Coffee, the second-largest traded product worldwide, is consumed by more than 50 percent of Americans each day. Caffeine in the coffee causes short- and long-term changes in the body and leads people to use caffeine habitually, whether in coffee, tea, chocolate or unusual sources such as yerba mate. When the caffeine source is removed, the body reacts with symptoms of withdrawal, mild or severe.
Caffeine Addiction
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and particularly increases brain chemicals that improve mood, increase alertness and heighten concentration directly after use. Over time, continuous levels of caffeine cause the body to act normally despite the increased chemicals. The irritation and anxiety experienced without caffeine lead to habitual use of coffee or another caffeine source.
Caffeine Withdrawal
Withdrawal from caffeine can occur after use of only 1 to 2 cups of coffee for as short as a few weeks. Withdrawal symptoms can start within hours of stopping caffeine; the most common first symptom is headache, which can begin as a throbbing ache. Lack of attention, poor performance and excessive fatigue also occur when caffeine is removed from the body.
Severe Complications
Severe symptoms of withdrawal are possible with use of very high amounts of caffeine, such as with extreme use of energy drinks. Inability to function and complete daily tasks and an extreme decrease in mood might lead to anxiety or clinical depression when caffeine use stops. In addition, high levels of caffeine cause changes in sugar and potassium levels that affect kidney and heart function; abrupt changes in caffeine might change urine output and heart rate or strength.
Treatment Options
Although no prescription medications are available to directly ease caffeine withdrawal, symptoms might be controlled with different treatments. Headache symptoms might be subdued with analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but extended anxiety or depressive symptoms should be treated by a health professional. Many caffeine users treat withdrawal symptoms by starting caffeine use again to avoid drastic body changes, although this is ineffective in the long term and potentially unsafe.
References
- Environmental Health Perspectives; Certified Coffee: Does the Premium Pay Off? David A. Taylor; September 2007
- National Coffee Association of U.S.A.; CA Study Finds Americans' Coffee Consumption Holding Stable; April 2009
- Herbs2000: Caffeine
- Princeton University Health Services; Drugs and Smoking: Caffeine
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