Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed substances in the entire world. It comes in many different forms like coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and even in the form of caffeine pills. This substance is a central nervous system stimulant that enhances concentration, boosts mood, and increases metabolism.
It is a naturally occurring compound that enhances the signaling of dopamine to your brain that makes people feel more alert and awake. The energetic effects of caffeine typically reach their peak levels about an hour after consumption and caffeine pills can last anywhere from 4 to 6 hours.
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Can You Get Addicted to Caffeine?
While a low to moderate of caffeine is generally safe for a person to consume, an increasing number of people are finding themselves dependent on caffeine and caffeine pills and cannot decrease consumption despite knowing the health problems associated with too much caffeine. While caffeine pills may not be inherently addictive, meaning it does not cause unnatural imbalances in the reward centers, it is possible to become very dependent on caffeine pills.
What Are Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms?
Just like any other substance on the planet, a person can abuse caffeine pills and too much caffeine can cause unwanted and very unpleasant side effects. There are a ton of different side effects that caffeine pills can have on the body. It can stimulate the central nervous system, be used as a diuretic, increase blood pressure, and release more acids in the stomach. Consuming high doses of caffeine can bring on very unpleasant symptoms such as:
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Rapid or abnormal heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Dehydration
- Dependency
How Caffeine Pills Affect The Brain
Caffeine pills are addictive because the way it affects a person’s brain and produces a feeling of alertness that many people crave. Not long after caffeine is consumed it is absorbed by the small intestine and is then dissolved into the bloodstream. Caffeine resembles a molecule that is already naturally present in the brain. It is called adenosine. When caffeine blocks the adenosine receptors from occurring, which normally make you feel tired, it generates feelings of alertness and wakefulness until the caffeine is metabolized.
When it comes to people who intake caffeine regularly, the brain’s chemistry and its physical characteristic will change as time passes. The brain will begin to produce more adenosine, the chemical that makes you sleepy, to balance out the amount of alertness that caffeine causes. This is how caffeine tolerance and dependence develops
More About Caffeine Pill Addiction
Caffeine addiction can be characterized by not only the amount of caffeine consumed but also by how the substance affects a person’s day-to-day function. The severity can be determined based on how the person acts and feel when they have little to no caffeine in their system or when they cannot get it. A person can have a problem with mega-dosing caffeine pills if any of the following is true:
- They continue to use it despite knowing the recurrent physical or psychological problems that are caused when caffeine is consumed.
- A tireless desire or unsuccessful attempt to cut down or stop caffeine use.
- Withdrawal symptoms are characteristic of caffeine withdrawal such as headache, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability.
- Increased tolerance; needing larger and larger amounts to achieve the same desired effect.
- Cravings or a strong urge to use caffeine.
Counseling and Treatment for Caffeine Pills Addiction
If you know you need to stop mega-dosing caffeine pills, quitting cold turkey likely is not the best option. By gradually reducing your caffeine intake over a couple of weeks, you can reduce the severity of your withdrawal symptoms. Most symptoms can be resolved in just 7-12 days.
When you gradually decrease your intake until it is at zero, the levels of adenosine will have time to reset in the brain and the dependence will be broken. We at Recreate Life Counseling are here to help you quit your addiction to caffeine pills in the safest way possible.
Published on: 2021-02-24
Updated on: 2024-04-18
