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Caffeine and Heart Arrhythmias (Irregular Heartbeat)

The guidelines to follow for safety

A cardiac arrhythmia is when the heart beats out of rhythm sometimes missing a beat or beating twice in the period that would usually be one beat.

Since caffeine is a stimulant and speeds up heart rate, doctors believed that this effect could be dangerous for those with heart arrhythmias.

Doctors once warned those with cardiac arrhythmias to avoid consuming caffeine, but this advice may be somewhat outdated.

Those with existing heart arrhythmias should exercise caution when consuming caffeine, which involves understanding the amount of caffeine in beverages / foods as well as the amount they are consuming daily.



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Some people do report that their heart "flutters" after drinking caffeinated beverages and are understandably concerned about this.
Moderate Caffeine Ok for those with Arrhythmias

The Arrhythmia Research:

1. The most up to date research published in the January 2016 edition of the Journal of the American Heart Association found that among regular coffee, tea, and chocolate consumers studied there was no increased instance of heart rate rhythm abnormalities compared to the study group that did not consume coffee, tea, and chocolate regularly.

2. An article published in The American Journal of Medicine shows that caffeine in moderation seems safe.

After reviewing all of the studies published concerning caffeine, among those with known arrhythmias, Daniel J. Pelchovitz, MD and Jeffrey J. Goldberger, MD.

3. Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, CA recently conducted a study in which the coffee-drinking habits of 130,054 men and women were assessed along with their medical history.

The research showed that those who had 4 or more cups of coffee a day (400mg of caffeine or more) had an 18% lower risk of being hospitalized because of rhythm disturbances while those that consumed at least 1-3 cups had a 7% lower risk

The head researcher, Arthur Klatsky MD, says :

    "While other factors could have been involved here and that this study does not prove that coffee has a protective effect, it does however, show that coffee drinkers are not harming themselves from drinking the caffeine or increasing their risk of hospitalization due to heart rhythm problems. "

4. A Danish study also looked at coffee's relationship to heart beat fluttering. After assessing almost 950 patients, they said that coffee was not associated with risk of heart flutter.

5. Another study which was a link between coffee and atrial fibrillation risk found that there was no association between coffee and coffee and increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation.

This is all good news for those who love coffee and / or energy drinks but have known heart arrhythmias. It looks like they can have a caffeine-laden beverages in moderation and still be safe.

A moderate daily dose of caffeine for a healthy adult is between 300-400mg .
Those with heart rhythm problems should probably aim for no more than 200mg daily.

Most doctors advise patients with arrhythmias to quit or cut back on their caffeine .
Energy Drinks and Heart Rhythm Problems

energy drinks and heart rhythm problems Unfortunately for energy drink consumers, most of the caffeine and heart rhythm research conducted looked at coffee as the caffeine delivery method.

We know that coffee is naturally high in antioxidants, which are believed to be beneficial in protecting bodily organs from disease.

Energy Drinks do not offer the same benefit and the results could be different with this caffeine delivery agent. Especially since many energy drinks are a combination of caffeine, taurine, sugar and sometimes other stimulants.

People with existing heart arrhythmias should be extremely cautious when using these products.
People consuming energy drinks and shots should fully understand their heart health before consuming these products in larger than recommended quantities.
Excessive Caffeine May Be Deadly

For those with heart arrhythmias, excessive caffeine may be deadly. To date, there have been several reported deaths as the result of caffeine overdose in those with heart arrhythmias.

Some reported caffeine deaths of those with arrhythmias.

•     Anais Fournier died after just 480mg of caffeine.
•     A New Zealand woman died after 900-1000mg of caffeine daily.
•     Alex Morris died from reportedly drinking 320mg of caffeine though Monster Energy Drink.
•     A 25-year-old woman died after consuming a guarana based drink. Src .

It is vital that people know their heart and health caffeine as it can be deadly for people with arrhythmias under certain circumstances.

Caffeine Does not Cause Arrhythmias to Develop

There is no scientific evidence that caffeine causes heart arrhythmias in those with a healthy heart.

Nor is there any evidence that drinking caffeinated beverages long-term will cause an arrhythmia to develop.

However, some people could be unaware that they have an arrhythmia or that they are prone to developing one based on their genetics, which is why caffeine should always be consumed in moderation.

Binging on caffeine, even eleven, can have dangerous consequences.

We encourage caffeine in moderation and especially in cases where people have heart arrhythmias. If you have an arrhythmia, we encourage you to use all of the tools this site has to offer to help you consume caffeine safely.

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20+ Harmful Effects of Caffeine

The harmful effects of caffeine are sometimes harder to find information on than all of the reported positives .

Here are a few of the studies that said that caffeine could be dangerous to one's health.



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Research Showing Harmful Effects of Caffeine

1.     More than 4 cups of coffee linked to early death. A Mayo Clinic partnered study found that men who drank more than four 8 fl.oz. cups of coffee had a 21% increase in all-cause mortality. However, those who reported that they were very likely to smoke and have poor fitness. Dr. Nancy Snyderman from NBC said there were a few discrepancies with the study, but stresses that moderation is still key. See Her Interview Here .
2.     Caffeine can raise blood pressure. Especially in those already suffering from hypertension and those who do not normally consume caffeine . People with hypertension were given 250 mg of caffeine (about 2 coffees) and the data revealed that their blood pressure was elevated for about 2-3 hours after the caffeine. Src . A second study performed by The Mayo Clinic found similar results from a 160 mg dose. All participants experienced a marked rise in blood pressure and it was the most pronounced in those that did not normally consume caffeine. Src .
3.     Increased risk of heart attacks among young adults . A study conducted by Dr. Lucio Mos found that young adults who were diagnosed with mild hypertension had 4 times the risk of having a heart attack if they consumed the amount of caffeine equivalent to 4 cups of coffee. More moderate weather showed 3 times the risk. Src .
4.     Caffeine linked to gout attacks . This study showed that people who caffeinated beverages increased their risk for a gout flare-up. Src .
5.     Breast tissue cysts in women . One study showed that "Women who consumed 31-250 mg of caffeine / day had a 1.5-fold increase in the odds of developing fibrocystic breast cancer and women who drank over 500 mg / day had a 2.3-fold increase in the odds of developing cysts Src .
6.     Caffeine could cause incontinence . A study out of the University of Alabama showed that women who consume a lot of caffeine are 70% more likely to develop incontinence. Src .
7.     Caffeine may cause insomnia . Caffeine in a person's system at bedtime can mimic the symptoms of insomnia. Src .
8.     Caffeine can cause indigestion . People who consume caffeinated beverages often report an upset stomach or indigestion. This usually occurs when the beverages are consumed on an empty stomach. Src .
9.     Caffeine can cause headaches . While occasional dosages of caffeine can relief headache symptoms, the overuse of caffeine can cause headaches and lead to migraines. Src .
10.     Caffeine could reduce fertility in women . A study from the University of Nevada School of Medicine showed that caffeine can reduce a woman's chances of becoming pregnant by about 27%. Src .
11.     Caffeine and miscarriage risk : In a recent study, both men and women who consumed at least two caffeinated beverages a day during the week prior to conception increased the risk of a miscarriage. Src .
12.     Caffeine may not be healthy for type 2 diabetics . A study conducted by the American Diabetes Association showed that caffeine impaired glucose metabolism in those with type 2 diabetes. Src .
13.     Caffeine overdose . While overdose is rare, it can lead to many adverse symptoms including death, especially in those with underlying medical conditions. Some have a lower tolerance for caffeine than others. Src .
14.     Caffeine allergies . Some people have over-sensitivity to the caffeine molecule, which causes allergic-like reactions in the body such as hives and pain. Although not a true allergy, many report very negative symptoms after consuming even the smallest amounts. Src .
15.     Caffeine causes more forceful heart contractions . A recent study showed that immediately after energy drink the heart produced more forceful contractions. It is unclear if this has any long-term health implications except for those with known health conditions. Src .
16.     Worse menopause symptoms . A recent study published in The Journal of The North American Menopause Society showed that menopausal women who consumed caffeine had a greater degree of vasomotor symptoms. Src .
17.     Caffeine can lead to increased anxiety, depression and the need for anxiety medication . Src and Src . See also our article as to why caffeine causes anxiety and panic attacks .
18.     Caffeine increases the number of sugary drinks consumed by people , which contributes to obesity and diabetes. Src .
19.     Caffeine inhibits collagen production in the skin . This effect is dose-dependent but really heavy caffeine consumers should be aware. The study
20.     Caffeine interferes with ossification and could also lead to a greater risk of bone fractures . This is dose dependent, but heavy caffeine consumers should take note. Study 1 (pdf) Study 2 .
21.     Caffeine does not help with prolonged sleep deprivation: This can lead to a false sense of security for those who have been depressed for several days in a row and choose to get behind the wheel or some other focus required task, thinking that as long as they have caffeine, they'll be able to perform. Researchers from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine came to this conclusion after studying caffeine's effects on their sleep-deprived test subjects. Here's the study in detail .
22.     Caffeine may impair hearing loss: For guinea pigs exposed to excessive levels of noise, caffeine was shown to delay the rate at which the guinea pigs recovered from noise-induced hearing loss. Here are the results of a recent study that investigated the problem. A correlation to humans is believed to exist but more research will be needed.

When not managed caffeine can quickly become an out of control problem.

If you are experiencing any tell-tale signs of the risks above, then it's time to start cutting back. Otherwise, it's just a matter of time.

Other Claims Against Caffeine

You may have heard or read about other negative health effects from caffeine, but as of now, there is not enough evidence to fully endorse those as legitimate health concerns.

Some of those negatives include:

•     Adrenal fatigue
•     Irregular heartbeat
•     Hallucinations
•     Accelerates bone loss. Src .
•     Tremors

Caffeine is a drug and can affect people differently just like any other substance. It's important that consumers understand how to interact with their bodies in regards to their personal health histories.

The food and beverage industry spends millions, if not billions, of dollars worldwide to fund studies and promote caffeinated products as safe or even healthy.

Fortunately, caffeine is one of the most researched substances on the planet and there is some unbiased data in which to glean some reliable information from.

While much of the research is published, it is possible to see the safety and potential benefits of caffeine (in moderation), there are a handful of research studies that highlight the potentially harmful effects of caffeine.

The risks of suffering from any of the harmful effects of caffeine are diminished by being aware of how much is personally being consumed daily .

It is also important to be aware of any pre-existing medical conditions that may contribute to caffeine's negative effects.

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Caffeine Anxiety and Panic Attacks

In some, caffeine can produce feelings of anxiety and even be a catalyst for a full-blown panic attack.

However, this occurs only in people who have a slight genetic variation in their adenosine receptors which are responsible for caffeine's awakening effects but also regulate a person's sense of anxiety.

The Science Behind Caffeine and Anxiety Disorders

A well-conducted study, published in 2003 which was a joint project in part by the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Chicago and The Department of Psychiatry, University of Munster, Germany 1 Adenosine receptors were likely responsible for caffeine-induced anxiety.



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The team looked at 3 different genotypes involving adenosine receptor genes to see if any of them would indicate whether or not a person would have increased anxiety when consuming caffeine.

They found that people with an A 2a receptor gene seem to be especially at risk of experiencing increased anxiety when consuming coffee, tea, energy drinks, or other caffeine-containing products.

Both the A 1 and the A 2a adenosine receptors in a person's brain are thought to also regulate how a person deals with stress and anxiety. Since caffeine binds to these receptors , it is thought to interfere with anxiety regulation.

Therefore, those who have the A 2a gene difference could experience increased anxiety when consuming caffeine. People in an already anxious state could be prone to full-blown panic attacks if they consume caffeine during this period.

In the study referenced above, participants were given just 150 mg of caffeine, which was enough to elicit anxiety in those with the gene variation. This is less than half the amount of caffeine found in a Starbucks Grande Coffee .

The study did not account for other factors such as caffeine tolerance since all the participants were nonhabitual caffeine users.

Yet another study published in The American Medical Journal 2 looked at people who were already diagnosed by the DSM-III criteria for agoraphobia with panic attacks or panic disorder and those with normal anxiety levels.

They evaluated each group's responses to caffeine. They found that within the diagnosed group, 71% reported feelings associated with panic attacks after consuming the caffeine.

Recommendations

Since most people, without genetic testing, would have no idea whether or not they have the A 2a receptor mutation, most people will have the safety of consuming caffeine based on their current history of anxiety and inclination towards panic attacks.

Those who experience anxiety and who are not habitual caffeine users should abstain from caffeine altogether. They should be aware of which products contain caffeine and avoid them.

Those who are daily caffeine consumers and who also suffer from anxiety should try to keep their daily consumption of caffeine fairly consistent. Consuming more caffeine than their usual amount could increase anxiety levels. This group should also be aware how much caffeine their favorite beverages contain and keep track of their daily consumption.

The aforementioned group should also consider cutting back on caffeine or quitting caffeine to better manage their anxiety and risk of panic attacks. Even habitual caffeine users could be at increased risk of panic attacks if life situations arise that cause increased stress and anxiety. Caffeine could "push them over the edge".

Exercise May Help Reduce Caffeine-Induced Anxiety

Additional research from the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 3 found that regular exercise seems to lessen the degree to which caffeine heightens anxiety levels in those prone to anxiety.

In this study, researchers exposed to group of anxiety-prone men to both 60 minutes of cycling and 60 minutes of quiet rest after the administration of 800 mg of caffeine and then evaluated their level of anxiety after each test.

They found that rest did not have any effect on decreasing the level of anxiety reported, but the exercise did significantly reduce the level of anxiety reported by the participants.

So, the bottom line here is that exercise could lessen the degree to which caffeine causes increased anxiety in those already prone to problems with anxiety.

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Caffeine Reduces Muscle Pain

Caffeine's pain reducing qualities have long been known and researched.

In fact, caffeine is one of the main ingredients in such pain relievers as Excedrin and Anecin .

However, with caffeine and pain relief there is definitely a catch 22 situation.

Consuming occasional caffeine can be a great pain relief enhancer, BUT using caffeine everyday and then stopping caffeine can actually cause headache and muscle pain.



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Let's look at some of the research behind caffeine and it's pain relieving qualities.
Pain Relief and Caffeine Research

1. The University of Georgia has found that a moderate dose of caffeine (about two cups of coffee) can reduce post-workout pain by up to 48% .

Anyone who has ever done any weight training is familiar with the pain of sore muscles. It's particularly nasty if you are new to exercise (or have laid off for a while).

This research was small and for some reason they only tested women. Not only this - but the women were not regular caffeine users - so perhaps the effect might be reduced in those who are regular caffeine drinkers.

    "A lot of times what people use for muscle pain is aspirin or ibuprofen, but caffeine seems to work better than those drugs, at least among women whose daily caffeine is low," O'Connor said.

2. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that wanted to see if caffeine acted a pain relieving adjuvant. In other words, if it could increase the effectiveness of other drugs while using less of the other drug.

They said that when they were combined with other pain relievers, 40% less of the other drug was needed to bring the same amount of relief experienced with using just the non-caffeine drug alone.

3. A study published in a 2003 issue of The Journal of Pain showed that caffeine can also reduce muscle pain during moderate intensity exercise .

Some participants were given large doses of caffeine prior to cycling exercise, others were not. The caffeine group had significant less muscle pain during the exercise than the placebo group.

This may also explain why caffeine is used as an endurance aid for athletes .

4. New research out of Brazil, which was conducted by Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology and the University of Brasilia (UNB) isolated to protein in coffee beans that is similar to morphine , but works even better. Note that this is separate from the caffeine compound's pain relieving effect. They are currently doing further research on this protein and its pain relieving applications.


Caffeine Tolerance Makes a Difference

If a person consumes caffeine everyday, then the only way to experience caffeine's pain relieving effect is to consume more than the amount of the daily amount he or she has been accustomed to.

Since people build up a tolerance to the caffeine molecule, habitual caffeine more or less maintains a sense of normality.

This is why such severe withdrawal symptoms can be experienced when the daily dose is missed. There is a drastic departure from what normal feels like and pain, therefore ensues.

How to experience the most pain relief from caffeine?

•     Do not consume caffeine everyday, but only when pain relief is needed.
•     Consume the same amount of caffeine everyday and extra when pain relief is desired.
•     Do not miss your daily dose if you're a habitual caffeine consumer.

Caffeine can be used as a way to reduce and manage muscle pain as well as other pain, but it seems to be effective when the above guidelines are followed.

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Anatomy of a Caffeine Headache: Causes, Remedies, Prevention

A caffeine headache has been experienced by just about anyone who consumes caffeine on a regular basis.

This caffeine-induced headache usually starts behind the eyes and then works its way up the front of the forehead as it develops further, becoming quite debilitating if left unchecked.



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For some, this is a trigger to migraine, but for most people a caffeine headache is moderately painful and several in severity depending on the cause.

Top 5 Causes of a Caffeine Headache

•     Caffeine withdrawal
•     Varied caffeine
•     Caffeine overdose
•     Caffeine sensitivity
•     Caffeine allergy

How to Remedy an Aching Head

The number one cause of a caffeine headache is caffeine withdrawal.

Even a small decline (30-100mg) in the amount of caffeine a person usually consumes can result in a mild headache.

People who miss their daily dose, consume less than their average, or who are detoxing from caffeine will most likely experience this type of headache.

As many have experienced, you do not need to have an addict to experience the negative effects of caffeine

People who consume caffeine in a hit or miss fashion tend to have more caffeine-induced headaches than those who have the same amount every day.

Also, for those who consume too much caffeine in a short amount of time often experience a headache as a common caffeine overdose symptom.

Finally, those who are ultra-sensitive to the caffeine molecule or who have an "allergic-like" reaction to the substance, can also experience a headache. However, this type of caffeine headache the least common.

If you are not intentionally quitting caffeine, the best remedy for a caffeine withdrawal headache is to consume more caffeine.

As soon as a person begins to feel tightness behind the eyes, he / she should evaluate his / her recent caffeine consumption and then consume an adequate amount of caffeine to stop the withdrawal.

Pain relievers such as Excedrin also include caffeine and canine remedy the caffeine withdrawal headache faster since they contain added pain relievers.

For those that are purposely detoxing from caffeine or for those that have consumed too much caffeine , we recommend the following.

•     Take pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, and naproxen. ( use only as directed)
•     Drink plenty of water .
•     Avoid medications, beverages, and foods with added caffeine .
•     Sleep .

Most of the time to caffeine headache will peak in severity and then gradually get better as the body adjusts to having no caffeine.

    " I find that most of the time pain killers dull the pain and a good night sleep takes care of the rest. "

Note: For those that had a moderate to severe addiction to caffeine, the headache could last for several days, but usually the severity of the first 24 hour period without caffeine.

How to avoid a caffeine headache

The Two Best Methods for Prevention
For those that want to prevent a caffeine headache, there are two ways to keep a caffeine headache from developing.

•     Consume about the same amount of caffeine every day. - Do not vary by any more than about 30-50 mg each and every day, even on the weekends.
•     Eat zero to very little caffeine - Eliminate caffeine from the diet completely. Usually, people who have very small amounts, such as a chocolate , will not experience any problems with developing a caffeine-induced headache.

By understanding how a caffeine headache develops, how to remedy it, and how to prevent it; this type of headache does not have to be an issue for most people.

Being aware of the caffeine content of your favorite beverages as well as being mindful of how much you have consumed your best defenses against getting caffeine-induced headaches.

Helpful Tools

1. Our caffeine content database can help people keep track of their caffeine and be aware of how much caffeine they are consuming daily.

2. Download a caffeine-tracking app. This smartphone application allows users to easily track their daily caffeine.

3. Our Guide to Quitting Caffeine provides a step-by-step plan to remove the caffeine without the painful withdrawal symptoms such headaches.

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Caffeine Addiction Diagnosis

addict This quiz will give you an idea of ​​just how addicted to caffeine you really are.

Note: This quiz is for informational purposes only and not intended to professionally diagnose caffeine addiction.



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Do you consume a caffeinated beverage daily?

And it is
Do not

Do you get a headache if you had not had caffeine by lunchtime?

And it is
Do not

Do you take caffeine pills if drinking a caffeinated beverage is not possible?

And it is
Do not

Do you consume at least 500mg of caffeine daily? (ie 4-5 coffees or 3 energy drinks)

And it is
Do not

Do you use caffeine instead of sleep?

And it is
Do not

Do you get irritable and impatient if you have not had your morning caffeine dose?

And it is
Do not

Does your current caffeine not longer give you a boost, but just a feeling of normal?

And it is
Do not

Do you spend at least 25 dollars a week on caffeinated products?

And it is
Do not

Do you plan your day around getting your caffeine fix?

And it is
Do not

Do you drink more caffeinated beverages than you do plain water?

And it is
Do not


This caffeine addiction diagnosis tool can give you a good idea just how addicted to caffeine you really are.

While there is still ongoing debate as to how caffeine should be classified substance wise , anyone that has ever tried to quit caffeine can attest that the withdrawal symptoms can be quite uncomfortable.

So, in some sense, caffeine is definitely addictive. At any rate, caffeine is the most used psychoactive substance on the planet, therefore, it must have at least some grip on the billions of people who consume caffeine daily.

Should You Quit?

If you are a slave to your coffee mug or energy drink, then you already know the answer. The real question becomes, how am I going to quit without failing my day-to-day responsibilities ?!

What's Wrong with Being Addicted to Caffeine?

squirril-addict Generally speaking, there is no right or wrong answer here, but instead, it depends on the individual.

If caffeine is interfering with your ability to lead to productive and well-adjusted life, then cutting back may be in order.

•     Spending too much money on caffeinated products.
•     Always using caffeine instead of proper sleep.
•     Becoming tolerant of extreme caffeine amounts .

May all be some good reasons to evaluate your addiction to the substance.

Also, if your health is being affected due to a caffeine allergy or underlying heart condition then caffeine may need to be eliminated from your diet.

On the other hand, if caffeine is not being abused, you enjoy it, and it helps you be productive there is probably no reason to not enjoy it.

If you have to be addicted to something, I guess there are far worse addictions out there than caffeine addiction.

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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 .