Our son is on meds for ADHD. The other day we forgot to give him the meds (no school, so probably not a big deal), but later in the day he snuck a Mountain Dew (not from home ... long story). I wasn't there, but my husband said he was really calm after that.
So just curious, does Mountain Dew have the opposite affect on people with ADHD? Not that I'm going to allow him to have any more any time soon, but I am very interested in knowing.
ETA - I just wanted to add that I was at work when this happened. My husband had taken the boys to a club he belongs to. Our son snuck into the kitchen, took a can of Mountain Dew from the fridge and drank the whole thing before anyone realized where he'd gone. I blame my husband :-)
We are not considering giving him coffee or soda or anything other than his meds. I am just so interested in learning more about my son and how he ticks.
Oh, I have so much to learn. Thanks for all the information.
Yeah, my son reacts the same way. His doc said that many ADHD kids react to caffeine that way...it stimulates the part of the brain that helps them control their calmness or something like that. My son is now old enough to drink coffee and that really relaxes him. He doesn't drink Mountain Dew or Coca Cola at all anymore, but when he did, same thing. I find it so interesting.
ADHD is treated with stimulants, like Ritalin, etc. The hyperactivity is a result of understimulation in the brain, not overstimulation. The person is bouncing from thought to thought, action to action, to get the stimulus they need. Stimulant medication provides the stimulation that is lacking so the person is able to focus on one thought/action at a time.
Caffinated drinks like coffee, tea, and Mountain Dew, can provide that stimulus in lieu of medication. The only negative is the sugar, so go with diet soda if there's a next time.
Caffeine often has a calming effect on people who use a stimulant medication. Moderate amounts can be helpful. Some adults instinctively "self medicate" with coffee because it helps them focus and reduces anxiety..
The potential problem with Mt. Dew and similar drinks for ADHD is that it contains a lot of sugar as well as food dyes, and those things can worsen ADHD symptoms in some people. There are different types of ADD/ADHD with the potential for various co-conditions, so it isn't a simple yes/no thing. It doesn't seem to be a problem for your son. :-)
(To correct misinformation stated below: Prescription ADHD meds do not contain caffeine.)
Caffeine stimulates most people but on some it has the opposite effect.
My husband can sleep right after a coffee - for me if I have a coffee after noon I'll be up all night.
http://psychcentral.com/lib/caffeines-effect-on-adhd-symp...
Yes, it can have similar results. ADHD drugs speed up brain function. Mountain Dew and Red Bull are both high caffeine drinks.
It's like driving an old car that chugs along cutting out at 35 but when you hit 40 it syncs all up and drives like a dream. That's how ADHD drugs typically work.
Our little guy takes Ritalin which I love. It is a short medication and by 4 hours it is completely out of the kids systems. That's why they take a morning dose then another dose of it at noon at school.
I liked that he could be a normal kid at school and then when he was home he didn't have any drugs in his system.
I hope you'll keep him on his meds if they're working well. I think there are good meds that keep kids functioning well.
My nephew, age 30, has ADHD. Coffee helps him SLEEP. Yes, it can help.
yes, exactly how Missy F described it... I have known students with ADHD over the years who skip the meds but do caffiene and it works for them.
Think of all the adults you know who NEED their coffee to function... yup..
Yeah it can for some ADHDers. Sadly caffeine never did anything like that for me. (Add) but I have read other cass where they were given different amounts of caffeine with good results.
caffeine has the opposite effect on people with ADHD. Mt Dew has a bunch of caffeine, but anything with caffeine or just a caffeine pill will do the same thing as Ritalin (or most ADHD drugs), which is a stimulant.
it does not necessarily have a different effect but mountain dew has a lot of caffien and so does most adhd meds. I had a girlfriend who used to give her daughter a cup of coffee which helped calm her down. it helps to keep the brain on track. but don't think you can switch out the mountain dew and stop the pills it doesn't work lol
I had a friend a few years ago who was advised to give her daughter Mountain Dew for ADHD and she said it worked great! That's all I know about it.
OMG this is fascinating to me, I may try it. My DD has ADHD. We tried Adderall, which did wonders for her reading focus, but after a month or two, made her anxiety ramp up, destroyed her appetite, and made her so angry,she ended up hospitalized. The first thing the psychiatrist said was "I want her off Adderall immediately" Pretty much instantly, her hostility disappeared and her appetite came back, but sadly, her reading and ability to focus also suffered. She did well on Lamictal, until she rashed. And now is very good on Wellbutrin for mood stabilization, but still haven't found anything to help the focus like Adderall.
I hate it but my cousin's son would drink a coke if he got too wound up and it would calm him. Sodas are simply chemical compounds. I think they are safer than ADHD meds...but I also think there are natural compounds coupled with nutrition and principled chiropractic care that help. My daughters diagnosis was removed when we detoxed the house and started her on an absorbable vitamin.
My two cents!
M.
