Can you actually be addicted to caffeine?

Question

Like can you actually have so much caffeine that your body craves it and even experience withdrawel symptoms if you don't have it?

Answer 1

Why do so many people consume so much caffeine? Why does caffeine wake you up? By understanding the drug's actions inside the body you can see why people use it so much.
In the HowStuffWorks article How Sleep Works, the action of adenosine is discussed. As adenosine is created in the brain, it binds to adenosine receptors. The binding of adenosine causes drowsiness by slowing down nerve cell activity. In the brain, adenosine binding also causes blood vessels to dilate (presumably to let more oxygen in during sleep).


To a nerve cell, caffeine looks like adenosine. Caffeine therefore binds to the adenosine receptor. However, it doesn't slow down the cell's activity like adenosine would. So the cell cannot "see" adenosine anymore because caffeine is taking up all the receptors adenosine binds to. So instead of slowing down because of the adenosine level, the cells speed up. You can see that caffeine also causes the brain's blood vessels to constrict, because it blocks adenosine's ability to open them up. This effect is why some headache medicines like Anacin contain caffeine -- if you have a vascular headache, the caffeine will close down the blood vessels and relieve it.

So now you have increased neuron firing in the brain. The pituitary gland sees all of the activity and thinks some sort of emergency must be occurring, so it releases hormones that tell the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline (epinephrine). Adrenaline is the "fight or flight" hormone, and it has a number of effects on your body:

Your pupils dilate.
Your breathing tubes open up (this is why people suffering from severe asthma attacks are sometimes injected with epinephrine).
Your heart beats faster.
Blood vessels on the surface constrict to slow blood flow from cuts and also to increase blood flow to muscles. Blood pressure rises.
Blood flow to the stomach slows.
The liver releases sugar into the bloodstream for extra energy.
Muscles tighten up, ready for action.
This explains why, after consuming a big cup of coffee, your hands get cold, your muscles tense up, you feel excited and you can feel your heart beat increasing.

About the addiction itself:
Addiction involves being habituated to a certain practice. The drug with greatest number of people who are addicted to it then, is caffeine, since it is the most commonly used drug. However, few people experience a degree of social and functioning problems to qualify as being clinically dependent on caffeine; thus there is no official diagnosis of caffeine dependence. But there is a category for caffeine-related disorders to cover caffeine intoxication and caffeine withdrawal, both conditions being based on exhibiting an ample number of symptoms. Caffeine is found in many foods including coffee, tea, chocolate and many carbonated beverages. It is also found in over-the-counter medicines, such as pain relievers, appetite suppressants and cold medicines. Caffeine functions a central nervous system stimulant and also a diuretic. It is actually a myth that black coffee will "sober up" an inebriated person but rather it will cause agitation in the person (Morrison, 1995). Another helpful tip is to never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine in it (like coffee or tea) or alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body.

The amount of caffeine in some common foods and beverages is as follows:

Coffee, brewed - 40 to 180 milligrams (mg) per cup

Coffee, instant - 30 to 120 mg per cup

Coffee, decaffeinated - 3 to 5 mg per cup

Tea, brewed American - 20 to 90 mg per cup

Tea, brewed imported - 25 to 110 mg per cup

Tea, instant - 28 mg per cup

Tea, canned iced - 22 to 36 mg per 12 ounces

Cola and other soft drinks, caffeine-containing - 36 to 90 mg per 12 ounces

Cola and other soft drinks, decaffeinated - 0 mg per 12 ounces

Cocoa - 4 mg per cup

Chocolate, milk - 3 to 6 mg per ounce

Chocolate, bittersweet - 25 mg per ounce


Symptoms
The rate of absorption of the drug is dependent on one's size, weight and tolerance (which rises with increased consumption of the drug). Caffeine is absorbed and distributed quickly. Once absorbed, it passes into the central nervous system, stimulating it and producing the well-documented effect of alertness. Excessive caffeine intake though, can lead to a fast heart rate, excessive urination, nausea and vomiting, restlessness, anxiety, depression, tremors, difficulty sleeping, loss of calcium and potassium resulting in a longer recovery after exercising.

The effects of caffeine on health have been widely studied. A 1984 statement from the American Medical Association Council on Scientific Affairs said, "Moderate tea or coffee drinkers probably have no concern for their health relative to their caffeine consumption provided other lifestyle habits (diet, alcohol consumption) are moderate as well." Studies have examined the effects of caffeine on fibrocystic breast disease, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, reproductive function and behavior in children. Caffeine has been linked to some of these.

Abrupt withdrawal of caffeine may cause headaches, drowsiness, irritability, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. Reduce caffeine intake gradually to prevent any symptoms of withdrawal.

In adults, symptoms of caffeine overdose include:


Difficulty sleeping

Muscle twitching

Confusion

In and out of consciousness

Increased urination

Increased thirst

Death

Fever

Difficulty breathing

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Irregular heartbeat

Rapid heart beat

Convulsions


Symptoms of caffeine poisoning in infants include:


Very tense muscles alternating with overly relaxed muscles

Rapid, deep breathing

Nausea and/or vomiting

Rapid heartbeat

Low blood pressure

Shock

Tremors


Causes
250-300 mg of caffeine per day is considered a moderate amount. This is roughly equivalent to the amount of the drug found in three 8 oz cups of coffee. Consuming in greater than ten 8 oz cups of coffee a day is considered excessive. Caffeine poisoning from consuming excessive amounts has occurred.

Treatment
In cases of caffeine overdose, call Poison Control to see if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. The NIH says not to induce vomiting unless recommended by a doctor or an official from Poison Control.

Answer 2

Yes ... Caffeine is addictive and when you stop consuming caffeine most people will experience a headache for a few days as well as a mood change but it eventually passes ... I cut out caffeine in my life for health reasons some time ago and I started drink a non-caffeine natural and healthy energy drink 2 times a day. It is the first energy drink to hit the market in the form of a powder so it's ez to mix with any beverage no matter where you are at. If you or someone else would like a couple of FREE SAMPLES check out my profile or the link below

Answer 3

absolutely. Test yourself. Drink caffeine, at least 3 times per day or more for one month. Then on day 32, stop cold turkey. You may feel a tinge of a headache or a major whopper of one. These would be called your "shakes" from being off of the "drugs". I have experienced this many times when coming off of a lot of caffeine.

Answer 4

Yes,I actually get headaches and feel nauseaus if I don't have a Mountain Dew a couple times a day.If I try to drink water or something and haven't had caffeine I have actually got sick before because my body wanted the Mt.Dew.Isn't that weird?

Answer 5

yes, I am in that situation. I get migranies if i go without caffenie for just one day. I can't figure out how to break it because when I get migraines I am down and out in bed. they are bad. I just ask about a gum like they have for smokers to help bring you down slowly without drinking the soda but I havent found one yet.

I would love to break it..its horrible and I am so dehydrated from always craving soda and not getting enough water.

Answer 6

its possible...
its actually not good to be addicted... if you have TOO much caffeine in one day then you wont get enough sleep then you can get sick.
thats why i only drink coffee in the morning when i wake up and i dont drink things with caffeine at night =]
but sometimes at parties i have some.. shhhh..

Answer 7

Caffiene is a neuro-receptive drug, its what they call an 'upper'.
You get a rush of norepenephrine and adrenaline when on it.
Its one of the only readily available drugs next to nicotine, and it can eventually cause your body to want it.
I know I am severly addicted. :D I need coffee,soda, whatever on a daily basis.
I get a headache,stomachache, shakes without it. Some people think it can cause cancer..... but whatever I'll take my risks.

Answer 8

Darn right you can! Withdrawel can make you emotional and give you headaches and all sorts of things.

Answer 9

I think that you can if I do not have caffeine every day I get a headache...that is why I take excedrin everyday

Answer 10

I guess and you can be addicted to love too, I guess

Might as well face it, you're addicted to love, or caffeine in your case

Answer 11

yes, this is why most people who drink coffee (or anything else with a lot of caffeine) a lot are really grouchy without it.