Caffeine comes from plants, but it is still a chemical compound that physically affects the human body in several ways and also influences moods. You grow used to these effects when you drink coffee daily or get the substance regularly from other sources. You go through physical and mental withdrawal symptoms if you cease taking caffeine, often including pain in the head, back and other parts of your body.
Definition
Caffeine is a bitter substance used for its effects as a physical and mental stimulant. Chocolate contains caffeine, but it is mainly found in beverages. Many people get it directly from natural sources, like tea leaves and coffee beans, while some opt for products enhanced with the drug, like commercial energy drinks or pills. Caffeine has no bad long-term effects on most people, but withdrawal causes temporary but unpleasant effects.
Physical Withdrawal Symptoms
Headache is the most common physical withdrawal symptom of caffeine, but pain can occur elsewhere, including the back. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who reviewed multiple caffeine-related studies discovered that people who stop their caffeine intake or cut it back drastically suffered from pain and stiffness. Caffeine users may also have flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, nausea and vomiting, along with the pain.
Mental Withdrawal Symptoms
Caffeine causes mental withdrawal symptoms in addition to physical unpleasantness. The Johns Hopkins researchers identified distress, depressed mood, impaired concentration and irritability as common effects. The combined mental symptoms plus pain and other physical symptoms are often severe enough to keep people from functioning normally at home or going to work.
Time Frame
Back pain and other caffeine withdrawal symptoms starts with 12 to 24 hours after your caffeine consumption stops. The symptoms can continue for more than a week, although they are usually at their worst on the first two days. Heavy caffeine users experience the worst withdrawal effects, but you may have pain, fatigue, irritability and other symptoms even if you regularly drink just one cup of coffee per day before stopping, the Johns Hopkins researchers warn.
Considerations
The type of caffeine you consume has no effect on the type of withdrawal symptoms you go through. Products that provide caffeine naturally, like cola, coffee, tea and chocolate have the same effect as energy beverages spiked with the drug, pain medications enhanced with caffeine and pills that ward off sleep, CBS News writer Lloyd de Vries reports.
Warning
Caffeine overdose is more dangerous than caffeine withdrawal, and it produces a different set of symptoms. Overdose can happen if you take in too much of the drug from multiple sources without realizing it, like drinking a lot of coffee and cola, then taking energy drinks or medications with caffeine. Overdose does not cause pain, but you have have an irregular heart beat, twitching muscles, dizziness, confusion and hallucinations. Get medication attention immediately if you overdose.
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