The Health Dangers of Caffeine

Many people don't consider this, but caffeine is as much a drug as tobacco, alcohol, or even marijuana. We all think of the positive effects of caffeine and never the negative. Well, being someone who has had a caffeine overdose, I can tell you firsthand that the experience is not pleasant, either from the initial overdose or the withdrawal effects. That is why I wanted to warn anyone who hasn't considered the negative side of caffeine.

I have been cutting down on caffeine for quite a while after my overdose. It's the only drug I've ever overdosed on and it's completely legal. Of course I have never done illegal drugs and never will but I know plenty of people who have and say that the effects of caffeine are very comparable to the illegal drugs. So before you start chugging more Coke or Dr. Pepper, consider the negative side of the caffeine you are putting into your body.

First off, from a personal perspective, a caffeine overdose can make you feel dizzy and disoriented. While small doses of it help one to concentrate, larger doses do the opposite. Your mind becomes so stimulated that it is probably comparable to having ADHD. You get bored of sitting doing whatever you might have wanted to concentrate on and can't stand doing one thing for any extended period of time. Your body begins to feel dizzy and weak and as much as you want to do things, the feeling is very unpleasant. Then there are the withdrawals, similar to a hangover from getting extremely drunk. You of course have the headaches that are often attributed to caffeine and you feel a ton worse than you did when you initially had the caffeine, before the overdose. It really is uncomfortable and difficult to do anything while experiencing these effects. A lot of people tell themselves it's normal and they just need more caffeine but if you keep ingesting substances containing caffeine, you are only asking for it all over again.

Now here are some of the facts. Research shows that there are a number of short term side effects connected to caffeine that can be very uncomfortable to the person experiencing them. Some of these, according to Erowid, include:

Increases anxiety and nervousness at high doses or in sensitive individuals

Insomnia, decreased ability to sleep [

Caffeine withdrawal can worsen mood [

Caffeine withdrawal causes headaches, flu-like symptoms, feelings of lethargy and reduces motivation

Increases jaw tension and bruxism

Drugs.com also lists caffeine as a "Poisonous Ingredient" and discusses effects of an overdose. Despite all the facts there are on the negative, according to Wikipedia, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists caffeine as a 'Multiple Purpose Generally Recognized as Safe Food Substance'."

As for long term effects, most accounts suggest that it takes a great deal of caffeine to affect a person for the long term but this is still dependent on the person as well. Some long term effects can include, but are not limited to stomach ulcers and depression. There are others which have been associated with caffeine as well. Two effects which have been associated with caffeine, but not proven, include heart disease and cancer.

Caffeine can have some positive effects but by weighing all of the negative as well, I believe it is safe to call it a dangerous drug that, if not taken properly, can be seriously harmful. Regardless of long term, the effects of an overdose alone are enough to make me cut down. I still drink my fair share of Coke and Dr. Pepper but I've also began drinking flavored waters and non-caffeinated soft drinks. Caffeine can be a big help at times but not at the risk of our health! So I'm not saying don't drink caffeine at all. Just think twice before you do and drink it responsibly. If you would like more information on the effects of caffeine, positive and negative, visit Erowid, Wikipedia, and Drugs.com for further information.