Caffeine Overdose Symptoms

Caffeine is a substance which is present in some plants like coffee, tea and chocolate. Caffeine is known for its benefits of boosting the energy levels and increasing alertness in a person. People take caffeine in the form of coffee, tea and energy drinks. There are some who might take caffeine pills to increase their energy levels. However, too much of caffeine is not desirable. People who have too much of caffeine show various health related issues. Also, at times, people suffer from a caffeine overdose, which can prove fatal. Caffeine overdose - what to do? First you need to know the symptoms of caffeine overdose to get timely treatment and avoid complications. Let us look into these symptoms in detail.

Muscle Twitching
The individual who has had an overdose of caffeine experiences muscle twitching. This twitching is involuntary and can continue for a few hours before it stops. This twitching happens in the eye or anywhere on the face. Uncontrolled shaking can also accompany muscle twitching. Seizures can also be experienced in worst cases.

Confusion
Confusion is the result of sleeplessness and drowsiness caused due to too much of caffeine. Lack of sleep is one of the common coffee overdose symptoms. This lack of sleep also makes the person dizzy, another coffee side effect. The person may start suffering from various sleep disorders, if he/she continues the consumption of excessive caffeine.

Frequent Urination
Due to the central nervous system stimulant and diuretic properties of caffeine, the person who takes a high dose of caffeine has to urinate frequently. This is another negative effect of caffeine and needs to be taken seriously.

Hallucinations
One of the serious caffeine side effects, people who drink more than 7 cups of coffee or take excessive caffeine in any form, are bound to start hallucinating. The person starts hearing and seeing things that are not happening. Though these hallucinations may not seem very serious to you, when these things interfere in the normal routine of the person, then they become serious. Moreover, caffeine is highly addictive, so if the person is in the habit of consuming excessive caffeine everyday, the hallucinations become a serious problem.

Increased Thirst
With caffeine being diuretic, the person needs to urinate a lot. Moreover, certain chemicals in caffeine make the mouth dry and increase thirst in the person. Caffeine also makes the person dehydrated, another side effect of caffeine. Thus, an increase in thirst is another serious caffeine overdose symptom. It is recommended that the person drinks at least 2 liters of water everyday and decrease the caffeine consumption.

Unconsciousness
Loss of consciousness is another dangerous symptom of caffeine overdose. This usually happens when the person tries to take caffeine pills. Even when a person drinks any beverage with a very high caffeine content, there are chances of him/her to lose consciousness. When this happens over a long period of time, the consequences can be rather undesirable.

Increased Heartbeat
As you know, caffeine increases alertness in an individual. This increases the heart rate of the individual, which increases the blood pressure. Caffeine and blood pressure go hand in hand as caffeine increases the blood pressure temporarily. An increased heartbeat also increases anxiety attacks. Thus, too much caffeine and anxiety also go hand in hand. As the increase in the heart rate and anxiety attacks are not desirable, the caffeine intake should be reduced significantly.

Convulsions
Also known as seizures, convulsions are changes in behavior of the person. These changes in behavior could be a change in emotion, change in vision or a loss in the control of muscles. Sometimes seizures result in loss of consciousness too. These convulsions or seizures last for about 15 minutes. In serious cases only, these last for more than 15 minutes.

Nausea & Vomiting
Violent bouts of nausea followed by vomiting are also the negative effects of caffeine on the body. Immediate cut in the consumption of caffeine is the way to reduce such episodes.

Symptoms in Kids

The following are the caffeine overdose symptoms in kids. It is important to note that the kid should immediately be given medical help, when he/she shows any of these symptoms.

• Tensed muscles followed by very relaxed muscles
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea followed by vomiting
• Tremors throughout the body
• Breathing problems
• Increased heartbeat

As mentioned earlier, it is vital to seek immediate medical assistance to start off with the caffeine overdose treatment, if you show these symptoms, before they become very serious. Another important point is to remember is to avoid taking too much of caffeine. Caffeine withdrawal will take some time, but once you face the first few days of caffeine withdrawal symptoms by controlling yourself, you will never have to worry about getting addicted again. All the best!!