Caffeine to Treat Adhd?

Ok My daughter is ADHD, on meds and still has more personality than should be allowed for a 4ft tall 3rd grader, she's always been this way. The right dosage of medication is not going to change her personality just give her the ability to control herself and focus.
I have tried caffeine but coffee doesn't even have enough caffeine in it to effect my daughter so we had to go back to med. We also tried an increase in B vitamin supplements , omega -3s , no sugar, no dyes , etc. None of these had a noticeable effect.
we were on Vyvance and did VERY well on it but just moved to concerta ( I think that's the spelling) because the Vyvance gave her the very uncommon side effect of drastic appetite change.
For the kids that caffeine does work for it does not work as well as medication, does not last as long, and caffeine is an appetite suppressant , that's why its used in diet pills.

Side effects of caffeine can include withdrawal symptoms like headaches .
caffeine is addictive.

in response to " there's plenty of information on the internet" There's also plenty of misinformation on the internet.

I was where you are a year ago. My daughter made it through elementary pretty well. I never had her diagnosed but we knew that she has ADHD. She really struggled in 6th grade. She was unable to stay organized and focus enough through 6th grade. We spent many nights with tears. Caffeine did not help enough. We finally got her evaluated and are starting her on medication over the summer. I wish that we had started her on something sooner. This year was hard on her self esteem and hard on the whole family. They expected a lot of them in middle school. It is a big jump in responsibilities. I wish you the best luck with whatever you decided but please watch how she is doing in the beginning of the year. If she is struggling don't wait to long to get her the help she needs.

Caffeine worked for my sister. She was not a severe case, and a mountain dew a day helped her focus and concentrate. No, it was not long lived in her system, but she didn't really need that dosage, just a little something to help her when she could feel herself getting scattered feeling.

But the proper medication shouldn't change her personality either. If it does, either the medication itself or the dosage needs changed. It can take a while to get it right, there is no one-size-fits-all medication or solution.

Good luck!

Well, it can't hurt and it is a stimulant, but why do you assume that it has fewer side effects than ritalin?

Ritalin, and many other ADHD medications are well tested and safe. You should go speak to a board certified child psychiatrist and discuss medications for a true medical disorder. This is the best medical doctor for the kind of condition your daughter has. Make your decisions based on a discussion with an expert in these medications.

The reason stimulants work for ADHD is that they assist in keeping the thought process going along the brain cell synapes (space betweent he brain cells.) Brain cells do not touch. When we have a thought, it is carried through the cells as an electrical impulse. When the impulse reaches the synapes, our brains produce neurotransmitters (chemicals) to continue the impulse to the next cell over the space. If the neurotransmitter receptor is damaged, or the brain does not make neurotransmitters effectively, that person looses track of thoughts and has ADHD.

Caffine helps everyone with a momentary nurological boost, it is a stimulant, but the ADHD medications are longer lasting, and more reliable for her system than the quick ups and downs of caffine. Untreated adults have long used caffine and nicotine to self medicate, but she can do better in a doctors care.

She has nothing to loose, like caffine, stimulatnts are out of the system completely as soon as they wear off, so if they don't help her, she can try another one or try and muddle through on her own unassisted. These are very safe medications that are tools that will help her with the therapy and educational intervention that is necessary to reach her full potential.

M.

Caffeine is stimulant, so it works similar to medications. However, it lasts short-term and doesn't work to the degree that medications do. We used caffeine to help our son while we waited to get in with a psychiatrist for help beyond what the behavioral therapist was providing.

Our son has been on medications for more than three years now and they're fantastic! He's able to focus now, the impulsivity is under control and his energy and behavior are normal. His personality is 100 percent the same. Still full of spunk and life. It's just that the medication has corrected the problem in his brain that made life difficult for him. He blends in with other kids now. Instead of noticing his problems, all everyone sees is how smart and funny he is. He's still full of energy but isn't bouncing off the walls.

You can certainly give caffeine a try for short bursts of help, but for a more long-term solution, I would talk to her doctor.

I don't know about caffeine, but my friends finally, after trying everything else including therapy, etc, put their son on Concerta. It made such a difference in his ability to focus on one thing at a time. It in NO WAY changed his personality or anything like that. In fact, you'd never know he was on the medication. He wasn't drowsy or delirious or zoned out. In fact he flourished and the combo of medication and therapy and helping him to stay on task worked so well, he no longer takes the medication. He learned the tools for concentrating and taking one thing at a time. He starts the 8th grade in the fall.
Like I said, I don't know about caffeine, but I would be worried about the "crash".

I hope you get some great advice.

My 7 year-old has similar behaviors and a diagnosis of ADHD. We have tried many things and have gotten the most results with the caffeine. We did research it and talk to people who have used both caffeine and meds. The caffeine works as a vasodilator which increases blood flow in the brain and improves their ability to attend/focus. Caffeine works a little different in ADHD kids than in most of us (it doesn't make them more hyper). I found it has a lot less and less serious side effects than meds. 100mg of caffeine is equivalent to 5mg of Ritalin. We give him a cup of coffee in the morning and a water bottle with "Crystal light energy" (which is low in sugar) for his school day. We also do other things like no electronics on school nights, etc. We are also trying do things to improve frontal cortex development which controls most ADHD behaviors (e.g. midline crossing exercises, sensory integration, etc). I have also found that his developmental pediatrician is always pushing the meds issue. I won't do meds as long as my child can function in all areas (I don't expect him to be perfect or act like a little adult). It requires that I give a little extra effort but I so much enjoy his uniqueness. All the best to you and your daughter.

I applaud you for trying to avoid the adhd meds. There are terrible side effects of these drugs, not showing up until they are discontinued. We are raising our first ritalin generation!

Coffee can be helpful according to one friend of mine. It is at least God-given and not man made. I had a friend that cleaned out all the chemicals in her house like Mimi mentioned and her Autistic child had less symptoms. Of course doctors will tell you that the medications they prescribe are safe. Do your research. There's plenty of information on the internet.

The severity of ADHD and the reaction of your child to stimulants (either natural or meds) depends on your child's unique biochemistry. My soon to be 6 years old son has a extreme case of ADHD with other complicating factors as ODD and a mood disorder.

This past school year was troubling and chaotic, despite the fact that my son is able to learn at grade level. It was very frustrating for him and the school staff as well.

We've tried dietary changes, we've tried supplements, we've tried behavior therapy, and we've tried caffeine. We've tried medications. The effects have all varied--but the greatest changes we have seen have been while he's on medication. Its the difference between night and day. His personality has NOT changed, it just isn't on hyper-speed. The kicker is finding the right dose. That can be a bit hit-or-miss.

It seems that these days--everything has a hidden danger or undesired long-term effect. Toxins, diet, environment, medications. There is always a pro-and a con for each of these. But at the end of the day, you have to do what is best for YOUR child, and what works for you and your family environment. Don't limit your options based on absolute opinions; you have to find what works BEST for your daughter.

HI T.,

I have known Moms that said caffiene helped but I have not seen it first hand. I do know that Omega 3 helps a lot. Omega 3s are found in fish and the old adage that fish is brain food is really true. My daughter was diagnosed with ADHD when she was seven and your daughter sounds like what I was dealing with. I detoxed my home (removed all the synthetic chemicals) and her doctor removed her diagnosis. There were so many neurological toxins in our home that it was actually affecting her ability to focus. I kept a "clean" home and was poisoning her. Walk down the chemical isle at the grocery store and you can smell the cleaning products. Those are not spilled bottles. They are outgassing chemicals and contraindicating like pharmaceuticals do.

My daughter is 14 now and she has never been on meds. Her grades are great and she is very focused. Detoxing is simple and can be inexpensive. If you'd like to go this route get back to me and I can walk you through what I did.

Regards,

M.

I have heard about small success with this as well. The way I see it a cup of coffee is going to have less side effects than putting her on ritalin (if any at all). It worth a shot and if you don't see a change you can still think about medication.
I was "prescribed" coffee in the morning around that age for low blood pressure by our family doc. Worked wonders - still does.
Good luck!

Since your daughter is doing very well without meds up til this point I am sure caffeine would work in small amounts. I would take this summer to find the amount that best fits her needs for the length of time she needs it. Caffeine can be addictive to some people but I think people with ADD/ADHD have less trouble with making it an addiction due to having different brain chemistry. I would go with chocolate covered coffee beans as the easiest food (and easily measurable) which she can keep in her backpack/ pocket for school use. Start with one bean and go up from there and find a good medium. Caffeine in small amounts actually is helpful and can help with other issues like asthma and heart disease. Dark chocolate 72% or better also has a moderate amount of caffeine and is measurable.
I hope you do not have to resort to drugs.
Good Luck!

Theresa, ADD is a hard thing to experiance and to have to stay focused in school is a misery for a child or adult that has it. Caffine is a stimulant even in small amounts and addictive look at the people that will drink several cokes or large ones daily. I have had some experiance as a mother and as an Advocate for IEP's and can honestly say that there are many drugs that can be taken including Wellbrutain, that are mild and help the brain to be focused . ADD is much like having the radio,TV, Wii, and people all talking to you on at once and not being able to seperate the noises and the conversation that you are part of. Most of us will seperate and not be distracted by each thing no matter how irratating but ADD can't it's like all one sound.
I am glad that you are talking to others and getting input to make the best decision for your family. Remember that as she goes through puberity many changes will take place and you will have to rethink your plans a few times. My son just came in and wanted me to add something.... Whenhe was young we started his day ( and family) with high protein and I would actually make dinner for breakfast we quickly learned not to eat food like mac and cheese from a box. But made real food. It helped his entier body. We did this for 2 years and got his body and mind to balance out. It made for being organized but it also made us have the main meal at the start of the day and something l ighter at night like oatmeal or french toast. Sure made the kitchen work easier as well. I'd stick a roast in the oven before going to bed on low heat or something in the crock pot.It actually helped our famil to all be healthy.
Good Luck.

My granddaughter's kindergarten teacher recommended a small amount of coffee in the mornings. the first day we tried it, she did really well. The second time, not good. So I really don't know. It could be that she was just having a good day the first day or an exceptionally bad day the second day, but I never tried it again before school. I will let her have a small amount of coffee in the mornings on occasion during the summer or on weekends; she likes having coffee with grandpa and grandma, but I don't give it to her before school anymore.

When a child is ADHD their brain is randomly firing off neutrons and there is no connectivity between the actions. With Caffeine they fire more steadily and can make those needed connections. It is a type of speed, just like Ritalin and other ADHD meds but you can add or take away if you wee issues.

I have a teenaged son and an adult brother with ADHD as well as having it myself. I would talk to her doctor and possibly have her seen by a pychiatrist just to run some tests before you do anything. Then, if it seems prudent, start her on a non-narcotic med like Straterra over the summer at a very low dose and keep a close eye on her. See how it effects her mood, temperment and attention. Summer time is the perfect time to test something like this because you can see first hand how it is effecting her without having to tag team with a teacher/teachers. That way you should have it worked out by the time school starts. Remember, in middle school, first impressions are EVERYTHING :)

I don't have personal experience with this but I have heard of moms giving their ADHD kids a cup of coffee at breakfast and they claim it helps! (seems like it would be the opposite, but it's weird!)

Hi Mama-
I have just a few thoughts- first, caffeine is a natural "drug" if you will, and can be addicting. I went off of it 2 months ago and it literally took an entire month to feel normal again. I only a cup of coffee here, a soda there, and I drank black tea. I will say that the biggest headache/bodyache was from the soda and coffee. I weened myself with the black tea, and felt much better going from drinking black tea to drinking white or passion flower/decaf tea. It's really quite a change.
Second, any meds you put her on will need to be removed eventually because as she grows they will no longer have the same effect. Ritalin calms a child but acts like a super caffeinated shot in an older teenager/adult. I definitely agree that if you can go natural and steer clear of meds (some people can't, but if you can...) then do it.
Third, see your doctor. If he says he would rather prescribe the medication (alot of doctors do not study natural meds), then see a D.O. This is a doctor who has studied natural medicines and pharmaceutical meds. They are the best of both worlds and really try to work the natural remedy- or at least give you the option of it- before automatically prescribing drugs for your child.
Lastly, I used to do childcare for an adhd boy. His mother put him on it (ritalin) for a year and then decided that it was too much. They weened him off and it became a discipline for both parent and child to really work towards "good school behavior" and listening. Now, that boy is 16 years old and an amazing musician and he does great in school. But she had to be on top of his behaviors ALL the time - listening, when to talk, when to be active, when to sit still- and it was hard. But they did it.
I applaud you for all the effort and suggest maybe to try a black, caffeinated tea and some vitamin supplements. The effect may be slower to see, but for some reason the tea caffeine is slower to release and slower to leave your body. It's not the same crash as with coffee, and maybe that will do her perfectly.
All in all, a D.O. (and of course a visit to her doctor first) are my 2 best pieces of advice.
Good luck mama
-E. M
P.S. I whole heartedly agree with all the mama's who talked about diet. What we put into our bodies has such a huge affect on our minds and our body- and the better the food, the better the child is able to focus. Go mama's for that great advice!

My friend's kids (ages 8-12) have adhd, and she does not medicate, but gives them each a cup of coffee every morning before school. She says it really helps a lot, and the kids enjoy picking out the yummy creamer. I think you are wise not to jump straight into medicating your "sweet and goofy" girl...what a treasure she must be to you! Good job, mama, and I hope this helps!

HELLO. I HAVE A SON, WHO IS NOW 28, HE WAS DIOGNOSED ADDH @ AROUND 4 OR 5 YEARS OF AGE. MULTIPLE PROBLEMS DURING BIRTH. HIS PEDIATRITION WAS THE ONE TO RECOMMEND IT. WE TRIED ABOUT 3 OR SO DIFFERENT MEDS, & THE ONLY ONE THAT WORKED FOR HIM WAS "CYLERT". IT KEPT HIM STILL LONG ENOUGH DURING SCHOOL & THEN WE HAD HIM IN TAEKWONDO. NO LASTING EFFECTS. WE GAVE HIM COFFEE & YES SUGAR IN HIS COFFEE. WHEN I MENTION SUGAR TO PEOPLE, THEY GASP. LOL. FOR "ADDH/ADHD" PATIENTS, IT DOES THE OPPISITE. I WOULD LOVE HELP YOU OUT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. I LIVE IN SAN JOSE CA. I LOVE TO HELP PARENTS OUT. PARENTS NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT "OUR" KIDS. BLESSINGS & PRAYERS,
A. MYERS
____@____.com

Simulants often have the opposite effect in children than they do in adults. Ritalin is a stimulant in adults, but it works to calm children. Caffeine likewise.

Do talk to her doctor, but good and relatively safe way to experiment with caffeine would be to give green tea to your daughter if she'll drink it. It's loaded with healthy antioxidants. Black tea works, too, but is not known to be as healthful. Start with a weak cuppa, or a quarter of a cup, and track her response to it. If it's good, look for an optimum dose. Too much might either make her too drowsy or too nervous.

If she's resistant to trying new foods or beverages, a nice way to introduce green tea is to have a tea party with her and her dolls, or introduce "tea time with mom" as a special event so she'll see tea in a positive light.

Another thing that many parents find extremely helpful is the addition of Omega 3's to their kids diets, in the form of fish oil or flax oil. I like to cook pancakes and make salad dressings with walnut oil, another especially rich source.

Good luck with this. If this doesn't work for her, I hope you find something that does.

I use to work in the Pediatrics and the doctors there were highly against giving caffeine to a child. They said caffeine is a stimulant drug. It can cause migraines, restless leg syndrome, hypertension and insomnia. Even giving a small amount can trigger any of these side effects.

Have you ever tried changing her diet? My son was the same way. He couldn't focus in class because he was trying so hard to keep all the ball of energy inside of him. Once he went outside he let it all out. He has alot of friends and respects his teacher. I decided to watch out for the amount of sugar in EVERYTHING he ate. Sometimes you don't realize how much sugar your food has. Read the labels...cereal, milk, fruit snacks, crackers...I use to give him cereal I thought was healthy! Turns out it had tons of sugar! Once I changed his diet, he is now able to concentrate in class and still has alot of energy for outside play. He is now a straight A student!

Good Luck and I hope this helps =)

I am a wellness consultant and work with many children on different challenges. The key is to keep their body balanced with good sleep, nutrition, plenty of good water and exercise. If you would like to get more information to help her with her specific needs let me know and I will educate you on a healthy way to live.

Have a great day.

N. Marie

no no no no no no.... thats a losing battle there, caffiene only works momentarily, you should try a good kids multivitamin containing dha, and maybe an extra supplement of omega fatty oils