Caffeine Poisoning: What You Have To Know About Caffeine Overdose

Caffeine poisoning… Whether you believe it or not, it’s a thing!

Just like with everything else, you should be careful with caffeine, too. In this blog post, we’ll uncover the myths surrounding coffee and caffeine poisoning, so you will know how to avoid it.

On a more serious note: Insider Science made a scientific explanation on what happens to your body when you have caffeine poisoning:

Let’s start with the basics!

1. What is caffeine poisoning?

Caffeine poisoning is essentially what happens when you consume way too much caffeine for your body to handle.

It’s like overloading your system with a stimulant. Think of your body as a car engine – a little bit of fuel (caffeine) gets it running smoothly, but if you pour in way too much, the engine starts to sputter and malfunction.

In this case, the “malfunction” is your body reacting badly to the overdose of caffeine.

It’s your system saying, “Whoa, hold up! This is too much for me to process!”

When this happens, you start experiencing a range of unpleasant and potentially dangerous symptoms. Let’s explore the sources of caffeine and then the symptoms… and of course, what you can do with it!

2. Sources of caffeine

Let’s start with the obvious ones: coffee, of course, and tea are big sources.

But don’t forget about soft drinks, especially colas and energy drinks – these can pack a serious caffeine punch

Even some non-cola sodas contain caffeine.

Then we’ve got chocolate – both as a food and a drink. Dark chocolate generally contains more caffeine than milk chocolate. Some ice creams and yogurts, particularly coffee or chocolate flavored ones, can also contain caffeine.

Energy bars and even some types of gum can be sneaky sources of caffeine. They’re often marketed as performance boosters for athletes or students.

In the world of medicine, some OTC (over-the-counter) pain relievers contain caffeine, as it can help boost the effectiveness of the pain-relieving ingredients.

There are also caffeine pills marketed as alertness aids.

And here’s a fun fact: guarana, a plant native to the Amazon, contains more caffeine than coffee beans!

To give you an overview, I created a table with approximate caffeine content for different beverages:

3. How much caffeine is too much?

Apart from coffee, energy drinks are a common culprit. They often contain high levels of caffeine, and it’s easy to drink several in a short time, especially if you’re trying to stay awake for a long study session or a night out.

Caffeine pills are another potential danger zone. These concentrated forms of caffeine can have a massive dose quickly, and it’s easy to lose track of how many you’ve taken.

Some pre-workout supplements used by fitness enthusiasts are loaded with caffeine. If someone doesn’t carefully measure their dose or combines these with other caffeine sources, it can lead to overconsumption.

Mixing different caffeine sources throughout the day can also add up quickly, so be careful!

Maybe you start with a few cups of coffee, grab an energy drink in the afternoon, snack on some dark chocolate, and then have some tea in the evening. Each on its own might be fine, but the cumulative effect can be substantial.

There’s also the issue of caffeine sensitivity. Some people are more affected by caffeine than others, so what’s a normal amount for one person might be too much for another.

4. Symptoms of caffeine overdose

 Here’s a bulleted list of caffeine poisoning symptoms, along with brief explanations:

• Jitters or restlessness: Feeling unable to sit still or relax.
• Anxiety: Heightened sense of worry or unease.
• Rapid heartbeat: Heart racing or pounding in the chest.
• Insomnia: Inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.
• Digestive issues: Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Headache: Often described as a pounding sensation.
• Dizziness: Feeling unsteady or lightheaded.
• Confusion: Difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating.
• Irritability: Easily annoyed or agitated.
• Muscle tremors: Involuntary shaking or twitching.
• Increased blood pressure: Can cause a feeling of pressure in the head.
• Frequent urination: Body trying to flush out excess caffeine.
• Dehydration: Result of increased urination and sweating.
• Fever: In severe cases, body temperature may rise.
• Hallucinations: In extreme cases, seeing or hearing things that aren’t there.
• Seizures: In rare, severe cases of overdose.
• Chest pain: In serious cases, can indicate heart issues.

These symptoms typically appear within a few hours of excessive caffeine consumption and can be anything from mild to severe…

5. What can you do when you have caffeine poisoning?

When you experience the symptoms of caffeine poisoning, the first thing you have to do is stop consuming any more caffeine… immediately!

This will prevent the situation from getting worse.

Next, try to stay calm. Anxiety is a common symptom of caffeine overdose, and panicking can make you feel even worse.

After you’re a bit relaxed: hydrate. Start drinking water to help flush the caffeine out of your system. Avoid alcohol or sugary drinks, as these can dehydrate you further. If you can stomach it, try eating something light. Food can help slow the absorption of caffeine in your system.

If possible, try to walk around a bit. Light exercise can help your body metabolize the caffeine faster. However, if you’re feeling too dizzy or unwell, it’s better to rest.

For milder symptoms, you might just need to wait it out.

Caffeine’s effects typically peak within 30-60 minutes of consumption and can last for several hours. Try to find a quiet, comfortable place to rest until the effects subside.

However, if you’re experiencing severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, or hallucinations, don’t hesitate to seek medical help immediately.

Call emergency services or have someone take you to the nearest emergency room.

6. Medical help for too much caffeine consumption

When you need medical help, the doctor’s will first assess your condition by checking your vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. They might also run blood tests to determine the level of caffeine in your system and check for any electrolyte imbalances.

In many cases, treatment involves supportive care.

This means they’ll treat your symptoms while your body naturally eliminates the caffeine. They might give you intravenous (IV) fluids to help with dehydration and to speed up caffeine excretion.

If you’re experiencing severe anxiety or agitation, they might administer a sedative to help you relax. For rapid or irregular heartbeats, medications to stabilize your heart rhythm could be used.

In cases of nausea and vomiting, anti-nausea medications might be given. If you’ve only recently consumed a large amount of caffeine, they might consider gastric lavage (stomach pumping) or activated charcoal to prevent further absorption.

For very severe cases, more intensive treatments might be necessary.

The good news is that caffeine poisoning is treated very effectively in most cases. And the most important thing is: try to stay calm

7. Long-term impact of caffeine poisoning

Another good news is that in most cases, caffeine poisoning doesn’t typically have long-term health impacts, especially if it’s a one-time thing and properly treated.

Repeated episodes of caffeine overconsumption or chronic excessive caffeine intake can potentially lead to some long-term issues.

It might lead to chronic sleep problems, or impact heart health.

There’s also the risk of developing caffeine dependency. While not exactly the same as addiction to drugs or alcohol, caffeine dependency can lead to withdrawal symptoms when you try to cut back, which some people find quite unpleasant.

That being said, these long-term impacts are generally associated with chronic overconsumption rather than a single instance of caffeine poisoning.

For most people who experience caffeine poisoning once and then adjust their habits, the long-term health outlook is good.