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Caffeine: An ADHD Contributor
By Rene A Lacape | September 4, 2009
Too much of caffeine will make you feel above and beyond. Go extra a few cups and suddenly you can take over the world with your newly found energy and ability to focus. However, there are reports of feeling jittery, nervous and hyperactive. All this is similar to the effects of amphetamine. This leads to discussions on whether caffeine can be used to treat ADHD.
A number of studies have been conducted to answer this question and the results are not conclusive in one direction or the other. Some studies argue that the intake of caffeine caused ADHDers to be less impulsive, aggressive, more focused, and to have increased hand-to-eye coordination. When parents and teachers were polled, they believed caffeine was just as effective as taking Ritalin. Still other studies have proven that the combination of Ritalin and caffeine gave the best benefit.
If you think that this is indeed good news to ADHD sufferers then you might want to consider the fact that no one actually reacts to caffeine the same way. Therefore there is no way one can be sure of who will benefit from taking it. Studies done on usage of caffeine often involve scores of tests done by children suffering from ADHD. These tests take into account the concentration and hyperactivity. Scores are then averaged thus often leads to overall benefits scoring between nonexistent or minimal, therefore, not taking into consideration children who are severely affected by it.
The amount of caffeine ingested when you have ADHD will make a difference in how you react, and it appears that the more you take, the worse you become! Let’s also remember that the amount of caffeine you use is also related to insomnia and addiction to caffeine! This can’t be a good thing!
As little as dose as possible for caffeine is about 158-160 milligrams. According to the list below, it shows that the amount is very reachable. – Coke has 23 mgs. in 8 ounces – Diet Coke has 31 mgs. in 8 ounces – Brewed tea has 20-35 mgs. while instant tea has 10-30 mgs. in 8 ounces – Chocolate milk has 5 mgs in 8 ounces – Semi-sweet chocolate (think chocolate chip cookies) has 5-35 mgs. in 1 ounce
If you are a normal adult, you probably drink several caffeinated beverages a day, so it doesn’t take long before you have overdone it. For children that threshold is even lower. No one is saying you must give caffeine up. But if you or your child suffers from ADD, you cannot ignore that caffeine may have profound effects on your symptoms. Just because you believe it actually minimizes the bad symptoms, and maximizes the good, the balance of how much caffeine is the perfect dose will change from day to day. So don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking caffeine is a safe alternative to treat ADHD symptoms.
Rene Lacapeis a professional health worker who has been handling stress management for young and old alike. There are different ways to handle people and he knows how the system works very well. Call on him now so that you may be helped soon.
Topics: Stress | 1 Comment »
September 16th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I have the “innattentive-type” adhd, and am currently using metylphenidate (Ritalin).
Long before i have been diagnosed, ive already suffered with attempts of using caffeine and other “natural” beverages and/or food largerly consumed as stimulants.
Here in Brazil not only coffe and Coke are largerly consumed, but there are many other kinds of “natural” stimulants, like guarana, southern “mate” tea (tastes like english tea) and catuaba, not to mention worldwide known ginseng, gingko b. and green tea.
Summarizing, all of the above in fact RAISED my general anxiety level, wich is NOT a good thing for people with ADHD; althought feeling more willingness to do things, my focus/concentration ability was drammactically REDUCED, no to mention other metabolism annormalities, like heartbeat and blood pressure instability.
With methylph., i feel WAY more relaxed and focused, and althought feel that my body metabolism raises, my MENTAL attention ability is somewhat “fixed”, and anxiety sympthoms stands in way lower levels.
My overall impression is that not only caffeine but many of those other “natural” stimulants works like “overall lift-uppers” of body metabolism, especially the nervous system. And depending what is your condition, this could not only *NOT* be a helper, but indeed a holdback (wich is my case, and probably most of the ADHD bearers out there).