Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Caffeine Addiction?SymptomsCaffeine Adverse EffectsCaffeine WithdrawalOther Similar DisordersAre You Addicted to Caffeine?How to Cope
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Caffeine Addiction?
Symptoms
Caffeine Adverse Effects
Caffeine Withdrawal
Other Similar Disorders
Are You Addicted to Caffeine?
How to Cope
Caffeine addictionis the excessive and harmful use ofcaffeineover a period of time, such that it has negative effects on your health, social interactions, or other areas of your life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 80% of Americans consume caffeine daily.
To be clear, caffeine has been associated with many positive side effects. Research has connected this plant-derived stimulant toimproved mood, relief fromheadaches, and perhaps a reduced risk of other major medical issues such asstrokes, Parkinson’s, andAlzheimer’s.Large studies that tracked people over time found that coffee drinkers were less likely to die during follow-up.
Yet, some people experience negative issues due to caffeine use or have difficulty coping without caffeine. Though rare, there have even been cases of caffeine overdose.
Caffeine affects the brain’s reward system, which triggers the release of a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine causes people to feel good, creating a reward cycle that motivates them to keep consuming it and experiencing that same level of reinforcement.
It also causes physiological dependence, which means that when you reduce or stop your caffeine intake, you will likely experience withdrawal symptoms like tiredness, headaches, andirritability.
When you have a caffeine addiction, it means that your caffeine use negatively disrupts your life, yet you’re unable to stop consuming it. Or you consume it in amounts that are potentially dangerous to your health despite knowing that it may harm you mentally or physically.
Caffeine is the most widely used drug worldwide. Coffee and soda are the top caffeine sources in the United States, whereas African and Asian countries consume them in soda andtea.Caffeine is also present in many common foods (almost anything withchocolate), making it easy to over-consume.
While caffeinated products like coffee, soda, and energy drinks are less reinforcing than other addictive substances, that does not mean they don’t have potential adverse health effects.
Symptoms of Caffeine Addiction
Caffeine intoxication, caffeine withdrawal, caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, and caffeine-induced sleep disorder are all recognized in the “DSM-5,” and caffeine use disorder has been identified as requiring further study.
As caffeine is a stimulant, consuming too much can cause a cluster of symptoms associated with brain and nervous system stimulation. These symptoms include:
This type of addiction can even overlap withwork addiction, as some people use the stimulating effects of this substance to perform better at their job mentally and/or physically.
As with all addictions, the pleasurable effects of caffeine can also sometimes mask other issues.Lack of energyanddepressionmay underlie caffeine addiction. People may rely on caffeine to compensate for sleep disorders.
How Caffeine Can Negatively Affect Your Health
Caffeine has variouseffects on the bodythat are potentially harmful to your health. Caffeine has been associated with increased blood pressure and heart rhythm changes.
Some caffeinated products, such as coffee and soda, can cause gastrointestinal disturbances.
There is also a question of whether caffeine might increase your risk of osteoporosis. One study found this to be the case for women in menopause with high caffeine intake.
When you are sleep deprived, it makes it harder to function efficiently during the day. Sleep is also when your body heals, making it essential for total health and immune function.
Excessive caffeine intake can also have an impact on mental health. Increased anxiety can occur, particularly in those sensitive to caffeine’s effects or who have a previously existing anxiety disorder.
Some research has shown that caffeine may be linked to symptoms ofpsychosisandmaniain people who have psychotic disorders or mood conditions.
Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal
Just as taking in too much caffeine can present issues, so can suddenly removing it from your diet. This can result incaffeine withdrawal, which produces symptoms that are the opposite of consuming too much. This effect can be especially profound in people who are addicted to caffeine.
Other symptoms associated with trying to cut back your caffeine habit or missing your daily “dose” are:
Occasionally, people withdrawing from caffeine also experience flu-like symptoms, such as nausea as well as mood changes.
How Long Does Caffeine Withdrawal Last?Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal typically start around 12 to 24 hours after your last caffeine dose. You may experience these symptoms for between two to nine days.
How Long Does Caffeine Withdrawal Last?
Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal typically start around 12 to 24 hours after your last caffeine dose. You may experience these symptoms for between two to nine days.
1:407 Quick Tips to Help with Caffeine Withdrawal
1:40
7 Quick Tips to Help with Caffeine Withdrawal
How Skipping Your Coffee Can Lead to a Headache
Caffeine Addiction and Other Conditions
The stimulating effects of caffeine can sometimes cause physical symptoms and behaviors that look and feel like—and therefore be easily confused with—other disorders. Therefore, it is important to let your doctor or mental health clinicians know how much caffeine you are consuming if you are being assessed for any condition.
Anxiety Disorders
How Does Caffeine Affect Anxiety?
Other Conditions
People who are overstimulated with caffeine can also exhibit symptoms consistent withattention deficit disorders. Conversely, caffeine withdrawal shares similar symptoms withmood disorders. Other health concerns that can be confused with caffeine intoxication include:
Substance Use
It can also be mistaken for and worsen symptoms of withdrawal from other substances, such asamphetaminesandcocaine. Stimulant drugs such as these are often cut with caffeine, increasing the likelihood that caffeine withdrawal is involved in withdrawal from these drugs.
Caffeine Can Induce Other Disorders
Do You Have a Caffeine Addiction?
If you suspect that you are addicted to caffeine, such as if you have a coffee addiction, it is essential to take stock of your situation. Assessing your intake, the impact, and how you feel can help you better determine if you need to cut back.
Addiction involves excessive use of caffeine and relying on this stimulant to better cope with life despite any adverse effects you may be experiencing. To figure out whether you might be addicted, it helps to:
Assess Your Intake
Calculate how much caffeine you are consuming on a typical day. Remember that gourmet espresso, lattes, and cappuccino typically contain more caffeine than regular drip or instant coffee, soda, and other common caffeine-containing foods and drinks. Therefore, this should be accounted for when determining your normal intake.
Pay Attention to How You Feel
Consider How Caffeine Affects Your Life
Think about your caffeine habit and how it affects your life as a whole. Doyour relationshipssuffer if you don’t get your morning coffee, for instance? Could your caffeine intake be contributing to yourwork anxiety?
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Coping With a Caffeine Addiction
Caffeine addiction is so common that we don’t even notice it most of the time. But when you can greatly reduce or quit caffeine to reduce the adverse effects it is having on you, you may find it easier to get back in touch with your own natural energy and can relax when night falls.
If you consume more caffeine than is healthy, you can reduce your caffeine intake or cut it out completely.
Make a Plan to Cut Back or Quit
The viciouscycle of addictionis often the same with caffeine as with other addictive substances. As the effects of the caffeine begin to wear off, you might feel a crash in energy and that you can’t keep going without another boost. Your doctor can help you move past this without giving in.
Gradually Lower Your Caffeine Intake
Since stopping “cold turkey” can make you feel worse, most people need to reduce caffeine intake gradually rather than abruptly. Your doctor can help you devise a suitable plan based on your typical caffeine consumption. This can help reduce or eliminate any withdrawal effects.
How to Taper Your Caffeine Dose
Find Ways to Manage Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms such as headache and fatigue may leave you wanting to reach for a cup of coffee or a can of soda, so finding ways to cope with these symptoms is essential. Consider using over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen to relieve headache symptoms. Other strategies that can help include:
Seek Help for Mental Health Symptoms
If you feel you are using caffeine to cope with an emotional problem, such asdepressionoranxiety, talk to your physician about treatment options. The right treatment could make a huge difference for you.
Caffeine addiction often overlaps with other behavioral addictions,such assugar addiction. So, you might find that evaluating your caffeine intake also identifies other behaviors that need to be addressed.
Summary
Caffeine is a stimulant often consumed daily in many forms, including coffee, soda, tea, energy drinks, and chocolate. Low or moderate amounts are safe and may even have certain health benefits. Excessive intake, however, can adversely affect health and lead to caffeine addiction.
If you think you have a coffee addiction or that you are consuming too much caffeine, gradually lowering your intake can help you get control of your caffeine habit.
16 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Caffeine and long work hours.Nehlig A.Effects of coffee/caffeine on brain health and disease: What should I tell my patients?Pract Neurol. 2016;16(2):89-95. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001162Freedman N, Park Y, Abnet C, Hollenbeck A, Sinha R.Association of coffee drinking with total and cause-specific mortalitiy.N Engl J Med. 2012;366(20):1891-1904. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1112010Reyes C, Cornelis M.Caffeine in the diet: Country-level consumption and guidelines.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1772. doi:10.3390/nu10111772Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: A review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1(3):186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9Sweeney MM, Weaver DC, Vincent KB, Arria AM, Griffiths RR.Prevalence and correlates of caffeine use disorder symptoms among a united states sample.Journal of Caffeine and Adenosine Research. 2020;10(1):4-11. doi:10.1089/caff.2019.0020Bodar V, Chen J, Gaziano JM, Albert C, Djoussé L.Coffee consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation in the Physicians' Health Study.J Am Heart Assoc. 2019;8(15):e011346. doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.011346Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA.The safety of ingested caffeine: A comprehensive review.Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080Costa A, Neto da Silva M, Brito L, et al.Osteoporosis in primary care: An opportunity to approach risk factors.Braz J Rheumat. 2016;56(2):111-116. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2015.07.014Drake C, Roehrs T, Shambroom J, Roth T.Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before going to bed.J Clin Sleep Med. 2013;9(11). doi:10.5664/jcsm.3170Wang HR, Woo YS, Bahk WM.Caffeine-induced psychiatric manifestations: a review.Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;30(4):179-182. doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000076Rogers P, Heatherley S, Mullings E, Smith J.Faster but not smarter: Effects of caffeine and caffeine withdrawal on alertness and performance.Psychopharmacology. 2012;226:229-240. doi:10.1007/s00213-012-2889-4Juliano L, Huntley E, Harrell P, Westerman A.Development of the caffeine withdrawal symptom questionnaire: Caffeine withdrawal symptoms cluster into 7 factors.Drug and Alc Depend. 2012;124(3):229-234. doi:10.1016/j.drugalchdep.2012.01.009Lin YS, Weibel J, Landolt HP, et al.Time to recover from daily caffeine intake.Front Nutr. 2022;8:787225. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.787225Pohler H.Caffeine intoxication and addiction.J Nurse Pract. 2010;6(1):49-52. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2009.08.019National Institute of Mental Health.Depression basics.
16 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Caffeine and long work hours.Nehlig A.Effects of coffee/caffeine on brain health and disease: What should I tell my patients?Pract Neurol. 2016;16(2):89-95. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001162Freedman N, Park Y, Abnet C, Hollenbeck A, Sinha R.Association of coffee drinking with total and cause-specific mortalitiy.N Engl J Med. 2012;366(20):1891-1904. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1112010Reyes C, Cornelis M.Caffeine in the diet: Country-level consumption and guidelines.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1772. doi:10.3390/nu10111772Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: A review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1(3):186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9Sweeney MM, Weaver DC, Vincent KB, Arria AM, Griffiths RR.Prevalence and correlates of caffeine use disorder symptoms among a united states sample.Journal of Caffeine and Adenosine Research. 2020;10(1):4-11. doi:10.1089/caff.2019.0020Bodar V, Chen J, Gaziano JM, Albert C, Djoussé L.Coffee consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation in the Physicians' Health Study.J Am Heart Assoc. 2019;8(15):e011346. doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.011346Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA.The safety of ingested caffeine: A comprehensive review.Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080Costa A, Neto da Silva M, Brito L, et al.Osteoporosis in primary care: An opportunity to approach risk factors.Braz J Rheumat. 2016;56(2):111-116. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2015.07.014Drake C, Roehrs T, Shambroom J, Roth T.Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before going to bed.J Clin Sleep Med. 2013;9(11). doi:10.5664/jcsm.3170Wang HR, Woo YS, Bahk WM.Caffeine-induced psychiatric manifestations: a review.Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;30(4):179-182. doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000076Rogers P, Heatherley S, Mullings E, Smith J.Faster but not smarter: Effects of caffeine and caffeine withdrawal on alertness and performance.Psychopharmacology. 2012;226:229-240. doi:10.1007/s00213-012-2889-4Juliano L, Huntley E, Harrell P, Westerman A.Development of the caffeine withdrawal symptom questionnaire: Caffeine withdrawal symptoms cluster into 7 factors.Drug and Alc Depend. 2012;124(3):229-234. doi:10.1016/j.drugalchdep.2012.01.009Lin YS, Weibel J, Landolt HP, et al.Time to recover from daily caffeine intake.Front Nutr. 2022;8:787225. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.787225Pohler H.Caffeine intoxication and addiction.J Nurse Pract. 2010;6(1):49-52. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2009.08.019National Institute of Mental Health.Depression basics.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Caffeine and long work hours.Nehlig A.Effects of coffee/caffeine on brain health and disease: What should I tell my patients?Pract Neurol. 2016;16(2):89-95. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001162Freedman N, Park Y, Abnet C, Hollenbeck A, Sinha R.Association of coffee drinking with total and cause-specific mortalitiy.N Engl J Med. 2012;366(20):1891-1904. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1112010Reyes C, Cornelis M.Caffeine in the diet: Country-level consumption and guidelines.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1772. doi:10.3390/nu10111772Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: A review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1(3):186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9Sweeney MM, Weaver DC, Vincent KB, Arria AM, Griffiths RR.Prevalence and correlates of caffeine use disorder symptoms among a united states sample.Journal of Caffeine and Adenosine Research. 2020;10(1):4-11. doi:10.1089/caff.2019.0020Bodar V, Chen J, Gaziano JM, Albert C, Djoussé L.Coffee consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation in the Physicians' Health Study.J Am Heart Assoc. 2019;8(15):e011346. doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.011346Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA.The safety of ingested caffeine: A comprehensive review.Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080Costa A, Neto da Silva M, Brito L, et al.Osteoporosis in primary care: An opportunity to approach risk factors.Braz J Rheumat. 2016;56(2):111-116. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2015.07.014Drake C, Roehrs T, Shambroom J, Roth T.Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before going to bed.J Clin Sleep Med. 2013;9(11). doi:10.5664/jcsm.3170Wang HR, Woo YS, Bahk WM.Caffeine-induced psychiatric manifestations: a review.Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;30(4):179-182. doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000076Rogers P, Heatherley S, Mullings E, Smith J.Faster but not smarter: Effects of caffeine and caffeine withdrawal on alertness and performance.Psychopharmacology. 2012;226:229-240. doi:10.1007/s00213-012-2889-4Juliano L, Huntley E, Harrell P, Westerman A.Development of the caffeine withdrawal symptom questionnaire: Caffeine withdrawal symptoms cluster into 7 factors.Drug and Alc Depend. 2012;124(3):229-234. doi:10.1016/j.drugalchdep.2012.01.009Lin YS, Weibel J, Landolt HP, et al.Time to recover from daily caffeine intake.Front Nutr. 2022;8:787225. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.787225Pohler H.Caffeine intoxication and addiction.J Nurse Pract. 2010;6(1):49-52. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2009.08.019National Institute of Mental Health.Depression basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Caffeine and long work hours.
Nehlig A.Effects of coffee/caffeine on brain health and disease: What should I tell my patients?Pract Neurol. 2016;16(2):89-95. doi:10.1136/practneurol-2015-001162
Freedman N, Park Y, Abnet C, Hollenbeck A, Sinha R.Association of coffee drinking with total and cause-specific mortalitiy.N Engl J Med. 2012;366(20):1891-1904. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1112010
Reyes C, Cornelis M.Caffeine in the diet: Country-level consumption and guidelines.Nutrients. 2018;10(11):1772. doi:10.3390/nu10111772
Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: A review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1(3):186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9
Sweeney MM, Weaver DC, Vincent KB, Arria AM, Griffiths RR.Prevalence and correlates of caffeine use disorder symptoms among a united states sample.Journal of Caffeine and Adenosine Research. 2020;10(1):4-11. doi:10.1089/caff.2019.0020
Bodar V, Chen J, Gaziano JM, Albert C, Djoussé L.Coffee consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation in the Physicians' Health Study.J Am Heart Assoc. 2019;8(15):e011346. doi:10.1161/JAHA.118.011346
Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA.The safety of ingested caffeine: A comprehensive review.Front Psychiatry. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080
Costa A, Neto da Silva M, Brito L, et al.Osteoporosis in primary care: An opportunity to approach risk factors.Braz J Rheumat. 2016;56(2):111-116. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2015.07.014
Drake C, Roehrs T, Shambroom J, Roth T.Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before going to bed.J Clin Sleep Med. 2013;9(11). doi:10.5664/jcsm.3170
Wang HR, Woo YS, Bahk WM.Caffeine-induced psychiatric manifestations: a review.Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;30(4):179-182. doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000076
Rogers P, Heatherley S, Mullings E, Smith J.Faster but not smarter: Effects of caffeine and caffeine withdrawal on alertness and performance.Psychopharmacology. 2012;226:229-240. doi:10.1007/s00213-012-2889-4
Juliano L, Huntley E, Harrell P, Westerman A.Development of the caffeine withdrawal symptom questionnaire: Caffeine withdrawal symptoms cluster into 7 factors.Drug and Alc Depend. 2012;124(3):229-234. doi:10.1016/j.drugalchdep.2012.01.009
Lin YS, Weibel J, Landolt HP, et al.Time to recover from daily caffeine intake.Front Nutr. 2022;8:787225. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.787225
Pohler H.Caffeine intoxication and addiction.J Nurse Pract. 2010;6(1):49-52. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2009.08.019
National Institute of Mental Health.Depression basics.
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
