Caffeine - Induced Psychiatric Disorders
Article 353 1 Clock Hour Caffeine - Induced Psychiatric Disorders Francis M. Torres Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine al- inability to quit or to cut down their caffeine use. The kaloid that acts as a psychoactive stimulant drug and a mood altering effects of caffeine depend on the mild diuretic1. In humans, caffeine is a central ner- amount of caffeine consumed and whether the indi- vous system (CNS) stimulant2, having the effect of vidual is physically dependent on or tolerant to caf- temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring feine. In caffeine non-users or intermittent users, low alertness. Beverages containing caffeine, such as cof- dietary doses of caffeine (20-200 mg) generally pro- fee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks, enjoy great duce positive mood effects such as increased well- popularity. Caffeine is the world’s most widely con- being, happiness, energetic arousal, alertness, and so- sumed psychoactive substance, estimated at 120,000 ciability. Among daily caffeine consumers, much of tonnes per annum3, but unlike many other psychoac- the positive mood effect experienced with consump- tive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly tion of caffeine in the morning after overnight absti- all jurisdictions. The half-life of caffeine — the time nence is due to suppression of low grade withdrawal required for the body to eliminate one-half of the total symptoms such as sleepiness and lethargy. Large caf- amount of caffeine — varies widely among individu- feine doses (200 mg or greater) may produce negative als according to such factors as age, liver function, mood effects. Although generally mild and brief, these pregnancy, some concurrent medications, and the effects include increased anxiety, nervousness, jitteri- level of enzymes in the liver needed for caffeine me- ness, and upset stomach.
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