Caffeine and ADHD
Can caffeine be used as a natural alternative to ADHD medication?
The active part of caffeine is methylxanthine is a mild stimulant that activates noradrenaline neurons and seems to affect the local release of dopamine, a key neurotransmitter. Dopamine plays a part in motor control and a low dopamine level is believed to be the cause of Parkinson’s disease which effect patients ability to control their movement. Another notable effect of caffeine is that it reduces the blood flow in the brain. This is similar to the effect of ADHD medications, such as Ritalin, that are stimulants, effect dopamine levels and cerebral blood flow. The cognitive effects of caffeine are also similar to ADD / ADHD medication. It makes users better a rapidly processing information and paying attention.
Studies on non-ADHD school children and caffeine are mixed. A 1987 study on Kindergarden children found no noticeable effect where as a 1994 on prepubertal children found that it did improve attention and manual dexterity. On children with ADD / ADHD the results are bit more promising. A 1973 pilot study used two cups of coffee a day as an alternative for medications and the results were promising. In 1981 caffeine was used as an alternative and as a supplement to medication. It found that caffeine in low dosage had the same effect as 10 mg of methylphenidate.
The health risks for long-term caffeine used are better understood that those of Ritalin. Mild levels of caffeine consumption, up to 400 mg for an adult male, 300 mg for a adult female and 2.5 mg per kilo for a child, is considered safe. There is evidence of a dependence on caffeine for heavy users with symptoms such as headaches when withdrawing from it. Very large amounts of caffeine can induce heart attacks and is associated with hand tremors.
For guidance, in a cup of coffee (5 US fluid ounces) there is 85 mg of caffeine for ground coffee, 60 mg for instant and 3 mg for decaffeinated. In the same sized cup of tea there is 30 mg. Cola’s have 18 mg per 6 US fluid ounce serving. A can of Red Bull contains 80 mg. As a comparison, many of the studies reference in this article used 250 mg of caffeine, the equivalent to 3 cups of fresh coffee.
It is likely that trying to replace large doses of ADHD medication with similar large doses of caffeine is likely to produce undesirable side effects. As a replacement for moderate doses of ADD / ADHD medication, caffeine may have some value. Caffeine’s effect does seem to be dependent on the user (a feature of ADHD medication as well) so your mileage may vary. Be aware that there is also large amounts of hidden caffeine in soft drinks, sweets and cold medicines so it is worth monitoring your current caffeine intake.
Previously on Myomancy
Stim Nation: Forget Ritalin, Drink Coffee
ADHD and Obesity
ADD / ADHD Natural Remedies: Part 1
ADD / ADHD Natural Remedies: Part 2
ADD / ADHD Natural Remedies: Part 3
Research:
Effects of methylphenidate on regional brain glucose metabolism in humans: relationship to dopamine D2 receptors
The acute effect of methylphenidate on cerebral blood flow in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Caffeine and human cerebral blood flow: a positron emission tomography study.
The effects of caffeine on two computerized tests of attention and vigilance
Effects of caffeine on classroom behavior, sustained attention, and a memory task in preschool children.
Caffeine effects on learning, performance, and anxiety in normal school-age children.
Caffeine as a Substitute for Schedule II Stimulants in Hyperkinetic Children
query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7028238&dopt=Abstract”>Responses to methylphenidate and varied doses of caffeine in children with attention deficit disorder.
Caffeine consumption.
Effects of caffeine on human health
Find Out More:
Books:
- Concerta Side Effects
- Nature’s Ritalin for the Marathon Mind: Nurturing Your ADHD Child With Exercise
- Ritalin Is Not The Answer: A Drug-Free, Practical Program for Children Diagnosed with ADD or ADHD
- Beyond Ritalin: Facts About Medication and Other Strategies for Helping Children, Adolescents, and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders
- Straight Talk about Psychiatric Medications for Kids
July 8th, 2006
ADD / ADHD Medication, ADD / ADHD, ADD / ADHD Treatment, Food and Drink
Comments on: Caffeine and ADHD
Hi, you can call me, Mav
I have happened to be a heavy caffeinated soda drinker. I probably needed it to counteract my side effects of my psychotrophic medications.
My mother strongly advises me to quit caffeine. I wanted to do that, but I think I would need to have a doctor to reduce my medication.
Any comments or ideas?
Posted by: John Mav August 30th, 2006 at 8:45 am
Hi Mav,
You need to speak to a doctor about your medications but reducing your caffine intake is a good idea. It can affect sleep patterns which in turn can affect your mental state.
Try reducing your intake gradually over a number of weeks. Your caffine habit didn’t start over night so don’t expect it to dissappear over night either.
Chris
Posted by: Chris Tregenza August 30th, 2006 at 10:49 am
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ADHD_Bulletin_Board/
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Tartrazine_and_ADHD/
Posted by: Charles Thomas Wild October 14th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Are there any parents who have tried caffiene as an alternative to prescription medication for ADD? My 8 year old son was recently diagnosed. After a bad experience with meds, we are searching for alternatives and may try caffiene.
Posted by: Dawn January 16th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Yes, I use it with my 10 year old ADD/ADHD daughter in the afternoons to help with homework. She takes Strattera during the day but it plays out at about 3:00. I tried Ritalin (only in afternoons)but the dosage that helps w/homework and frustration over homework keeps her up at night. I’ve had good luck with caffeine tablets and the neurologist said to use whatever seems to work. I even give it to her on Friday nights when we go shopping and out to eat. She also has a Sensory Processing Disorder and it seems to calm her down for the shopping trips. In addition, I give her caffeine in the morning about 20 minutes before we get her up for school as it helps her to focus on getting ready for school. Hope this helps.
Posted by: Kathy March 28th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I was diagnosed with moderate to severe adhd at the age of 6 in kindegarten by a clinical psychologist and Medical Doctor. I began treatment of adhd with ritalin which caused severe ticks, loss of apetite, and loss of sleep. I took that medication for 10 years, and then switched to adderall. I became much more irritable with adderall, but lost the tick, and was able to sleep and eat better. i stopped taking adderall or any other medication when i was 16 because I felt like i needed to try to control my own life. The withdrawal was severe, and i went through several weeks unable to control my thoughts, or thought patterns. Then i began to regain a little bit of control, and started drinking coffee. i am now in my third year of college, made the deans list last semester, and am doing well with the caffeine treatment method so far. down the road i will probably need medication, but for now 3 or 4 cups a day seems to do the trick! only side effect, i get occasional withdrawal headaches from time to time.
hope this helped some people!
Posted by: pamela April 25th, 2008 at 4:11 am
I am adhd and i was put on ridaline(spl) that stuff is bad. I have been using caffeine for about 11yrs now to slow me down. It works. I can focus. I have a family and it works in about 35-40min with the kids.(mountain dew). They seem to slow down and focus more. There has been a few less injuries between the kids since i have tried. I drink about 40oz of soda a day.
The only down side is the one listed in the previous post. The headaches. Simple solution to normal caffeine headaches is water. But my life has been much better with those stupid pills. I actually have a life without that stuff. Should have been noticed sooner is all i can say. I shake and bite by nails and have a 5 graders hand writting. Im 23yrs old. caffeine is a better solution.
Posted by: RyanW May 6th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
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