TheKicksShrink
TheKicksShrink
Minisode 111: ADHD & Caffeine: Why It Works...Until It Doesn't
Minisode 111: ADHD & Caffeine: Why It Works...Until It Doesn't
Minisode 111: ADHD & Caffeine: Why It Works...Until It Doesn't
Thursday 26th June 2025
Explore the complex link between ADHD and caffeine with Dr. Mirza. Learn why coffee might calm some brains but isn't the fix you think it is.
Explicit
9 minutes
Informative
Engaging
Supportive
Eye-opening
Honest
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Get the buttons here!Caffeine & ADHD: A Surprising Calm or Chaos?
Episode Overview
- Caffeine can calm an ADHD brain but isn't a treatment.
- Combining caffeine with ADHD meds can be risky.
- Effects of caffeine on ADHD brains are unpredictable.
- Caffeine blocks adenosine but doesn't boost dopamine.
- Track your response to caffeine to find what works for you.
Caffeine might take the edge off, but it won't fix what's underneath.
Ever wondered why caffeine makes some ADHD brains snooze instead of buzz? This episode of TheKicksShrink Podcast dives into the puzzling relationship between ADHD and caffeine. Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza, a triple board-certified psychiatrist, explores how caffeine can calm the chaos in an ADHD brain but isn't the magic fix it might seem. You'll hear anecdotes like the one about the friend who drinks a Red Bull only to take a nap, which sounds bizarre until it happens to you.
Caffeine, typically a wake-up call for most, can act like a mental dimmer switch for those with ADHD, turning down the static and sometimes even making them sleepy. Dr. Mirza breaks down the science behind this phenomenon, explaining how caffeine blocks adenosine—the neurotransmitter that signals sleep—leading to unpredictable effects on ADHD brains. While it might offer temporary relief from racing thoughts, caffeine doesn't enhance focus or clarity.
It's like dimming the lights in a messy room; the clutter is still there. The podcast also tackles the risks of combining caffeine with ADHD medications, which can amplify each other's effects in unpredictable and potentially dangerous ways. Dr. Mirza advises caution and suggests timing buffers between consuming caffeine and taking medication to avoid stacking two chemical spikes.
Whether you're curious about how caffeine interacts with ADHD meds or just trying to understand why coffee makes you feel different from your non-ADHD friends, this episode offers valuable insights without any fluff. So grab your favourite brew, sit back, and learn why your response to caffeine might be uniquely yours—and that's perfectly okay.