Having ADHD can cause you to have problems staying still. You’ll also find it difficult to properly focus and pay attention to your surroundings.
Aside from medication, there’s something else that can help you concentrate for some time: caffeine.
You can get your daily dose of caffeine from coffee, teas and, colas, but energy drinks are definitely the quickest way.
So, let’s dive in to find out how energy drinks can improve your focus and which brand to go for.
Disclaimer: If you’re diagnosed with ADHD, please consult your doctor before consuming any energy drinks.
ADHD And Caffeine
Caffeine helps us in staying awake, as well as improving your focus and physical performance.
Caffeine is often used to treat ADHD, as it can increase dopamine levels, leading you to feel more energetic and happier.
If you have ADHD, stimulants like caffeine can help you in staying awake and improving your mood. It also helps you stay focused.
Caffeine also generally doesn’t trigger ADHD. It’s also often recommended as an easy ingredient that can help reduce your hyperactivity and allow you to properly be attentive.
However, not everyone has the same reaction to caffeine. Even though caffeine can help with focus and concentration, some may find the stimulant more triggering than effective.
If that happens to you, please reduce your caffeine intake or don’t consume caffeine at all.
How Much Caffeine Can You Have If You Have ADHD?
The FDA recommends a daily caffeine intake of 400mg for adults. Thus, if you have ADHD and would like to have caffeine, make sure to consume within the recommended limit.
But, while caffeine might improve your focus, an excessive consumption of caffeine may lead to health problems like:
- Lack of sleep
- Anxiety
- Jitter
- Hyperactivity
- Headaches
As such, make sure to consume your caffeine in moderate amounts and monitor your overall consumption of caffeinated beverages.
Caffeine and Medication
A common medication that helps with ADHD is Adderall.
Apparently, when Adderall is combined with caffeine, it causes a synergistic effect. Caffeine adds on the effects of Adderall, increasing its effectiveness.
Thus, when you combine Adderall and caffeine, there would likely be a stronger effect. But I strongly urge you to consult your doctor first before doing that.
ADHD And Sugar
Sugar may be harmful for you if you have ADHD.
Sugar can cause hyperactivity and might trigger your ADHD. Sugar can give you an energy boost, which can lead to a higher risk of hyperactivity.
If you have ADHD and have too much sugar, it would increase your blood pressure too, which results in fidgeting and moving too much.
If you have ADHD and have too much sugar, it would increase your blood pressure too, which results in fidgeting and moving too much.
However, everyone has a different reaction to sugar. If you have ADHD and you find yourself fidgeting after consuming sugar, it’s best not to continue consuming it.
ADHD And Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are good beverages you can consider if you have ADHD. They’re easy and quick, as well as convenient.
Plus, these drinks have caffeine which could improve your energy levels and mental focus. They can also help you to absorb and remember information better.
However, the caffeine content in energy drinks vary according to brand, so make sure to get one that suits your caffeine mileage.
A lot of energy drinks do contain sugar, but there’re plenty of energy drinks that are sugar-free or have less sugar.
For your information, energy drinks don’t cause ADHD. They don’t trigger ADHD either, but you might feel a little hyperactive after drinking an energy drink.
Energy drinks aren’t recommended for children. Furthermore, people with pre-existing medical conditions and pregnant women shouldn’t have energy drinks.
But before consuming any energy drink, I strongly advise you to consult your doctor first if you’re diagnosed with ADHD.
Best Energy Drinks For ADHD
| Energy Drink | Caffeine | Sugar | Calories |
| Advocare Spark | 120mg | 0g | 15 |
| NUUN Sport | 40mg | 1g | 15 |
| XS | 80mg | 0g | 10 |
| G Fuel Energy Tub | 140mg | 0g | 25 |
| Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate | 80mg | 1g | 15 |
| Aspire | 80mg | 0g | 0 |
| ZipFizz | 100mg | 0g | 20 |
| Monster Zero Ultra | 140mg | 0g | 0 |
| Red Bull Zero | 80mg | 0g | 0 |
| MatchaBar Hustle | 120mg | 4g | 40 |
Advocare Spark
Advocare Spark is a powdered energy drink that comes in a variety of flavors and can be shipped to your doorstep in single-sized tubs or small sachets.
Each serving of Advocare Spark contains 120mg of caffeine, 15 calories, and a generous serving of vitamins and amino acids.
Advocare Spark is also packed with important minerals like zinc, copper, and chromium. These minerals maintain your metabolic functions and boost your immune system so you would be safe from infections.
Plus, with 120mg of caffeine, Advocare Spark can provide you with a pretty smooth boost for higher cognitive performance.
NUUN Sport + Caffeine
Made with higher performance in mind, NUUN Sport is a tablet energy drink that has a potent mix of electrolytes, minerals and caffeine.
Each serving of NUUN Sports contains 40mg of caffeine, 1g of sugar, 15 calories, along with a number of electrolytes and important minerals.
NUUN Sport would be a decent energy drink if you’re dealing with ADHD since it’s low in caffeine and sugar.
To make your own NUUN Sport drink, take one tablet out from the tube and mix it with 16 fl.oz of plain water. It’s simple and easy to bring around in your own bottle when you’re on-the-go or exercising.
XS Energy
Convenient to bring around, XS Energy offers a big blast of energy in a small package.
Each 8.4 fl. oz can of XS contains only 80mg of caffeine, 10 calories, along with some vitamins and amino acids.
XS Energy’s moderate caffeine content can give you a decent boost and improve your performance without leading to much restlessness.
It also has a wide range of flavors, which is great if you like switching your flavors up often.
G Fuel Energy Tub
Known as the ultimate ‘Esport Gaming Fuel’, G Fuel boasts a rich blend of ingredients complexes for better cognitive health and physical endurance.
G Fuel has 140mg of caffeine and 25 calories, along with a bunch of natural ingredients as well as amino acids.
Besides, G Fuel has nutrients like Choline, L-Tyrosine, and taurine. It also has antioxidants, which can contribute to your well-being.
If you’re dealing with ADHD, G Fuel can help you focus longer.
To know how G Fuel tastes and works, check out my review on G Fuel for my personal experience with the drink.
Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate Low Sugar
Made from a special plant called yerba mate, Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate offers clean energy with natural caffeine and supplements.
Yerba Mate is a type of herbal tea that’s packed with caffeine and antioxidants. Guayaki Organic infused this tea into their energy drinks for a healthier boost.
Each can of Guayaki Organic Yerba Mate Low Sugar has 80mg of caffeine, 1g of natural sugar, 15 calories, with plenty of organic ingredients.
The healthy ingredients in Guayaki Organic can help improve your energy levels and performance without triggering your ADHD.
Aspire
Packed with various natural supplements and mild caffeine content, Aspire aspires to energize you the healthy way without the unpleasant side effects.
A single can of Aspire has 80mg of natural caffeine, along with a number of nutrients like L-Carnitine, Vitamin C and green tea extract.
Vitamin C is important for your health as it boosts your immune system. Green tea would be beneficial if you’re dealing with ADHD as it can calm your nerves and enhance brain functions.
To know how Aspire tastes and if it’s a good energy drink, check out my review on Aspire Energy for my thoughts on the drink.
ZipFizz
Zipfizz is a powdered energy drink that comes with many natural ingredients and caffeine. Zipfizz is available in convenient and light tubes.
Each serving of Zipfizz has 100mg of caffeine, 20 calories and a generous serving of B vitamins.
Zipfizz has a decent caffeine content that can give you a mild boost for better concentration and alertness when you’re dealing with ADHD.
Plus, you can easily bring your energy drink mix around after making it at home.
Monster Zero Ultra
If you’re a fan of Monster but dislike sugar in your energy drink, Monster Zero Ultra would be a great alternative for you.
A can of Monster Zero Ultra has 140mg of caffeine, as well as some amino acids and vitamins.
The best thing is that Monster Zero Ultra tastes almost the same as the Original Monster, with a lighter taste and better health benefits.
If sugar makes your ADHD worse, give Monster Zero Ultra a go, and see the difference.
To know how Monster Energy can affect your nutritionally, check out the article I’ve written on the nutrition facts of Monster for a detailed discussion.
Red Bull Zero
Red Bull Zero is basically the healthier version of the classic Red Bull, being free from sugar and calories.
Like the Original, Red Bull Zero offers 80mg of caffeine and similar benefits. But it’s healthier for you in the long run and won’t lead to restlessness from the lack of sugar.
If you’re dealing with ADHD, you can give Red Bull Zero a try.
To know if it’s safe to have Red Bull daily, check out the article I’ve written on whether you can drink Red Bull every day for an in-depth look.
Matchabar Hustle: Sparkling Matcha
MatchaBar Hustle is a health-focused energy drink that offers clean energy with its all-natural ingredients.
A single can of MatchaBar Hustle contains 120mg of caffeine, 4g of sugar, 40 calories, and some beneficial ingredients like matcha and green tea.
With a moderate caffeine content, you’ll be provided with a decent boost of energy without leading to jitters or headaches.
Plus, if you like the taste of green tea, you should definitely give MatchaBar Hustle a try.
Bottom Line
ADHD can cause a number of problems while you are trying to concentrate or pay attention to something. It can also mess with your self-esteem and lead to impulsive behaviors.
While it’s not as effective as medication, caffeine can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD and improve your focus, mood, and cognitive health.
Energy drinks contain different amounts of caffeine that you can easily choose from for your energy needs. Plus, they’re convenient to bring around and you don’t have to worry about waiting for them to cool down.
However, make sure to consume them in moderation, as they can lead to negative effects in excessive amounts.
All in all, be sure to take your medication, maintain a healthy diet, and enjoy your energy drink.