Substance-Related Disorders
Caffeine
- Important Facts
- Symptoms of Intoxication
- Detoxification/Withdrawal Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prenatal Effects
- Negative Consequences
- Warning Signs That Caffeine is a Problem
Important Facts
- Caffeine is the world’s most popular drug.
- Caffeine is a stimulant.
- Common sources of caffeine are coffee (100mg/6oz.), tea (40mg/6oz.), soda (45mg/12oz.), over-the-counter analgesics and cold remedies (25-50mg/tablet), stimulants (100-200mg/tablet), weight loss aids (75-200mg/tablet) and chocolate bars (5mg/bar).
- The average American consumes 200 mg of caffeine per day.
- The half-life of caffeine is 2-6 hours.
- The lowest known fatal adult dose is 3200mg of caffeine taken intravenously and 5000mg consumed orally.
- Caffeine intake is greater in males than in females.
- Caffeine consumption increases during the 20s and often decreases after age 65.
- Symptoms of intoxication are likely to last 6 to 16 hours after ingestion.
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Symptoms of Intoxication
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Emotional disturbance
- Excitement
- Flushed face
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Inability to sleep
- Increased urination
- Involuntary shaking
- Irritability
- Muscle twitching
- Nervousness
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Periods of inexhaustibility
- Psycho-motor agitation
- Rambling flow of thought and speech
- Rapid or irregular heart beat
- Restlessness
- Upset stomach
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Detoxification/Withdrawal Symptoms
- Anxiety
- Constipation
- Cramps
- Cravings
- Depression
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Inability to concentrate
- Inability to sleep
- Irritability
- Lack of interest or concern
- Nausea or vomiting
- Nervousness, shakiness, dizziness
- Runny nose
- Severe headache
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
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Treatment
- Become aware of sources of caffeine (see list under Important Facts above).
- Become aware of personal daily consumption of caffeine.
- Behavioral treatments are the most successful in treating caffeine addition.
- Reduce caffeine consumption gradually in order to avoid possible ill effects of sudden withdrawal (see Detoxification/Withdrawal Symptoms above). For example, consume one less cup of coffee a day over the course of a week or two.
- To cut back on caffeine, try mixing decaffeinated coffee with your regular coffee.
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Prenatal Effects
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns pregnant women not to consume excessive amounts of caffeine because it may harm their unborn babies. Some researchers believe that there is a link between heavy caffeine use and:
- Birth defects
- Low birth weight
- Miscarriage
- Premature birth
- Reduced fertility
- Stillbirth
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Negative Consequences
- Depression
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Headaches
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased cholesterol
- Increased rate of breathing
- Jitteriness
- Mental confusion
- More frequent urination
- Rapid heart beat
- Reduced depth and quality of sleep
- Shortened overall sleep time
- Ulcers
An extremely high dose of caffeine can cause a medical emergency that resembles the condition of an insulin-dependent diabetic with insufficient insulin. Symptoms include high levels of blood sugar and the appearance of acetone-like substances in the urine.
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Warning Signs That Caffeine is a Problem
- Excessive consumption of caffeine containing substances
- Headaches
- Psychological dependence
- Sleep disturbances
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