Caffeine Overdose Treatment

Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant drug found in various beverages, soft drinks, and energy drinks. In humans, caffeine tends to stimulate the central nervous system, and restores alertness. Beverages, such as coffee and tea, that contain significant amounts of caffeine are quite popular among individuals these days. In fact, an estimated 90 percent individuals in North America are known to drink either of these beverages daily. Owing to this, caffeine overdose cases have also become relatively common all over the world. In such circumstances, being aware of various caffeine overdose treatment measures or caffeine withdrawal remedy is always advantageous.

Caffeine: An Overview
Caffeine is a white crystalline xanthine alkaloid, which acts as a psychoactive stimulant drug. It was discovered as a chemical compound in coffee by Friedrich Ferdinand Runge, a renowned German chemist, in 1819. The word caffeine was derived from the word Kaffein coined by Runge himself. This compound is found in varying quantities in the beans, leaves, and even the fruits of some plants. However, when it comes to human consumption, most of the caffeine is derived from the cherries of coffee plants and the leaves of tea bushes. Read more on caffeine content in coffee.

Caffeine Overdose
Normally, caffeine overdose refers to a health condition wherein excess caffeine intake, usually more than 300 milligrams, leads to over stimulation of central nervous system and causes adverse effects on the individuals body. Caffeine overdose symptoms can be classified into three categories.

Acute Caffeine Overdose Effects: Excitement, gastrointestinal disturbance, increased urination, insomnia, irregular or rapid heart beat, irritability, muscle twitching, nervousness, psychomotor agitation and restlessness.

Severe Caffeine Overdose Effects: Mania, disorientation, delusions, depression, hallucinations, lapses in judgment, psychosis and rhabdomyolysiss.

Extreme Caffeine Overdose Effects: Convulsions, which may eventually result in death of the individual.

The severity of caffeine overdose effects depends on the amount of caffeine, weight of the individual, and tolerance levels. It is also known to have diuretic properties, especially for people who lack tolerance to caffeine. Trying to give up on caffeine all of sudden can also trigger a series of caffeine withdrawal symptoms, including headache, depression, and nausea. Read more on caffeine side effects.

You can also read:

• Negative Effects of Caffeine on the Body
• Effects of Caffeine on Blood Pressure

Caffeine Overdose Treatment
The treatment for caffeine overdose usually consists of supportive treatment that is aimed to cure the immediate symptoms of caffeine overdose. The first step would be to monitor the patients condition, which is done by checking the vital signs and symptoms of overdose. In case of a severe caffeine overdose, you may require to opt for caffeine overdose treatment methods aimed at getting rid of caffeine from the stomach. One mistake people tend to do is that they make the person vomit as they assume vomiting to be a caffeine overdose remedy meant to throw out the drug. It is a widely followed misconception, and no such step should be tried unless it is recommended by a certified medical practitioner. The medical fraternity, will however use other means of treatment, including hemodialysis or hemofiltration, to clean the stomach in case of high to very high serum levels. Other means of caffeine overdose cure include the use of activated charcoal, laxatives, and inserting a pipe through the nose to wash the gastric lavage.

This was about caffeine overdose and what to do in case of caffeine overdose. As we said earlier, caffeine overdose is a serious health hazard, which can eventually lead to death of an individual. Although caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant drug, it is not considered to be illegal and therefore is within the reach of millions. This increases the chances of overdose, and hence being aware of caffeine overdose treatment measures can come handy at times.