Caffeine as an ADHD Treatment

Using caffeine to treat ADHD! You’re kidding, right?

No, we’re not kidding. You can scour the message boards and forums all over the Internet and find hundreds of people who claim they dumped their ADHD medication and replaced it with a good ole’ cup of Joe. I know, it sounds crazy, but here is why it could make sense.

Caffeine is a stimulant. ADHD Medications that contain methylphenidate and amphetamines are also stimulants. The claim is that they all work in the same way by increasing dopamine levels and blocking the reuptake of key neurotransmitters in the brain like noreprinephine.

Caffeine is also known to reduce the blood flow in the brain. This is similar to the effect of ADHD medications like Ritalin.

Many claim coffee makes it easier for them to rapidly process information and pay attention. And because stimulants have an opposite effect on people with ADHD, instead of making them hyper and nervous, it actually calms them down. Some with ADHD will even go so far as to say that drinking several cups of coffee before bedtime really helps them to fall asleep.

For those who don’t like the taste of coffee, many ADHD sufferers are turning to pills like Vivarin and energy drinks such as Red Bull to help them stay focused. Some teenagers are self-medicating by drinking large quantities of soft drinks like Mountain Dew, which contains 55mgs of caffeine per bottle/can. The claim is that 100mgs of caffeine has the same effect as 5mgs of Ritalin but with none of the awful side effects.

While coffee consumption is usually safe for healthy adults, treating children with ADHD in this manner is highly controversial and possible ineffective.

A study done by the Department of Psychology at University of Kentucky, Lexington investigated the effects of average amounts of caffeine on the behavior of six normal children in a kindergarten setting. They measured gross motor activity and obtained teacher ratings of classroom behavior. The results cast doubt on the importance of caffeine in controlling the classroom behavior of normal kindergartners.

And here is what one pediatrician has to say about this form of treatment for ADHD, especially for children with the disorder:

“Some studies suggest that high doses of caffeine combined with methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, others) may be more effective in treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than methylphenidate alone. Like methylphenidate, caffeine is a stimulant. However, too much caffeine also can cause insomnia, nervousness, irritability and increased heart rate. Because of their smaller body size, children are even more susceptible to these effects than adults are. For these reasons, most pediatricians discourage caffeine consumption in children. Caffeine is not recommended as a treatment for ADHD in children.”
Source: Mayo Clinic pediatrician Jay Hoecker, M.D.

Regardless of what the medical community says about children and coffee, some parents are giving children as young as four years old a cup each day to help them with hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. But before you consider this form of treatment for ADHD, it is advised that you first speak to your doctor and get a physical exam. Coffee can affect one’s heart rate, blood pressure and exacerbate conditions like anxiety and respiratory disorders. And like many drugs, caffeine is highly addictive, so be careful.

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