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| Caffeine Intoxication |
Last updated: May 12, 2008 |
Signs, symptoms and indicators | Conditions that suggest it | Contributing risk factors | It can lead to... | Recommendations
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Caffeine intoxication usually occurs with consumption above 250mg (equivalent to about 2 1/2 cups of coffee). Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and may be taken to help restore mental alertness when unusual tiredness, weakness or drowsiness occurs. Caffeine's use as an alertness aid should be only occasional. It is not intended to replace sleep and should not be used regularly for this purpose.
The amount of caffeine in some common foods and beverages is as follows: - Coffee, brewed - 40 to 180mg per cup
- Coffee, instant - 30 to 120mg per cup
- Coffee, decaffeinated - 3 to 5mg per cup
- Tea, brewed American - 20 to 90mg per cup
- Tea, brewed imported - 25 to 110mg per cup
- Tea, instant - 28mg per cup
- Tea, canned iced - 22 to 36mg per 12 ounces
- Cola and other soft drinks, caffeine-containing - 36 to 90mg per 12 ounces
- Cola and other soft drinks, decaffeinated - 0mg per 12 ounces
- Cocoa - 4mg per cup
- Chocolate, milk - 3 to 6mg per ounce
- Chocolate, bittersweet - 25mg per ounce
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 Signs, symptoms & indicators of Caffeine Intoxication: | | | | | | Symptoms - Cardiovascular |  Heart racing/palpitations | Caffeine intoxication can cause a rapid or 'pounding' heart rate. |
Arrhythmia |
Symptoms - Food - Beverages |
 Negative reaction to coffee |
Symptoms - General |
Fatigue that worsens during the day| | Caffeine is known to cause periods of exhaustion. |
Constant fatigue |
Symptoms - Metabolic |
Hyperactivity| | High caffeine levels can cause restlessness. |
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Symptoms - Mind - Emotional |
Being anxious/nervous
Irritability |
Symptoms - Mind - General |
Being easily excitable
An overstimulated mind| | Caffeine intoxication is known to cause rambling thought and speech. |
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Symptoms - Skin - General |
Dark/dark/flushed facial coloring
Facial flushing |
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Conditions that suggest Caffeine Intoxication: | | | | | | Diet | Dehydration| | Dehydration may result from the increased urinary frequency brought on by caffeine. |
Chocolate Craving |
Habits |
Lack of Sleep| | It almost goes without saying that coffee decreases the quality of sleep and is one of the leading causes of sleep disturbance. Coffee drinkers are sleepier and groggier than non-coffee drinkers when they get up in the morning, causing them to depend on coffee to get them going. This grogginess may be the result of their entering caffeine withdrawal during the night, or that drinking coffee kept them from sleeping well in the first place, or both. |
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Mental |
Anxiety |
Musculo-Skeletal |
Muscle Cramps / Twitching
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) / Periodic Limb Moveme| | Excess caffeine levels cause restlessness. Caffeine has been shown to increase subjects’ proneness to develop RLS at lower levels of blood glucose. It is therefore no surprise that a xanthine-free diet (no coffee, tea, cola beverages, cocoa) has been reported to be another effective dietary measure RLS sometimes following a short period of caffeine withdrawal. [J Clin Psychiatry 39: pp.693-8, 1978; Ann Intern Med 119: pp.799-804, 1993] |
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Uro-Genital |
Increased Urinary Frequency| | Caffeine is a diuretic, causing increased urination. |
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Risk factors for Caffeine Intoxication: | | | | | | Supplements and Medications |  Significant/moderate caffeine supplementation |
Symptoms - Food - Beverages |
(High) tea consumption
(High) coffee consumption
Caffeinated soft drink consumption
Counter-indicators:
 Coffee consumption |
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Caffeine Intoxication can lead to: | | | | | | Diet | Dehydration| | Dehydration may result from the increased urinary frequency brought on by caffeine. |
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Recommendations for Caffeine Intoxication:
KEY | | Weak or unproven link | | | Strong or generally accepted link | | | Proven definite or direct link | | | Strongly counter-indicative |  | | Highly recommended |
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