like it says…adderall and coffee. I’m very mentally addicted to coffee. I’ve convinced myself that it’s my treat, it’s my one drug, it’s the only way I can be productive or feel ok, etc, etc.
but for the past couple of weeks, I have been on adderall. I feel like I should quit the coffee; I did last year for lent but went back to drinking it as soon as lent was over.
I guess I’m wondering if there are folks who have quit coffee while on adderall ( or another stimulant) or if you roll with both?
I’m on 10 mg of adderall, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. I have been drinking two fairly big cups of coffee every morning forever.
I’m going to talk to my doc on Monday to have a medication check in. I think I’d like extended release or a slightly smaller dose.
I’ve become angry and irritable over loud noises or busy places. My energy and attitude is up for the most part, so is motivation. But focus and concentration is still all over the place. I’m doing better at physical errands or chores but not with sit-down-and-focus things like homeschool.
thanks for any advice. If you’ve quit coffee for good, please let me know how you’ve done it! 😃 Thanks for reading. This group is so helpful.
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SierraHomesick
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Before my diagnosis and treatment with Vyvanse I typically consumed about 160 ounces of caffeinated (diet) soda per day plus multiple cups of coffee.
Often I go an entire day without a single soda or coffee. When I am out at restaurants I may have a few glasses or a cup of coffee, but the need dramatically reduced.
The caffeine is a subconscious way of trying to boost the deficient dopamine levels in the brain. Once I improved my neurotransmitter levels, one of the side effects I experienced was the disappearance of the urge to caffeinate. The result is a calmer more relaxed state with mental awareness and abilities better than at the peak of caffeine storms; plus no more muscle shaking from all the caffeine.
I went into recovery in 2018. I quit all caffeine, all medication, all alcohol, all smoking, all sugar, but, got addicted to junk food. There's always something that will creep it's way in. Sure enough, the rest has, and sure enough I quit again, but, that's ADHD.
Adderall is a stimulant, so is coffee, so at some point, no matter who you are, where you are in life, there will be a crash. Especially if you have sugar and sugary foods.
Personally, I would first ditch the sugar, if you have any, then go for a smaller cup, then go for a 'no coffee after 1pm' strategy.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a nutrition God, and his advice is always well received. He says 'no caffeine after 1pm helps you sleep better and sets you up greatly for the next day'
We need to wake up, so you could have a coffee, wake up, then an hour later take your adderall, 2 hours later have a coffee, and then nothing after 1pm?
if you like your coffee, my advice is not to ditch it completely, because an alternative WILL creep back in.
That's why it's always suggested to eat, drink, and digest in moderation because the body can handle moderate intake. Too much, too soon, will overdo the brain and body and that's where cravings start.
Lemon water is the next best thing to wake up with, but it has vitamin C in it and it's an acid, so may interact with the adderall.
Thanks for the advice. I’m curious about the lemon water. I go in spurts of drinking it in the morning. I haven’t since I’ve been on the medication. What does the acid do to adderall? If I drink lemon water, should I take it at night? Thank you
You're welcome. Citric acid and vitamin C make stimulants less effective because they reduce the absorption rate in the stomach. It doesnt mean you can't have lemon water at all, you just need to allow the drink go in, down and do it's thing for at least 2 hours apart either side of taking the Adderall. Personally, I would have a coffee 3 hours after the first pill, and then lemon 4 hours after your 2nd, and maybe a nice cocoa at 8-9pm, for the calming effect 🙂
Just keep asking questions here. I’m sure if I switch to a different dose or extended release or some other med altogether—I will be back here asking about it!
That’s great to hear. I’m down to a cup ( a large cup) of coffee and feeling a bit calmer. Still not sure about what the right dose is for me. Focus, concentration and calm have been elusive.
Good Evening! While I’m not on a stimulant, I’m on Strattera once a day, I’ve found that 1 coke a day helps me to maintain the same level of concentration as taking 2 pills a day. I will admit that I've never been a coffee drinker, but Coke works well. I’ve tried to ween myself off of Coke, but I’ve seen my aggressiveness and anger increase. So, I’m now only drinking 1 Coke a day. My energy level also is a lot better.
I started on straterra and also felt my irritability and anger (especially around loud noises/crowds) increase. My appetite also decreased on straterra.
My main issue with adderall is that I have motivation, good attitude but focus and concentration and sometimes motivation are still seriously lacking.
My doctor had me increase the dose from 10 mg twice a day to 10 mg once a day and then 15 once a day. He thinks a higher dose will increase focus and concentration. It seems counterintuitive to me. I thought a higher dose would just make me more wired…So we’ll see.
Yes, Coca Cola is still my favorite. Before and still after being diagnosed and taking Adderall. (Reg Coke with sugar and caffeine). Before being diagnosed (before Adderall) a Coke could have the same effect as Adderall-but much shorter lasting. 1 day my mind was running 100mph, and I went and got a Coke, and soon after that 1st sip/slug, my mind became much calmer. I thought 'this is what addiction is like. This is why some people use alcohol or drugs- if it's bad enough, you'll want to find something to slow your mind down'. You can't outrun or escape your mind. I drink 1 or 2 a day. But there are periods of time where I'll drink more than 2 (more stress is going on?). Diet or Pepsi, etc doesn't work. I never did have a problem with alcohol or drugs. My problem was/still is worry, racing thoughts, anxiety - but Adderall usually helps a lot. Neither Strattera nor Ritalin worked for me.
I was a caffeine addict most of my teen, twenties, and early thirties. I began cutting out afternoon coffee about 5 or so years ago and last year was told I needed to go on a low-acid diet, so I switched my morning french press to half-caff. Decaf coffee used to be seriously gross, but there are some quality blends out nowadays, so if you do want to start by cutting your intake or substituting, decaf may be a good option to try.
Back in June, I found out my cholesterol was suddenly quite high, and while coffee isn't a huge contributor to cholesterol, it can play a factor, plus I'm still having the gut issues that prompted the low-acid diet, so I decided to take the plunge and switched almost entirely to tea. I started Adderall (my first stimulant Rx) in late September and the few times I had coffee since then, I felt crazy. Way too speedy, a very hectic energy, super hard crash. I think as long as I'm trying this script, I'll be a tea-only gal.
Thank you for that advice. I hadn’t really thought about decaf, but it might help me until I lose the taste for it. I do like chai tea, maybe i could switch to black tea. I was able to only have my morning coffee today, and not the afternoon coffee, haha. Sounds like adderall affects you and I very similarly.
Congratulations on taking that step! I think as much as caffeine can offer a boost, a crucial part of the enjoyment in drinking it is the ritual aspects of taking a lil' break for making it (or going to a coffee shop), picking a mug, adding cream or sugar just how you like, pleasant sensations of a warm mug in your hands and tasty beverage. So substituting with decaf or tea can help avoid feeling deprived of the lovely experience, even if you are removing most or all of the caffeine. Good luck!
there are some great decaf coffees now !! Also I’ve been having The Tik Toc Tea Brand Red bush teas they do they do one that like chai tea / A calming one for before bed & a lovely Earl Grey One these are great for when I want a hot drink ! I do still like a decaf coffee and it’s great that there are some decent ones about ! Also the well know coffee shop brands we have a few in uk do great decaf versions of the different coffees / I love a flat white and have had some lovely decaf versions and a well known brand beginning with S do a lovely brown sugar and oat milk iced coffee that is so good in decaf 😀
I love coffee too! Love love love it. Feel like I can’t function without it.
But with adderall I’m me too, whew.
So I have one cup of half caffeinated coffee in the morning then I drink decaf the rest of the day. It’s been helping.
I did taper off though, drank half caffeine for the whole day. Then drank half caffeine in morning with no caffeine in afternoon. Then eventually 1 cup of half caff and then everything else no caff.
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