What are the Negative Effects of Caffeine?

Here are the most common negative effects from taking too much caffeine:

Anxiety
Insomnia
Digestive Issues
Muscle Breakdown
Addiction
High Blood Pressure
Rapid Heart Rate
Fatigue
Frequent Urination and Urgency

It should be noted that these effects are only when you’re taking a very large dosage of caffeine. This is usually in the area of 300+ mg of the stimulant.

If you’re having your regular cup of coffee, or using energy pills or a supplement like Performance Lab Stim, you’re unlikely to run into any issues.

Below, in this article, we’ll take you through some of the negative effects that caffeine can have on your body when taken in large quantities.

Negative Effects of Caffeine on the Brain

The main negative effects that too much caffeine can have on your brain is anxiety, addiction and high blood pressure.

Anxiety

Caffeine can trigger anxiety in high doses via how it affects the chemicals in your brain. When you consume caffeine, it blocks the effects of adenosine, this is a chemical in your brain that makes you feel tired – this is why it is known for keeping people up and alert.

However, what it also raises are your body’s levels of adrenaline. This is good for increasing your alertness and energy, but with too much in your system it can lead to anxiety.

Anxiety as a negative effect from caffeine has been noticed when users take 1000 mg or more a day of caffeine – which is an enormous amount. It can also cause rapid breathing and stress levels at this amount.

Caffeine-induced anxiety disorder has been listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders (also known as the DSM) by the American Psychiatric Association.

In short, caffeine can cause anxiety to trigger in your brain if you have too much. Dosages of 1000 mg or more are known to make this happen.

Addiction

Although caffeine has numerous benefits such as improving energy, focus, power output and more – in high doses it can be habit forming, and this can take a toll on your brain.

Studies show that caffeine works the same “addiction” brain chemicals that cocaine and amphetamines. Although nowhere near to the same extent.

The trade off is that users may become physically or psychologically dependent on this stimulant when they are supplementing them in high doses.

In one study involving 213 caffeine users, participants were starved of caffeine for a 16 hour period. Participants who used caffeine on a daily basis were seen to have headaches, fatigue and numerous other side effects associated with withdrawal compared to those who used caffeine infrequently.

Fortunately the withdrawal effects of caffeine are nowhere near as severe as some of the other options out there that users get addicted to.

Blood Restriction to Your Brain

This is more an indirect negative effect on your brain from the over effects of caffeine, but long term high use of this stimulant is linked to causing high blood pressure.

It raises your body’s blood pressure to due it’s stimulating effect on your nervous system. Fortunately the effects are only temporary, but if you are a big caffeine user (we’re talking 500 mg plus levels a day) you may be putting yourself at risk.

Having a raised blood pressure level damages your arteries overtime and may increase your chance of reducing blood flow, which may restrict blood flow to your heart and brain.

Is Caffeine Bad for Your Heart?

Caffeine can be bad for your heart when taken in large doses. It can have negative effects on your blood pressure – but it can also dramatically increase your heart rate.

However, these effects differ from person to person. Some people don’t develop an accelerated heart rate, some develop an altered heartbeat rhythm.

There’s numerous outcomes on your heart when taking huge doses of caffeine in one session. If you’re experiencing the negative effects of caffeine, you should consider reducing your intake.

Pablo Garduno

Hi, I’m Pablo Garduno. I am a biohacking enthusiast, and Head Writer of SanDiegoHealth.org. I write the majority of the content on this site, and appreciate you taking the time to read my work.

Negative Effects of Caffeine on the Brain

Anxiety

Addiction

Blood Restriction to Your Brain

Is Caffeine Bad for Your Heart?

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