self medicate with caffeine | ADHD Information
I use coffee to self-medicate. But I don't do 10 cups. I usually have about 4 to 5 cups a day...spread out like you do. The last one is the one to help me sleep. I suppose my 4 cups is actually like 10 cups because I grind my beans and make one cup at a time...but verystrong! I don't like the idea of using meds. I take enough of other meds, like Paxil and mood disorder meds.So tell me, does the coffee help you?Magog30: I know that most of the meds for ADD have side effects I don't wish to experience, like weight gain, crashing, anxiety, etc. Check out the other messages concerning Ritalin, etc. They'll give you a good idea of what to possibly expect, althought everyone does react differently. My dr wanted to put me on Wellbutrin with my Paxil, but I read that it makes tics worse, and I've had a tic disorder since childhood. I wasn't dx'd until last year (age 54) for Tourettes, and this year for ADD (they didn't know about it in the 50's) and Borderline Personality Disorder. So I don't need anything to make the tics worse. Meanwhile the coffee seems to help, and I enjoy drinking it.
I also find that taking Ibuprohen (Motrin) at bedtime helps me get to sleep and usually stay asleep. I've never had any problem taking it, but some people don't work well with Motrin. Worth a try.GypsyWomyn38347.857037037
His anyone tried caffeine to relieve symptoms of ADD? What were the results? I'm talking about 10 cups of coffee spread out over day, or caffeine pills 1000mg a day. I know that caffeine is a stimulant and wondering how it's effects differ from Ritalin etc.
Well, until my dr and I come up with something satisfactory to both of us, the coffee does seem to work for me. I accomplish more than when I don't drink it. Perhaps it helps that I use my espresso machine, which I've heard cuts some of the cafeine. ?? Thanks for the info, tho.Caffeine has been shown, clinical trial after clinical trial, to actually make ADD WORSE, especially in large doses. Small doses, one small cup, may be beneficial.
It definitely makes my ADD worse. I can't think straight while trying to study on Caffeine.
Caffeine can help for depression and wakefulness, which are co-morbid in many ADD cases.
I take Strattera and Prozac and the combo works well for me, but Strattera is NOT a stimulant soooo if I am really sleepy I drink caffiene/coffee to wake me up, but if I am wide awake or hyper caffiene will have the OPPosite effect on me and make me sleepy.Before I found what really worked, (for me, Concerta for Inattentive type) I took a caffeine pill every morning along with Ginkgo and vitamins. A big part of my problem was fatigue so the caffeine woke me up some, but then got me wired so that I was tired AND stressed. If you're looking to increase activity in your brain's frontal lobe, I don't think caffeine works that way. The prescription drugs do. I did find that Ginkgo helped to clear some of the wretched mental fog, so that may be an interesting alternative to try.
caffeine is just an addctive part of everyday living. It does cause anxiety and depression. Well not severe depression. but anxiety is annoying.Caffeine is like any other medication, it affects everyone differently. It does not make me jittery or anxious...it actually slows me down. Whatever works! I take an antidepressent, and together they seem to work.
GypsyWomyn38349.739537037I only got dignosed last year at 22 and have
been drinking coca cola in liters to help concentrate and focus.
Tried coffie addiction but my stomach couldn't take it. But now
when I am on meds (rittalin) my doctors says I have to cut out
all coffein.... have to ask him more into it
I would love if some coke addicts would come forward, I´ve
been called the postergirl for coke for ever
I usually stop drinking coke during the summer when there isint
school but I cant make it through school with out it... and its
gonna be hard but some it is like addictive behavior smoking.
p.s. english isn't motherlanguage (if that is the right phrase)
so dont get fustrated over miss spelling or funny sentencesI love my coffee, 4-5 cups a day of very strong, very black coffee. It doesn't make me jittery, no matter how much I drink, but don't think it helps my ADD symptoms (inattentive) either. Actually, I can't seem to stay off coffee long enough to know what difference it makes
. I just get a headache and feel irritable with caffiene withdrawl. I do drink the darker roasts that actually have less caffeine though.Caffiene is a stimulant so if you are helped by stimulant medications then you will be helped by caffiene, nicoteine and other stimulants. I always make sure I have a lot of caffiene throughout the day to help me concentrate. Usually when my meds start losing effectiveness and it's time to up my dosage I increase the caffiene intake until I have the time or money to get back to my doctor to raise my dose.