Coffee for ADHD

This message was originally posted by [url=http://forums.adoption.com/old_boards.php?username=Mike]Mike[/url]. I know some adoptive parents with an ADHD son. When his medicine is wearing off and they need to extend his ability to stay on task, they give him a Coke with the caffeine. They swear by it.

This message was originally posted by [url=http://forums.adoption.com/old_boards.php?username=DianeS]DianeS[/url]. Using caffiene (in whatever form) is something that people have been doing for quite a while. My father remembers a hyper child in his elementary school whose teacher brought coffee to class for the child to drink at lunchtime - calmed him down immensely. The theory is that children who appear jittery and who can't concentrate are actually forcing themselves into that state, kind of like a child who's terribly sleepy choosing to jump on the furniture and scream rather than go to sleep. The caffiene helps "wake up" the child, so the child can let go of those stay-awake habits, and calm down and pay attention. Don't know how much truth there is to that, but it seems to work for some.

This message was originally posted by [url=http://forums.adoption.com/old_boards.php?username=esmom]esmom[/url]. I used coffee for three years prior to starting stimulant medication with my son. It is a stimulant, although milder than those used in pharmaceuticals. By the time my son, Ethan was 3 he was drinking 1/2 cup in the morning and school was giving him 1/2 a lunch time. We also started the Feingold Program shortly after that with moderate success.

This message was originally posted by [url=http://forums.adoption.com/old_boards.php?username=Wendi5000]Wendi5000[/url]. It's important to understand the science behind ADD/ADHD. These conditions are caused by the arousal portion of the child's brain being UNDERACTIVE. I know that sounds backwards but it works like this... in order to feel *normal* like the rest of us, the child has to have more extreme/intense experiences. That is why stimulants help to calm the child down. The underactive portion of the brain are stimulated up to a normal level. Coffee contains caffiene, which is a mild stimulant. For some kids, this is enough to activate the underactive areas of their brains and help them to calm down and focus. HOWEVER You shouldn't try to self-medicate a child, even with something as seemingly harmless as caffiene, without a doctor's advice. There have been some studies that suggest that coffee and/or excessive amounts of caffiene may stunt a young child's growth. Like any medical issue, it's a matter of weighing the pros and the cons.

I'm being somewhat repetitive here (of other people's posts), but I too have to say that caffeine, like typical ADHD meds, are "uppers." The last post mentioned stunting a child's growth. This is true, but the prescription meds do the same. My brothers & I range from 5'9" to 6'3" & weigh from 170 to 215 lbs...except for our youngest brother, who took Retilin (sp) most of his childhood. He is about 5'4" & a 28 waist is baggy on him. He is 20! On top of that, when he was in Jr. High, he asked to be taken off the meds, because he said that he didn't like how they made him feel. So, my mom took him off, & he made the honor roll! (This was after failing one grade & barely passing others.) I realize that everyone's case is different & that there are varying degrees, but I just had to state that coffee dosage is like a cookie compared to some of the prescription drugs on the market for ADHD!

For those of you who posted about caffeine, does it keep the child awake for extended periods of time?

Hi I have a 10 yr old dtr with adhd and before we went through the meds and settled on Concerta I would give her a piece of Choclate....Sometimes I needed some sugar to up blood sugar levels...and I thought maybe this would help her.. Almost instantly she would return to her self..since she has been on Concerta I haven't needed the candy but I do feed her fruit or anything she wants..she is 10 and weighs 59 lbs..can't seem to bring up her weight. her growth pattern is good. very lankey which is not the pattern of our family...we all are up there and are tall..if she didn't look like me so much people would swear she was adopted...We are trying a new therapy and Dr. to see if there is other ways of handling her adhd...

My 12 yo bio-son has been diagnosed with ADHD and is now on Ritalin only on school days with an amazing improvement. We knew it helped because the first few days we did not tell the teacher and he (the teacher) came to us and asked what we were doing differently. I am an RN and choose not to medicate weekends or days off because the main reason for medication was his inability to focus at schooland declining grades. He does have an occasional cup of coffee on weekends and has told me that it has the same effect as the Ritalin. I would get Dr advice before trying anything, especially with a child in fostercare.

My 9 year old has ADD, we have had her on Concerta for almost 2years . Her weight gain has been 3 lbs in those 2 years. We have tried leaving her on a very small dose, and giving her vacations on weekends. However its spring break so she hasn't had meds in 9 days. Her appetite is a lot better. So I know we will see what else we can do. She really is more focused on her meds, so I would like to find a balance. My older child loves coffee, I never let her have more than a sip, because of the growth issues with caffiene. My kids get no soda or anything. However I have told them when they reach 5'4" they can have it. They measure themselves continually. The oldest is 5'1", she stands on tip toes continually. I honestly can focus better after a latte. However they are so expensive I get maybe 2 a week, sometimes less.