How Does Caffeine Affect Anxiety?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Anxiety?Effects of CaffeineHow Caffeine Affects AnxietyDrug InteractionsCutting Back on Caffeine

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

What Is Anxiety?

Effects of Caffeine

How Caffeine Affects Anxiety

Drug Interactions

Cutting Back on Caffeine

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According to one study, 85% of the U.S. population consumes at least one caffeinated beverage every day.

Increased alertness is one of the key attractions for many people, but elevated arousal levels are not always ideal, particularly if you have anxiety. If you are prone to anxiety or have an anxiety disorder, too much caffeine might exacerbate your symptoms, interfere with your sleep, and potentially induce feelings of panic in some people.

This article discusses the impact caffeine can have on the body, including how it can affect anxiety. It also explores what you can do if you think that your caffeine intake might be contributing to feelings of anxiety.

To understand how caffeine can affect anxiety, it is important to first understand what anxiety is and the symptoms it can cause. Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stressful life events, and to a certain degree, it can help prepare your body to deal with environmental threats. But too much anxiety can lead to intense and excessive fear and worrying about everyday events.

Common symptoms of anxiety can include:

Specific patterns of symptoms depend on the type of anxiety disorder a person is experiencing. Such anxiety disorders can include:

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in many plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, cacao pods, and kola nuts. It can also be produced synthetically and added to medications, beverages, and foods.

Caffeine stimulates thecentral nervous system, making you feel more alert and energetic after consuming it.

It also has several other effects on the body, including acting as a diuretic, which increases urination and removes salt and fluids from the body. It can also interfere with the absorption of calcium, increase blood pressure, and increase the release of stomach acid.

How a person reacts to caffeine varies from one person to the next and depends on a variety of factors, including genetics, body mass, metabolism, and the quantity consumed. Caffeine’s effects typically begin around an hour after consuming it, and the effects may last up to six hours.

While caffeine is not harmful in moderate amounts, consuming too much can lead to unpleasant side effects and health problems. Some of theseside effects of caffeineinclude:

Giving up caffeine can also cause symptoms ofcaffeine withdrawal, including headaches and fatigue.

Caffeine Addiction Symptoms and Withdrawal

If the side effects of too much caffeine sound familiar, it might be because these effects are very similar to symptoms of anxiety. It isn’t uncommon for people to mistake caffeine’s side effects for feelings of an anxiety attacks.

Symptoms of anxiety and the effects of caffeine affect the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, the part of theautonomic nervous systemthat controls the body’s fight-or-flight response. Thefight-or-flight responserefers to the way your body mobilizes and responds to threats in the environment. When activated, this response triggers a host of physiological and psychological reactions, including increased respiration, blood pressure, and muscle tension.

The effects of consuming too much caffeine can often feel indistinguishable from anxiety symptoms. And if you already have an anxiety condition, evidence indicates that it can worsen your symptoms.

One 2022 study found that caffeine doses equivalent to five cups of coffee could inducepanic attacksin a large portion of people with panic disorder. The study also found that caffeine didn’t just increase anxiety levels in people with panic disorder—healthy adults reported more anxiety as well.

Caffeine use may also contribute to anxiety problems in other ways. For example, it can lead to sleep disturbances. Poor sleep can, in turn, play a part in the onset and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Research has found that problems with sleep are a predictor for the onset of generalized anxiety disorder in children and adolescents.

Some animal studies have also shown that long-term caffeine use might permanently alter brain excitability.Such effects may be more pronounced among adolescents who habitually consume excessive amounts of caffeine, leading to an increased risk of developing anxiety.

RecapCaffeine can worsen symptoms of anxiety and interfere with sleep. Some research indicates that chronic caffeine use might increase your risk for developing an anxiety disorder.

Recap

Caffeine can worsen symptoms of anxiety and interfere with sleep. Some research indicates that chronic caffeine use might increase your risk for developing an anxiety disorder.

Interactions Between Caffeine and Anxiety Medications

It is also important to be aware of how caffeine use might impact medications that are utilized to treat anxiety disorders. Drug interactions can occur, which may cause unwanted side effects or impact how well youranxiety medicationworks.

Treatment for anxiety often involves psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. If your doctor prescribes a medication to treat your anxiety, it is important to understand how caffeine might interact with your medications and the effect it might have on your anxiety symptoms.

Medications that are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety include:

Interactions may occur depending on the type of medication you are taking. For example, if you are using a benzodiazepine medication such as Xanax, caffeine may counteract the depressant effects of the drug, causing the two to cancel each other out.

Caffeine can reduce the efficacy of beta blockers. You should avoid caffeinated products if you are taking these medications.

Some research suggests that caffeine can increase the antidepressant effects of some medications, including Wellbutrin and other common antidepressants such as Prozac and Lexapro.This interaction may potentially lead to increased side effects while taking these antidepressants.

If your doctor prescribes an anxiety medication, always talk to them about potential drug interactions. Ask if it is safe to consume caffeine while you are taking your medication and about any potential adverse affects you might experience.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the typical dose of caffeine is around 400 mg per day.This equals about four cups of coffee per day.

If you are concerned about how caffeine is affecting your anxiety symptoms, there are things you can do to cut back on how much you are consuming each day. The first step is to be aware of your caffeine intake. Check labels to see how much caffeine is in the foods, beverages, and medications you consume.

Caffeine Content of Common Beverages:Amounts found in some frequently consumed beverages include:8 oz cup of black or green tea: 30 to 50 milligrams8 oz cup of coffee: 80 to 100 milligrams8 oz energy drink: 40 to 250 milligrams12 oz canned soda: 30 to 40 milligrams

Caffeine Content of Common Beverages:

Amounts found in some frequently consumed beverages include:8 oz cup of black or green tea: 30 to 50 milligrams8 oz cup of coffee: 80 to 100 milligrams8 oz energy drink: 40 to 250 milligrams12 oz canned soda: 30 to 40 milligrams

Amounts found in some frequently consumed beverages include:

Once you know more about your caffeine sources, gradually reduce your daily intake. Cutting back slowly can help minimize the risk of unpleasant withdrawal effects.

As you reduce your dose, look for lower-caffeine or caffeine-free substitutes. For example, you might opt for herbal teas or decaffeinated coffee.

A Word From Verywell

If you are struggling with feelings of anxiety, it is always a good idea to consider if caffeine might be playing a part in worsening your symptoms. Lifestyle modifications such as cutting back on caffeine, getting enough sleep, and engaging in regular exercise may help you better manage your anxiety, but it is also important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional. Effective treatments can help you deal with anxiety and prevent it from worsening.

If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, 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 anxiety, 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.

15 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.

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