If you're like most people, caffeine has become part of your daily diet. It's not only in regular coffee, but it is also in many of the sodas, teas, chocolate products and energy drinks that taste good and provide a boost of energy. However, the attraction to caffeine may be a problem. Caffeine is a drug, and with regular use you may have become addicted. If you're ready to kick the caffeine habit, keep in mind that you will face withdrawal symptoms. With a bit of patience and persistence, you can be free of caffeine's control in just a few short days.
Caffeine is an Addictive Drug
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and a psychotropic drug, which means it causes behavioral as well as physiological changes within your body. It is the most widely used, self-administered drug in the world, with more than 80 percent of Americans using it at behaviorally active doses. Caffeine interferes with the brain's ability to regulate what your body needs. Adenosine regulates sleep, and caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain and activates neural pathways associated with motivation and motor responses. Over time, your body builds a tolerance to caffeine, requiring progressively higher levels of the substance to obtain the same effect that you did with lower levels. Once this addiction occurs, you feel the need to consume caffeine to function properly.
Caffeine Abuse
Healthy adults may consume moderate amounts of caffeine without ill effects. However, if caffeine consumption at any level causes your heart to race or beat with an uneven rhythm, your blood pressure to rise, your body to feel dehydrated or shaky, or you have trouble going to sleep, you may consider reducing or eliminating it from your diet. Caffeine abuse also may rise to dangerous levels, and case studies have found that caffeine intoxication may cause heart arrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation and dangerously low levels of potassium in the blood, all of which can lead to fatalities. If you are concerned about caffeine dependency or abuse, consult your doctor.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Most often, caffeine withdrawal causes headaches. Commonly, the headaches develop gradually and subside, and you may feel a throbbing sensation or a sense of fullness in your head. Sometimes, the headaches become severe. Other symptoms include drowsiness and lack of motivation and alertness, irritability, decreased self-confidence and sociability, blurred vision, hot and cold flashes and flu-like symptoms. These symptoms may appear with or without headache, indicating that they are not headache-related. Some people also may feel depressed or experience impaired motor performance. Severity of symptoms correlates to the level of caffeine your body has come to tolerate.
Withdrawal Period
Withdrawal symptoms generally appear 12 to 24 hours after the last dose of caffeine, and as much as 36 hours after the last dose. Studies indicate that the peak period for withdrawal symptoms is 20 to 48 hours after abstinence. Withdrawal symptoms generally persist for about 48 hours, although some people report symptoms for up to one week. A gradual tapering of your caffeine intake may help you to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Plan ahead by keeping track of your usual caffeine intake. Check product labels and choose beverages with lower levels of caffeine, or begin by consuming one or two fewer caffeinated drinks per day. If you are concerned about managing withdrawal symptoms, consult your doctor.
References
- American College of Neuropsychopharmacology: Caffeine: A Drug of Abuse?
- "The Journal of Neuroscience"; Arousal Effect of Caffeine Depends on Adenosine A2A Receptors in the Shell of the Nucleus Accumbens; M. Lazarus; July 2011
- U.S Food and Drug Administration: Medicines in My Home: Caffeine and Your Body (PDF)
- "Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica"; A Case of Fatal Caffeine Poisoning; T. Rudolph; April 2010
- "Clinical Toxicology"; Caffeine Fatalities – Do Sales Restrictions Prevent Intentional Intoxications?; G. Thelander; May 2010
- MayoClinic.com: Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?
