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Dear MK,

Caffeine exacts a price for its artificial boost of energy, in disturbed

calcium metabolism.

You would do better to have a liver cleanse, and get your energy from a

clean liver, rather than artificially.

And your FM would be better too.

Best of Health!

Dr. Saul Pressman, DCh

Re: re: Thallium Stress Test

> Thanks for the input. No possibility of pregnancy. Will proceed unless my

> migraine won't subside. I have migraines frequently, sometimes involving

my

> whole body. I had to stop caffeine today for the test so that's

aggravating

> the migraine. I know I should stay away from caffeine, but I have

> Fibromyalgia and I'm the only driver now, so I utilize caffeine to give me

> enough energy to leave the house. Naptime.

> Thanks again

> mk

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> From: " T. Herrick " <richardherrick@...>

>

> It is my understanding that the level at which you say that caffeine is

> ergogenic is true for the " caffeine virgin " but for those of us who

regular

> use the aforementioned products, it takes a much higher level. Am I

wrong?

The literature I have does not discuss people who have a tolerance to

caffeine. Melvin H. , Ph.D., mentions in his book " The Ergogenic

Edge " , that " abstaining from caffeine-containing beverages for 2 to 3 days

prior to competition also might help. Some, but not all, studies indicate

abstention may enhance the effect of caffeine to stimulate epinephrine

release. "

Krieger

Graduate student, exercise science

Washington State University

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Thank you for that information. Just got the ICD (Valentine's Day) and giving up coffee has been a real trick and one I have not been able to do. Caffeine-free has not worked. Will go out and buy the 50% today.

Don.

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I would have to say that we found caffeine to work for our daughter also. We

noticed that after she drank a fully caffeinated cola, she would become more

animated, able to talk in an almost conversation and was more connected to

our world.

Now I also know that ADD runs in our family, as my husband and his daughter

are the poster children for the Organizationally Challanged, so I have kind

of assumed that she is mildly ADD from his side of the family and the

caffeine just helps her get it together.

Caffeine does have a different effect on her than it does on my husband, so

maybe the caffeine works for some austistics. Anything is worth a try and I

would never think Dr. Brenner is crazy for trying it. I think he is

wonderful for trying anything!

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There are people on the epilepsy cured list who believe that cafeeine CALMS

the neurotransmitters and makes those with seizures less seizure prone,

perhaps this is the vehicle, sort of like taking addreall or ritalin to calm

down an ADD child

Kathy

Re: Caffeine

> No kidding!! Mountain Dew gives me a head ache. Bridget is always

> trying to spirit away my cola. I thought it was the 'evil' aspartame

> drawing her in. I may have to do an experiment (think Bridget could

> get science credit for it? LOL).

> Deanna

>

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

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thanks penny, had no idea. i will check it out next time i'm shopping. I guess because it is that color, you don't realise it!!, cheryl

-----Original Message-----From: Penny [mailto:nospam@...]Sent: Wednesday, 1 August 2001 1:09 PMAutism_in_Girls Subject: RE: Re: Caffeine

Cheryl, Yes, Mountain Dew does have Caffeine in it. It may be the "soda" of choice because it's clear, not dark. Penny--------------------------------------------------------"Just remember this: Plenty of Horsepower, No Traction" - R. S. on"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away."--Henry Thoreau

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Robyn Woodley asked:

<Can someone please inform me about the benefits of caffeine.>

Robyn,

There is a good article in the news section of Q & A on Dave Tate's website:

http:// www.elitefitnesssystems.com.

Graham T.E., Caffeine and exercise: Metabolism, endurance and performance.

Sportsmed 2001; 31 (11): 785-807.

[Mel Siff: Use this metasearch engine to find many more articles on caffeine:

http://www.metacrawler.com ]

Nigel Harpin

Cambridgeshire, UK

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There have been numerous scientific studies investigating the benefits of

caffeine ingestion of sports performance over the past 20 years, a number

of which have produced positive results.

The evidence strongly suggests that caffeine taken around 1 hour before

exercise can improve endurance in events lasting longer than a few minutes.

It's effects on strength/resistace exercise are still unclear. However

recent studies have found caffeine to increase the ability to repeatly

generate submaximal force, which would be comparable to sets of exercises

performed in a gym.

Most studies have given doses of 5 - 9mg caffeine / kg body weight (e.g.

359 - 630mg for a 70kg man/woman). Doses of this size do not typically

result in urine levels of greater than 12ug/ml, which is the IOC cut off

point for doping.

However, it is worth noting that many studies have used pure caffeine

rather than coffee/tea/soft drinks. And it appears that caffeine in coffee

is less effective at increasing performance than pure forms of caffeine.

More information can be found at the gatorade sport science website, at the

address below (you may have to register with the site to access this):

http://www.gssiweb.com/reflib/refs/33/alt_0000000200000370.pdf

phil watson

Aberdeen, UK

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If you are looking for information regarding Caffeine the below may be a

good place to start,

Burke, L., B. Desbrow, and M. Minehan. Dietary supplements and

nutritional ergogenic aids. In: Clinical Sports Nutrition (2nd ed.), edited

by L. Burke and V. Deakin. Sydney: McGraw-Hill, 2000,

Chapter 17 is avaiable online at the AIS website goto:

http://www.ais.org.au/nutrition/fulltext.htm

Have fun,

,

Melbourne,Australia

_________________________________________________________________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

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Hi, .

It has been my experience that unmedicated adult ADDers self medicate quite well

with caffeine. Caffeine is to be avoided with Luvox, but are there other

harmful effects for the average child (prior to the Luvox I didn't limit too

awfully much the kids' caffeine intake)? Always learning something new on this

site!

Warmly,

caffeine

On another list a mom felt that her son's ADD (unmediacted for a

trial period)improved with caffeine. This caught my attention

because, although I do not like my 13 yr old daughter to drink

coffee, it does seem to stabilize her mood for awhile after school

when she has to do her homework. Otherwise she is very irritable,

cannot concentrate, noise bothers her alot, and she will fall asleep

over her work. The irritabilty etc, is not necessarily withdrawal

(when she does not have caffeine) because these symptoms were

present before she ever tried it. There is not an issue with it

keeping her awake at night since she has a cup of coffee when she

gets home from school. I associate the irritabilty and poor

concentration symptoms with the onset of her ocd symptoms (as

oopposed to simply sleep deprivation). Does anyone else allow their

child to drink coffee (we do not drink sodas with caffeine).

nancy grace

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Hi, .

It has been my experience that unmedicated adult ADDers self medicate quite well

with caffeine. Caffeine is to be avoided with Luvox, but are there other

harmful effects for the average child (prior to the Luvox I didn't limit too

awfully much the kids' caffeine intake)? Always learning something new on this

site!

Warmly,

caffeine

On another list a mom felt that her son's ADD (unmediacted for a

trial period)improved with caffeine. This caught my attention

because, although I do not like my 13 yr old daughter to drink

coffee, it does seem to stabilize her mood for awhile after school

when she has to do her homework. Otherwise she is very irritable,

cannot concentrate, noise bothers her alot, and she will fall asleep

over her work. The irritabilty etc, is not necessarily withdrawal

(when she does not have caffeine) because these symptoms were

present before she ever tried it. There is not an issue with it

keeping her awake at night since she has a cup of coffee when she

gets home from school. I associate the irritabilty and poor

concentration symptoms with the onset of her ocd symptoms (as

oopposed to simply sleep deprivation). Does anyone else allow their

child to drink coffee (we do not drink sodas with caffeine).

nancy grace

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Joni:

I just so appreciated your comments on Adderall, AD/HD, regrets we all have in

parenting, etc. Most definitely these kids are high risk.

My husband's counselor told him at 50 that his depression stemmed all the way

back to his self esteem issues having been teased and in the hall all the time

for his " misbehavior " due to AD/HD. Mike too dropped out of high school and

went on to make life choices (drugs, jobs, etc.) that I think were clearly

influenced by his lack of self esteem and his inability to concentrate. He told

me that back when he was on drugs (in the 60's with everyone else) it was such a

good feeling to have his brain be numb for a while. As you know, with AD/HD

their little minds are just constantly moving from one thing to the next and

back again.

I too cringed at a second diagnosis in my son and yet another and different med,

but I agree early understanding of mental health is so important in our kids'

lives. After all, we're fostering not only our children's impressions of mental

health, but their children's and so on since many of these conditions are

hereditary.

Good luck , Joni and all.

Warmly,

Re: caffeine

> So I wonder if the effect she recieves from the caffeine indicates

> she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

> But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

> adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

> a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

> sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking

a

> daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

> first place.

> nancy grace

--

It's my understanding that Ritalin and Adderall have immediate

effects and begin working right away (as opposed to SSRI's that can

take 2 weeks and longer to start working). If she were my child, and

depending on the level of the ADD/ADHD, I'd give medication a try.

Several years ago, when was around 9 (he's now 18), he was

diagnosed as " borderline ADHD. " I was one of those " anti-medication "

people at the time and there was NO WAY that my son would be put on

a " dangerous drug " for his so-called " attention problems and

hyperactivity! " Plus, you have to keep in mind the TIMES we were

living in. ADD was being diagnosed in epidemic preportions! 8 out

of 10 boys had " ADD " and the numbers of kids on stimulants were

staggering. Knowing how I felt about medications, 's *school

principal* told me that he had ADD when he was a boy, and his mother

made him drink a cup of coffee each morning before school. He

claimed it did wonders! He obviously managed to get through the

whole school experience because he was, afterall, an

administrator! :) I tried the coffee thing in the morning w/

- and I didn't notice much of an improvement. The biggest

improvement came when I changed his diet, took him off all sugars,

limited the carbs, and increased his protein.

But, like I've said many times on this list, that was only a quick

fix. Once became a teenager-- I could no longer force him to

eat healthy foods as opposed to pizza and other junk foods. And, if

you've ever been to a High School cafeteria these days-- you're

eyeballs will fall out! :) They have Taco Bell, Mcs, 's

and other " junk " to choose from. Everything is high in sugar, high

in fat, and LOW on nutrition! It's a national tragedy the way kids

have so many choices these days - and poor ones at that.

Anyway, due to my resistance to put on a stimulant when he was

younger, he STRONGLY resisted medication when he became a teen -- and

that's when he needed it the most. As you know, he quit school in

his senior year because he was too hyper to sit in the 2 hour

long " block " classes. He refused help. He refused to be classified

as " special ed " and basically, he bit his own nose off to spite his

face. He did take his GED this past December and passed it by the

skin of his teeth (he never cracked open a book), but life would have

been ALOT easier for if he had 1) tried the medications at an

earlier age 2) rec'd therapy for his issues and 3) faced his

problems instead of denying them. I strongly suspect smoked

marijuana in high school as a way to " self medicate " - and that's

another reason to get these kids PROFESSIONAL HELP. They are " high

risk " kids.

I have certainly made my mistakes w/ , although I did have his

best interest at heart. Or did I? If I'm totally honest with

myself, when he was 9, it was *me* that didn't want him on

medications- so I had no one to blame when he became a teenager and

refused the medication he desperately needed. It was too late. At

least now, with (age 11, OCD) - I've taken a different path

because I know what's ahead - teenage rebellion. Plant the seeds

of " good mental health " NOW! :) I mean, if our bodies need

medication when it's not functioning properly, why wouldn't our

brains need medication help from time to time?

Joni

P.S. I tried Adderall for 3 days and I couldn't believe this stuff!

It was AMAZING. :) I remember thinking " If I had given this to

when he was younger, he would not have had to suffer with so

many distractions and his dangerous impulsivity! And, his self-esteem

wouldn't have taken such a blow, either. " *sigh* Live and learn...

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Joni:

I just so appreciated your comments on Adderall, AD/HD, regrets we all have in

parenting, etc. Most definitely these kids are high risk.

My husband's counselor told him at 50 that his depression stemmed all the way

back to his self esteem issues having been teased and in the hall all the time

for his " misbehavior " due to AD/HD. Mike too dropped out of high school and

went on to make life choices (drugs, jobs, etc.) that I think were clearly

influenced by his lack of self esteem and his inability to concentrate. He told

me that back when he was on drugs (in the 60's with everyone else) it was such a

good feeling to have his brain be numb for a while. As you know, with AD/HD

their little minds are just constantly moving from one thing to the next and

back again.

I too cringed at a second diagnosis in my son and yet another and different med,

but I agree early understanding of mental health is so important in our kids'

lives. After all, we're fostering not only our children's impressions of mental

health, but their children's and so on since many of these conditions are

hereditary.

Good luck , Joni and all.

Warmly,

Re: caffeine

> So I wonder if the effect she recieves from the caffeine indicates

> she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

> But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

> adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

> a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

> sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking

a

> daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

> first place.

> nancy grace

--

It's my understanding that Ritalin and Adderall have immediate

effects and begin working right away (as opposed to SSRI's that can

take 2 weeks and longer to start working). If she were my child, and

depending on the level of the ADD/ADHD, I'd give medication a try.

Several years ago, when was around 9 (he's now 18), he was

diagnosed as " borderline ADHD. " I was one of those " anti-medication "

people at the time and there was NO WAY that my son would be put on

a " dangerous drug " for his so-called " attention problems and

hyperactivity! " Plus, you have to keep in mind the TIMES we were

living in. ADD was being diagnosed in epidemic preportions! 8 out

of 10 boys had " ADD " and the numbers of kids on stimulants were

staggering. Knowing how I felt about medications, 's *school

principal* told me that he had ADD when he was a boy, and his mother

made him drink a cup of coffee each morning before school. He

claimed it did wonders! He obviously managed to get through the

whole school experience because he was, afterall, an

administrator! :) I tried the coffee thing in the morning w/

- and I didn't notice much of an improvement. The biggest

improvement came when I changed his diet, took him off all sugars,

limited the carbs, and increased his protein.

But, like I've said many times on this list, that was only a quick

fix. Once became a teenager-- I could no longer force him to

eat healthy foods as opposed to pizza and other junk foods. And, if

you've ever been to a High School cafeteria these days-- you're

eyeballs will fall out! :) They have Taco Bell, Mcs, 's

and other " junk " to choose from. Everything is high in sugar, high

in fat, and LOW on nutrition! It's a national tragedy the way kids

have so many choices these days - and poor ones at that.

Anyway, due to my resistance to put on a stimulant when he was

younger, he STRONGLY resisted medication when he became a teen -- and

that's when he needed it the most. As you know, he quit school in

his senior year because he was too hyper to sit in the 2 hour

long " block " classes. He refused help. He refused to be classified

as " special ed " and basically, he bit his own nose off to spite his

face. He did take his GED this past December and passed it by the

skin of his teeth (he never cracked open a book), but life would have

been ALOT easier for if he had 1) tried the medications at an

earlier age 2) rec'd therapy for his issues and 3) faced his

problems instead of denying them. I strongly suspect smoked

marijuana in high school as a way to " self medicate " - and that's

another reason to get these kids PROFESSIONAL HELP. They are " high

risk " kids.

I have certainly made my mistakes w/ , although I did have his

best interest at heart. Or did I? If I'm totally honest with

myself, when he was 9, it was *me* that didn't want him on

medications- so I had no one to blame when he became a teenager and

refused the medication he desperately needed. It was too late. At

least now, with (age 11, OCD) - I've taken a different path

because I know what's ahead - teenage rebellion. Plant the seeds

of " good mental health " NOW! :) I mean, if our bodies need

medication when it's not functioning properly, why wouldn't our

brains need medication help from time to time?

Joni

P.S. I tried Adderall for 3 days and I couldn't believe this stuff!

It was AMAZING. :) I remember thinking " If I had given this to

when he was younger, he would not have had to suffer with so

many distractions and his dangerous impulsivity! And, his self-esteem

wouldn't have taken such a blow, either. " *sigh* Live and learn...

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Hi Grace, As you might recall, my family is riddled with AD/HD. My

husband and older son have the inattentive type(no hyperactivity) and my 8 yr.

old has both OCD and AD/HD (combined type). I am very actively involved in

advocacy for both disorders. On the subject of caffeine.....I have heard some

very well respected p-docs talk about the effects of caffeine and it is

considered a " dirty " stimulant as its effects are not as stable as the ones that

are prescribed so often for AD/HD. I have heard of some AD/HD symptoms

improving with the use of caffeine in some people, but it is not used as a rule

to help with AD/HD. I have on occasion permitted my son to have drinks with

caffeine in them, andI have noticed no effect at all. As with all " medication

type " chemicals, the effect is very personal and can not always be predicted

with accuracy. Blessings and congratulations on your pregancy, in

Southeastern PA

nmlinnen wrote:

---------------------------------

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Hi Grace, As you might recall, my family is riddled with AD/HD. My

husband and older son have the inattentive type(no hyperactivity) and my 8 yr.

old has both OCD and AD/HD (combined type). I am very actively involved in

advocacy for both disorders. On the subject of caffeine.....I have heard some

very well respected p-docs talk about the effects of caffeine and it is

considered a " dirty " stimulant as its effects are not as stable as the ones that

are prescribed so often for AD/HD. I have heard of some AD/HD symptoms

improving with the use of caffeine in some people, but it is not used as a rule

to help with AD/HD. I have on occasion permitted my son to have drinks with

caffeine in them, andI have noticed no effect at all. As with all " medication

type " chemicals, the effect is very personal and can not always be predicted

with accuracy. Blessings and congratulations on your pregancy, in

Southeastern PA

nmlinnen wrote:

---------------------------------

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Hi Grace, As you might recall, my family is riddled with AD/HD. My

husband and older son have the inattentive type(no hyperactivity) and my 8 yr.

old has both OCD and AD/HD (combined type). I am very actively involved in

advocacy for both disorders. On the subject of caffeine.....I have heard some

very well respected p-docs talk about the effects of caffeine and it is

considered a " dirty " stimulant as its effects are not as stable as the ones that

are prescribed so often for AD/HD. I have heard of some AD/HD symptoms

improving with the use of caffeine in some people, but it is not used as a rule

to help with AD/HD. I have on occasion permitted my son to have drinks with

caffeine in them, andI have noticed no effect at all. As with all " medication

type " chemicals, the effect is very personal and can not always be predicted

with accuracy. Blessings and congratulations on your pregancy, in

Southeastern PA

nmlinnen wrote:

---------------------------------

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So I wonder if the effect she recieves from the caffeine indicates

she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking a

daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

first place.

nancy grace

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

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So I wonder if the effect she recieves from the caffeine indicates

she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking a

daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

first place.

nancy grace

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

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> So I wonder if the effect she recieves from the caffeine indicates

> she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

> But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

> adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

> a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

> sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking

a

> daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

> first place.

> nancy grace

--

It's my understanding that Ritalin and Adderall have immediate

effects and begin working right away (as opposed to SSRI's that can

take 2 weeks and longer to start working). If she were my child, and

depending on the level of the ADD/ADHD, I'd give medication a try.

Several years ago, when was around 9 (he's now 18), he was

diagnosed as " borderline ADHD. " I was one of those " anti-medication "

people at the time and there was NO WAY that my son would be put on

a " dangerous drug " for his so-called " attention problems and

hyperactivity! " Plus, you have to keep in mind the TIMES we were

living in. ADD was being diagnosed in epidemic preportions! 8 out

of 10 boys had " ADD " and the numbers of kids on stimulants were

staggering. Knowing how I felt about medications, 's *school

principal* told me that he had ADD when he was a boy, and his mother

made him drink a cup of coffee each morning before school. He

claimed it did wonders! He obviously managed to get through the

whole school experience because he was, afterall, an

administrator! :) I tried the coffee thing in the morning w/

- and I didn't notice much of an improvement. The biggest

improvement came when I changed his diet, took him off all sugars,

limited the carbs, and increased his protein.

But, like I've said many times on this list, that was only a quick

fix. Once became a teenager-- I could no longer force him to

eat healthy foods as opposed to pizza and other junk foods. And, if

you've ever been to a High School cafeteria these days-- you're

eyeballs will fall out! :) They have Taco Bell, Mcs, 's

and other " junk " to choose from. Everything is high in sugar, high

in fat, and LOW on nutrition! It's a national tragedy the way kids

have so many choices these days - and poor ones at that.

Anyway, due to my resistance to put on a stimulant when he was

younger, he STRONGLY resisted medication when he became a teen -- and

that's when he needed it the most. As you know, he quit school in

his senior year because he was too hyper to sit in the 2 hour

long " block " classes. He refused help. He refused to be classified

as " special ed " and basically, he bit his own nose off to spite his

face. He did take his GED this past December and passed it by the

skin of his teeth (he never cracked open a book), but life would have

been ALOT easier for if he had 1) tried the medications at an

earlier age 2) rec'd therapy for his issues and 3) faced his

problems instead of denying them. I strongly suspect smoked

marijuana in high school as a way to " self medicate " - and that's

another reason to get these kids PROFESSIONAL HELP. They are " high

risk " kids.

I have certainly made my mistakes w/ , although I did have his

best interest at heart. Or did I? If I'm totally honest with

myself, when he was 9, it was *me* that didn't want him on

medications- so I had no one to blame when he became a teenager and

refused the medication he desperately needed. It was too late. At

least now, with (age 11, OCD) - I've taken a different path

because I know what's ahead - teenage rebellion. Plant the seeds

of " good mental health " NOW! :) I mean, if our bodies need

medication when it's not functioning properly, why wouldn't our

brains need medication help from time to time?

Joni

P.S. I tried Adderall for 3 days and I couldn't believe this stuff!

It was AMAZING. :) I remember thinking " If I had given this to

when he was younger, he would not have had to suffer with so

many distractions and his dangerous impulsivity! And, his self-esteem

wouldn't have taken such a blow, either. " *sigh* Live and learn...

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> So I wonder if the effect she recieves from the caffeine indicates

> she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

> But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

> adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

> a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

> sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking

a

> daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

> first place.

> nancy grace

--

It's my understanding that Ritalin and Adderall have immediate

effects and begin working right away (as opposed to SSRI's that can

take 2 weeks and longer to start working). If she were my child, and

depending on the level of the ADD/ADHD, I'd give medication a try.

Several years ago, when was around 9 (he's now 18), he was

diagnosed as " borderline ADHD. " I was one of those " anti-medication "

people at the time and there was NO WAY that my son would be put on

a " dangerous drug " for his so-called " attention problems and

hyperactivity! " Plus, you have to keep in mind the TIMES we were

living in. ADD was being diagnosed in epidemic preportions! 8 out

of 10 boys had " ADD " and the numbers of kids on stimulants were

staggering. Knowing how I felt about medications, 's *school

principal* told me that he had ADD when he was a boy, and his mother

made him drink a cup of coffee each morning before school. He

claimed it did wonders! He obviously managed to get through the

whole school experience because he was, afterall, an

administrator! :) I tried the coffee thing in the morning w/

- and I didn't notice much of an improvement. The biggest

improvement came when I changed his diet, took him off all sugars,

limited the carbs, and increased his protein.

But, like I've said many times on this list, that was only a quick

fix. Once became a teenager-- I could no longer force him to

eat healthy foods as opposed to pizza and other junk foods. And, if

you've ever been to a High School cafeteria these days-- you're

eyeballs will fall out! :) They have Taco Bell, Mcs, 's

and other " junk " to choose from. Everything is high in sugar, high

in fat, and LOW on nutrition! It's a national tragedy the way kids

have so many choices these days - and poor ones at that.

Anyway, due to my resistance to put on a stimulant when he was

younger, he STRONGLY resisted medication when he became a teen -- and

that's when he needed it the most. As you know, he quit school in

his senior year because he was too hyper to sit in the 2 hour

long " block " classes. He refused help. He refused to be classified

as " special ed " and basically, he bit his own nose off to spite his

face. He did take his GED this past December and passed it by the

skin of his teeth (he never cracked open a book), but life would have

been ALOT easier for if he had 1) tried the medications at an

earlier age 2) rec'd therapy for his issues and 3) faced his

problems instead of denying them. I strongly suspect smoked

marijuana in high school as a way to " self medicate " - and that's

another reason to get these kids PROFESSIONAL HELP. They are " high

risk " kids.

I have certainly made my mistakes w/ , although I did have his

best interest at heart. Or did I? If I'm totally honest with

myself, when he was 9, it was *me* that didn't want him on

medications- so I had no one to blame when he became a teenager and

refused the medication he desperately needed. It was too late. At

least now, with (age 11, OCD) - I've taken a different path

because I know what's ahead - teenage rebellion. Plant the seeds

of " good mental health " NOW! :) I mean, if our bodies need

medication when it's not functioning properly, why wouldn't our

brains need medication help from time to time?

Joni

P.S. I tried Adderall for 3 days and I couldn't believe this stuff!

It was AMAZING. :) I remember thinking " If I had given this to

when he was younger, he would not have had to suffer with so

many distractions and his dangerous impulsivity! And, his self-esteem

wouldn't have taken such a blow, either. " *sigh* Live and learn...

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Grace, Stimulants are now available in many different forms now. Regular

Ritalin and Dexedrine only last about 4 hours at a time, Adderall (shorter

acting) can last from 4 hours to 8- hours in some individuals. When Tommy took

shorter acting Adderall, he took it ever 4 hours during the day as he

metabolized it very quickly. In last last few years there have been a number of

longer acting variations of these say stimulants that have become

available...longer acting Methylphenidate (or Ritalin), brand name Concerta,

lasts 12 hours, when administered in the the correct dose, Metadate, about 8

hours and Adderall XR about 8 also. Of course all of these time frames depend

on how quickly each person metabolizes them. These medications wear off every

day. They can be taken only when needed also, although with most younger

patients these days, the advice is to administer it every day in order to help

the child attain the best possible treatment levels. A multimodal treatment

plan for AD/HD has been proven to be best, combing both behavioral interventions

and medication therapy. Some kids really don't need medication, some do. For

more info, try www.chadd.org. I am the coordinator for a local chapter here and

that web site does have a lot of good information.

I also want to chime in and second what Joni suggested to you about the

situation with her son and her decision not to try medication for him

earlier. My oldest (he was an adopted step child who was 10 when I married his

father, his mother died when he was 8), was definitively diagnosed with AD/HD

inattentive type when he was 12. He refuses to take medication and is one of

the moodiest, most disengaged people I have ever run across. He has trouble

reading social cues and is convinced that he is always right and everyone else

is wrong. He thinks that I made the Doctors give him a diagnosis of AD/HD

(Ha!). He currently engages in high risk behavior and doesn't appear to give

much thought to the consequences to himself or others (driving 100 mph when he

was last home in Feb). During a short period of time during his Jr. year of

high school, he did try Adderall..his grades shot up and he was pleasant and

part of the family, when before he brooded in his room, only coming out for

meals and school. I can guarantee you that had he been my child all along, he

would have been on medication much sooner, and maybe his life would be a bit

more full that it is shaping up to be now. God is looking after him now, and

although I sort of choke on this, it is a blessing to our family that he is on

the west coast with the Navy looking after him, as having him here would not be

a strssor that we would welcome here now. Blessings, in Southeastern PA

nmlinnen wrote: So I wonder if the effect she recieves

from the caffeine indicates

she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking a

daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

first place.

nancy grace

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

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Guest guest

Grace, Stimulants are now available in many different forms now. Regular

Ritalin and Dexedrine only last about 4 hours at a time, Adderall (shorter

acting) can last from 4 hours to 8- hours in some individuals. When Tommy took

shorter acting Adderall, he took it ever 4 hours during the day as he

metabolized it very quickly. In last last few years there have been a number of

longer acting variations of these say stimulants that have become

available...longer acting Methylphenidate (or Ritalin), brand name Concerta,

lasts 12 hours, when administered in the the correct dose, Metadate, about 8

hours and Adderall XR about 8 also. Of course all of these time frames depend

on how quickly each person metabolizes them. These medications wear off every

day. They can be taken only when needed also, although with most younger

patients these days, the advice is to administer it every day in order to help

the child attain the best possible treatment levels. A multimodal treatment

plan for AD/HD has been proven to be best, combing both behavioral interventions

and medication therapy. Some kids really don't need medication, some do. For

more info, try www.chadd.org. I am the coordinator for a local chapter here and

that web site does have a lot of good information.

I also want to chime in and second what Joni suggested to you about the

situation with her son and her decision not to try medication for him

earlier. My oldest (he was an adopted step child who was 10 when I married his

father, his mother died when he was 8), was definitively diagnosed with AD/HD

inattentive type when he was 12. He refuses to take medication and is one of

the moodiest, most disengaged people I have ever run across. He has trouble

reading social cues and is convinced that he is always right and everyone else

is wrong. He thinks that I made the Doctors give him a diagnosis of AD/HD

(Ha!). He currently engages in high risk behavior and doesn't appear to give

much thought to the consequences to himself or others (driving 100 mph when he

was last home in Feb). During a short period of time during his Jr. year of

high school, he did try Adderall..his grades shot up and he was pleasant and

part of the family, when before he brooded in his room, only coming out for

meals and school. I can guarantee you that had he been my child all along, he

would have been on medication much sooner, and maybe his life would be a bit

more full that it is shaping up to be now. God is looking after him now, and

although I sort of choke on this, it is a blessing to our family that he is on

the west coast with the Navy looking after him, as having him here would not be

a strssor that we would welcome here now. Blessings, in Southeastern PA

nmlinnen wrote: So I wonder if the effect she recieves

from the caffeine indicates

she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking a

daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

first place.

nancy grace

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest guest

Grace, Stimulants are now available in many different forms now. Regular

Ritalin and Dexedrine only last about 4 hours at a time, Adderall (shorter

acting) can last from 4 hours to 8- hours in some individuals. When Tommy took

shorter acting Adderall, he took it ever 4 hours during the day as he

metabolized it very quickly. In last last few years there have been a number of

longer acting variations of these say stimulants that have become

available...longer acting Methylphenidate (or Ritalin), brand name Concerta,

lasts 12 hours, when administered in the the correct dose, Metadate, about 8

hours and Adderall XR about 8 also. Of course all of these time frames depend

on how quickly each person metabolizes them. These medications wear off every

day. They can be taken only when needed also, although with most younger

patients these days, the advice is to administer it every day in order to help

the child attain the best possible treatment levels. A multimodal treatment

plan for AD/HD has been proven to be best, combing both behavioral interventions

and medication therapy. Some kids really don't need medication, some do. For

more info, try www.chadd.org. I am the coordinator for a local chapter here and

that web site does have a lot of good information.

I also want to chime in and second what Joni suggested to you about the

situation with her son and her decision not to try medication for him

earlier. My oldest (he was an adopted step child who was 10 when I married his

father, his mother died when he was 8), was definitively diagnosed with AD/HD

inattentive type when he was 12. He refuses to take medication and is one of

the moodiest, most disengaged people I have ever run across. He has trouble

reading social cues and is convinced that he is always right and everyone else

is wrong. He thinks that I made the Doctors give him a diagnosis of AD/HD

(Ha!). He currently engages in high risk behavior and doesn't appear to give

much thought to the consequences to himself or others (driving 100 mph when he

was last home in Feb). During a short period of time during his Jr. year of

high school, he did try Adderall..his grades shot up and he was pleasant and

part of the family, when before he brooded in his room, only coming out for

meals and school. I can guarantee you that had he been my child all along, he

would have been on medication much sooner, and maybe his life would be a bit

more full that it is shaping up to be now. God is looking after him now, and

although I sort of choke on this, it is a blessing to our family that he is on

the west coast with the Navy looking after him, as having him here would not be

a strssor that we would welcome here now. Blessings, in Southeastern PA

nmlinnen wrote: So I wonder if the effect she recieves

from the caffeine indicates

she could be helped by a prescribed stimulant?

But one cannot take a prescription like ritalin (or is the other

adderral?) for immediate or temporary effects, I believe it must be

a continual dosage, kind of like the difference between taking a

sudafed (when my other daughter had allergies acting up) or taking a

daily 24 hr pill, like claritin, to prevent the acting up in the

first place.

nancy grace

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

>

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