Caffeine is known as a substance that can wake you up and make you more alert, but some research suggests caffeine may have a calming effect on children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. There is no evidence that caffeine calms kids in general, however. While adults get their caffeine mainly from coffee and tea, most kids get caffeine from drinking soft drinks. Too much caffeine can have side effects that may not be healthy for children.
Calming Effects
According to an article in the June 2001 issue of "Monitor on Psychology," caffeine seems to calm hyperactivity and reduce aggressiveness in kids with ADHD. In one analysis of studies reported in the article, caffeine didn’t work as well as traditional ADHD stimulant drugs, but it helped calm hyperactivity better than no treatment at all. Additionally, a 2003 Canadian review of studies published in the journal “Food Additives and Contaminants” noted that caffeine has been used successfully to treat ADHD and has been shown to increase performance by ADHD children in attention tests.
Stimulating Effects
The Nemours Foundation's Kids Health website reports that caffeine is defined as a drug because it stimulates the central nervous system. That means it excites and energizes the brain and nervous system. Caffeine is often used for short-term relief of fatigue or drowsiness. After consuming caffeine, it is absorbed and passes quickly into the brain. It does not collect in the bloodstream or get stored in the body. It leaves the body in the urine a few hours later. Caffeine’s stimulating effects can cause sleep problems, restlessness, anxiety and a fast heart rate, reports Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health.
Precautions
Caffeine may stimulate rather than calm kids with ADHD. Some studies have suggested even small amounts can lead to hyperactivity in kids with ADHD, according to the 2003 Canadian review of studies. Other studies showed no benefit of caffeine use for ADHD. Insomnia and increases in blood pressure and heart rate were noted in a few studies of children consuming caffeine for ADHD. Because caffeine is a diuretic that causes the body to eliminate caffeine by urinating, it can lead to dehydration in children, notes Kids Health. Caffeine also reduces the appetite. If your child is drinking a lot of caffeinated sodas, he may eat fewer healthy foods, harming his nutrition. Sweetened caffeinated sodas can also lead to cavities and increase the risk of childhood obesity.
Tips
Talk to your child’s doctor before using caffeine to treat symptoms of ADHD. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that should be treated under the supervision of a pediatrician or other trained medical professional. If your child’s caffeine consumption is causing side effects, such as difficulty sleeping or increased hyperactivity, cut back gradually. Stopping caffeine abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms, including drowsiness, headaches, irritability, nausea and vomiting. Kids Health suggests substituting caffeine-free sodas, milk, 100 percent fruit juices and water for some of your child’s caffeinated drinks. Gradually phase out caffeinated sodas completely.
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