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Caffeine Detox: How to Quit Caffeine and Break the Addiction

A caffeine detox may be needed for many reasons and some of those could include:

•     Caffeine may no longer have the same effects it once had.
•     Daily caffeine amounts are out of control.
•     Caffeine is leading to health problems.
•     Doctor's orders.

Whichever the reason, quitting caffeine is not easy since most people develop a strong dependency on the daily dose; both physically and mentally.



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There are generally two ways to detox from caffeine and we describe each of those methods below.
Two Methods for Quitting Caffeine

1. The Weaning Method (Recommended)

With this method, instead of quitting caffeine at once, a person gradually reduces the amount of caffeine he / she is consuming daily.

This can be approximated by hand, or done precisely with a product like the Wean Caffeine detox kit .

We recommend stepping down the dose about 10-30 mg less every three days until a zero daily caffeine amount is achieved. This can be accomplished by just drinking a little less of your typical caffeinated beverage but with Wean Caffeine it is a much more precise and systematic process.

Practical Examples:

•     Coffee should be reduced by a 1/4 of a cup every two to three days. (This is difficult if you do not make coffee at home.)
•     Energy Drinks can be reduced by about 1/4 a can every two to three days.
•     Soda can be reduced by cutting back to 1/2 a can if three to three days or by a 1/4 a bottle if drinking to 16 fl oz size.
•     Tea can be reduced by cutting back 1/2 cup every two to three days.

Pros:

•     Withdrawal symptoms are much less severe or can be completely avoided.
•     Most people can continue to function and be productive.
•     Mild to no caffeine headache to deal with.
•     Less shocking to the system.

Cons:

•     Can take longer to detox depending on the beginning daily dose amount.
•     Requires tracking caffeine and being intentional about what is being consumed and how much.

2. The Cold Turkey Method

With this method, a person simply ceases to consume caffeine all at once. While this can be the fastest way to detox, it comes with a price and a huge shock to your system.

Pros:

•     The fastest way to detox from caffeine.
•     A realization of caffeine's influence on body functioning.

Cons:

•     Can produces severe caffeine withdrawal symptoms .
•     A person may be out of commission for 1 to 3 days or even weeks if the addiction was severe.
•     Can lead to a loss of productivity.
•     Invokes more of a tendency to give up because of how horrible it makes people feel.

    " My first four weeks of quitting cold turkey were terrible. I was at the doctor's of the first four weeks because I thought I was sick. I knew caffeine withdrawal was a thing but not like this !! "


Prepare in advance for the cold turkey method!

If you choose the cold turkey method, it's important that you know what to expect and prepare in advance for the weakening withdrawal symptoms that can follow.

•     Plan ahead so that the first couple of days of detox fall on a weekend or work holiday.
•     Have pain relievers on hand and avoid driving.
•     Have plenty of food on hand to avoid the need to drive anywhere for food.
•     Prepare some meals in advance like soup or other easy to digest foods.
•     Talk with family members about what you are about to do, what they can expect, and how they can help.
•     Inform your co-workers and / or your boss about your caffeine detox.

The method of preparation is relative to the amount of caffeine you had been consuming. Those who had been consuming large amounts of caffeine should prepare more than those detoxing from smaller daily amounts.

Either one of these caffeine detox methods will work, but a person has to decide which one will have the least impact of his / her lifestyle and which one is likely to be the most successful given the unique circumstances involved.

A Personal Caffeine Detox Story

Other Tips to Break Caffeine Addiction

HealthyEater.com has a great piece on weaning off of coffee . They think going cold turkey is not a good idea and supplementing higher caffeine items with lower caffeine can really help. They suggest replacing a coffee with green tea.

Another thing to do is take power naps during the detox. However, that is not realistic for most of us. When was the last time your boss was happy with you taking a nap under your desk?

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Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms: Top Fifteen

Caffeine withdrawal is not laughing matter and can be very debilitating for those who are suddenly without caffeine.

If you are or have been an avid coffee, tea, or energy drink then you are aware of how addictive caffeinated beverages can be.

Just a few hours after missing your schedule taking the caffeine withdrawal symptoms start to set in .



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This phenomenon has become a prominent disorder and is listed in the DSM-5 .

Here are the most common caffeine withdrawal symptoms. You'll be comforted to know that you are not really dying but just detoxing from the caffeine .

Even if you are not normally a habitual caffeine drinker, you may experience negative symptoms when quitting caffeine even if you only consumed it for a few days in a row.
Top 15 Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms

1.     Headaches
2.     A caffeine headache usually starts behind the eyes and then moves up the front of the head.
3.     Sleepiness
4.     This is not your normal tiredness, this is sitting up straight but can not keep your eyes open tiredness.
5.     Irritability
6.     Everyone and everything gets on your last nerve. It's best to lock yourself in your room during this stage.
7.     Lethargy
8.     Forget about productivity at this stage because you will be unmotivated to do anything from the sudden drop in your dopamine levels.
9.     Constipation
10.     Caffeine stimulates the bowel, so without it, the colon gets a little cranky too.
11.     Depression
12.     Caffeine withdrawal can take away all hope for living. Temporary blues are one thing, but if you struggle with depression this could be a big issue.
13.     Muscle Pain, Stiffness, Cramping
14.     Since caffeine has pain-relieving qualities, muscle pain will become very noticeable.
15.     Lack of Concentration
16.     Forget school, studying, brain surgery, or jet engine repair during this stage of withdrawal.
17.     Flu-like symptoms
18.     A stuffy nose, blocked sinuses, and sinus pressure have been reported by people withdrawing from caffeine.
19.     insomnia
20.     Some people actually can not sleep when going through caffeine withdrawal even though physically they feel super tired.
21.     Nausea and Vomiting
22.     Some people can not even think about food the first few days of withdrawal which compounds the feeling of lethargy.
23.     Anxiety
24.     In some people, caffeine actually causes anxiety , but in others, withdrawing from the drug can cause feelings of anxiety and panic attacks have even been reported by some.
25.     Brain Fog
26.     Withdrawal can cause some people to experience brain fog which is described as the difficulty of having coherent thoughts, difficulty thinking, and the difficulty of doing common tasks.
27.     Dizziness
28.     Caffeine withdrawal can cause some people to lose their sense of equilibrium and experience vertigo.
29.     Heart Rhythm Abnormalities
30.     Since caffeine also stimulates the heart muscle, some people experience changes in their heart rhythm during withdrawal. Both low blood pressure and even palpitations have been reported.

Detoxing is No Laughing Matter

Caffeine withdrawal is a very unpleasant experience, to say the least.

The symptoms of withdrawal usually last a few days to two weeks for light caffeine consumers but can last 2 months or more for those that had been consuming around 1000 mg or more daily. However, even for the most addicted, the worst symptoms subside after about a week's time.

Even after the withdrawal period, many still feel like it was not as good as they were when they were drinking caffeine all of the time . Some believe that caffeine permanently alters one's brain chemistry. This is most likely due to the changes that occur with dopamine levels in the brain because of the daily caffeine use.



Caffeine CAN be Addictive

How addicted to caffeine are you?

You can take our Caffeine Addiction Diagnosis Quiz to see where you rank. This may explain why your caffeine withdrawal has been so rough.

Human beings can be addicted to anything - including caffeine. Whether dependence or addiction, the reality is that for many, stopping caffeine is very difficult.

Whether you should quit or not depends on how your caffeine habit is affecting your own health, your relationships, and the people around you.

For some people, their regular coffee / caffeine habit may not affect any of those things and quitting need not be necessary.

The Science of Withdrawal

•     Caffeine is addictive because the molecule itself fits so perfectly into our brain's adenosine receptors .
•     Adenosine is responsible for telling the brain when it is time to rest or sleep.
•     Since these receptors are blocked with caffeine molecules, dopamine (the feel-good chemical) works more . The excess adenosine signals the adrenal glands to release adrenaline, which perpetuates the feeling of alertness .
•     Over time, the brain adds more adenosine receptors to compensate for the caffeine, which causes " tolerance " to build up to the caffeine molecule .
•     When a person misses or decides to quit their usual caffeine dosage, the brain is then flooded with adenosine and dopamine levels drop drastically causing the brain's chemistry to be out of balance .
•     The increased adenosine plus a drop in adrenaline and dopamine levels lead to many of the caffeine withdrawal symptoms listed above.

Easing The Symptoms

For those that are going through caffeine withdrawal, there are a few things that can be done to ease the symptoms and allow for more productivity.

•     Gradually ease back - If you are consciously giving up caffeine, it may be wise to gradually wean yourself off of caffeine opposed to going cold turkey. We recommend Wean Caffeine as a systematic and precise way to gradually reduce your caffeine to zero over a 30 day period. wean caffeine
•     Take pain relievers - Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol can help ease headaches and muscle pain symptoms associated with withdrawal.
•     Drink plenty of water - Staying well hydrated is key during the withdrawal process and will help you feel better.
•     Get plenty of rest - It's helpful to plan for your withdrawal during a weekend or a time when productivity is not a necessity. Sleeping a lot the first day or two is pretty common.
•     Exercise - Most people will not feel like exercising, but it will actually make you feel better. Exercise causes the release of dopamine, which is now in short supply in the absence of caffeine. You'll need all the dopamine you can get, so get moving.
•     Eating healthily - Improving your diet will also help. Eating plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit will provide your body with the nutrition it needs thus delivering natural energy and promoting a more positive frame of mind.

In any event, just remember that withdrawing from caffeine is hard and takes time. Soon you'll be caffeine-free and will be able to experience life without the daily influence of caffeine.

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Caffeine Addiction to Mental Disorder?

Caffeine Addiction has been classified as a mental disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Despite a lot of pressure from groups of doctors and health advocates, the latest version was released this year without the caffeine addiction disorder diagnosis.

However, this does not mean that caffeine related problems were eliminated from the DSM-5 entirely. A couple disorders related to caffeine were place in the manual by The American Psychiatric Association.



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DSM-5 Caffeine Addiction Related Disorders

Both caffeine withdrawal and caffeine overdose did make it into the latest diagnostic manual. Here are the criteria for both.
Caffeine Overdose as a Mental Disorder

The official caffeine overdose diagnosis can be made as long as 5 of these overdose symptoms are present:

1.     Restlessness
2.     Nervousness
3.     Excitement
4.     insomnia
5.     Flushed face
6.     Frequent urination
7.     Upset stomach, diarrhea
8.     Muscle spasms
9.     Fast and incoherent speech
10.     Irregular heartbeat
11.     Periods of inexhaustibility
12.     Psychomotor agitation

Caffeine Withdrawal as a Mental Disorder

Those withdrawing from caffeine can also be classified if they exhibit caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as:

•     Headaches
•     Constipation
•     Lethargy
•     Inability to concentrate
•     Depression
•     Muscle stiffness

See our complete list of caffeine withdrawal symptoms here.

Why Is not Caffeine Addiction Listed?

There's a pretty strict criteria for what makes it into the DSM-5 and caffeine addiction was most likely extensively debated. Based on what we know about caffeine, in the end, it probably was not placed in the DSM-5 for the following reasons.

•     Caffeine is consumed daily by billions of people worldwide with very little to no health consequences for the vast majority. We would estimate that less than a tenth of one percent of the world's population have any adverse reactions to this drug.
•     There is little to no evidence that caffeine is harmful to the human body when it is consumed in moderation or that it interferes with normal mental functioning and productivity.
•     While caffeine does have addictive properties it does not foster deep psychological and physiological dependency as do controlled addictive substances. People can detox from caffeine and function normally in a couple of days without professional intervention.

This issue has been debated as far back as 2007 and most likely will continue to be debated by the American Psychiatric Association as they begin work on the DSM-6. For now, caffeine addiction is not yet classified as a mental disorder although many health professionals feel that it should be.

We can attest that there are some people, who at least on some level, can become pretty addicted to caffeine and we even put together to Caffeine Addiction Diagnosis Quiz , so people can determine just how addicted to caffeine they are.

Caffeine addiction is more about people's need to increase their dosage as the body builds up tolerance to the chemical. Therefore, it takes more and more caffeine to produce the desired effects. In any event, caffeine addicts can not be officially labeled just yet.
Caffeine Use Disorder

Caffeine use disorder is not yet in the DSM-5, but has recently gained some attention as the result of a study conducted by American University in Washington DC .

This caffeine disorder basically refers to someone who is unable to reduce or give up caffeine even though it may be contributing to negative outcomes like insomnia, anxiety, or heart conditions.

People may have Caffeine Use Disorder if they fit the following guidelines:

•     Caffeine users suffer withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit.
•     They are unable to reduce or quit their caffeine.
•     They have an underlying health condition that requires them to reduce or quit.

Professor Laura Juliano said the following about her co-authored study:

    " There is misconception among professionals and people alike that caffeine is not difficult to give up. However, in population-based studies, more than 50 percent of regular caffeine consumers report that they had difficulty quitting or reducing caffeine use. "

It will be interesting to see if Caffeine Use Disorder makes it into the next version of the DSM.

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Caffeine and Dehydration: What the Research Says

There seems to be a lot of confusion as to whether or not caffeine causes dehydration.

This stems mainly from caffeine's classification as a diuretic, but to determine the overall dehydrating effect of caffeine, there are a few other factors involved.

Also, I think based on many people's personal experience, they can attest that whenever they drink their morning coffee, frequent trips to the bathroom ensue. Thus, coffee must be dehydrating them -or- is it?



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Caffeine as a Diuretic

Caffeine can elicit extra water secretion by the kidneys or in other words acts as a diuretic , which by definition means " Something that promotes the formation of urine by the kidney ."

However, a recent study 1 showed that only doses of 360 mg of caffeine or greater produced significantly more urine volume.

Another study 2 noted that built up caffeine tolerance also influences how well caffeine works as a diuretic. For those without built up tolerance to caffeine the diuretic effect of caffeine was more prominent .

Yet another study 3 found that consuming caffeine prior to exercise negated the diuretic effect of caffeine as compared to consuming caffeine and then resting.

In contrary, this study 4 looked at energy drink and how caffeine and / or other energy drink ingredients like taurine influenced dehydration. They found that the group that received the caffeinated energy drinks had significantly more urine output than those that received no caffeine or just taurine only drinks. These subjects were already in a dehydrated state.

Therefore, based on the research, caffeine is a diuretic but not a very efficient one since there are several factors that determine how well it actually works in this capacity.

Does Caffeine Dehydrate?

So the question then remains, does it caffeine dehydrate a person or not?

If 400 mg of caffeine were consumed (as caffeine pills or energy shot) without drinking other fluids along with the dose, then there may be an overall dehydrating effect (as long as the person was not overly tolerant to caffeine).

Yet most people consume caffeine in the form of coffee, tea, energy drinks, or soda , so what about in those cases?

The study mentioned above 4 looked at energy drink and how to caffeine and / or other energy drink ingredients like taurine influenced dehydration. They found that caffeine laced energy drinks did dehydrate and dehydrated test subjects, but there was no adjustment for the subject's tolerance to caffeine.

Another research study 5 looked at all kinds of drinks like coffee, tea, soda, juice, water etc. and they concluded that there were no significant differences in the effect of various combinations of beverages on hydration status of healthy adult males. Advising people to disregard caffeinated beverages as part of the daily fluid intake is not substantiated by the results of this study . "

A more recent study (2014) 6 found that there was no significant difference in hydration status between caffeine habituated males who consumed coffee in moderation with those that consumed just water .

Coffee and urination

Then why does coffee make me have to pee?

There are possibly a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, if you are already in a hydrated state, any additional fluids will cause increased urine production. So, at 12-16 fl oz (355-500 ml) coffee will produce about the same amount of urine output.

Secondly, if you are not a regular coffee or caffeine consumer then large amounts of caffeine does have a diuretic or dehydrating effect, thus increasing urine volume.

Lastly, caffeine can cause incontinence in some men and women . This causes the urge to urinate even if the bladder is not yet full. 7.8

The Bottom Line

If you are a regular consumer of caffeinated beverages then you need not worry about dehydration as long as you are consuming adequate fluid amounts in general.

This study 9 analyzed all valid studies on caffeine and dehydration prior to 2003.

Here's what they concluded:

    The most ecologically valid of the published studies offers no support for the suggestion that the caffeine-containing beverages as part of a normal lifestyle leads to fluid loss in excess of the volume ingested or is associated with poor hydration status. Therefore, there would be no clear basis for refraining from caffeine containing drinks in situations where fluid balance might be compromised.

Therefore, coffee or tea and even soft drinks and energy drinks can be used as a way to hydrate the body and do not dehydrate.

However, consumers should keep in mind daily caffeine safety amounts , sugar levels , and the health benefits of drinking plenty of plain water.

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Is Caffeine Addictive? What Research and Experience Reveals

It has long been debated whether or not caffeine should be labeled as an addictive substance.

Most people who use caffeine regularly can attest that it causes some level of dependence in that quitting caffeine causes obvious withdrawal symptoms.

However, caffeine addiction has still not made its way into the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or the National Institute of Drug Abuse's addictive drug list.



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What Research Says About the Addictive Nature of Caffeine

An article published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse asks the question "Is Caffeine Addictive?"

•     The common-sense use of the term addiction is that regular is irresistible and that it creates problems.

•     Caffeine use does not fit this profile.

•     Its intake does not harm to the individual or to society and its users are not compelled to consume it. Though cessation of regular use may result in symptoms such as headache, these are easily and reliably reversed by ingestion of caffeine.

    Some have argued that continued caffeine use is an attempt to suppress low grade withdrawal symptoms such as sleepiness and lethargy. In some moderate users, this is possible;
    However, in experimental contexts, the phenomenon is too inconsistent to constitute a reliably valid syndrome.

The article reviews over 32 different journal articles and concludes that:

•     Caffeine use meets neither the common sense nor the scientific definitions of an addictive substance.

On the Flip Side:

Roland Griffiths and Laura Juliano teamed up to review 170 years of caffeine research for The Psychopharmacology Journal and concluded the following:

•     In general, the incidence or severity of symptoms increased in daily doses; abstinence from doses as low as 100 mg / day produced symptoms.

This study clearly justified the case for caffeine withdrawal disorder, but did not prove the case completely for a caffeine addiction disorder.

Anecdotal Evidence for Caffeine Addiction

Although the health community can not remove the solid conclusion about the addictive nature of caffeine, people's personal experiences with the drug certainly allow us to draw some conclusions.

Because we have been tracking caffeine related products and issues for many years, people often share their stories with us about their addiction to caffeine and struggle to break free from it.

Here's one example:

    I've spent 20 years addicted to caffeine (primarily coffee), coming off it now and then, going back on it, repeat pattern. I'm in my 40s now and I think I'm quitting it for good. I say "think" because the siren call of freshly brewed black coffee is strong. Very strong. I've quit probably a 12 to 20 times - not quite annually - longest lasting about 3 months. What is increasingly shaping my commitment to quit is 2 things - what my life on coffee has become, and the escalating severity of the withdrawal symptoms. -a Caffeine Informer commenter

According to StatisticsBrain.com , in the USA alone consumers spend 18 billion dollars on specialty coffee alone each year. Also Americans are spending 3.4 billion on just Red Bull.

We could easily conclude that people are not buying that coffee and Red Bull because they just "love the taste". They are spending the money because these products are fulfilling a strong "need" for something both physiological and psychological.

If caffeine was not addictive, on at least some level, we would not see so much money being spent on products that have no nutritional value so to speak.

Understanding Your Level of Addiction

While we can debate on whether or not caffeine should be labeled as an addictive substance, most would agree that caffeine is indeed "addictive" for many people.

People have to determine whether or not their dependency of caffeine is manageable or not. This involves asking themselves the following questions:

•     Is my caffeine habit negatively affecting my ability to function?
•     Is my caffeine habit negatively affecting my finances?
•     Is my caffeine habit contributing to or causing health concerns?
•     Is my caffeine addiction negatively affecting those around me?

Answering yes to any of those questions, my cause of the need to go through the level of addiction , the amount of caffeine consumed daily, and the need to detox from caffeine .

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Caffeine Overdose Symptoms: Signs, Cases, Prevention

Top 10 Caffeine Overdose Symptoms

Here are the usual caffeine overdose symptoms in order from the first ones to be experienced to the more severe, later stage symptoms coming from even larger doses of caffeine.

1.     Jitters, Restlessness, and Nervousness
2.     Increased heartbeat
3.     Nausea
4.     Anxiety
5.     Heart palpitations (cardiac arrhythmia)
6.     insomnia
7.     Sweating
8.     Dizziness
9.     Vomiting
10.     Cardiac arrest

There are many common symptoms that indicate too much caffeine, but these are the most prevalent.



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The beginning symptoms should be recognized and further caffeine intake should be stopped to avoid the most serious and even life-threatening symptoms found at the end of the list.

Ingesting massive doses of caffeine at once is particularly dangerous as it does not give your body time to react since early overdose symptoms serve as a warning system.

Caffeine's major effects are experienced for at least 4 hours .

•     This is longer for those sensitive to caffeine.
•     This is with extremely large doses.
•     This is based on the half-life of caffeine which is 4-6 hours.

However, it can be hard to pinpoint an amount of caffeine that will cause caffeine overdose symptoms since people have different tolerance levels to caffeine.
Are You Addicted to Caffeine?

Prevention: Maximum Daily Intake

You can prevent caffeine overdose by adhering to the recommended safe dosage guidelines.

Generally, a single dose between 250-500 mg ( check caffeine amounts here ) could produce some of the above mild to moderate symptoms, especially in those with no tolerance or high caffeine sensitivity .

Those with caffeine allergy or sensitivity could have severe symptoms even after a much smaller dose.




DSM-5 Criteria

Caffeine Intoxication is now included in the DSM-5 physicians manual . (This is the official manual of doctors and psychiatrists used to diagnose a person's condition.)

The official diagnosis can be made when any of the following symptoms are present: restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, flushed face, diuresis (you keep passing urine), gastrointestinal disturbance (upset tummy, diarrhea), muscle twitching, rambling flow of thought and speech, tachycardia or cardiac arrhythmia, periods of inexhaustibility, or psychomotor agitation.

The DSM-5 now also lists Caffeine Withdrawal as a mental disorder. Sufferers can experience withdrawal symptoms when ceasing caffeine intake.



Caffeine Overdose Facts

Luckily for us, we have mechanisms built into the human body that let us know we've had enough of something.

This is true with caffeine overdose. Well before we are at a toxic level we experience side effects that prevent us from consuming more , ie nausea and vomiting.

This means that before the 149 or so cans of Red Bull that would take to kill an average adult male, vomiting would most certainly happen.

For most people, that would happen after about number 5!

However, it's important to note that caffeine is a drug and should be respected and not abused . Since some people have extremely low tolerance or high sensitivity to caffeine, they could - in theory - overdose quite easily.

How to Know If You've Overdosed?

Most people feel the "jitters" first - a sensation of tremors or shaking.

This is your signal to stop consuming caffeine for the day.

You should also be aware of the caffeine levels in what you are drinking. Please consult the caffeine database since some of the caffeine amounts might surprise you.

If you find that you are often tired after consuming caffeine, this is a sign that you need to change your long-term caffeine habits and consider a detox.





How common is caffeine overdose?

With the plethora of caffeinated products in the marketplace, one could assume that overdosing on caffeine is quite common.

However, if we look at the statistics gathered from the American Association of Poison Control Centers we find that, while caffeine overdose does exist, it is not as common as people may think.

In fact, overdosing on Tylenol is a lot more common than overdosing on caffeine.

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Caffeine Allergy: Top 20 Symptoms

Allergic to caffeine? It seems like you are not alone as hundreds of people have now testified to strange reactions experienced after caffeine.

allergic to caffeine

This article has been compiled from anecdotal evidence. Some people do not metabolize caffeine as well as others. Others are also sensitive to adrenaline. It pays to know your limits with caffeine. If you suspect that caffeine is causing problems, this can be tested by eliminating it from the diet.



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Some time ago, we published a short post about the possibility of allergic reactions to caffeine.

That post received hundreds of comments from those who claimed to have experienced some type of adverse reaction to caffeine.

We have painstakingly sifted through all those comments, compiling the top 20 caffeine allergic reactions in order from most common to least common.

In most cases, these symptoms were reported after only a moderate amount of caffeine through coffee, tea, soda and / or energy drinks.


Most Common Allergic Reactions to Caffeine

1.     Skin problems such as hives, eczema, rashes, acne, severe itching
2.     Headaches or migraines
3.     Anxiety and panic attacks
4.     Can not focus or concentrate
5.     Tongue, glands, or throat swelling
6.     Heart racing or palpitations
7.     Angry, irritable, bad mood
8.     Fatigue
9.     Dizziness
10.     Extreme jitters
11.     Chest Pain
12.     Depression
13.     Numbness in face, hands, or feet
14.     Muscle pain
15.     Shortness of breath or tightness of chest
16.     Delusions or hallucinations
17.     Flu / cold like symptoms
18.     Vision problems
19.     Cold sweats
20.     Eyes swollen shut

Is this Scientific Evidence?

At least one scientific study has shown that people have anaphylactic reactions to caffeine and is confirmed by a skin prick test. one

There is evidence regarding the inability to process caffeine as some people lack the genes responsible for this or the genes they are not being expressed as they should be. This allows caffeine to build up in a person's body rather than being broken down properly. These people are described as hypersensitive to caffeine. two

The above data is based on anecdotal evidence, so do not take it as gospel or scientific, but rather consider these caffeine allergy symptoms as possible since they were reported by a large number of people. If a person suspects a caffeine allergy, he / she should cease caffeine immediately and then assess as to whether it is indeed the caffeine. The symptoms should subside after caffeine is eliminated.

There is a fine line between what would be called caffeine sensitivity and what would be called caffeine allergy, but overall we are dealing with the body not being able to correctly process the caffeine molecule, whether or not it is called sensitivity or allergy is up for debate .

Most people who commented on the original article reported several of the above symptoms and some of the caffeine allergy symptoms were quite bizarre. The symptoms that were the strangest included itchy ears & anus suffered by one poor soul and a sweaty butt crack reported by another ...

Caffeine allergy has also been linked to a form of ADD and dementia in adults. The claim is that caffeine-induced anaphylaxis impairs people's ability to concentrate and remember things.




Could It Be Mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by fungi and they can produce all kinds of negative reactions when ingested by humans. A recent study 3 from the University of Valencia in Spain found that commercially sold coffee is often contaminated with mycotoxins. They've identified 18 different mycotoxins that are commonly found in coffee and found that the levels in decaffeinated coffee are often higher than that of regular coffee.

If you have a reaction to coffee but not other caffeinated products, there is a good chance that you are sensitive to mycotoxins and not the caffeine.




What To Do If You Are Suffering

•     Explore our extensive Caffeine in Food database as well as our Caffeine in Beverages database in order to be aware of all the products that have caffeine listed as an ingredient along with the amount they contain.
•     Eliminate these products from your diet . There may be a period of caffeine withdrawal where you actually feel worse.
•     Assess if your symptoms have disappeared It may take up to 2 weeks for all of the caffeine's effects to wear off.

Please note: A surprising number of products contain caffeine, and some have a lot more than what you think.

Even decaffeinated drinks still contain caffeine - although only a small amount such as decaf brewed coffee .

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Caffeine Metabolism

Have you ever thought about what is actually going on in your body when you throw back that energy drink or sip that coffee?

How is caffeine broken down and how does it affect your metabolism? How long does caffeine stay active in your system and why do people crave the stuff?

We'll try to answer those questions and more in the simplest terms so that you can be educated when it comes to caffeine metabolism and what caffeine is actually doing to your body.



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Caffeine Metabolism: From the First Sip

Caffeine easily passes through epithelial tissue, from the first sip, caffeine is entering your bloodstream through the lining of your mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach.

It only takes about 45 minutes for 99% of the drink's caffeine to be absorbed through these membranes / organs.

In humans, the half-life for caffeine is anywhere from 4 to 6 hours on average, which explains why the average energy drink or coffee's effects last about 4 to 6 hours.

Things like age, medical conditions, and drug interactions can have an effect on the rate at which caffeine is metabolized.

Note: Humans also have 3 levels of sensitivity to caffeine . This is determine how fast caffeine is metabolized and to what degree its stimulating properties are felt. Read about those here .

Caffeine in the Bloodstream

While most research on caffeine has been conducted using animals, the data has been converted to the most likely effect on the human body due to the similarities of our digestive systems.

As soon as the caffeine enters the bloodstream the liver begins to metabolize caffeine and break down the molecule into theophylline, theobromine, and paraxanthine.

From there, these chemicals travel throughout the body where they affect various body functions.

It's in Your Genes

The speed at which caffeine is metabolized depends on specific genes. Research continues to discover gene variations that appear to be responsible for how long caffeine stays in the bloodstream.

People with a specific variation of the gene PDSS2 process caffeine more slowly than others. They, therefore, need less coffee for the same stimulant effects.

Caffeine in the Brain

Not all caffeine can immediately be broken down by the liver, or some free caffeine remains in general circulation. Some of which makes its way to the brain. The caffeine molecule is similar in shape to the adenosine molecule which is a neurotransmitter. Since these two molecules are similar, caffeine molecules are able to bind to the brain's adenosine receptors and therefore block adenosine from binding and doing their job.


Adenosine plays a role in the sleep-wake cycle. When adenosine binds to enough receptors, it signals the brain that it is time for rest or sleep. Caffeine does not replace the person's need for sleep but masks tiredness since adenosine can no longer do what it is intended to do.

This process also interferes with the dopamine system in the brain. Dopamine, which is the "feel-good" neurotransmitter becomes more plentiful when adenosine is blocked by caffeine and this causes increased feelings of well-being and happiness. Furthermore, elevated levels of adenosine in the blood cause the adrenal glands to release adrenaline. This stimulating hormone further adds to the feelings of alertness and energy.

Here's a great TEDEd video that explains what happens in the brain.

Caffeine's Effects on the Body

Besides affecting the brain, caffeine and its metabolites have various other effects on the human body.

Theophylline relaxes smooth muscles, which is beneficial to those with asthma and is the reason why after drinking caffeine a person often feels the need to use the bathroom since theophylline is relaxing the smooth muscles of the colon.

Theobromine increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients that can be used by the brain and muscles.

Caffeine causes an initial contracting of artery walls (vasoconstrictor) but then the metabolite theophylline relaxes this smooth muscle which has an overall vasodilator effect on the blood vessels. In other words, it opens blood vessels to allow for greater blood flow. src .

There have been many other researched effects of caffeine covered by Caffeine Informer, but the above represents the most researched and common.

Caffeine's Exit from the Body

The remaining caffeine metabolites are then filtered by the kidneys and they exit the body with the urine.

Caffeine has been shown to have a diuretic effect on the body , which causes the body to release more water in the urine. However, new research suggests that this is only in people who have not built up a tolerance to the caffeine molecule.

When most of the caffeine has exited the body or has been used by the various cells of the body, the person can experience a "crash" that is caused by the elevated levels of adenosine which are now able to attach themselves to brain's adenosine receptors. This also causes dopamine to be repressed. All of this causes feelings of tiredness, fatigue, and even mild depression.

Prolonged use of caffeine and then quitting also causes withdrawal symptoms due to the addictive nature of caffeine.

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Coffee, Caffeine, and Cancer: What the Research Reveals

Does Coffee Cause or Prevent Cancer?

However, the last decade has been a lot of light on the health benefits of coffee and its relationship to cancer.

Many decades or more long studies have been coming to a close and the results have been changing everything the medical profession thought they knew about coffee and how it influences the risks of getting cancer.

Study after study has been showing the cancer fighting properties of coffee because of the rich antioxidants it contains.



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In fact, with most studies we are not just talking about a cup or two a day since most studies show greater benefit when four or more caffeinated coffees are consumed daily.

Recent Caffeine, Coffee, and Cancer Studies

Here are just a few of the studies that support the notion that caffeinated coffee reduces risk of certain types of cancer.

•     Oral Cancer: More than 4 cups of coffee a day decrease oral and head cancers by 39% .
•     Uterine Cancer: Woman who drink more than two cups of coffee a day have less chance of uterine cancer.
•     Prostate Cancer: Men who have 6 cups of coffee a day reduces their prostate cancer risk by 60% .
•     Brain Cancer: At least 5 cups of coffee prevents certain types of brain cancer by 40% .
•     Colon Cancer: At least 2 cups of coffee a day can cut colon cancer risk . A newer study showed that colon cancer patients who drank four or more servings of coffee to day were 42% less likely to have bowel cancer recurrence after surgery and treatment. This study was conducted by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute . An even newer study also supported this previous research regarding the reduced risk of colorectal cancer among coffee drinkers.
•     Breast Cancer: At least 3 cups of coffee a day can prevent or delay the onset of certain types of breast cancer . Another study showed that at least 2 cups of coffee consumed along side the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, resulted in 49% less early breast cancer recurrence among breast cancer patients in Sweden.
•     Liver Cancer: Coffee drinkers have 41% less instance of liver cancer . A more recent study showed that 1-3 cups of coffee a day reduces risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma by 29%. Link
•     Endometrial Cancer : Women who consumes at least 3 cups of coffee a day have a 19% decreased risk of developing endometrial cancer, which claims the lives of about 10,000 women in the USA each year. The research .
•     Caffeine protects against lung cancer . A new study published in the Experimental Hematology & Oncology journal showed that caffeine inhibits a couple of proteins found in lung cancer cells, which prevents the cell's growth and reproduction. The study
•     Skin Cancer : A recent study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that caffeinated coffee drinkers were less likely to develop melanoma. The more coffee people consumed the less risk was observed. Study abstract .

Caffeinated Coffee as Part of a Healthy Diet

While the coffee / cancer research is not definitive, it appears that drinking coffee is probably far more beneficial than harmful as long as the person can metabolize caffeine correctly and does not suffer from a caffeine allergy or from excessive use .

In most of the studies, that decaffeinated coffee did not appear to have the same effect, which is probably due to the decaffeinating process removing many of the antioxidants.

However, we would suspect that people who eat poor quality food and engage in unhealthy habits such smoking and excessive drinking would not likely experience the cancer fighting properties coffee has to offer.

But, coffee as a part of a healthy diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruit will most likely have the greatest anticancer benefits.

People should also note that because of the caffeine in coffee , moderation is also recommended and less than 400mg of caffeine from all sources a day seems to be a safe level for most healthy adults.

The World Health Organization recently removed coffee from their list of possible carcinogens. They cited that there is an overwhelming amount of research that coffee can promote health and actually inhibit cancer. However, they did note that drinking coffee at temperatures in excess of 140 degrees Fahrenheit can increase the risk of cancers of the throat and esophagus. This temperature is much higher than which coffee is typically consumed.

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Coffee, Caffeine and Type 2 Diabetes

There has been extensive research into whether consuming coffee (caffeine) is safe for those with type 2 diabetes as well as whether or not coffee could help prevent diabetes.

With the ever rising population of people suffering with type 2 diabetes, it's good to hear that the diabetic or potential diabetic has a friend in coffee.

A healthy diet, low in sugar and refined carbs, is still the number one dietary measure to treat or reduce the risk for diabetes. Most research shows that coffee can be part of a diet that is designed to prevent, treat, and / or possibly reverse type 2 diabetes.



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Type 2 Diabetes and Coffee Research Studies

    A study published by the American Diabetes Association showed that those who drink coffee have lower sugar and insulin levels. It also appears that coffee is better than decaffeinated, so coffee could even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.15 overweight but otherwise healthy men were given either decaf coffee, placebo, or the chemicals chlorogenic acid and trigonelline dissolved in water, which are two of the main antioxidants in coffee. The participants' glucose and insulin levels were checked after the trial period. The only sample that showed lowered sugar and insulin levels was the chlorogenic acid and trigonelline solution group. Src .
    Another study analyzed much the latest research on diabetes and coffee and was conducted by Harvard's Dr. Frank Hu. His team found that the risk of type II diabetes decreased by 9% for each daily cup of coffee consumed. Decaf coffee decreased risk by 6% per cup. Src.
    An 11 year study looked at the diabetes and coffee risk association in postmenopausal women. They found that women who consumed 6 cups of coffee had a 22% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Src .
    An 18 year Swedish study also showed a greater degree of decreased risk among women who consumes the most cups of coffee daily. The Swedes are one of the highest coffee consumers in the world. Src .
    "Nineteen of 22 epidemiological studies said that long-term coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated, can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, but several investigators have warned that the caffeine in caffeinated coffee can impair glucose metabolism" from Diabetes Journals .
    The newer study is from the Harvard School of Public Health and it showed that type 2 diabetes risk decreases with every cup of coffee consumed. People who increased their coffee by one cup saw an 11% decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, those who decreased their coffee by one cup saw to 17% increase in risk. Src .
    Yet another study out of Denmark showed that coffee does not increase type 2 diabetes risk nor obesity risk for even the staunchest of coffee drinkers. 93,000 people's coffee habits were analyzed for the study and there was no association between coffee and obesity, and diabetes. The study

Decaf Coffee Not as Helpful

coffee-and-diabetes Although, caffeinated coffee does seem to offer the most protection, it is not likely due to the caffeine. Coffee is actually rich in antioxidants .

In the decaffeination process these antioxidants are also removed to much lower concentrations along with the caffeine.

This explains why the same results were not observed with the decaf samples . Therefore, it seems to be a good thing to have regular, full-proof coffee that has been un-messed around with if you want to experience less type 2 diabetes risk or help in treating this form of diabetes.

Caffeine Lowers Blood Glucose Levels During Exercise

Researchers found that when people with type 2 diabetes use caffeine prior to exercise it lowers their blood glucose levels more.

Study participants given 1 mg of caffeine per 1 kg of body weight had on average at 75 mg / dL increased drop in blood sugar compared with those who did not have the caffeine.

Good or Bad?

Good if you are trying to naturally lower your blood sugar with diet and exercise.

Bad if you are on insulin and in danger of your blood sugar dropping too low.

The Bottom Line?

This is good news for coffee drinkers or those that would be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. You can drink all the coffee you want, but we would advise that you learn to drink it black to experience the full benefits. Also be sure to not go beyond established daily caffeine safe levels .

Adding sugar and creamer no doubt quickly reduces some of coffee's type 2 diabetes protective benefits.

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Caffeine May Prevent Cataracts

Caffeine and Eye Health

Caffeine may prove useful in the prevention of cataract formation as well as be ok for eye health in general.

Chalk another one up for the possible positive health benefits of caffeine !

Cataracts are responsible for nearly half of the world wide cases of blindness and can be removed with surgery, but this new study may soon make surgeries unnecessary.



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A recent study showed that caffeine eye drops prevented cataracts from forming in the eyes of rats.

The Cataract and Caffeine Research

The study was conducted by Shambhu D. Varma, Svitlana Kovtun, Kavita Hegde at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University Of Maryland School of Medicine .

The study involved baby rats that were feed to diet high in galactose, which causes cataracts to form in the eyes.

One group of rats was given eye drops containing caffeine, the other group was given to placebo eye drop. The rats given the caffeine had greatly reduced cataract formation compared to the placebo group.

Researchers say that the therapy now needs to be adapted so it can be compatible with the human eye. Humans would have to consume over 6 cups of coffee (more than 600mg) daily to equal the cataract stopping properties the rats experienced.

Further testing will be required and work will be needed to develop caffeine eye drops suitable for the human eye.

We should note that this study focused on the type of cataracts that usually develop in those with diabetes .

Studies Focusing on Caffeine and Eye Health

1. Coffee and Caffeine Intakes and Intraocular Pressure

The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 people older than 49 years of age and found that more than 200mg of caffeine did increase IOP. However, after adjusting for age, sex and systolic blood pressure, the association did not reach statistical significance. Src .

It is unclear if those with glaucoma should avoid caffeine entirely, but having less than 200mg daily would be the safest bet.

2. Caffeine and Tunnel Vision

A study from The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics found that caffeine had no effect on tunnel vision, thus did not increase risk while on the supplement. Src .

3. Too Much Caffeine Causes Dim Vision, Transitory Blindness, and Eye Flickering.

A 1913 study found that caffeine overdose can cause vision problems. (Lewin, L., and H. Guillery. "The Effects of Drugs and Poisons on the Eye." Hirschwald, Berlin (1913): 150.)

Overall, it looks like moderate caffeine is safe for those concerned with eye health. This is especially good news for caffeine lovers as well as those who have a family history of developing cataracts and / or diabetes.