If you drink a lot of soda, coffee or some teas, you may get regular high doses of caffeine in your body. You also may get it from eating a lot of chocolate or taking energy drinks, and caffeine is an ingredient in some medications and supplements, particularly those for weight loss. Caffeine is a stimulant to your central nervous system. The more caffeine you ingest, the more the substance affects your body. Read the labels of foods and drinks you consume to keep track of your caffeine intake. If you know how much caffeine you get in supplements, medications, beverages and food, you may limit the potential side effects from high doses of it.
Anxiety
High doses of caffeine, no matter how you take it, may produce unwarranted anxiety as a side effect, the Mayo Clinic indicates. The organization states that imbibing more than 600 milligrams of caffeine each day may induce the mental side effect of anxiety. You may feel scared and fear normal, everyday problems and situations. You may feel as though you cannot handle the problems before you. Consuming ongoing amounts of caffeine can alter your normal state of mind, causing you to feel anxious and jittery. If you feel anxious much of the time while you consume caffeine-containing products, stop consuming them and see your doctor.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders, particularly insomnia, may occur related to the continued amounts of caffeine you consume on a daily basis, Drugs.com reports. Your mind will find it difficult to relax and level off to sleep. Because caffeine is a natural central nervous system stimulant, the only way to shut the stimulation down is to stop ingesting caffeine.
Irritability and Panic
Irritability becomes part of your personality when consuming more than 600 mg of caffeine a day, the Mayo Clinic indicates. You may appear jumpy, and your eyes may appear wide. Your attitude will appear high-strung, and you may feel easily argumentative. You may find yourself arguing with your boss, co-workers friends and family members for no discernible reason. Panic also may occur as a side effect of caffeine, especially if you already have a history of panic disorder, Drugs.com states. You may feel panicky as if you cannot get your breath.
Arrhythmia
Particularly high doses of caffeine may alter the rate and rhythm of your heart, the Mayo Clinic reports. As a stimulant, caffeine may induce the arrhythmia known as tachycardia, an acceleration of your heart rate beyond normal limits. Caffeine also may produce an irregular heartbeat. A change in your heartbeat constitutes a serious problem, so see your physician as soon as possible.
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