Caffeine, an herbal stimulant, has been proposed as an alternative to stimulant drugs for treating ADHD. The active part of caffeine is methyxanthine, a mild stimulant that activates noradrenaline neurons and appears to affect the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. In several studies researchers have found that caffeine may benefit people with ADHD; however, side effects may also be present. Drinks with caffeine fail to match or exceed those derived from conventional medications. Garfinkel (1981) treated six children with ADHD with different stimulant medications. In the doubleblind, cross-over study, the children received caffeine in a low dose or in a high dose. Methyphenidate was added to both dosages. Results indicated that caffeine in low dosage with methyphenidate was superior to all other treatments. High-dosage caffeine was not different from placebo. However, other studies of caffeine therapy for ADHD have failed to show clear benefits compared to stimulant drugs or even placebo.

Caffeine also appears to reduce blood flow in the brain, an effect similar to that of stimulant medications. Cognitive effects of caffeine are similar to stimulants, making rapidly processing information and paying attention more efficient.

Dalby (1985) suggests that many ADHD children who go into remission as adults have self-medicated with regular coffee consumption. If coffee is eliminated from their diets, the condition appears. Coffee may mask the underlying ADHD condition. The health risks for long-term caffeine use are better understood than those of Ritalin. Mild levels are considered safe. However, evidence exists that withdrawal from those individuals who are heavy users of caffeine may result in headaches; very large amounts can induce heart attacks and is associated with hand tremors. However, the user is advised to be aware that hidden amounts of caffeine are in soft drinks, sweets, and cold medicines and may increase the amount of caffeine intake.

Bibliography:

1) Dalby, J. T. 1985. Will population decreases in caffeine consumption unveil attention deficit disorder in adults Medical Hypotheses 18(2):163-67

2) Garfinkel, B. D. et al. 1981. Responses to methylphenidate and varied doses of caffeine in children with attention deficit disorder. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 25(6):395-401

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on ADHD at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to ADHD and other relevant topics.