Energy drinks seem to help with ADHD. Why?
959026
Caffeine is a stimulant, just like many ADHD meds.  I don't know about Concerta specifically, but Ritalin is actually a chemical derivative of caffeine.\n\nThe reason that stimulants help ADHD is that they increase the levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the brain.  Epinephrine you might have heard of - it's also known as adrenaline.  Anyway, these two neurotransmitters are invovled in alertness and focus.  Higher levels help you focus better (ADHD or not).  Caffeine helps everyone focus, regardless of whether they have ADHD.  For that matter, so do the prescription stimulants used to treat ADHD.\n\nThere's nothing "metabolically different" about kids with ADHD, and caffiene is not having the "opposite effect" as it does on most people.  Caffiene improves focus and concentration for EVERYONE.  It's not acting as a sedative in people with ADHD, it's acting as a stimulant.  Stimulants increase the production of epinephrine and norepinephrine, which allow you to focus, and also improve impulse control.  It's the improved impulse control that lets you seem less "hyper."  For people who don't have any problem with impulse control to begin with, having more energy makes them more active, or "hyper," but it's not the same "hyper" as what's associated with ADHD.  The hyperactivity part of ADHD is more to do with a lack of impulse control than an excess of energy.  Stimulants fix that lack of impulse activity by increasing frontal lobe activity.  They do the same for people who don't have ADHD, but it doesn't produce a noticable change in behavior because they weren't deficient in it to begin with.
346354
I'm not sure that any of them do.\n\nIf you follow the research that comes out on caffeine, you'll notice that every time there is a paper published that says caffeine improves your performance in some way, there is another one that says that caffeine hurts your performance.\n\nThey may drink coffee, tea, Pepsi, Jolt, eat chocolate, pop caffeine, but does it improve their performance? \nThe jury is still out on that one.
548047
i don't think it's the caffeine, i think it's the damn "energy" drinks that contain all the taurine and whatever else they have in them.\nlong story short - ex husband got pulled over just around the corner from our house, cops called me to let me come get the car and the dog... he was going to jail.\n\nwhen i got there they wanted to know what kinda drugs we were doing.  well, to tell u and them the truth just a shi*t load of weed, at the time, they said his eyes looked like a guy who was smoking crack.  and he acted like one too!! total dick most of the time, but that's what 6 "energy" drinks will do to you a day.
942688
I don't think caffeine is a good option for diabetes management.  Yes, stimulants can help raise your metabolism, but you'll have to constantly increase your intake as your body gets used to it for the same effect.  Some over the counter pills like green tea extracts can do the same thing, but it's not effecient, predictable or good over the long term for your heart or vascular system.  Precription drugs to decrease your insulin resistance and/or regular exercise will do a lot more than caffeine ever could to maintain your blood sugar.
924603
I was diagnosed with AD/HD a few months ago and like you I was skeptical.  I have a few mental illnesses as well so many of the same questions were running around in my mind as well.  I think it's when you have a lot of the symptons.  I know people who are lazy and disorganized but that is because they choose to be.  AD/HD people just can't grab the concept.  We try our best to do it and it's a real struggle.  The one that hit me was the concentration one.  I say ignorance is bliss!  I could do three things at once and easily jump back and forth, if I got distracted I just happily went off to what ever distracted me and came back to what I was doing, if I couldn't remember what I was doing oh well!  After I was diagnosed I was trying really hard to write an email and was concentrating so hard to make sure I got everything in there that I needed too.  The phone kept going off and my YM messenger kept blinking and I was distracted and couldn't remember what I was doing!  It is frustrating when you know you have to try really hard to concentrate and you still can't!!\n\nI realized I self medicated in school and still do! (In college)  I take a big soda with me into classes so I can stay focused.  If I don't have that caffeine I am fidgety and am unable to focus on what I need to.  My mind wonders.\n\nThe way I understand it, so far since I am still learning, is that our brains don't have the stimulators that everyone else does, at least not as many, and our minds are searching for outside stimulation to get what it needs.  That's why stimulators such as caffeine and ridolin have the opposite effect they give our brain the stimulation it craves and we are able to focus on what we need to other than it reving us up.\n\nI haven't recieved any medications for AD/HD yet because I'm slightly apprehensive about it making me drowsy and I love the high energy that I have.  I believe that the high energy is just who I am as a person and the AD/HD just adds a little something to it.\n\nI know many AD/HD people are highly creative and they go off their meds when they need to be creative.  I'm also afraid my creativity will suffer from it.\n\nHope this helped!  Feel free to contact me :)
215533
ADD/ADHD is VERY real. It is an imbalance in function between different parts of the brain. Stimulants (caffiene, medications, etc.) bring the "slower" areas into closer functioning with the "faster" areas, allowing the brain sections to communicate better and reducing distractibility, fidgeting, confusion, etc. \n\nThere are many good educational programs for children to learn to deal with their symptoms. "How Does Your Engine Run" is a good one (check with Occupational Therapists). \n\nMedication is a decision to make with your physician. Because it is not always clear how each medicine affects different areas of the brain, and because each and every person with ADHD has different combinations of active/inactive areas of the brain, often several medications must be tried, at different doses, before symptoms are relieved. Some people do not benefit from currently available medications. Do NOT stay with a medicine if it is not relieving symptoms, or if the side effects are not acceptable. Medication is a tool, not a requirement. \n\nShop for a good school in your area, with good teachers who understand and know how to work with people living with ADHD. Insist that the school OT evaluate your child for Sensory Integration Dysfunction, and that your child be placed on either a 504 plan or recieve an IEP (your child qualifies for this help under "other health impaired" through the Individuals with Disabilities Act/IDEA) to ensure teachers are giving the classroom and instructional modifications that will best help your child learn.\n\nGood luck.
690023
Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. It is a Central Nervous (Brain & Spinal Cord) stimulant that causes increased heart rate and alertness when taken in moderate amounts.\nWhen taken in high doses it causes anxiety, dizziness, headaches, "the jitters", and insomnia. It is so addictive that it causes withdrawl symptoms when its consumption is abruptly halted.\nNext time you want a coke...grab a bottle of water, instead.
654994
has it always been like this or just lately? coffee do work as diuretics- causing the loss of water in our body through urination. but they symptoms lasting for several hours sound very severe. could it be that you're intolerant towards caffeine? give decaf a go- i know what's the point of taking a decaf when you want the caffeine to keep you alert. if these persists, and you want your energy- there are other options. energy drinks, ginseng tea, and many more. hope that you're able to find a way through this. take care!
484494
There are no valid, peer-reviewed research studies that say that diet helps people with true ADHD. A good diet helps people in general, but it's not a cure for a neurological disorder.
188294
Is it healthy for children to consume caffeine? Many health care providers, especially pediatricians, recommend that children avoid or limit caffeine use. Most adults consume caffeine for its stimulant effect, which can lead to enhanced alertness, energy, and increased ability to concentrate. However, when a child consumes caffeine, it can decrease his/her ability to perform tasks involving delicate muscular coordination, arithmetic skills, or accurate timing.\n\nCaffeine is all over the supermarket. Most soft drinks are high in caffeine, some have more caffeine than strong coffee. Both tea and cocoa can contain a good deal of caffeine.
366275
(m)\n\nCaffeine is found in Coke, Jolt Cola, coffee and chocolate.\nYoung people and teenagers can consume high intakes of caffeine through cola drinks and ice coffee. High doses can cause heart arrhythmia.\nThis usually happens at intakes of more than 600mg of caffeine. This could be equivalent to 10 cups or more of coffee. Caffeine appears to be addictive. \nCaffeine is a stimulant that is often consumed to enhance alertness and concentration. Concentration of caffeine peaks in the blood within 30 to 60 minutes after the first sip and the effects last about four to six hours. Moderate consumption of caffeine is considered to be about 200-300 mg. (about the equivalent of 2-3 cups). Drinking too much caffeine (especially for people who don’t normally consume much) can cause nervousness, anxiety, sleep problems and a temporary increase in heart rate. Excess consumption may increase the risk of headache and elevated blood pressure. \n\nThe amount of caffeine in drinks varies greatly. An 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains 65 to 120 mg. of caffeine. However, some coffees may contain as much as 250 mg. of caffeine. A one-ounce serving of espresso contains about 30 to 50 mg. of caffeine. By comparison, a cup of decaf coffee (which is really not caffeine-free) contains 2 to 40 mg. of caffeine. An eight-ounce cup of brewed tea contains 20 to 90 mg. of caffeine. Iced tea tends to have less caffeine, ranging from 24 to 31 mg. of caffeine for an 8-ounce glass. Hot chocolate (8 ounces) contains 3 to 32 mg. of caffeine and a glass of chocolate milk contains 2 to 7 mg. A one-ounce serving of milk chocolate contains about 1 to 15 mg. of caffeine, while dark, semi-sweet chocolate has 5 to 35 mg.
1029033
Definitely Yes!!! Especially if you suffer from severe mania and manic episodes most of the time. You may need a different type of medication. An "upper" counteracts my manic phases and downers bring me up. Sort of the way Adderol or Ritalin works for children with ADHD. I am 44 but drugs have opposite effects on me. If you drink Ice tea in the evening....stop because you won't sleep and cut out any other caffeine after noon, this may also help. Try relaxation exercises and meditation and if all else fails.....good sex and lots of orgasms will work too!
416235
oh, my brother, coffee is a wonderful thing. it speeds up yer metabolism, increases blood pressure, heart rate, and sharpens yer focus. but-that's if you exercise moderation. too much can make ya irritable and nervous. so-to drink or not to drink? baby, drink  ON, man!
318009
I don't think it has anything to do with hyperactivity.  I have seen kids on all types of diets - both low sugar and higher sugar - and they are all equally hyper or not hyper.  Alot of times people tend to think that when kids are in groups (ie., birthday parties, activities, etc) and are hyper, it's because of the cake, candy and cookies, but it's really because they are excited by the premise of the party or activity, and being with their friends.  On the other hand, there are some kids who are abnormally hyper, and they may have some type of add or adhd.  Only a doctor could diagnose that.
669612
well caffeine dehydrates you (its a diuretic), and dehydration headaches are very common. if youre drinking the sodas, chances are its instead of water. the water would hydrate you, but the soda actually has a reverse effect because of the caffiene and carbonation. thats probably why you get the headaches from it.
303691
Yes and no.  If you take energy drinks all the time, you will become resistant to the Caffine or other stimulate.  This is not a good idea.  Sleep is important, very important.  However, on the occasion that you need to stay up late, an energy drink can help.  Too much of anything is not good for anybody.  \nIf you take energy drinks all the time, you will probably be jumpy and your hands will shake.  The long term effect can be serious.  Yes! This can be the death of you if the stimulant is something like Efferdrin.  \nEnergy drinks cause excessive stress and even panic attacks if taken all the time.  This can deffinately shorten you're life.  You should also notice your attitude affected and your patience is close to non-exsistant.\nThe idea behind energy drinks is to give someone who is lifting wieghts extra strength to intensify the workout.  If you fit this category, you need to cycle this like you would Creatine.  \nEven if you use this for working out, energy drinks is not a good idea.  your body tells you what you need.  If you are sleepy, take a short nap.  Routine is the answer.  Sleep at the same time, even if you are in College.  Eat right and exercise.  Sound like a mother or father talking?  Maybe so, but there is more truth in this than meets the eye.  You will have more strength, stamina, and better memory if you just eat and sleep right.  The energy drink will help your memory for just so long; then it is over.  If you continue to use this for study purposes, it does not work.  Take my word for this.  I tried this in college and it did not work at all.\nSorry!  Eat and sleep right and regularly.  This is what you need, not the energy drink.  Take the 3 or 4 days to get yourself back to normal, and stop wasting your time with energy drinks.  This is just another drug that hurts in the long term.
343210
Try cutting out caffiene for a few days and see if it helps.