Adults and children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have to work harder than the average person to be successful in life. Many take prescription medication for this obstacle, but others prefer to look for alternatives. Caffeine may be a viable solution in replacing traditional medications or work in conjunction with medicine to help people diagnosed with ADHD to find success in their everyday lives.
Why Use Caffeine To Treat ADHD or ADD?
Caffeine is a widely available product, found in everything from beverages to chewing gum. It is inexpensive and has little side effects for low dosages. There is no prescription involved, so even those not officially diagnosed with ADHD, but suspect they struggle in this area, can try this treatment.
Caffeine is similar to traditional ADHD medications in that it is a stimulant. Just like Ritalin, this stimulant effects dopamine levels, and enlarges vessels to increase blood flow in the brain. It also has cognitive advantages of increasing attention and processing time.
Research on Using Caffeine as an Alternative Treatment for ADHD
According to the Myomancy website, several studies have been done on the use of caffeine. On studies with non-ADHD children, caffeine had little effect, but children diagnosed with ADHD who consumed two cups of coffee per day showed improvement. A 1981 study showed that small doses of caffeine were as equally as effective as 10 milligrams of methylphenidate, a common ADHD medication.
In 2005, The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology published a study involving rats with symptoms of "hyperactivity, impulsivity, poorly sustained attention, and deficits in learning and memory processes." When caffeine was administered to the rats before a test, they found that there was a significant improvement in learning deficits.
Cautions and Drawbacks of Caffeine
While caffeine is readily available, it is still a drug, and has certain addictive properties as shown by withdrawal symptoms when a person suddenly lowers caffeine intake. High dosages of caffeine can cause nervousness, insomnia, and often a "crash" after a few hours.
A safe level of caffeine consumption is 400 milligrams daily for an adult male, 300 milligrams for an adult female, and for a child, 2.5 milligrams per kilogram. Caffeine affects each person differently though, and each person will need to monitor their consumption and side effects.
People using caffeine also need to watch sugar levels, since caffeine is often consumed within high-sugar sodas and drinks. These drinks are not a replacement for water, and people need to be careful about keeping up with recommended water intake.
Caffeine Levels in Commonly Consumed Beverages
Most caffeine consumed is in the form of beverages. Some common drinks and their caffeine levels are:
- coffee, ground, 8 oz. 135 milligrams of caffeine
- tea, 8 oz, 60 milligrams of caffeine
- green tea, 8 oz., 35 milligrams
- most colas, 12 oz, 35-45 milligrams
- energy drinks, such as Red Bull, 80 milligrams and up
Consult A Doctor if Taking Medication for Attention Deficit Disorder
While its effects vary from person to person, caffeine may be an alternative to consider in place of traditional medications. It may also be useful in conjunction with prescription medications. Many children have difficulty, for example, during homework time when the medication has worn off, but parents want to avoid giving another dose. Never suddenly stop a medication, or change a dosage without consulting a doctor first.
Caffeine is a widely available stimulant that may help people diagnosed (or undiagnosed) with ADHD to focus better, increase attention, and in some cases even sleep better. Each person has a different reaction to caffeine, so those with ADHD should proceed with caution when consuming caffeine.
Sources:
Myomancy website, accessed March, 2010
Prediger, RDS, Pamplona, F. et al., Caffeine improves spatial learning deficits in an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The International Journal of NeuropsychopharmacologyDecember 2005.
New Ideas website, accessed March 2010
Laura Wilson - Relatively new to the writing community, Laura Wilson is spending time writing about children, parenting, health, and education. She ...
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