Guest guest Posted November 6, 2000 Report Share Posted November 6, 2000 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2001 Report Share Posted January 26, 2001 > 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 i drink a 1/2 cup frist thing, 30 min before i get to the gym. black mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2001 Report Share Posted April 16, 2001 i drink a 1/2 cup frist thing, 30 min before i get to the gym. black mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2001 Report Share Posted April 20, 2001 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2001 Report Share Posted July 31, 2001 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2001 Report Share Posted July 31, 2001 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 > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2001 Report Share Posted July 31, 2001 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2001 Report Share Posted October 14, 2001 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 2001 Report Share Posted October 15, 2001 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 2001 Report Share Posted October 15, 2001 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2002 Report Share Posted April 19, 2002 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 19, 2002 Report Share Posted April 19, 2002 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2002 Report Share Posted April 20, 2002 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 20, 2002 Report Share Posted April 20, 2002 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2002 Report Share Posted April 21, 2002 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: --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2002 Report Share Posted April 21, 2002 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: --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2002 Report Share Posted April 21, 2002 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: --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2002 Report Share Posted April 22, 2002 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 > > > > --------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2002 Report Share Posted April 22, 2002 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 > > > > --------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2002 Report Share Posted April 22, 2002 > 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2002 Report Share Posted April 22, 2002 > 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2002 Report Share Posted April 22, 2002 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 > > > > --------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2002 Report Share Posted April 22, 2002 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 > > > > --------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2002 Report Share Posted April 22, 2002 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 > > > > --------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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