| The conventional treatment for ADHD revolves | | | | increasing the amount of stimulant drug. Because |
| around prescription stimulant medication such as | | | | caffeine is less effective than the stimulant |
| Ritalin and Adderall (short term) and Adderal XR | | | | medication and has a variety of side effects that |
| and Concerta (long term). It seems to be a | | | | are considered undesirable, coffee does not have |
| plausible idea that perhaps other stimulants such | | | | a useful place in the treatment of the ADHD child." |
| as caffeine laden coffee might produce similar | | | | The conclusion drawn by Dr. Wender seems like a |
| effects. | | | | logical one when approaching the treatment of |
| In the late nineties this theory seemed to be | | | | ADHD from a mainstream medical point of view. |
| gaining some traction due to the presumption that | | | | It is also true that millions of children are taking |
| Brazilian children seemed to have a lower | | | | both long and short term prescription medications |
| incidence of ADHD. Researchers were quick to link | | | | such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and Adderal XR |
| this assumption with the incidence of ADHD. So is | | | | good results. For those children for whom these |
| it actually possible that giving your child a cup of | | | | drugs have worked well it is difficult to find fault |
| coffee daily might enhance their ability to focus | | | | but for others who have experienced such side |
| and concentrate singular tasks longer? | | | | effects as depression, headaches, stomachaches, |
| To do this subject justice lets take a paragraph | | | | insomnia, eating disorders, and social withdrawal it |
| straight out of the book titled ADHD, by Paul H. | | | | is a not such a rosy picture. |
| Wender, M.D. | | | | Generally speaking the side effect concern is the |
| "A few years ago someone proposed that ADHD | | | | biggest reason why many parents are searching |
| might be less common in South American | | | | for alternative treatments. One of the most |
| countries - because, children there drank coffee. | | | | popular options is homeopathy. |
| Because coffee contains caffeine, a recognized | | | | So there you have it. It does appear that coffee |
| stimulant of the brain, and because stimulants | | | | with a notable amount of caffeine, consumed |
| seem to help ADHD, it was inferred that caffeine | | | | under the perfect set of circumstances, could help |
| might be useful in treating ADHD. A few studies | | | | your child with certain aspects of their ADHD. The |
| have been conducted and they seem to indicate | | | | problematic concern is you would be adding to the |
| that caffeine, by itself, is not useful in treating | | | | already long list of harmful side effects associated |
| ADHD. When caffeine is combined with stimulant | | | | with ADHD meds. The harmful short-term and |
| drug treatment, the overall response is better | | | | long-term side effects of ADHD prescription drugs |
| than with stimulant drugs alone, but the same | | | | are reason enough to seek out alternative |
| good response can be obtained simply by | | | | treatment options for your child. |