Caffeine pills are very common on store shelves where, when you're weary, you might search for a quick boost of energy. Caffeine pills contain no different drug than the one found in coffee, tea and many soft drinks. In pill form, your body absorbs it more quickly, and it is easy to take with you when you are on the go. You may wonder if caffeine tablets are safe in general, and be particularly concerned about caffeine tablets' effect on your liver. Ask your doctor if caffeine pills are appropriate for you.
Caffeine Use
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. It is found naturally in several foods, including coffee, tea and cocoa beans. The stimulant is widely used in the U.S. and around the world to help awaken and energize sleepy and sluggish individuals. Although it is a drug, there are no restrictions on individuals purchasing it, even in pill form.
Liver Fibrosis Benefit
Research, conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and reported on in 2010, found that caffeine can help reduce the effects of liver fibrosis -- a condition in which rough scar tissue accumulates in the liver -- in individuals with hepatitis C, a viral disease that can be transferred from one person to another and causes inflammation in the liver. These individuals consumed 308 mg or more of caffeine each day by drinking coffee -- this amount of caffeine is equivalent to about 2.25 cups of coffee.
Other Benefits
According to research reported in the December 5, 2005, issue of the Washington Post, taking caffeine daily may help reduce liver damage in persons with one of several conditions, including obesity, excess iron in the blood or a tendency to over-consume alcohol. Some individuals participating in the study drank more than two cups of coffee a day, and as a result developed chronic liver disease at just half the rate of people who drank just one cup of coffee each day.
Risks
Although caffeine is not likely to cause damage to your liver, there are some risks if taken in the wrong way. For example, taking caffeine in conjunction with acetaminophen could increase your risk of liver inflammation and, in large doses, even liver failure, according to researchers at the University of Washington. The risk is even greater when taken concurrently with alcohol, which is a depressant. This led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban certain alcoholic beverages that contained caffeine.
Considerations
According to MayoClinic.com, a moderate amount of daily caffeine consumption -- somewhere between 200 and 300 mg, which is the equivalent of two to four cups of brewed coffee -- will not cause any harm to the average person. They discourage consuming amounts exceeding 500 mg daily, as some unwanted side effects can occur, including nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, irritability, headaches, anxiety, and a fast or irregular heartbeat. Read the label of your caffeine pills to determine how many milligrams of the drug is contained in each pill, and therefore how many you should take in a day. A typical caffeine pill contains about 200 mg.
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