Caffeine Overdose - What to Do

Caffeine is a stimulating drug that is naturally present in fruits or leaves of some plants. It is also found in certain medications. Coffee is the most favored drink of people all over the world, which is also the major source of caffeine in human beings.

Overdose of Caffeine
In human beings, caffeine affects the central nervous system (CNS) and stimulates it temporarily. This helps in creating a feeling of excitement and alertness. It also helps a person in overcoming drowsiness. Therefore, beverages containing caffeine like tea, coffee or other energy drinks and sodas are consumed by a large number of people on a regular basis. Drinking more than 5 - 6 cups of coffee or 4 - 5 cans of energy drinks every day leads to overdose.

Side Effects
The common side effects include restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, excitement, irritability, nausea, diarrhea and indigestion. Along with these, there are also other severe side effects of caffeine overdose like irregular heartbeat, frequent urination, anxiety, depression, hallucination, mania, sleep disorders, memory loss and lack of concentration. In extreme cases, caffeine overdose can have an ill effect on the functioning of the heart. It can even lead to convulsions and eventually in death of the person. Overdose of caffeine in pregnant women can lead to a miscarriage or underdevelopment of the fetus.

Treatment
The signs and symptoms depend upon the amount of caffeine taken by the person. Therefore, before thinking of any remedy, it is better to monitor the symptoms shown by the person. The minor signs of overdose will subside by itself, but, one has to be more cautious about the severe overdose symptoms.

In case a person shows severe symptoms, he should be taken to the doctor immediately, or you can call for medical help as soon as possible. They will advice on various treatments depending upon the severity of the overdose. In extreme cases, gastric lavage may be required to wash out all the toxic elements from the person's body. Gastric lavage is a process in which a tube is inserted into the person's body through the nose to empty all the contents present in the stomach.

It is a popular belief that making a person vomit is an effective caffeine overdose cure. This is known as induced vomiting. Although it is effective, this should not be done at home without the doctor's recommendation. If the overdose has taken place within the last few minutes, induced vomiting can help in easing the symptoms. On the other hand, the doctor may also prescribe laxatives or activated charcoal tablets. The most important part of treatment is to keep the person stable and treat seizures and hypotension.

Prevention
As you have seen above, caffeine overdose is a serious health hazard and should be prevented carefully. Although treatment is available and is equally effective, one needs to keep a check on his daily intake of caffeine or stop having them completely. One can opt for other options like herbal tea. Drinking more water can also help in overcoming withdrawal symptoms.

Caffeine, in any form, is injurious to health. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid these products and consult the doctor if any side effects or withdrawal symptoms are observed.