NCJ Number
57601
Journal
Prevention Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 42-44,46,48-50,52
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE, WHICH PRODUCE SYMPTOMS LIKE THOSE OF ANXIETY NEUROSIS, ARE DISCUSSED IN AN ARTICLE FROM A MAGAZINE ON PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE.
Abstract
THERE ARE DOCUMENTED CASES IN WHICH OVERDOSES OF CAFFEINE HAVE CAUSED DELIRIUM. CAFFEINE IS ALSO KNOWN TO TRIGGER PSYCHOTIC REACTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH UNDERLYING SCHIZOPHRENIA. ONE SUCH PERSON BECAME ANXIOUS AFTER AN ARGUMENT WITH HIS MOTHER, SAT UP ALL NIGHT DRINKING COFFEE AND THINKING OF THE WAYS SHE HAD WRONGED HIM, DEVELOPED THE DELUSION THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM, AND BOUGHT A GUN WITH THE INTENTION OF STOPPING HER. HOWEVER, THE DANGERS OF CAFFEINE ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE REALM OF OVERDOSES AND PSYCHOTIC STATES. CAFFEINE AT THE LEVELS CONSUMED BY MANY PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN COFFEE, TEA, COLA DRINKS, AND OVER-THE-COUNTER COLD REMEDIES, PAIN KILLERS, AND STIMULANTS IS A THREAT TO MENTAL HEALTH. PHYSICIANS REPORT THAT SOME PATIENTS COMPLAINING OF LIGHTHEADEDNESS, HEADACHE, BREATHLESSNESS, IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT, AND/OR A SENSE OF ANXIETY, ALL SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY REACTION, FIND THEIR PROBLEMS DISAPPEAR WHEN THEY CUT BACK ON THEIR COFFEE DRINKING. TWO CUPS OF STRONG COFFEE CONTAIN 300 MILLIGRAMS OF CAFFEINE. DOSES LARGER THAN 250 MILLIGRAMS OFTEN CAUSE INSOMNIA, RESTLESSNESS IRRITABILITY, NERVOUSNESS, TREMOR, AND HEADACHES. PEOPLE GENERALLY ARE UNWILLING TO CONSIDER COFFEE DRINKING AS DRUG-TAKING, BUT ONE PSYCHIATRIST CLAIMS THAT CAFFEINE IS THE MOST USED AND ABUSED DRUG THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. PEOPLE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THEIR CAFFEINE INTAKE AND TRY TO KEEP IT AT A MINIMUM. SEE NCJ-57602 FOR A SIMILAR DISCUSSION OF SUGAR. (LKM)