Side Effects of Too Much Caffeine

What amount of caffeine is far too much?

Caffeine-- usually in the form of coffee, tea, caffeinated sodas and energy drinks-- is often drunk to increase cognitive working and improve a bad mood.

Determining by the length of the awaiting line at Starbucks, this must be especially true in the mornings.

A number of us believe that we can't function until we get our first cup (or two) of coffee. That's totally fine, but what happens if you drink three, four or more cups?

What Caffeine Does

Caffeine is a stimulus, and some investigations show that small amounts of caffeine may increase your mental response-time. Other studies show that cognitive improvements and mood elevation may not be due to the beneficial components of caffeine, but to finishing the withdrawal symptoms you feel when you have never had your morning "fix" yet.

What amount of Caffeine Is Safe?

It seems that professionals who study caffeine agree that taking in up to 300 milligrams of caffeine every day is safe-- for adults anyway. That's roughly the amount of caffeine you would get from three cups (not mugs or big paper cups) of coffee.

Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant may want to decrease that amount or skip the caffeine altogether.

Less is understood about caffeine use in kids-- but draining the energy drinks before school is probably a lousy idea.

 Getting Too Much Caffeine

Consuming over 300 milligrams of caffeine per day may give you the "caffeine jitters," which is that tense and somewhat alarmed feeling. Larger volumes of caffeine may make you irritable, sleepless, and may even trigger anxiety and induce diarrhea.

Caffeine can act as a diuretic, so people assumed that drinking too much coffee or other caffeinated beverages would certainly cause dehydration. However, scientists found that your body adapts to your caffeine intake so consuming caffeinated beverages won't raise your demand for water.

Decreasing or Eliminating Caffeine

Abandoning the caffeine routine cold turkey isn't great.

Caffeine withdrawal can give you headaches, make you crabby, give you muscle pains and generally make you experience miserable for a few days. The withdrawal signs and symptoms will pass after a week or so, but blending regular caffeinated beverages with decaf for a few days might just help with the transition.