SPD (+ADHD?) would you give caffeine?

[Rose-Roget]

Ds is 6.  He has SPD and may or may not have ADHD or OE's with giftedness.  While he reads and is capable of work well-ablve grade level, he rarely completes his assignments at school and is gaining a reputation as a "problem child" (not because of malicious michief, but because he's not "easy" to teach and he can act impulsively).  I'm not a fan of medications and wouldn't consider heavy duty drugs at this point in his life.  He has a harder time on days when he wakes up tired (he gets 12 hours of sleep), and mornings are usually the hardest times for him.

Someone mentioned to me that her friend gives her own ds a chocolate covered espresso bean each morning and that this helps him.  I don't know if there is any real efficacy in this, if it would be healthy, or if it would more greatly impact his sensory issues.  Does anyone have any experience?

[Emmeline II]

I don't think any of us that do medicate were thinking "who-hoo, an opportunity to give my child pharmaceuticals!!!", but turned to medication after eliminating/trying many other things. Ds was the problem child at his old school last year, though his ADHD symptoms seem like they may have been more severe than your ds'. Since we changed his medication in December he is completing all his assignments, AR quizes, rarely argues, and his impulse control at school is great (him raiding other people's lunch boxes had become a huge issue), and he won the school spelling bee. Ds also sees a CBT for help with his impulse control and social issues.

I googled "adhd caffine" and this is one of the articles that came up:

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/caffeines-effect-on-adhd-symptoms/

[KCMichigan]

I dont know if I would use caffine in a small/young child w/o talking to your Dr.

But that said, as a teen I used caffinated drinks to increase my ability to attend in school. (soda, not energy drinks). It did help and as an adult I still drink heavily caffinated drinks (coffee or soda) when I need to focus. BUT I was monitored and suggested by my Dr.

That said- consult your physician about caffine consumption and/or other alternatives (techniques, foods, behavior patterns, OT, etc).

I would feel more comfortable with a prescribed low dose of a medication vs the 'unknown' amount/variable of a caffinated food/beverage. I think a Dr should monitor meds- I also think that the social factor of prescribed meds for ADHD is so negative when really there are a lot of positives and kids really do benefit from them when they are appropriately prescribed and monitored by a Dr. There are a lot of meds out there with less side effects than caffeine (side effects can be heart palpitations, shakes,, upset stomach, headaches, insomnia, etc) that are available at a wide variance of doses and strengths. Most of them are NOT considered heavy-duty drugs and most do not have many side effects/addiction effects any more.

Adults also downplay and think that caffeine is 'less' intense than a prescribed med. Caffeine is a stimulant and is easily over-dosed and over-used. Yes, caffeine is consumed by many people daily- but a 140lb adult is MUCH different than a 40 lb child and people do get 'addicted' to caffeine and get withdrawal symptoms (headaches,fatigue, shakes,etc) if they go from a high consumption over a long period of time to no-caffeine. 

For now, I would focus on getting enough sleep (make it a MAJOR priority) and implementing CBT therapy techniques. Consult a Dr. Also potentially look into dietary needs that he may have. You may even see if you can get the school social worker familiar w/ ADD/ADHD involved to help implement some ideas in the classroom to help.

Edited by KCMichigan - 1/26/11 at 4:00pm

[Peony]

Anything to consider is that caffeine can have the opposite effect in people with ADHD. Caffeine can actually relax them. Caffeine makes my SPD DD1 bounce off the walls but in my ADHD DH will make coffee before bed because it puts him to sleep. And he isn't the only one. http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/caffeines-effect-on-adhd-symptoms/ 

[Rose-Roget]

Thank you for those replies.  I want to be clear that I didn't mean to sound disrespectful to anyone who already chooses to medicate with pharmaceuticals.  Absolutely, nobody goes looking for opportunities to give their kids meds, and I didn't mean to imply otherwise.   It's a hard decision and individual for every child and family.

I do know that caffeine is a drug and that it can have different effects on different people.  Those are some reasons why I wouldn't jump into it - I'm just curious whether there could be any efficacy to it in a small amount. 

[Emmeline II]

[Emmeline II]

Caffeine generally has a limited effect (depending on how quickly it is metabolized); I doubt a single espresso bean would help him throughout the day. I know that when I occasionally drink coffee in the evening (I'm normally a morning drinker) to help me study, it will only be helpful for 2-2.5 hours (and this is Starbucks espresso bold). Medications for ADHD are time released and are started out at the lowest dosage (ds has been on two and ends up on the second dosage). I do give ds juice in the morning because this is how I give him his vitamins, and it seems to help him wake up.

If he is getting that much sleep and still wakes up tired I would consider a sleep study first.

[karne]

I would say that caffeine is not the answer.  I do know of a mom who is vehemently anti-meds, but gives her child a caffeine concoction drink each morning that even I wouldn't drink.  She swears by it.  The issues your ds faces in school are complex, and mirror my youngest's current experience.  There aren't any easy answers, I know.

[blessedwithboys]

Absolutely don't waste any time getting to a sleep lab!  My 16 yo ds was exactly as you described and I never medicated him.  I spent the last 13 yrs trying to figure him out and after a few sleep studies he was diagnosed with narcolepsy.  It totally looked like ADD/ADHD all those years bc the lack of sleep at ngiht drove him to hyperactivity and inattention during the day.  His daytime sleepiness didn't kick in until about a year ago and that's when we went to the sleep lab.

Anyway, I started letting ds have coffee around age 12 or so but it made no difference.  In fact, he's on Adderall now and it still isn't helping, fwiw.

[Rose-Roget]

Originally Posted by blessedwithboys 

Absolutely don't waste any time getting to a sleep lab!  My 16 yo ds was exactly as you described and I never medicated him.  I spent the last 13 yrs trying to figure him out and after a few sleep studies he was diagnosed with narcolepsy.  It totally looked like ADD/ADHD all those years bc the lack of sleep at ngiht drove him to hyperactivity and inattention during the day.  His daytime sleepiness didn't kick in until about a year ago and that's when we went to the sleep lab.

Anyway, I started letting ds have coffee around age 12 or so but it made no difference.  In fact, he's on Adderall now and it still isn't helping, fwiw.

Really?!  I never really considered a sleep disorder - I just always thought he was a kid who needed more sleep than the average person - 2 naps/day until 2+, 1 nap until 4-1/2-5, + 11-12 hours at night. But I'm a person who needs a lot of sleep, too, especially when I was younger.  He says that he often feels tired, and the SPD in him then "winds him up" to counteract it, I think.  So what are they doing for your son with narcolepsy?  Is that what the Adderall is for?  I wonder what can be done to help that.  Thanks for this information!

ETA:  Does insurance usually cover a sleep study?
 

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Rose-Roget 

Originally Posted by blessedwithboys 

Absolutely don't waste any time getting to a sleep lab!  My 16 yo ds was exactly as you described and I never medicated him.  I spent the last 13 yrs trying to figure him out and after a few sleep studies he was diagnosed with narcolepsy.  It totally looked like ADD/ADHD all those years bc the lack of sleep at ngiht drove him to hyperactivity and inattention during the day.  His daytime sleepiness didn't kick in until about a year ago and that's when we went to the sleep lab.

Anyway, I started letting ds have coffee around age 12 or so but it made no difference.  In fact, he's on Adderall now and it still isn't helping, fwiw.

Really?!  I never really considered a sleep disorder - I just always thought he was a kid who needed more sleep than the average person - 2 naps/day until 2+, 1 nap until 4-1/2-5, + 11-12 hours at night. But I'm a person who needs a lot of sleep, too, especially when I was younger.  He says that he often feels tired, and the SPD in him then "winds him up" to counteract it, I think.  So what are they doing for your son with narcolepsy?  Is that what the Adderall is for?  I wonder what can be done to help that.  Thanks for this information!

ETA:  Does insurance usually cover a sleep study?
 

I think it is one thing to sleep more than average and wake refreshed than to get that much "sleep" and still feel tired. Adderall is an ADHD drug but it seems to result in more side effects than others used to treat ADHD.

[blessedwithboys]

Ds is taking Adderall which is used for mainly ADHD but also narcolepsy, totally on-label.  The number one choice of meds for narcolepsy is called Provigil, but it's $500/mo and not approved for "children", so his insurance won't cover it.  We have to try Adderall for a few months and then appeal the decision.

Our insurance has covered 2 polysomnograms, an MSLT (multi sleep latency test) that never was called off after him getting wired up but before falling asleep, and a combo back-to-back polysomno/MSLT. 

Again, not saying narcolepsy is an issue for you all, but anytime I read "wakes up tired" in the saem post as ADD/ADHD, my ears prick up.  Best wishes!

Oh, PS:  I find it sooo ironic that for years I refused every offer from the ped to give ds ADHD meds, and now here he is, almost an adult, and he is taking speed.  LOL  Oh well, at least it's for something other than being "hyper".