Caffeine Abuse Discovered In Examination Of Poison Center Calls

NEW ORLEANS — A three-year examination of calls to a Chicago poison cexnter may point to an emerging problem with caffeine abuse among young people, according to a new study released during the recent annual meeting of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in New Orleans. More than 250 cases of medical complications from ingesting caffeine supplements came into the poison center with 12 percent of the cases requiring hospitalization, including the intensive care unit. 

Dr Danielle McCarthy and her colleagues at Northwestern University compiled the data from calls into the Illinois Poison Center in Chicago. The researchers focused on caffeine medications and dietary supplements, not on coffee or tea products. The average age of those who had abused caffeine was 21.

“This study is a first step in understanding the problem of caffeine abuse,” said Dr McCarthy. “Young people taking caffeine either to stay awake or for a feeling of euphoria may actually end up in the emergency department more often than we think. Young people being hospitalized for chest pains and heart palpitations are rarely asked if they’ve taken caffeine supplements because everyone perceive them to be safe.” 

Caffeine alone was abused in 186 of the cases (68 percent) and abused with other pharmaceutical products in 81 (29 percent) of the cases. Of all the variables examined, it was use of other pharmaceutical products along with the caffeine abuse that was significantly associated with hospitalization. Of the 31 patients who were hospitalized, 20 of them (65 percent) required admission to the intensive care unit.

“Part of the problem is that people do not think of caffeine as a drug, but rather as a food product,” said Dr McCarthy. “We want people ingesting caffeine pills and supplements to know that caffeine is a drug, and overuse is potentially harmful, especially when mixed with other pharmaceuticals for euphoria. There is a trend in the pro-drug culture toward promoting legal alternatives to illegal drugs, and it can be very harmful.”

Dr McCarthy said more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of caffeine abuse, and emphasizes there is no data to suggest that caffeine in doses associated with coffee and tea drinking poses any health problems. The study did not define caffeine abuse; people self reported the abuse to the poison center.  Symptoms of caffeine abuse can include insomnia, palpitations, tremors, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pains, and neurologic symptoms.

The caffeine study was be presented in New Orleans at ACEP’s annual Scientific Assembly where emergency physicians from the around the country and many other nations gather to share research and learn the latest developments in emergency care and patient safety. More than 400 poster presentations were scheduled to be presented this year. 

For more information about the research, visit www.acep.org/sa.ACEP is a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine with more than 25,000 members. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.