Caffeine
CONSUMED IN COFFEE, TEA, CHOCOLATE, ENERGY DRINKS, SOFT DRINKS
CAFFIENE CONTENT OF DIFFERENT DRINKS
- Brewed coffee 100 mg/cup
- Red Bull 80 mg/can (others may have more)
- Instant coffee 60 mg/cup
- Black tea 45 mg/cup
- Green tea 20-30 mg/cup
- Soft drinks 25-50 mg/can
US Dept of Agriculture, European Food Safety Authority, safe caffeine intake guidelines:
- 400 mg/day,
- 200 mg per single dose
PSYCHOTROPIC EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE
- Low to moderate dose: elation, impulsivity, peacefulness
- Large doses more than 600 mg/day: anxiety, insomnia, P.M. agitation, excitement, rambling speech, delirium, psychosis
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS:
- headache, depressed mood, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, nausea, dysphoria, craving
CAFFEINE INTOXICATION (DSM-V)
- recent consumption more than 250mg
- distress, impaired functioning
- symptoms: restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, flushed face, diuresis, GI disturbance, Muscle twitching, rambling thought and speech, rapid heart rate/arrhythmia, periods of inexhaustibility, P.M. agitation
CAFFEINE ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE
SCHIZOPHRENIA:
- moderate amounts, may improve cognitive and negative symptoms
-  amounts, worsen psychotic symptoms
MOOD DISORDERS
- Moderate amounts: may protect against depression in non-depressed
ANXIETY DISORDERS
- Increases vigilance, decreases reaction times
- Increases sleep latency, worsens sleep quality
- May precipitate or worsen generalized anxiety and panic attacks