Sunday, May 19, 2013

How Does Food Impact ADHD Medications?

By Eileen Bailey, Health Guide Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Over the years there has been conflicting information on how, why and even if, certain foods or drinks impact the effectiveness of ADHD medications. For example, does a breakfast high in fat make medications less effective? In this post, I will try to clear up some of the confusion surrounding whet...
7/ 3/10 11:36am

I have been taking Adderall for many many years.  Recently, my mother alerted me to a fact she found on the internet that if you eat a protein rich food with the Adderall, the medicine works better. 

 

I saw that you noted that protein rich foods increase the effects.  Now, I always take my adderall with protein.  Why?  The first time I took it with some egg whites...and the difference was enormous!  The medicine worked much better.  My body was able to absorb the medication in a more natural rythem.  The sudden ups and downs that come with Adderall dissappeared too when I started eating protein with my Adderall. 

 

A great thing for everybody to do (even if they don't take any meds) is to eat a handful of raw almonds a day.  When taken with the adderall...it allows the medicine to work exponetially better.  When eating almonds in general...you are eating a super-food which is ALWAYS a good thing. 

 

I am shocked to see that certain foods (that I eat all of the time) make the drug less effective.  I will definetly change my grocery list from now on!

Eileen Bailey, Health Guide
7/14/10 8:50am

Thanks for your comment. It is great to hear first hand how different foods impact the medication. I know when my son was on Adderall, years ago, we couldn't figure out why some days it didn't work at all. The pharmacist worked with us and finally determined it was because some days he drank orange juice with the medication and those were the days it wasn't working.

 

Always good to keep track of the foods and the symptoms so you can see if there is a pattern.

 

Eileen

Anonymous
_mik
10/30/10 9:16am

Hello NOLAdani,

 

have you found out which other foods also have a good impact on the effectivity of your meds?

I used short release methylphenidate for a while and it worked fine. But when I had to start a dairyfree diet (food intolerances) the stuff didn't work anymore! I asked my pharmacist, doctor, the producer (it's called Medikinet, same as Ritalin but from another brand) and nobody could give me a good reason.

Started a little food experiment and also found out that eating eggs works miracles. Not only did the effectivness came 'back' but it's just way more effective.

 

So that's why I'm wondering if you have found some other foods that make a change.

(Don't mind my spelling, I'm German)

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By Eileen Bailey, Health Guide— Last Modified: 03/09/13, First Published: 04/20/10