Caffeineis a stimulant that triggers thecentral nervous system.
It is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world.
In moderate doses, caffeine makes us feel good.
monkeybusinessimages / Getty Images
But in amounts above 400 milligrams per day, caffeine overdose is possible.
Children under age 12 should avoid caffeine.Teenagersshould limit their caffeine intake to about 100 mg per day.
Kids and teens should also avoid consumingenergy drinks.
However, emerging evidence suggests much lower daily dosages (50 mg/day) may result in smaller birth sizes.
Sources of Caffeine
Over 60 plants contain caffeine.
A breakdown of caffeine measurements per source is provided below.
Risks and Benefits of Caffeine
Caffeine increases awareness, reducesfatigue, and lifts mood.
It can also improve physical and cognitive performance.
Sports-related benefits of caffeine include:
Caffeine consumption comes with risks.
Too much caffeine instantly undoes all of its benefits.
One teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine can equal 28 cups of coffee.
The recommended dose of 1/16 teaspoon is tiny and difficult to measure accurately.
Accidental measurement errors are common.
A simple mistake of using 1/4 teaspoon could result in a toxic dose being consumed.
Caffeine can be lethal, but fatalities from caffeine are extremely rare.
In rare cases, caffeine toxicity results in death.Individual responses to any dose of caffeine can vary significantly.
Diagnosis
Exactly how much caffeine is dangerous varies from person to person.
If you or someone else accidentally consumes too much caffeine and has overdose symptoms, contactPoison Controlright away.
Call 911 in the case of emergencies.
Both options are free and confidential.
Caffeine is often hidden in products.
Read labels closely and keep tabs on how many milligrams of caffeine you consume each day.
Speak with a healthcare provider about how much caffeine is in the medication you take.
Cut back on typical daily intake of caffeine-containing products while taking these medicines to avoid caffeine overdose.
Read Instructions Carefully
Highly-concentrated forms of caffeine are most likely to cause an accidental overdose.
Always use extreme caution when taking any concentrated form of caffeine and follow measurement instructionsveryclosely.
Summary
Overdosing on caffeine is rare, but accidental overdoses happen.
Children under 12 should avoid caffeine.
Teens should limit caffeine to about 100 mg per day.
Energy drinks are one of the most common ways to accidentally overdose on caffeine.
Read energy drink labels closely and calculate how much caffeine is in each container.
Serving sizes and caffeine per fluid ounce can vary greatly.
Call Poison Control or 911 immediately in caffeine-related emergencies.
People of all ages are at risk of caffeine overdose.
If you want to cut back on caffeine to lower your risk, there are healthy alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Caffeine overdose happens, but it’s not common.
Although caffeine-related deaths are extremely rare, emergency room visits due to energy drinks are a public health concern.
These drinks can perk you up with much less caffeine than you’d find in a cup of coffee.
A few bites of chocolate can give you instant energy.
Nibbling on goji berries also makes people feel energetic.
Bananas provide a quick energy boost and may improve athletic performance.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.Caffeine and children.
National Institutes of Health.Moderate daily caffeine intake during pregnancy may lead to smaller birth size.
Harvard School of Public Health.Caffeine.
Willson C.The clinical toxicology of caffeine: a review and case study.Toxicology Reports.
2021;11(2).
doi:10.37962/jbas.v11i2.266
Chiang WF, Liao MT, Cheng CJ, Lin SH.Rhabdomyolysis induced by excessive coffee drinking.Hum Exp Toxicol.
2012;7(5):e37479.
