Are Caffeine Pills Dangerous?

Caffeine is a stimulant which naturally occurs in tea, coffee and chocolate. Caffeine is also a common ingredient in sodas. Caffeine pills are available widely in drug stores and grocery stores. Caffeine pills are not inherently dangerous, but like all stimulants, must be used with care. Seek the advice of your doctor before you use caffeine pills.

Usage

The average caffeine pill contains about 200 mg of caffeine. Caffeine pills can help you increase alertness and reduce fatigue and can be useful if you work at night or have to stay awake to study for an exam. Caffeine can help you improve performance on tasks which require vigilance. Caffeine helps athletes increase endurance and may also help muscle performance, according to research by Coventry University in the U.K. Caffeine pills are also used as a weight-loss aid.

Considerations

Most healthy adults can tolerate 200 mg to 300 mg of caffeine a day, according to MayoClinic.com. This equates to to about one caffeine pill or two or three strong cups of coffee. However, 500 mg to 600 mg of caffeine or two to three caffeine pills a day may cause problems such as insomnia, nervousness, irritability, stomach upset, muscle tremors and fast heartbeat.

Guidelines

If you do not drink coffee or use caffeine pills on a regular basis, you are more likely to be sensitive to the negative effects of caffeine. Other factors that determine how you may react to caffeine include your weight, if you are taking medications which may react with caffeine or if you have a health problem such as an anxiety disorder.

Caution

Excessive use of caffeine pills may cause sleep deprivation, which reduces alertness and your ability to perform tasks efficiently. There is the danger of creating an unwelcome cycle if you take more caffeine pills to stay awake and remain alert during the day only to find the excess caffeine keeps you from getting adequate sleep at night. Some antibiotics such as ciproflaxacin can slow down the rate at which your body breaks down caffeine. This increases the time caffeine remains in your system and may magnify its negative effects.

Do not take caffeine pills if you use bronchodilator medication to open your airways. According to MayoClinic.com, this may increase the levels of theophylline in your blood and cause nausea, vomiting and heart palpitations. Excessive use of caffeine pills may also cause high blood pressure. If you are pregnant, be wary of using caffeine pills, as they could cause birth defects.