If a cup of coffee is part of your morning or afternoon routine, you might notice changes as an awake feeling once the caffeinated drink enters your body. Over time, it's possible to develop a dependency on caffeine that can lead to uncomfortable symptoms if you suddenly stop consuming it. Diarrhea is associated with caffeine, but it is not a typical side effect of caffeine withdrawal.
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Caffeine Withdrawal
Caffeine withdrawal is problematic enough that Johns Hopkins recommended it in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a leading journal on mental health. Typical symptoms of withdrawal can include drowsy feeling, headaches and irritability. More extreme withdrawal symptoms include nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea is not a typical side effect of stopping caffeine suddenly, according to MedlinePlus.
Caffeine and Diarrhea
If you consume a caffeinated product such as coffee and diarrhea, this gastrointestinal issue might be the result of your caffeine intake. Caffeine can help stimulate your bowels to improve your regularity and even cause your stools to be looser than normal. Although caffeine does not affect everyone in the same way, consuming six to eight cups might lead to side effects such as diarrhea.
Causes of Diarrhea
If you experience diarrhea around the same time you cease your caffeine, the diarrhea is not necessarily a symptom of withdrawal. Common causes of diarrhea include bacterial infections such as salmonella or E. coli, viral infections such as rotavirus and norovirus, intolerances to foods such as lactose or sugar, intestinal illnesses or adverse reactions to medicine. If you have diarrhea, avoid caffeinated products, which might be the condition.
Reducing Your Caffeine Intake
Because of the difficult symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, it can be easier to reduce your intake of this stimulant over a period of time rather than stop suddenly. Slowly reducing your caffeine intake lessens the withdrawal symptoms, but the exact amount of time needed to get through the symptoms varies by individual. If coffee is your caffeine-containing choice, avoid the temptation to replace it with other sources of caffeine, such as tea or chocolate.