Can you overdose on caffeine?

Question

I saw someone at starbucks today order 6 shots of espresso. When I asked him why he told me he was addicted to meth and this is the closest high he can get to it. He told me its safer then meth but im already freakin out after 2. Has or can you overdose on caffeine? What are the side effects?

Answer 1

Medical Encyclopedia: Caffeine overdose
URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002579.htm

Definition

This is poisoning from large amounts of caffeine.

Poisonous Ingredient

Caffeine

Where Found

Coffee
Some tea
Hot chocolate
Chocolate
Some soft drinks (such as Pepsi, Coke, Mountain Dew)
NoDoz
Tirend
Quick Pep
Vivarin
Caffedrine
Coffee Break Caplets
Durvitan
Pro-Plus
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.
Symptoms

Symptoms in adults may include:

Sleeping trouble
Muscle twitching
Confusion
In and out of consciousness
Urination - increased
Increased thirst
Death
Fever
Breathing trouble
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Irregular heartbeat
Rapid heart beat
Hallucinations
Dizziness
Convulsions
Symptoms in babies may include:

Muscles are very tense, then very relaxed
Rapid, deep breathing
Nausea
Vomiting
Rapid heartbeat
Low blood pressure
Shock
Tremors
Home Treatment

Do not make the person throw up unless told to do so Poison Control or a doctor.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed
Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See National Poison Control center.

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

The patient may receive:

Medicines to treat symptoms
Activated charcoal
Laxative
A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
Expectations (prognosis)

In severe cases, death may result from convulsions or an irregular heartbeat.

Answer 2

I dont think you can officially overdose, unless youve had A LOT of caffeine. And generally the only way to have that much is to take caffeine pills, not just from coffees, colas, and other drinks.

As a diagnosed caffeine addict, I am here to tell you the side effects of too much caffeine are not that pleasant. Mainly you get headaches when you dont have caffeine. TERRIBLE headaches, and the only way to get rid of them is to have some caffeine and then sleep. All your muscles tense. The jaw muscle often clenches while you sleep because of the caffeine. As I result I now have a clicking jaw that clicks and pops everytime I open my mouth. Its because the muscle got too strong from clenching it.
And um, it basically feels like you are on drugs because you crave it. And you have that feeling when you have it for the first time in like awhile. Hard to describe, but you can feel it like rushing to your brain.

And Ive been told caffeine kills brain cells. But hey, I still have a 4.0 GPA :) I guess its sad that Im a caffeine addict in high school. Ew.

Answer 3

Espresso Overdose

Answer 4

In modern American society, addiction to Caffine has become as commonplace as driving a car. A large percentage of Americans report drinking coffee, or other caffeinated beverages, on a daily basis.



Our obsession with Caffine has resulted in many people feeding an addiction they don’t even know they have. Although many people never get to the point of being unable to function because of a Caffine addiction (thus the reason for no official diagnosis of a “Caffine addiction”), the fact is that there is such a thing as too much Caffine.

Caffine is found in a variety of different foods and drinks. Most people are familiar with caffeinated coffees and soft drinks. However, Caffine is also found in tea, chocolate, most sports/energy drinks, pain relievers and cold medicines. Classified as a stimulant, Caffine produces an effect that causes users to enjoy a heightened level of energy and alertness.



As most users know, however, Caffine users often “come down” a short while after consumption, often resulting in symptoms such as decreased alertness, headaches, nausea and drowsiness, to name a few. Excessive quantities of Caffine can result in less desirable effects such as restlessness, anxiety, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), difficulty sleeping and more. The timetable usually takes place as such: Within about 15 minutes after consumption, the effects of Caffine begin to kick in. The effects peak about 15 minutes after onset, then a plateau occurs before the effects begin to dissipate, returning users to a normal rate of activity.

Answer 5

Yes, stop drinking red bulls, The caffeine messes with your heart and can kill you. If you had a few more you probably would of died. Try to keep it down to 1 every 3 days as well or you'll probably die of heart complications later on.

Answer 6

I don't know, but a couple weeks ago a news article described a police chase where the driver was arrested for DUI, and the statement said he had consumed 30 cans of "Red Bull"- so maybe?

Answer 7

Polkadot 5 said it perfectly. Topo much caffeine can also give you anxiety attacks-which are truly frightening.

Answer 8

I would suspect you will get headaches and have physical crashes when your body becomes too tired to function

Answer 9

Well yea, after about 10 cups I'd be sick.

Answer 10

definately.
a heart attack for beginners.
thats baloney.
chug two redlines.
he'll feel high.