Monday, June 23, 2008

Symptoms of Caffeine Overdose and Caffeine Withdrawal

Caffeine is a substance which occurs naturally in several plants or can be chemically synthesized. It is found in relatively high doses in coffee, some soft drinks (e.g., cola), and a variety of medications. It is also found in lesser amounts in tea and chocolate. Three cups of coffee is considered a moderate dose of caffeine for an adult. However, you can best gauge whether or not you are getting too much caffeine by being on the lookout for symptoms of caffeine overdose. If you are trying to cut back on caffeine, you may start experiencing withdrawal symptoms within 12 hours after stopping your intake. Withdrawal symptoms are at their worst 24-48 hours after the last cup of coffee (or other caffeine-containing substance), but can last for a week. For this reason, it's usually better to cut back on caffeine slowly over the space of several days.

Symptoms of Caffeine Overdose

Adults

  • Insomnia or Difficulty Sleeping
  • Muscle Twitches or Spasms
  • Confusion
  • Losing/Regaining Consciousness
  • Hallucinations
  • Dizziness
  • Convulsions
  • Increased Urination
  • Increased Thirst
  • Fever
  • Nausea and/or Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Irregular Heartbeat
  • Rapid Heartbeat
  • Death

Infants

  • Tense Muscles Alternating with Relaxed Muscles
  • Tremors
  • Shock
  • Deep Rapid Breathing
  • Rapid Heartbeat
  • Irregular Heartbeat
  • Low Blood Pressure
  • Nausea and/or Vomiting
  • Death

Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal

  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Difficulty Concentrating
  • Muscle Stiffness
  • Hot Flashes and/or Chills
  • Headaches

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