I am assuming this is your daughter you are talking about ...

I am 48. Caffeine is apparently not all that helpful for the type of concentration adhd'ers need. This is according to Russell Barkley in his recent book Take Charge of Your Adult ADHD. Yes, caffeine is a stimulant, but it doesn't stimulate the parts of the cortex that need stimulating, according to Barkeley.

I find one or two cups of caffeine fine ...

Trial and error really ... but really moderation is probably always the best rule ... try a half cup, then a cup, max two cups a day and see what happens.

Phillyman

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I wrote a very verbose response in another thread a few months ago, but to distill the message.

1 - Not all stimulants work the same way in the brain chemically, caffeine and the prescription meds for ADHD are chemically different.

2 - Studies show that caffeine improve the focus of non-ADHD, so that alone is inconclusive to anything. In fact, many doctor's and diet recommendations for ADHD advise against caffeine as being counter-productive, but I have not read the direct research myself - so I do not have a personal opinion. When I discussed the topic with a psychiatrist that I knew, based on a poster that said, "my psychiatrist said." I started wtih "Some psychiatrists say that..." He laughed heartily.

3. Some folks market caffeine as the next best thing. If it sounds to good, it probably is.

4 - If there is a benefit, it is heart to find a standardized, time-release dosage that will not create a roller-coaster.

In general, I have found that each individual responds to drugs (prescription, OTC, or otherwise) differently, but from personal experience, as a practitioner, and as a critical consumer of scientific research I am extremely skeptical.

http://askdreric-schoolpsychologist.blogspot.com/

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http://www.additudemag.com/adhdforums/thread/6208.html

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Kind of depends really. I've personally tried to avoid drinking too much caffeine right before or after taking my medication, because I can definitely feel the effect then. (My usual coffee size is a short and Starbucks, so no more than a single shot of espresso).

On the other hand, a couple hours after taking my medication (when the effect settles down a bit) or on the days when I either forget it or skip it, I've found that I can have ridiculous amounts of caffeine and be perfectly...well not quite calm, but at least no different than normal.

The thing I would really watch out for though: Energy drinks. Red Bull, Bawls, Nos, Monster, etc. It's not usually the caffeine in there that causes issues, it's the other "natural" supplements that get you. Mostly the guarana and tuarine. I had one bottle of Bawls in high school, just one, and my friend had to walk me down to the Metro stop because I couldn't walk in a straight line and I was giggling like a maniac (no matter how hyper I get, that is just not normal for me). I have not touched anything with guarana or tuarine in it since.

Personal conclusion: Coffee, soda, etc.= Great, but preferably in moderation. Guarana and Tuarine= RUN AWAY!!!!

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Here's what Dr. Larry Silver has to say about treating ADHD with caffeine:

"Some studies suggest that consuming lots of caffeine can improve focus, but there's no evidence to suggest that caffeine affects hyperactivity or impulsivity. The amount of caffeine you'd need to consume to affect AD/HD would probably cause agitation (not to mention spending too much time in the bathroom).

I don't recommend drinking caffeinated beverages (or taking caffeine-containing pills) as a way to treat AD/HD."

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For me, before I was diagnosed, I would drink red bulls and see a noticeable difference (although I don't think I realized why I was drinking the caffeine at the time...) While I was in college, before being diagnosed, I would drink a red bull before study for a test and I felt like it did help me study. I see friends w/ ADD (diagnosed and not) who do the same frequently. I agree it doesn't work for all but I do see it make a difference for some.

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