Calming Caffeine Addiction

I have been drinking tea since forever. Blessedly, the tea I drink is lightly caffeinated but I still get concerned about the level of caffeine. I have heard of coffee drinkers who get headaches the minute they stop consuming the beverage or soda drinkers who feel lethargic by days end.

Caffeine is the most pervasively used psychoactive drug in the world. This stimulant appears in numerous prescription and over-the-counter medications, chocolate, coffee, tea, colas, and other types of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. The average American consumes about 200 mg of caffeine per day. That is the equivalent of two five ounce cups of coffee or four 12 ounce colas. Caffeine is not regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

But it is mentioned in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in the form of caffeine-intoxication, caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, caffeine-induced sleep disorder and caffeine-related disorder not otherwise specified. Mention is also made in DSM-IV of the phenomena of caffeine dependence and withdrawal, and a case has been made for the existence of caffeine dependence syndrome.

However, these conditions are uncommon. There is some evidence that excess caffeine may influence adverse medical effects for several medical conditions. One study found an elevated risk for myocardial infarction or coronary death for individuals consuming five cups of caffeinated coffee daily. Another study shows that there may be an association between daily consumption of 400 mg of caffeine during pregnancy and increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Also, caffeine consumption may raise the risk of osteoporosis by depleting calcium deposits. There may be a link between caffeine and insomnia. It also has been linked to anger in adolescents as well as even violent behavior and conduct disorder.

On the other hand, research indicates that caffeinated coffee may have some health benefits. For instance, one study suggests that “substantial” coffee consumption (1+ cups per day) may protect against colorectal cancer. Data from the Nurses' Health Study, a prospective epidemiologic study of over 86,000 registered female nurses in the United States, indicate that long-term caffeinated coffee drinking could be protective against suicide (I would take this information with a grain of salt because these findings are inconclusive).

Caffeine when consumed in lower doses may have other advantages as well. People feel more energetic and able to concentrate very well. Caffeine inhibits adenosine which has an inhibitory effect on neurotransmitters. This increases the activity of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine. It can provide relief from tension and headaches. Caffeine has an anticariogenic effect that helps in preventing dental caries which is caused by the production of acid by various types of bacteria.

All this is to say caffeine has both good and bad aspects to it depending on how much you consume during the day. Interestingly, the World Health Organization has included caffeine on its list of psychostimulants that produce withdrawal and dependence disorders. But is it addictive? Signs of caffeine “addiction” may include withdrawal symptoms like headaches, restlessness, anxiety, hyperactivity, muscle tremors, twitching, and nausea. And because caffeine is a diuretic, it may produce gastrointestinal issues.

But what is of particular concern is the effect caffeine has on young children. In the United States, nearly 75 percent under the age of 18 consume caffeine on any given day. Soft drinks are traditionally the go-to source of caffeine among youth, but coffee and tea are quickly gaining speed with more young consumers. Energy drinks are becoming increasingly popular among adolescents. These heavily caffeinated beverages contain additional ingredients (e.g. guarana, ginseng, B-vitamins, sugar) and are promoted to improve mood (e.g. “gives you wings”) and cognitive and motor performance (e.g. “unleash the beast”).

While energy drinks constitute a fraction of total caffeine intake among youth, use of such drinks have been associated with symptoms like racing heart, seizures, heart failure, and increased emergency room visits. The marketing of such drinks has come under fire from frequently using sports athletes and celebrities in advertisements, attention grabbing packaging, sponsorship of events popular with adolescent and advertising in youth venues. Not to mention, caffeine is added to other youth coveted (and adult coveted) foods such as oatmeal, sunflower seeds, peanuts, sport jellybeans, gum, mints or ‘active metabolism’ vitamins.

Maybe another way to look at caffeine intake, is to describe it as a dependence. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you get “addicted” to ecstasy and “dependent” on caffeine. The reason is that illegal drugs like meth cause a huge surge that alter the reward circuits in your brain.  

The best way to make sure caffeine is an asset and not a liability, is to taper off or cut down gradually the amount you consume. While doing this, employ some relaxation techniques to get you through like yoga, meditation, and other types of exercise.

I don’t know if I am addicted to caffeine but I’m still a tea drinker and probably will be until the day I die. It is certainly good to know that caffeine does have certain benefits in moderate doses. Again moderation may be the key.