What is Caffeine Use Disorder
Caffeine use disorder means that a person cannot control how much caffeine he or she consumes. Caffeine is a drug that is found in many foods and beverages, such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and energy drinks.
Caffeine is also found in some medicines and over-the-counter products like alertness tablets or weight loss pills. Caffeine may be bad for your health when you have too much.
People with caffeine use disorder continue to consume caffeine even though they know it may be causing problems with their physical or mental health.
What are the causes?
This condition is caused by consuming too much caffeine over time.
What increases the risk?
You are more likely to develop this condition if:
- You have more than 400 mg of caffeine—or 4 cups of coffee—each day.
- You have a history or family history of a substance use disorder or alcohol abuse.
- You have a psychiatric or mental health disorder, or you have been treated for one.
What are the signs or symptoms?
Symptoms of this condition include:
- Finding it hard to get through the day without caffeine. Caffeine is hurting your ability to function.
- Wanting to cut down on (limit) your caffeine intake but finding it hard to do so.
- Having
withdrawal symptoms within 24 hours of not having caffeine. Withdrawal
symptoms may include:
- Headaches.
- Feeling tired (fatigued) or sleepy.
- Feeling irritable, angry, or depressed.
- Not being able to focus.
- Feeling like you have the flu.
- Having trouble falling asleep because of caffeine. You may also fall asleep when you are not supposed to—such as at work or school—whenever you do not have enough caffeine.
- Continuing to use caffeine even though it harms your body or emotions. You are concerned that your high caffeine intake is bad for your health.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition may be diagnosed with an assessment by your health care provider. During the assessment, your health care provider may:
- Ask questions about how much caffeine you consume each day.
- Try
to determine if your caffeine intake is harming your health. Some health
problems that may be related to caffeine use include:
- Heart or stomach problems.
- Fibrocystic breast disease.
- Stress.
- Being unable to sleep (insomnia).
- Urinary issues.
- Ask questions about why you find it hard to quit consuming caffeine or why you have had trouble quitting in the past.
How is this treated?
Treatment for this condition involves reducing your intake of caffeine over time. Your health care provider will discuss ways to do this and how to manage caffeine withdrawal symptoms. He or she may help you figure out the best goal for how much caffeine you should consume on a regular basis—for example, whether you should cut down to one soda a day or none at all. In some cases, your health care provider may recommend counseling to help treat your caffeine use disorder.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Follow
instructions from your health care provider about how to cut down on
caffeine. This may involve:
- Slowly reducing your intake of caffeine. For example, this may mean gradually having fewer cups of coffee each day—cutting out one more cup each day—until you are able to have only one cup daily.
- Mixing a caffeinated soda with a decaf (decaffeinated) soda.
- Replacing coffee, tea, or soda with a decaf drink.
- Do notstop having caffeine all at once. Doing that may cause severe withdrawal symptoms.
- Find
ways to reduce stress, such as by:
- Meditating.
- Being more active.
Using deep breathing exercises.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You cannot cut down on caffeine.
- Withdrawal symptoms get worse or they do not go away.
Get help right away if:
- You have severe caffeine withdrawal symptoms, such as vomiting or depression.
Summary
- Having caffeine use disorder means that a person cannot control how much caffeine he or she consumes.
- Symptoms of caffeine use disorder include wanting to limit (cut down on) your caffeine intake but finding it hard to do so.
- Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to cut down on caffeine.
