Berocca

Because Additiva is difficult to find in South Africa, I wanted to find a locally available alternative.

Berocca is probably the closest alternative I've personally found to Additiva. For me, the combination of nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins provides good brain energy. The energy feels steady — I don't get an uncomfortable edge or overly stimulated feeling. My mind feels awake and ready to work; it's less a dramatic stimulant effect and more a feeling of being mentally switched on.

Berocca is a high-dose B-complex with vitamin C, magnesium, zinc and calcium. B vitamins are genuinely required for turning food into usable energy and for normal nervous-system function, and deficiencies in B12, folate, magnesium or zinc can cause fatigue and poor concentration. A few company-linked trials have reported improved mood and reduced fatigue in healthy adults under stress. Importantly, the strongest and most consistent benefit in the wider literature comes from correcting a shortfall rather than from adding extra on top of an already adequate diet.

There's no ADHD-specific research on Berocca, and much of the favourable trial work on this type of formula is industry-funded. It's also impossible for me to tell whether my response reflects a genuine nutrient gap in my own diet or simply the routine of taking something each morning.

Generally well tolerated. Bright yellow urine from riboflavin is normal. Possible mild stomach upset, especially on an empty stomach; the effervescent tablets carry a noticeable sodium load, which matters if you're monitoring salt or blood pressure. Don't combine with other multivitamins, since some B vitamins (notably B6) cause problems at sustained high doses. Check with a pharmacist if you're pregnant or on regular medication.