Caffeine poisoning symptoms can be mistaken for mental disorders like anxiety. Symptoms include restlessness, insomnia, confusion, muscle twitching, and irregular heartbeat. Overdose can lead to dehydration, gastrointestinal problems, and an overstimulated mind. Large doses can cause seizures, respiratory failure, and death. Repeated overdoses can cause long-lasting effects like infertility and cardiovascular disease.
Symptoms of caffeine poisoning can easily be confused with symptoms of mental disorders, such as anxiety. There are generally 12 symptoms of the condition, including restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, confusion, and excessive energy. Symptoms also include a flushed face, excessive urination, stomach pain, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat, and restlessness. Suffering from five or more of these symptoms after consuming caffeine is usually a sign of a caffeine overdose.
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant used to increase energy or alertness. Coffee is the most abundant source of caffeine, but it is also found in tea, chocolate, cola and some pain relievers. Many popular energy drinks combine large amounts of caffeine with sugar and herbal additives. Consuming too many of these products can lead to caffeine poisoning.
It usually takes at least 250 milligrams of caffeine — equivalent to what’s found in two and a half cups of coffee — to cause caffeine poisoning. Overdose most commonly occurs when amounts of caffeine greater than 500 milligrams are consumed. Caffeine naturally has a strong, bitter taste, but some people have become immune to its taste. These people can’t taste it, so they may unknowingly consume too much caffeine.
If this condition occurs, the inability to sleep is one of the most common symptoms. While this may be temporary, it can turn into a long-term sleep disorder. The restlessness or restlessness can become so severe that it disrupts daily activities. The condition can also cause a person to experience periods of inexhaustibility. When this happens, it is easy for the person to become dangerously overworked.
Caffeine has a diuretic effect, so excessive urination frequently occurs with caffeine poisoning. If left untreated, this can lead to dehydration and other dangerous conditions. Gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea are also common.
Excessive caffeine can make it difficult to think clearly. This condition is known as having an overstimulated mind. A person suffering from a caffeine overdose may wander in her thoughts or speech. Drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages to promote alertness could have the opposite effect if too much is consumed.
In addition to the 12 symptoms listed above, some people experience ringing in their ears after consuming excessive amounts of caffeine. Others have reported seeing flashes of light. Profuse sweating could also accompany caffeine poisoning. If very large doses — more than 10 grams — of caffeine are taken, a person could experience seizures, respiratory failure, and ultimately, death.
The mildest forms of caffeine overdose will normally subside within four to six hours. There are usually no lasting effects of typical caffeine intoxication, but a repeated overdose of caffeine can cause long-lasting effects. It is linked to infertility, miscarriage and osteoporosis in women. Studies have also linked excessive caffeine consumption to cardiovascular disease.
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