Comments on: Stim Nation: Forget Ritalin, Drink Coffee http://www.myomancy.com/2006/04/stim_nation_for ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:21:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Patrice Kapur http://www.myomancy.com/2006/04/stim_nation_for/comment-page-1#comment-5670 Patrice Kapur Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:45:28 +0000 http://owl.vm.bytemark.co.uk/2006/04/stim_nation_forhtml/#comment-5670 When people who are not ADHD abuse ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall, they become hyperactive and jittery. These same medications make people with ADHD calm. In my experience, caffeine works similarly to prescription ADHD medications. Both of my children and I are ADHD. One of my sons has had dramatic improvement on traditional ADHD medication, both in regard to his concentration and mood swings. My other son is less affected by ADHD and has been taking 100 mg of caffeine (table form) once or twice a day for several months. His concentration has improved and we both have noticed that he has fewer "anger" episodes when he is on caffeine. As for me, I function best when on prescription stimulants but suffer from headaches even when not on ADHD medications. I have compromised by taking caffeine in the same doses as my son and working really hard with calendars, notes, etc. to function at a reasonable level. The caffeine helps me stay somewhat focused and prevents negative mood swings (when completely off of stimulants, I feel overwhelmed and distressed on a daily basis). When people who are not ADHD abuse ADHD medications such as Ritalin and Adderall, they become hyperactive and jittery. These same medications make people with ADHD calm. In my experience, caffeine works similarly to prescription ADHD medications.
Both of my children and I are ADHD. One of my sons has had dramatic improvement on traditional ADHD medication, both in regard to his concentration and mood swings. My other son is less affected by ADHD and has been taking 100 mg of caffeine (table form) once or twice a day for several months. His concentration has improved and we both have noticed that he has fewer “anger” episodes when he is on caffeine. As for me, I function best when on prescription stimulants but suffer from headaches even when not on ADHD medications. I have compromised by taking caffeine in the same doses as my son and working really hard with calendars, notes, etc. to function at a reasonable level. The caffeine helps me stay somewhat focused and prevents negative mood swings (when completely off of stimulants, I feel overwhelmed and distressed on a daily basis).

]]> By: Eric McBride http://www.myomancy.com/2006/04/stim_nation_for/comment-page-1#comment-4774 Eric McBride Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:33:57 +0000 http://owl.vm.bytemark.co.uk/2006/04/stim_nation_forhtml/#comment-4774 I'm not sure to what Dr.Young is saying "Not so". Coffee makes them hyper? Coffee isn't indicated? That it decreases activity in the brain? Coffee does make you hyper, it makes you jittery. Along with these effects, it increases brain activity. Coffee also "drops you off" quite hard and fast and leaves you jittery still for some time. It is not long acting enough AT ALL for ADHD! Seriously, it gives me panic attacks where Ritalin does not. Either is better with food but caffeine is simply not good enough to stimulate ME through a productive period... So seriously, what's the big deal here. I’m not sure to what Dr.Young is saying “Not so”.
Coffee makes them hyper? Coffee isn’t indicated?
That it decreases activity in the brain?

Coffee does make you hyper, it makes you jittery. Along with these effects, it increases brain activity. Coffee also “drops you off” quite hard and fast and leaves you jittery still for some time. It is not long acting enough AT ALL for ADHD! Seriously, it gives me panic attacks where Ritalin does not. Either is better with food but caffeine is simply not good enough to stimulate ME through a productive period…
So seriously, what’s the big deal here.

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