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Caffeine is a drug which comes from the leaves, beans or nuts of different plants. Caffeine is a stimulant drug. This means it speeds up the brain and nervous system.
The most common things containing caffeine are:
• coffee • tea • cocoa • chocolate • cola drinks
Effects of caffeine
Small amounts of caffeine (less than 600 mg per day) are not harmful.
What caffeine does to you depends on:
- how much you have
- your height and weight
- your general health
- your mood
- whether you have caffeine often
- whether you have caffeine on its own, with food or with other drugs
Immediate effects
When you have a small amount of caffeine (such as a cup of coffee)
- you feel more awake
- your heart beats faster
- you urinate more
- your body temperature rises
- your digestive system produces more acid
If you have a large amount of caffeine, you might:
- get headaches
- feel restless
- feel nervous
- become delirious (be confused, have hallucinations or be very excited)
- find it difficult to sleep
If you have a lot of caffeine a day for a long time you may:
- find it difficult to sleep
- worry a lot
- be depressed
- have stomach upsets
For people who already have heart problems or anxiety disorders such as panic attacks or agoraphobia (being afraid of public places or open spaces), large amounts of caffeine may make the problems worse.
Caffeine and sleep
If you have caffeine before you go to bed, it usually
- makes it harder to get to sleep
- makes you sleep for a shorter time
- shortens the amount of deep sleep you have
- gives you more ‘dream sleep’ at first, but less overall. Both deep sleep and dream sleep are important for proper rest.
Tolerance and Dependence
Anyone can develop a ‘tolerance’ to caffeine. Tolerance means that you must have more of the drug to feel the same effects you used to have with lower amounts.
Withdrawal
People who are dependent on caffeine may experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop or cut down the amount of caffeine they have. Withdrawal symptoms can include: · headaches · feeling angry or upset · tiredness.
People in recovery tend to drink a lot of coffee / tea that may affect their cravings for other substances.
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