Does your child suffer from ADHD? We know how painful that can be to both you and your child. If you have tried medications that have not helped much with the symptoms of ADHD, then it is perhaps the time for you to try the experimental caffeine, which is said to help in managing ADHD.

Wondering how caffeine can help your child deal with ADHD? Read this post to know.

ADHD – A Brief:

There are various neurological disorders that affect kids and the repercussions can be far fetched. One such example is ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Kids affected by this disorder exhibit symptoms like hyperactivity, impulsiveness and problems with executive functions that are considered inapt for their age. The symptoms appear by age 6 to 12 years in these kids (1). Kids afflicted with ADHD also fare poorly in academics. The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, though its roots lie in genetics.

Caffeine For Treating ADHD:

Medical science is trying to find the possible remedies for ADHD, and the existing treatment largely focuses on medication and behavioral therapy. Of late, caffeine is being considered by a section of health experts as an alternative treatment for ADHD.

How To Use Caffeine To Treat ADHD:

Giving caffeine-rich foods with protein to ADHD afflicted kids can be beneficial. Along with that, a few dietary changes should be made. Cutting down on foods like dairy, fish, processed foods and fruit juices is also required (2). Kids who do not like the taste of coffee can be given caffeine pills. It also needs to be remembered that caffeine is found in many other beverages other than coffee. So, a child taking caffeine should be given foods with care to avoid overdose.

It is important to monitor the amount of caffeine ingested by a kid who is affected by ADHD. In an 8-Oz cup of coffee, you get 135 mg of caffeine – but the same amount of black tea offers 60 mg. Even when you give caffeine-laced drinks to a child with ADHD, he or she still needs to drink water. Those affected by this disorder should take in caffeine early in the day.

How Caffeine Intake Helps Kids With ADHD:

Taking in caffeine results in reduced blood flow to the human brain. This explains why drinking coffee helps alleviate headaches. While the exact cause is yet to be known, caffeine intake produces the same results as taking ADHD medications. This reduced blood flow restricts the overactive brain region activity.

ADHD affected kids suffer from low Dopamine levels. Caffeine intake increases dopamine levels (3). This helps the afflicted kids improve their concentration. While people may get overtly stimulated by the intake of strong stimulants, ADHD victims actually benefit as their dopamine level reaches the desired proportion.

What Does Research Show?

Studies conducted on the efficacy of caffeine in treating ADHD in kids focus on both positive and negative results. A study that was published in ‘The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology’ in 2005 showed that caffeine can help enhance focus and attention and reduce hyperactivity in rats with ADHD (4). A study published in 1994 in the ‘Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’ showed that caffeine enhances attention and performance in school kids with ADHD. Another study published in 2002 in ‘Food and Chemical Toxicology’ journal also corroborated the same view.

Precautions To Be Taken While Using Caffeine To Treat ADHD In Kids:

Using caffeine to treat cases of ADHD in kids should be done with caution. If a kid is already being given general ADHD medications like Adderall, giving caffeine to them leads to the onset of synergy effect. Actually caffeine makes the effect of amphetamines robust⁽⁵⁾, which leads to side effects.

These side effects include:

• Sleeplessness
• Irritability
• Rapid heartbeat
• Insomnia
• Anxiety

Summing It Up:

While medical science considers ADHD as a genetic disorder, not every kid afflicted with it has the same genetic setup and characteristics. So, administering caffeine will not affect all kids with ADHD similarly. You should seek medical advice before giving caffeine to your kid if he or she is afflicted with this disorder.

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by Daiwik Suresh Gejji via STYLECRAZE