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Mr Anon
Mr Anon asked in HealthDiet & Fitness · 1 decade ago

I'm 22 with strong ADD tendencies. I've never taken medication and don't want to, but caffeine?

I've heard that caffeine can be a great help for people with ADD. I recently found some caffeine pills called NODOZ that say each pill contains 100mg of caffeine - equivalent to one cup of coffee.

I've been taking two pills in the morning and it's been great. It's not that i'm on a noticable caffeine buzz, it just seems that my thoughts are a little less fractured and haphazard.

My question - from a physical/pharmalogical viewpoint - is it safe for me to continue to take these pills indefinately?

I sleep like a baby at night (presumably they wear off over the day) and I don't feel ''speedy'' so It doesn't seem like I'm going to get any caffeine version of amphetamine psychosis.

Any educated opinons would be welcome.

4 Answers

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  • VN-Cop
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    I was diagnosed with adult ADD at the age of 34.

    Caffeine will help to a degree, but the risks are far too great (ask you doc for his opinion). Your heart rate and BP will increase greatly plus you will become addicted to the caffeine.

    ritalin is awesome, is cheap and works very well. i've also had success with Dexadrine. i'm off everything now, but i hear there are new non stimulant alternatives out there.

    Source(s): Try what your doc suggests first. if you don't feel comfortable then tell your doc and keep trying until you find something that works.
  • buttfor2007
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    Caffeine is weak and unreliable. The majority of studies fail to differentiate it from placebo. A minority of studies show it superior to placebo for ADD. It also causes side effects in many organ systems, headaches, urinary urgency, rapid heartbeat, breast pain, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anxiety, depression in withdrawal from it, anger, etc. It is definitely an active ingredient, or there would be no long lines of people to get some.

    Think of it as a definite but weak over the counter amphetamine. Why waste time and money on it? At Starbuck's prices, it is not even cheaper, especially if someone has a prescription plan.

  • Todd
    1 decade ago

    I myself also have a form of ADD, ADHD. Scientists have concluded that caffeine works very well for people that have ADD/ADHD.

    Just like the medicines, caffiene is a stimulant. To normal people, caffiene would give them a large amount of energy, but for those who have ADD/ADHD it tends to have the opposite effect. Caffiene has been found to help with their concentration, lowering high energy levels, and improving attention.

    Be warned though that there is a large drawback from taking caffiene though, should you take it long enough you have a good chance of becoming addicted to caffiene. Should you become addicted, it may be hard for you to stop taking these caffiene pills. Other than the risk of addiction, it is perfectly safe.

    Overall, if the caffiene works best for you, I strongly encourage that you continue taking it.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    sure, yet I in lots of situations would desire to work out somebody head to head and seem of their eyes and get their genuine feeling to rather comprehend them. yet yep, there might easily be stable emotions in spite of if I by no skill met them. i'm a hugger and that would rather be effective too!

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