What Are the Effects of Too Much Caffeine?
Caffeine is a mildly addictive stimulant found in a wide range of beverages and food items. Tea, coffee and some sodas and energy drinks contain caffeine, along with such foods as chocolate and "energy branded" products like certain chewing gums. While caffeine can give one energy, too much can cause undesirable side effects.
How Much?
Consuming moderate amounts of caffeine per day--200 to 300 mg of caffeine in a 24-hour period--isn't harmful to most people, according to the Mayo Clinic. This equals about two to four cups of coffee per day.
Heavy caffeine intake--anything above 500 to 600 mg of caffeine a day--can cause undesired side effects. This amount is the equivalent of five to seven cups of coffee.
Effects
Too much caffeine can cause the following: insomnia, restlessness, nausea, other gastrointestinal problems, headaches, muscle tremors, anxiety, irritability, nervousness and a fast or irregular heartbeat.
Another effect of consuming caffeine on a daily basis is that it becomes mildly addictive, and when you skip a day you may experience symptoms similar to those from drinking too much caffeine.
Sensitivity
People react differently to caffeine; for some individuals, even a small amount of caffeine can cause the jitters. Those who do not consume caffeine regularly may experience stronger effects due to their sensitivity, while those who consume caffeine heavily on a regular basis may feel less jittery or fail to experience the "perk-up" effect of caffeine.
Drug Interactions
Consuming caffeine with certain herbal supplements and medications can cause a dangerous interaction, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some examples of medicines that can mix badly with caffeine include certain antibiotics like Cipro and Noroxin. Theophylline, a medication that helps ease and open up airways, can interact dangerously with caffeine as well. The herbal supplement Ephedra can also cause interactions when taken with too much caffeine.
Those taking medications or experiencing side effects from caffeine should speak with their doctor.
Considerations
When considering your daily caffeine intake, it can be hard to determine just how much caffeine you are consuming. Brewed coffee can vary widely in the amount of caffeine it contains per serving. Tea, while it has a lower amount of caffeine compared to coffee, can still vary in caffeine content based on the type of tea and brewing methods.
Energy supplements and energy drinks may not always clearly indicate on the labeling how much caffeine the drink contains. Also, caffeine can appear in unexpected products. Chocolate contains varying amounts of caffeine and certain over-the-counter painkillers contain up to 130 mg of caffeine per dose.
Warning
Caffeine can be deadly in excessive amounts. In the Resources section of this article a "Death by Caffeine" calculator is available. By selecting a caffeinated product from the list and entering your weight, you can see how many servings of the product in a short period of time could cause a fatal result. This calculator is provided for informational purposes only.
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