usual hyperactivity/impulsivity is *remarkable*. Completely different kid. Calm, chill and delightful.
Anyone else using saffron? If not, you're welcome.