Abdominal cramping from caffeine intake is considered rare and may be a sign of an overdose. Caffeine is a drug that is used in medications, beverages and certain foods for its stimulating effects. Caffeine is naturally occurring in some foods, such as the cocoa bean and coffee bean. When used in moderation, caffeine should not cause severe adverse reactions. If you develop abdominal cramping, attempt to reduce the amount you ingest daily or stop altogether. The abdominal cramping may be the result of other ingredients in caffeinated foods and beverages.
Overuse
You may be ingesting too much caffeine and not even realize it. Caffeine is found in sodas, chocolate, coffee, tea, pain relievers and certain medications to help you stay awake, according to MedlinePlus. Because caffeine is considered a drug, you can overdose on the medication. Common symptoms of caffeine overdose include confusion, abdominal pain, stomach pain, anxiety, restlessness, rapid heart rate, convulsions, dehydration, fever, frequent urination, irritability, nausea, swelling in the abdomen and vomiting. If you experience any of these symptoms along with abdominal pain, call your doctor.
Sensitivity
If you develop abdominal cramping even when you ingest a small amount of caffeine you may have caffeine sensitivity. Gastric sensitivities can occur with any food or stimulant. There is no known cause of caffeine sensitivity. If you are sensitive to caffeine you may need to eliminate it from your diet. Decaffeinated teas and coffee still contain minimal amounts of caffeine.
Allergic Reaction
Drugs.com states that you may develop an allergic reaction to caffeine. As with any medication, your immune system may overreact to caffeine, triggering a chemical chain-reaction throughout your body. During an allergic reaction you may develop stomach cramping, hives, swelling in your face, lightheadedness, nasal congestion, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Because allergic reaction symptoms may be similar to common adverse reactions to caffeine your doctor will recommend allergy testing.
Food Considerations
It's possible that your stomach cramping is not related to caffeine, but rather to foods that contain caffeine. For example, you may develop stomach cramps after eating milk chocolate if you're lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy. Keep a dietary log of what you eat and how your body reacts to each food and beverage to help your doctor identify the foods that trigger symptoms.
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