Caffeine has been taking the world by storm. It has taken over the lives of many people in almost any setting, as many people take it unintentionally and intentionally every day due to the known benefits it offers.

Pharmacology described caffeine as “the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world.” Coffee break has been a culture in almost all offices. Even students associate themselves with caffeine during their study zombie nights. Fast food drinks mostly contain caffeine. Chocolates and products containing chocolate, one of the most classic sweet cravings also has it.

It is actually a natural substance found in the leaves, seeds, or fruits of more than 60 plants, coffee and cocoa beans, cola nuts, and tea leaves, to name a few. It usually comes in drinks that are taken to liven up the day, as it is technically classified as a central nervous system stimulant. Effects can be felt as soon as 15 minutes after ingestion. It remains in the body for several hours. After 6 hours, half of the amount ingested is eliminated.

The effects vary depending on the amount consumed throughout the day. Desirable effects can be enjoyed if caffeine is consumed in moderation. Positive effects on mood include increased well-being, happiness, energetic arousal, alertness, and sociability, but if large doses (200 mg or more) are taken, the initial effects would be anxiety, jitters, and nervousness.

Because of its wide range of effects, people need to know how to draw the line between what’s okay and what’s too much, as there are psychiatric conditions associated with caffeine: caffeine intoxication, caffeine withdrawal, caffeine dependence, induced for caffeine. caffeine-induced sleep disorder and anxiety disorder.

Caffeine intoxication is the group of symptoms that arise in response to increased caffeine consumption. In addition to anxiety and nervousness, a person may also experience extreme excitement, insomnia, wandering thoughts and speech, gastrointestinal discomfort, tremors, rapid heartbeat, diuresis, muscle spasms, periods of inexhaustibility, and psychomotor agitation. Additionally, there have been reports of patients with caffeine intoxication presenting with fever, irritability, tremors, sensory disturbances, tachypnea, and headaches. Experts say that these common manifestations are experienced when consuming more than 500 mg.

However, these symptoms vary from person to person. It is also affected by individual sensitivity and tolerance. For example, a person with low sensitivity and high tolerance may need higher doses before experiencing symptoms of intoxication.

There are also some conditions that can be induced by caffeine: caffeine-induced sleep disorder and anxiety disorder. Studies have shown that increased anxiety ratings and panic attack episodes generally occur with consumption of 200 mg or more in the general population. People who already have panic and anxiety disorders are even more sensitive to the effects of caffeine.

It has also long been established that caffeine has a significant effect on sleep. It can delay sleep onset, reduce total sleep time, disrupt normal sleep stages, and decrease overall sleep quality. Studies show that these effects are not only exerted by caffeine taken before bed. Caffeine taken at any time of the day or even in the morning can counteract sleep.

On the other hand, there is what we call caffeine tolerance. Tolerance in general, when we talk about substance use, refers to a person’s decreased responsiveness to a drug after repeated exposure to it. High daily doses of caffeine (750 to 1,200 mg/day spread throughout the day) can produce complete tolerance. At relatively lower dietary doses, incomplete tolerance can occur, in which there is only sleep disruption.

So when you drink anything with caffeine, remember not to abuse it because it has the potential to abuse your body as well.