MountainDew | ADHD Information
Has any one tried Mountain Dew or Red Bull. My son is off meds for summer. Tic shave stopped from Adderallxr. Please let me know.Mountain Dew? Is that like an energy drink over in the US? Over here in australia, its just a sh*tty odd-tasting soft drink. Basically citrus flavoured lolly water. We have the caffiene filled Red Bull, Lift Plus, Sprite Recharge, V, Red Eye and all the others that are too many to name.
Also, i do semi-self-medicate on these drinks. Mainly towards the end of the week when i'm kind of getting 'tolerant' to my meds. I then lower my dose for the weekend, and start my normal dose on the monday again.
For me in university it was "Jolt". It was advertised as "all the sugar and twice the caffeine". I never liked mountain dew or Dr. Pepper and the like because they tasted syrupy sweet and I don't have much of a sweet tooth. To each their own!
I don't do Jolt much anymore but I still love my coffee as an interim boost for self-medicating. Most days though I don't drink anywhere near as much since I'm on dexedrine spansules all day. It gives me 12 hours or so of stimulation so not much need as it used to. Still love the taste but I just cut back so I don't get totally over the top stimulated.
I am hearing all over the forums how caffeine and sugar have been used either consciously or unconsciously as a ADHD aid. Very interesting and I'd love to see a study of it sometime as to it's real effectiveness compared to other meds. Kind of paranoid that the kooks against ritalin et al will try to ban coffee and sugar as well! Argh!
G' Day Jimbo!
Personally, I would not call it "sh*tty", as I like it, but your description is pretty accurate. If it helps with ADD, I am going to give it a go.
regards,
jimmo
[QUOTE=Jimbo]
Mountain Dew? Is that like an energy drink over in the US? Over here in australia, its just a sh*tty odd-tasting soft drink. Basically citrus flavoured lolly water. [/QUOTE]
That's the one, Jimbo! LOL!!!!
If I lapse on my Ritalin, I will load up on Mountain Dew. Now it is not nearly as effective as a med, but may help. Please keep in mind that I am 30.Mountain Dew was my favorite "self medication" solution for years. I agree with Sipp - it isn't as good as medication, but it does help a little with concentration/attention. I stopped drinking it because it made my teeth yellowish.no wonder i used to drink so much of the stuffAs soon as I saw this forum I had to try the Mountain Dew thing. Here in Canada (where we have Igloos...) there is something called Mountain Dew "energy". 50mg of caffeine per 355 ml can. My three year old was just recently diagnosed ADHD and she is on 7.5 mgs of dexadrine. She comes down hard off the meds after about six hours, so, after the 2.5 mg dose in the afternoon wears off, I am going to try her on half a can of this stuff to see if that takes the edge off the night. I know it is keeping me somewhat alert. I have self medicated for years with Pepsi or Coke but never realized that is what is was until recently. I am trying to cut back on the pop, but see that there is a sudden rise in the amount of tea that I am drinking.... same effect, different source. My son just loves mountain dew, and I do give him the occasional red bull, but I have found one of the most effective drinks is tea. I give him a large mug of green tea in the morning, then he drinks ice tea (lipton) throughout the day. Tea plus vitamin supplements is all he is doing this summer and he is doing quite good--the true test will be when school starts so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
I use caffeine as an hour to hour fine tuning device for the Rxs I take, cuz they are both slow releasers. Ritalin L.A. and Provigil. Coke, coffee, bullish drinks are backups, too. I even have 10 mg rits for a picker upper when criticial thinking is required. Back in the college days we selfed with cocain, dex, and methamphetamine. OTC stayawakes (found at roadside fuel depots, such as 7-11), seem to work ok. Best is Provigil, though. I don't know if the U.S. Army is going to let the lolly sissies in Australia have it, as it is derived from Mountain Dew extracts. That's what we kicked *ss with in Gulf War I, Gulf War II, and now in World War III. We can stay up 100 hours on a proper schedule. Does help having the shells go off, too. Like an alarm clock... Banga Boom!~!Bumping for newbies.
I got Turbo Truffles (150 mg caffeine) and give 1/2 to my 2nd grader before school and 1/2 in his lunch. It's a great way to get the caffeine without so much intake of sugar or other things. lol....before I was even diagnosed with ADD, I was a coffee addict. Coffeebasically helped me pass senior year in highschool. At least I now know
that it wasn't coincedental. Funny how that once I started taking meds, I
didn't feel a need for coffee at all.
I think you may have something there... I skipped meds today because I'm running low.
Since starting meds, I went straight to decaf with one scoup of caffienated for flavor. I would also have up to 3 sodas a day on medication.. well, today I think I was taking the caffiene intraveniously!!! All I wanted today was coffee and dr. pepper!! I couldnt beieve how much of the stuff I actually consumed today without even thinking about it..
Veeeerrrrry interesting....
sherry
Maybe that's why I was able to quit it so easily when I got high bp. Even Coke I quit, and that was a 30 year habit... Hey K,
Bet you used the bathroom a lot more today, too!
I occasionally take ritalin holidays, and squirrel the stuff for a rainy day.
Twice now I've lost my meds on a trip, once by theft, the other by forgeft...
So I split up my supply now.
I was up to 4 cups of coffee in the morning, and 4 - 6 12 oz cans of DC a day, plus 2 quarts of water, and one of gatorade. But I work outdoors in the heat of the day.
It's Matcha Green Tea Blast smoothie. You can double the caffeine content by adding the Matcha boost. It would have 150 mg of caffeine which is actually more than a typical cup of coffee. To get a more stimulantory effect, add "energy boost" to it. That combo can be strong so I wouldn't recommend trying it while you're on prescribed stimulants.
matcha green tea blast smoothie? Wow - must be a translation from japanese. I love those - turbo friend killer blue-toy joy drink. Something like that - and I am skeered! LOL!
Sounds like a kick in the keester that's for sure! So - where can one get this nasty sounding firecracker? I'm game!
Thought I'd bump for folks who may want to try the Mt. Dew.
OMG! Auntie! You're exposing me!!!
I'm so ashamed I used to post in black...
CArbonated non-diet soda beverages can be bad for the teeth - especially drinks like mountain dew. Be sure you brush your teeth after drinking that - or at least a couple of more times during the day than you normally brush.valzap is right of course. Anything loaded with sugar and left in the saliva will make the bacteria happy. Even fresh fruit will do that - don't be too scared of it all it's just part of the mouth regimen we should keep.
I got out of sweets as a kid. Maybe it's my german momma - she was more into savory and not sweet. I stopped using sugar in anything but the blandest herbal tea years ago. My coffee I drink black - if someone mixes either milk or sugar it makes me gag. Just no taste buds for it.
I drink lots of pop - but diet always. I don't NEED it per se - I don't have a big weight problem (just age - my gut doesn't retract around women anymore sigh) but the aspartame has less of an edge for me. I guess a little sugar helps though - I tried this coke zero that's new - all artificial sweet and it was synthetic tasting and I didn't like it much.
After hearing about mountain dew energy drink on this post a few months ago I tried it at work (we're a pepsico so it's on tap in the machines LOL) and found it too sweet for me. I prefer my caffeine in my coffee - and that's what I'll stick with. Interesting taste though - I can see how some could get to enjoy it a lot.
What a wiredo... i know I "medicate"myself on sugar foods, but I really try to stay away from the caffeine for health issues. Although I neve noticed either with the foods or diet coke that it helped me to concentrate. What could this be sign of?
I would drink Monster energy drinks when I had to go to University classes. I got used to the taste, and was able to pay attention pretty well.
I am so tempted to try drinking them again at night when my meds have worn off.. but I don't want to cause any over stimulation.
So now, I'm self medicating with solo frappacinos from starbucks
SHerry
My nine year old has been back on meds since Sept. He was taking Ritalin but it was out od his system at 1pm. He is now on Adderal XR15mg and drinks Mountain Dew around 4:30pm and gets his homework done. The Mountain Dew is really helping and he is not getting headaches at 5pm either.
I myself am addicted to coffe like many others- Strong French roast Starbucks gets my day off to a start. I drink around 8-10 cups a day and have been for over 20 years
About the sweetness, I suppose if the stimulant dose is in there, then they supply the sugar as an energy resource.
That was very sweet of them to consider that...
Bump
I told my sister about this and I'm anxious to see if it helps. Will update you'all.
Bump and another bumpGot fleas?
Adam Had'em!
Re: Mountain DewMy son once had overdose effects after drinking a huge cup of Mountain Dew while being on Ritalin. I didn't know it had caffeine andlet him have it at a baseball game when he was young. He kept tryiing to get comfortable and go to sleep at one of the most exciting baseball games I had ever been to.
Re: Coffee
I think my dad was ADHD and self medicated with coffee. Once asking him how he could drink umpteen cups of coffee a day w/o getting nervous, he looked at me with surprise as though I were stupid and said "Nervous? This calms me down!" and walked out of the room...he was a brilliant engineer whom we called the "absent-minded professor."Red Bull like products there is a heart problem warning on these. It was effecting me and stopped things were better. Heart tests are normal. Saw the heart DR.
Call me a dork, but I don't know what bumping is either.... so what the heck is it????
Caralee,
"Bumping" is when members push posts out of the top spot that they don't want people to read by "replying" to nonsensical posts which then take over the top spot on the board.
Auntie doesn't like to read that her meds are not as safe as she thinks they are. She doesn't like to read that children die from taking ADHD drugs.
Well this thread just died.hello EVERYONE,
I have noticed that if i drink a Pepsi within an hour of having taken my Adderall(20mg/2x a day) that the pills effects are significantly lower. I always just assumed it was because soft drinks are very acidic and it was raising gastero-intestinal acidity to the point of slowing the absorbtion rate like fruit juices tend to do.
But after perusing this topic discusion(stereotypical ADHDer, I dont read through all the text) I am wondering if it might have been placebo effect or maybe some other variable.
What has everyones experience been with drinking Pepsi,Mountain Dew,Coca-Cola, Ect... right after or before taking your meds?
Im going to recheck this but for me it never failed, when i drank a Softdrink while I was still digesting/absorbing my pill it was as if I had taken 1/2 a pill. So I always avoid it these days.
Bumping cause I want to.OKAY...OKAY...OKAY...
WHAT IS BUMPING???????!!!!!!!!!!!!
STILL GUESS I'M KINDA NEW.
BumpidibumpbumpbumpIt's funny... I was diagnosed at 17 and a huge indication to the psych was my coffee habit. I told her that I sit down to do homework and every 10 minutes or so I would get up to get coffee and pace around for a few minutes before giving the homework another go...
She said I was self-medicating, since coffee is a stimulant and can sharpen attention. Not that it is a replacement for meds. Caffeine is not nearly as clean a drug and while it may increase mental accuity, it also tends to result in increased hyperactivity.
Bump upHow about a powdered green tea drink? Jamba Juice sells shakes with powdered tea. You have to ask for a double boost and boy, it kept me awake! It has as much caffiene as coffee but it also contains l-theanine which is believed to boost serotinon and dopamine. And I love the taste as well.
sounds interesting fogster - but I loves my coffee!! Maybe if I get adventurous (ya right) I'll give it a whirl.
I stick with the coffee - my dexedrine does the job every day - the coffee is for my enjoyment. Some drink for the buzz - for me I love it black and the smell is most of the joy! Take my coffee? Not gonna happen.
Oh- for the group - I had a talk with a mormon lady friend at work. She thinks she has ADHD - and I suspect it too. I asked her if she self-medicated with coffee - know what she said?????" - get ready and sit for this one:
Mormon (LDS) church in Alberta FORBIDS coffee intake altogether!!
I told her there and then - sorry then - your church could NEVER get me!! She laughed - she's very cool for an organized religion person. She is going to get help and that's just SO cool - but no coffee?? Why not cut off my left arm instead?!? Glad I was born an atheist more every day LOL.
For my daughters dance recital my husband gave her some red bull, not the whole can only 2-4 oz. She was calm and did what she was supposed to on the stage believe it or not and did not run around the dressing room. During the rehearsals she was everywhere and not paying attention.
She also loves Tim Hortons iced cappacinos, a special treat.
bumparooniInteresting posts here. Thanks for sharing the story of your dad...makes me smile...love it! my mom used to have to call my dad at work to tell him it was dinner time and come home for dinner...he lived and breathed his work Luckily my dad work from home. He had worked his arse off to get to that point. Course working from home meant he could work all the time if he wanted. He'd come in from the office to get something to eat then leave dishes all over, and later give us a chore of things to do. Naturally, top of the list was clean the kitchen he so graciously left a disaster in while we were at school.
Ahh, parents. You just don't get them until you finally become them. Crazy pattern.
I agree... Hi suzeQ,Yes, diet'll work, too. It's the caffeine (trimethylxanthine) content that supplements the activity. I personally think the sugar in the regular 'dew is there for supplemental energy, and some is converted to serotonin, eventually.
Welome to the forums, by the way.
Enjoy,
D
OMGoodness. You guys are serious about Mountain Dew. I had no idea. I am definately gonna try this. I will also give it to my son is who is a soda-holic. He prefers Sprite, but perhaps MDew will do the trick. I don't drink soda as a rule, but I am willing to try this. Does dietMDew work as well? I drink green tea all the time, I thought it was lacking in caffeine?!?
bump up[QUOTE=jfla]Re: Mountain Dew
My son once had overdose effects after drinking a huge cup of Mountain Dew while being on Ritalin. I didn't know it had caffeine andlet him have it at a baseball game when he was young. He kept tryiing to get comfortable and go to sleep at one of the most exciting baseball games I had ever been to.
Re: Coffee
I think my dad was ADHD and self medicated with coffee. Once asking him how he could drink umpteen cups of coffee a day w/o getting nervous, he looked at me with surprise as though I were stupid and said "Nervous? This calms me down!" and walked out of the room...he was a brilliant engineer whom we called the "absent-minded professor."[/QUOTE]
My dad is sooooo just like that. Coffee all day. He can stay perfectly in the zone when it comes to his work. But other things like when we were trying to leave to go somewhere, he'd get in the truck, get us in, start it, get out, (forgot soemthing) get back in, out again, (whoops need this). and the cycle goes on. but ya self medicating. I guess I always did the same thing. I was totally into Vivran in high school. when i started working. then for the past 3 years after other energy drinks surfaced other than red bull (gross), i was all about them....