Do Caffeine Pills Give You A Lot Of Energy?

Caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, is naturally in plants such as coffee beans, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Man-made caffeine can also be added in high doses to products such as soda pop and diet pills. If you’re interested in trying caffeine pills for added energy, weigh the potential benefits with the potential risks before you invest.

Physical Effects

When you consume caffeine – whether it is natural in foods or synthetic in a pill – it blocks receptors in your brain from binding to a sleep-promoting substance called adenosine, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. As a result, caffeine stimulates your body and promotes feelings of alertness. Caffeine’s effects set in quickly and reach their peak level within your blood in about 30 to 60 minutes, but the effects may last as long as eight to 14 hours.

Pros

Caffeine can improve your wakefulness, mental performance, mood, reaction times, focus and concentration. According to a series of self-reports in a 2001 study published in “Nutrition Reviews”, participants who had as little as 32 mg of caffeine – which you could find in about 8 oz. of hot non-herbal tea – experienced greater energy, efficiency and feelings of clear-headedness. Your body is likely to reap the greatest benefits from caffeine when you take it in moderate amounts on an off-and-on basis.

Recommended Limits

A moderate dose of caffeine for most adults is about 200 to 300 mg a day, according to MayoClinic.com. This amount equals about two to four cups of brewed coffee each day. A standard caffeine pill contains about 200 mg of caffeine, which means you may consume 1-½ caffeine pills without experiencing negative side effects. Avoid drinking caffeine past the late afternoon to reduce your chances of sleep interruptions and lower your risk of rebound fatigue. Also, ask your doctor how much caffeine you can safely have if you are a child, if you are pregnant, if you have high blood pressure or if you have other heart problems.

Cons

Having more than about 500 to 600 mg of caffeine a day – or about 2 ½ to 3 caffeine pills – may lead to unwanted effects such as anxiety, depression, rapid pulse, restlessness, trouble focusing, frequent urination and tremors, warns MayoClinic.com. If you are sensitive to caffeine, you may not even be able to take one caffeine pill before you experience these effects. You are at a higher risk of side effects if you aren’t used to caffeine, if you have a small body, if you take certain medications or if you have an underlying condition such as an anxiety disorder. According to a 2005 “Forensic Science International” report, a fatal caffeine overdose in adults is relatively rare as it generally requires you to take over 5 g of caffeine within a short period. This amounts to approximately 80 consecutive cups of coffee. But because caffeine pills are easier to ingest consecutively, you are more likely to have a fatal overdose of caffeine when you get your caffeine from pills.