Millions of people consume caffeine to help them to wake up in the morning: in energy drinks, coffee, tea and soda. Many consider caffeine consumption to be a part of their daily routine and can become irritated without it, with an estimated 80% of the adult population currently addicted to caffeine. Dependence on caffeine can begin after only three days of drinking 100 or more milligrams of caffeine.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in plants, and it is considered a drug as it is highly addictive. When one consumes caffeine, the brain’s central nervous system is simulated as alertness and energy is increased. It is recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults to only consume 400 milligrams of caffeine a day and for teenagers to only consume 100 milligrams a day. However, many popular energy drinks consumed by teenagers, including Alani Nu and Celcius, contain 200 milligrams of caffeine, more than 100 milligrams over the recommended amount for a teenager.

Drinking too much caffeine can cause one to face many side effects. These side effects can include anxiety, increased blood pressure and sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can cause various negative effects. These can include higher risk of injury, depression and in severe cases, heart disease and stroke.

When a person who is addicted to caffeine tries to stop drinking it, they go through a multitude of different symptoms, which tend to arise 12 to 24 hours after the last dose of caffeine is consumed. Some of the physical side effects include migraines, fatigue, nausea and muscle pain. Mental and cognitive side effects include difficulty paying attention, irritability and, in some cases, depression. These symptoms peak after 24 to 51 hours and can last from two to nine days. 

Due to the amount of negative side effects to caffeine withdrawal, people that are addicted to caffeine, typically do not want to stop drinking it. There are ways to minimize the effects of caffeine withdrawal. These methods include slowly weaning off of caffeine, drinking more water and prioritizing sleep.

Caffeine withdrawal can have a variety of severe, detrimental effects. Addiction to caffeine is very common and, being mindful of the amount of caffeine one is consuming is the first step to ending an addiction to caffeine. Consuming the recommended amount or under for one’s age group is one way to stay clear of the possibility of caffeine dependence. Caffeine addiction can be avoidable if one follows the precautions.