Seizures are the result of improper functioning of your neurological system. Unusual electrical brain activity produces involuntary spasms throughout your body as well as loss of control over your bodily functions. Caffeine consumption also has a direct effect on your nervous system. It can make you feel anxious, restless, jittery and dizzy. Therefore, if you are prone to seizures, you might want to exclude caffeine from your diet. Talk to your doctor first.
Intake
Since caffeine is a drug, it has the potential for tolerance, dependency and withdrawal. For instance, if you regularly consume caffeine, you will eventually need to drink more of it to feel its effects. You may also come to require a certain amount of caffeine in your body, without which you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache and fatigue. In addition, people with low body weight are generally more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than heavier people. As such, Teens Health suggests a limit of 100mg of caffeine per day for teenagers as opposed to 200 or 300mg per day for adults. According to "Neurology Reviews," excessive caffeine intake is associated with higher rates of seizures as well as a lower threshold for seizures.
Energy Drinks
Sixteen ounces of an energy drink such as Monster, Red Bull or Rock Star contains 160mg of caffeine. This exceeds the daily recommended amount for teenagers and is more than half the daily recommended amount for adults. Additionally, the American Academy of Neurology states that overconsumption of energy drinks may trigger seizures in individuals who are genetically susceptible to them. The possibility increases when energy drinks are consumed on an empty stomach.
Ketogenic Diet
Recurrent, uncontrollable seizures are characteristic of epilepsy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the cause of epilepsy in roughly 2/3 of cases is unknown. This makes it difficult to treat this condition and nearly impossible to cure. However, a high-protein, low-fat diet called the ketogenic diet has been found to be effective in curbing daily seizures and controlling severe ones, according to researchers at John Hopkins Children's Center. This diet has been effective in drug-resistant children but is not currently prescribed for adults since it is very strict. It also prohibits caffeine, which is an essential part of the morning coffee for many adults.
Epileptic Medication
Anti-convulsive medications such as oxcarbazepine, topiramate, valproate and carbamazepine are common medications prescribed to treat seizures. One of the side effects of anti-convulsant medications is tremors. A drug-induced tremor results in involuntary shaking. Tremors can also be caused by caffeine. However, drug-induced tremors are worsened by caffeine use, according to Drugs.com. Since the symptoms of tremors resemble those of seizures, tremors may be misidentified as seizures. This is potentially dangerous since medical decisions such as type of medication are based on the frequency of seizures. As such, an effective medication could be mistakenly stopped due to tremors exacerbated by caffeine.
References
- Teens Health: Moderation is the Key
- Neurology Reviews: Do Stimulants in Energy Drinks Promote Seizures
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Epilepsy
- John Hopkins Children's Center: High-Fat Ketogenic Diet to Control Seizures Is Safe Over Long Term
- John Hopkins Medicine: Modified Atkins Diet Can Cut Epileptic Seizures in Adults
- Drugs.com: Drug-Induced Tremor
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