When you hear the word “overdose,” you probably think of painkillers or heroin. You wouldn’t be wrong – in fact, out of the more than 72,000 drug overdose deaths estimated in 2017, nearly 30,000 were attributed to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Still, while those might be the most dangerous drugs, they aren’t the only ones that it’s possible to overdose on, and one of them will probably surprise you. Caffeine overdose, while very rare, is possible, especially among children and adolescents.
What is caffeine? Most adults will probably respond “the stuff in coffee that gives me life,” but it’s actually an addictive stimulant. It’s most commonly found in tea, coffee and cacao plants (where chocolate comes from). It’s frequently added to energy drinks and supplements. Certain pain relievers, like those for migraine and PMS, also contain caffeine. The following are some of the effects that caffeine can have on the body:
- It stimulates your central nervous system, which can make you feel more awake and give you a boost of energy.
- It is a diuretic, meaning that it helps your body get rid of extra salt and water by making you urinate more.
- It increases the release of acid in your stomach, which can sometimes lead to an upset stomach or heartburn.
- It may interfere with the absorption of calcium in the body.
- It increases your blood pressure.
Most people can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day without any harmful effects. For reference, an 8-ounce cup of coffee has 95 to 200 mg of caffeine, a 12-ounce can of cola has 35 to 45 mg, an 8-ounce energy drink has 70 to 100 mg, and an 8-ounce cup of tea has 14 to 60 mg. Consuming too much can cause any of the following symptoms:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Rapid or abnormal heart rhythm
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Dependency (meaning you need to take more of it to get the same results)
These are all relatively common, but an actual life-threatening overdose is rare. Usually it occurs as a result of taking supplements or energy pills and not from coffee or other drinks, although combining the pills with energy drinks or coffee can make them even more dangerous. These supplements contain far higher concentrations of caffeine than you’d get from food or drink. There are also pure caffeine products, both liquid and powder, which are so dangerous that some of them are now illegal. According to the FDA, one teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine is equivalent to 28 cups of regular coffee.
Typically, when someone dies as a result of ingesting too much caffeine, the culprit is ventricular fibrillation. This happens when the lower chambers of the heart vibrate rather than contracting regularly, which can cause cardiac arrest.
So no, having an extra cup of coffee a day isn’t going to kill you (not immediately, anyway), but you should steer clear of supplements and energy drinks that contain caffeine in high doses, and definitely don’t combine them with anything else that has caffeine.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
