Caffeine, found in various beverages and foods, can cause symptoms such as nervousness and insomnia. Overdose can lead to serious health consequences, including seizures and irregular heartbeats, requiring urgent medical attention. Hospitalization may be required, and treatment may include gastric lavage or respiratory support.
Caffeine can be found in a variety of beverages, such as coffee, sodas, and teas, as well as foods such as chocolate, and some over-the-counter and prescription medications. The stimulant, regardless of how it is consumed, can cause nervousness, increased urination, nausea, diarrhea and insomnia. While these symptoms can be annoying, they don’t necessarily pose immediate danger. An overdose of caffeine, however, can create serious health consequences for an individual. For example, hallucinations, seizures, irregular heartbeats, and difficulty breathing may occur and usually require urgent medical attention.
For many coffee drinkers, the majority of their typical caffeine intake comes from that beverage. For the most part, when consumed in moderation, the substance is usually harmless and rarely leads to any serious or long-term problems. Anxiety, nervousness and insomnia are among the most common physical symptoms that follow caffeine intake. These usually decrease, however, unless the person continues to consume it throughout the day. Drinking excessive amounts of coffee or other products that contain the stimulant can cause a caffeine overdose.
Some over-the-counter diet pills and weight loss supplements, along with stimulant drugs designed to keep people awake, also commonly contain caffeine. For most people, when taken as directed, these do not lead to any serious physical problems. Others may be more sensitive to the ingredients. However. Taking more than the recommended dosage or using it in conjunction with other products that contain the stimulant can lead to a caffeine overdose. When an individual accidentally or purposely takes too much of the medicine, symptoms of a severe caffeine overdose can occur. Emergency services are usually needed in these cases.
When life-threatening symptoms occur, hospitalization is often required to stabilize the patient. An electrocardiogram (EKG) can be used to record the rhythmic cycle of the heart. Blood pressure is usually monitored. Intravenous (IV) therapy may also be given.
In extreme cases, a doctor may recommend gastric lavage, which is done by inserting a tube through the nose or mouth and into the stomach. During this procedure, stomach contents are extracted. Gastric lavage is usually performed only when high doses of a poison or substance are present, such as in cases of caffeine overdose. It is usually only effective if done within an hour of ingestion. Other types of medical treatment may include respiratory support or the administration of activated charcoal to prevent caffeine from entering the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
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