“Energy Drinks Were a Huge Contributor to the Nightmare Side of ADHD”

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From frozen coffee drinks and teas to sodas and energy drinks, caffeine is ubiquitous in teen culture — and its effects are poorly understood.

Conflicting and paltry research on caffeine and ADHD leaves many parents with mixed messages and unclear recommendations. For example, a 2013 study1 suggesting that caffeine may normalize dopamine and attention levels in people with ADHD, was essentially rendered obsolete by a 2024 study2 published in the journal Public Health that associated energy drink consumption with an elevated risk for physical and mental health conditions such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among children and adolescents.

This study also tied energy drink consumption to increased ADHD inattention, conduct disorder, and depressive and panic symptoms. It showed startling rates of suicidal ideation and attempts among those who drank more than one energy drink a day compared to non-drinkers.

Caffeine is not the only reason these drinks may pose concerns for those with ADHD. A recent meta-analysis3 found that sugary beverage consumption was associated with a 25% increase in ADHD symptoms.

[Get This Free Download: A Parent’s Guide to ADHD Medications]

And still other research has suggested that consuming caffeine with another stimulant can be dangerous, exacerbating side effects like heart rate and blood pressure elevation. Still, no formal contradiction warnings exist, and many parents are left wondering, How much caffeine is too much for a teenager with ADHD?

We asked ADDitude readers if they have a teenager who regularly consumes caffeine and, if so, what observations or concerns they have. We received 189 responses. Many shared their strategies for embracing the benefits of caffeine, moderating it, or eliminating it altogether for their teenagers both with and without ADHD.

How do you manage caffeine consumption by your teen? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.

Negative Effects of Caffeine Consumption

“Caffeine gives some spike of energy but then makes her down and interrupts her sleep. Since she does a lot of sports, she knows coffee will distract her routines.” — Inna, Massachusetts

[Read: Your Guide to ADHD Symptoms in Teens]

“Energy drinks are part of his consuming habits. His crash can be quite volatile, however. Since he has anxiety issues, I’m very concerned when he says he feels his heart pounding. I feel it may be a result of these drinks, but he won’t listen to us.” — Anonymous

“It’s a spiral effect that impacts forgetting to eat, poor nutrition, energy surges and crashes, and intestinal issues.” — Anonymous

“With caffeine, the mind becomes overactive, to the point where my child can’t stop to take a breath.” — Stacey, Canada

“Our youngest followed his friends in consuming energy drinks. This was a huge contributor to the nightmare side of ADHD symptomatic behavior.” — Craig, England

“My son drank energy drinks routinely. That’s when he began giving into naps and sleeping late.” — Mindy, Connecticut

Teaching Caffeine Moderation

“I didn’t allow caffeine until age 16. Then, we discussed the consequences of overdoing it, watched some videos, and talked about the healthy use of caffeine.” — Eva, Arizona

“The energy drinks are limited to one, with 150 milligrams of caffeine a day. It has to be consumed before 3 p.m.” — Anonymous

“We treat caffeine as another over-the-counter drug — to be used with great thought. We actually recommend caffeine on days when the prescription stimulants are not taken to make it a bit easier to focus. Stimulant use and caffeine may have a reaction, and that should be considered.” — Amy, Michigan

“I see a high usage of energy drinks among my son and his friends. I regularly discuss this, and see it influences him from time to time to lessen his intake.” — Inge, Netherlands

“Soda is limited to one can a day. An energy drink is okay with friends, but we limit to one.” — Becky, Pennsylvania

“We try hard to limit caffeine — energy drinks is where we draw the line.” — Kathy, New Hampshire

“I know from personal experience that caffeine can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, so I just try to keep a watch on what he drinks. It’s a very fine line between just enough and too much.” — Casey, North Carolina

Eliminating Caffeine Entirely

“We have educated our children on the dangers of mixing caffeine and stimulant medication.” — Donna, California

“I do not allow it. She already has some trouble falling asleep, so she is happy to avoid it.” — Anonymous

“We do not allow caffeine consumption before college because it is habit forming.” — Kaycee, California

“We have been very upset at not being able to give our daughter what other children get every day, and see it is a missed part of her ebbing childhood.” — Larry, Indonesia

“We hide caffeinated sodas in our house because he will drink them. Due to the stimulant he takes for ADHD, we have concerns about the amount of caffeine he consumes and its impact on his behavior, sleep, and activity level. We’ve allowed him to drink carbonated and flavored waters, and non-caffeinated, low-sugar sodas.” — Anonymous

Embracing Caffeine

“He makes homemade coffee drinks. It calms him, he says, and helps him gain energy at the same time.” — Theresa, Minnesota

“My 14-year-old daughter with ADHD is unmediated and has just started drinking cappuccinos. When she has one, I’ve noticed that she becomes quite engaged and focused on her love of drawing.” — Lucy, England

“They use caffeine daily as their only stimulant. I don’t think they could function without it.” — Sallie, Michigan

“Caffeine seems to help him regulate.” — Anonymous

How Much Caffeine Is Too Much For a Teenager: Next Steps

Sources

1Pandolfo, P., Machado, N. J., Köfalvi, A., Takahashi, R. N., & Cunha, R. A. (2013). Caffeine regulates frontocorticostriatal dopamine transporter density and improves attention and cognitive deficits in an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 23(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroneuro.2012.04.011

2Ajibo, C., Van Griethuysen, A., Visram, S., & Lake, A. A. (2024). Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: A systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes. Public Health, 227, 274–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.024

3Khazdouz, M., Reza Safarzadeh, Bahram Hejrani, Hasani, M., Fatemeh Sadat Mahdavi, Hanieh-Sadat Ejtahed, & Mostafa Qorbani. (2024). The association between junk foods consumption and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. https://https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02521-8

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