Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCaffeine BenefitsRisksCaffeine and MedicationCaffeine SourcesAlternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Caffeine Benefits
Risks
Caffeine and Medication
Caffeine Sources
Alternatives
Caffeine is a stimulant, and people withattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)often take stimulants to manage symptoms. You may perhaps wonder if you can use caffeine for ADHD. In many cases, caffeine can benefit people with ADHD, but you should talk to your healthcare provider about how much is right for you.
Caffeine has similar effects on the brain as ADHD medications, so, depending on the dosage, it could help improve focus. However, too much caffeine—or caffeine in combination with ADHD meds—could lead to side effects, particularly in children. People can react to caffeine in very individual ways, too.
Read on to learn more about the relationship between caffeine and ADHD, including the associated risks and benefits.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
Benefits of Caffeine for ADHD
Caffeine is known to stimulate the nervous system and brain and may have similar effects as ADHD medications.
Reduced Blood Flow
Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor (constricts the blood vessels which reduces blood flow). Researchers have suggested that it could thus reduce blood flow in areas of the brain that are overactive in ADHD.
However, caffeine is not recommended instead of prescription ADHD medications. At most, it might be considered for use in combination with medication.
Improved Concentration and Memory
Studies have shown that caffeine increases dopamine production when it enters the body.Dopamine, a neurochemical in the brain, controls your ability to concentrate and focus. As mentioned previously, ADHD medications increase dopamine production too.
In a study of U.S. soldiers with ADHD, consumption of caffeine was associated with better focus on repetitive tasks and lower impulsive or risky behaviors.
Consuming caffeine could help increase focus in the short term, but it may also cause adverse effects, such as difficulties resting or sleeping at night. This depends on how much caffeine is consumed, when during the day it’s used, and the individual’s age.
Reduced Hyperactivity
A study from two decades ago looked at the effects of caffeine on children with ADHD. Researchers found caffeine reduced symptoms of hyperactivity and improved planning and executive function, which involves time management, organization, and prioritization skills.
However, a recent review of seven clinical trials concluded caffeine was no better than a placebo in improving ADHD symptoms in children.
Risks of Too Much Caffeine With ADHD
The general risks of excessive caffeine consumption include:
There is also concern about caffeine’s effects on children. Because children are smaller in body size, it takes less caffeine to impact their functioning.
Research has shown that caffeine in soft drinks can produce mood and behavioral effects in children.Too much caffeine can also cause issues such as increased anxiety, increased heart rate and blood pressure, acid reflux, and sleep disturbance.
It is important to contact a healthcare professional if you have questions or concerns about your or your child’s medication and caffeine consumption. Be mindful of the dose of medication, as well as how much caffeine you are consuming to avoid any negative side effects.
A healthcare provider can also help you determine the proper intake of caffeine. For children, their diet, medication, and caffeine consumption should be discussed with a medical professional. A healthcare provider can help determine the best course of action to ensure the child’s ADHD is being treated effectively.
Caffeine and ADHD Medication
Common stimulantmedications for ADHDinclude the following:
If an individual consumes caffeine along with this medication, it will produce asynergisticeffect—an enhanced effect from taking two drugs with similar outcomes together (in this case an ADHD drug and caffeine).
Both caffeine and prescription medication have addictive components, which can increase focus and risk for side effects. The amount of caffeine will determine whether it will help or hurt. Side effects include the following:
Alternatives to Pills for Treating ADHD
Sources of Caffeine
Caffeine is found mostly in beverages, but other sources can provide a significant amount of caffeine also:
Be cautious about consuming excessive coffee, as well as energy drinks, and products containing guarana. It may be best to primarily consume teas and decaffeinated coffee since they contain significantly less caffeine. Also, be aware of combining several different caffeinated beverages since the combined amount of caffeine can add up quickly.
Summary
Caffeine is a natural substance that may impact ADHD symptoms and medication. For this reason, it’s important to monitor your caffeine intake to see how it affects you. Caffeine is known for its stimulating effects, which can appeal to those who are diagnosed with ADHD, but these effects tend to be short-lived. To find the right treatment for your ADHD, it’s best to talk to a healthcare provider to determine the best way to manage the condition.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Phycological Association.A sip into dangerous territory.Vázquez JC, Martin de la Torre O, López Palomé J, et al.Effects of Caffeine Consumption on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 10;14(4):739. doi: 10.3390/nu14040739Anas Sohail A, Ortiz F, Varghese T, et al.The Cognitive-Enhancing Outcomes of Caffeine and L-theanine: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2021 Dec 30;13(12):e20828. doi: 10.7759/cureus.20828Cipollone G, Gehrman P, Manni C, et al.Exploring the role of caffeine use in adult-adhd symptom severity of us army soldiers. JCM. 2020;9(11):3788. doi: 10.3390/jcm9113788Cusick CN, Langberg JM, Breaux R, et al.Caffeine use and associations with sleep in adolescents with and without adhd. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2020;45(6):643-653. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa033Leon MR.Effects of caffeine on cognitive, psychomotor, and affective performance of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Atten Disord. 2000;4(1):27-47. doi: 10.1177/108705470000400103Perrotte G, Moreira MMG, de Vargas Junior A, et al.Effects of Caffeine on Main Symptoms in Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Brain Sci. 2023 Sep 11;13(9):1304. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13091304U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: how much caffeine is too much?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Is coffee bad for kids?American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Caffeine.Moustakas D, Mezzio M, Rodriguez BR, et al.Guarana provides additional stimulation over caffeine alone in the planarian model. Holscher C, ed. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(4):e0123310. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123310Mehren A, Reichert M, Coghill D, et al.Physical exercise in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - evidence and implications for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2020 Jan 6;7:1. doi: 10.1186/s40479-019-0115-2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sleep.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Phycological Association.A sip into dangerous territory.Vázquez JC, Martin de la Torre O, López Palomé J, et al.Effects of Caffeine Consumption on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 10;14(4):739. doi: 10.3390/nu14040739Anas Sohail A, Ortiz F, Varghese T, et al.The Cognitive-Enhancing Outcomes of Caffeine and L-theanine: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2021 Dec 30;13(12):e20828. doi: 10.7759/cureus.20828Cipollone G, Gehrman P, Manni C, et al.Exploring the role of caffeine use in adult-adhd symptom severity of us army soldiers. JCM. 2020;9(11):3788. doi: 10.3390/jcm9113788Cusick CN, Langberg JM, Breaux R, et al.Caffeine use and associations with sleep in adolescents with and without adhd. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2020;45(6):643-653. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa033Leon MR.Effects of caffeine on cognitive, psychomotor, and affective performance of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Atten Disord. 2000;4(1):27-47. doi: 10.1177/108705470000400103Perrotte G, Moreira MMG, de Vargas Junior A, et al.Effects of Caffeine on Main Symptoms in Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Brain Sci. 2023 Sep 11;13(9):1304. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13091304U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: how much caffeine is too much?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Is coffee bad for kids?American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Caffeine.Moustakas D, Mezzio M, Rodriguez BR, et al.Guarana provides additional stimulation over caffeine alone in the planarian model. Holscher C, ed. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(4):e0123310. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123310Mehren A, Reichert M, Coghill D, et al.Physical exercise in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - evidence and implications for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2020 Jan 6;7:1. doi: 10.1186/s40479-019-0115-2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sleep.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Phycological Association.A sip into dangerous territory.Vázquez JC, Martin de la Torre O, López Palomé J, et al.Effects of Caffeine Consumption on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 10;14(4):739. doi: 10.3390/nu14040739Anas Sohail A, Ortiz F, Varghese T, et al.The Cognitive-Enhancing Outcomes of Caffeine and L-theanine: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2021 Dec 30;13(12):e20828. doi: 10.7759/cureus.20828Cipollone G, Gehrman P, Manni C, et al.Exploring the role of caffeine use in adult-adhd symptom severity of us army soldiers. JCM. 2020;9(11):3788. doi: 10.3390/jcm9113788Cusick CN, Langberg JM, Breaux R, et al.Caffeine use and associations with sleep in adolescents with and without adhd. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2020;45(6):643-653. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa033Leon MR.Effects of caffeine on cognitive, psychomotor, and affective performance of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Atten Disord. 2000;4(1):27-47. doi: 10.1177/108705470000400103Perrotte G, Moreira MMG, de Vargas Junior A, et al.Effects of Caffeine on Main Symptoms in Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Brain Sci. 2023 Sep 11;13(9):1304. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13091304U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: how much caffeine is too much?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Is coffee bad for kids?American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Caffeine.Moustakas D, Mezzio M, Rodriguez BR, et al.Guarana provides additional stimulation over caffeine alone in the planarian model. Holscher C, ed. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(4):e0123310. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123310Mehren A, Reichert M, Coghill D, et al.Physical exercise in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - evidence and implications for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2020 Jan 6;7:1. doi: 10.1186/s40479-019-0115-2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sleep.
American Phycological Association.A sip into dangerous territory.
Vázquez JC, Martin de la Torre O, López Palomé J, et al.Effects of Caffeine Consumption on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 10;14(4):739. doi: 10.3390/nu14040739
Anas Sohail A, Ortiz F, Varghese T, et al.The Cognitive-Enhancing Outcomes of Caffeine and L-theanine: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2021 Dec 30;13(12):e20828. doi: 10.7759/cureus.20828
Cipollone G, Gehrman P, Manni C, et al.Exploring the role of caffeine use in adult-adhd symptom severity of us army soldiers. JCM. 2020;9(11):3788. doi: 10.3390/jcm9113788
Cusick CN, Langberg JM, Breaux R, et al.Caffeine use and associations with sleep in adolescents with and without adhd. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2020;45(6):643-653. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa033
Leon MR.Effects of caffeine on cognitive, psychomotor, and affective performance of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. J Atten Disord. 2000;4(1):27-47. doi: 10.1177/108705470000400103
Perrotte G, Moreira MMG, de Vargas Junior A, et al.Effects of Caffeine on Main Symptoms in Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Brain Sci. 2023 Sep 11;13(9):1304. doi: 10.3390/brainsci13091304
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: how much caffeine is too much?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Is coffee bad for kids?
American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Caffeine.
Moustakas D, Mezzio M, Rodriguez BR, et al.Guarana provides additional stimulation over caffeine alone in the planarian model. Holscher C, ed. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(4):e0123310. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123310
Mehren A, Reichert M, Coghill D, et al.Physical exercise in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - evidence and implications for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul. 2020 Jan 6;7:1. doi: 10.1186/s40479-019-0115-2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sleep.
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