Caffeine pills aren’t the same as pure caffeine powder – they are supplements made from caffeine. Some contain natural caffeine, extracted during the brewing process. Others contain artificial or synthetic caffeine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source has deemed pure caffeine powder as potentially dangerous.
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−Caffeine pills are safe for most people. Consumed as directed, caffeine pills provide the benefits of pure caffeine and won’t wreak any havoc. However, it worth noting, when taken in high doses, they can be harmful. There are also individuals who need to limit their caffeine intake.
They included:
- People with heart disease or a rapid heartbeat
- People with caffeine sensitivity
- People with high blood pressure or hypertension
- Men and women trying to get pregnant
- Pregnant women
- Children and adolescents
- People with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Caffeine pills vs coffee
The number of people craving for caffeinated drinks has continued to balloon in recent years. With some people not preferring to drink coffee and still craving caffeine, caffeine pills come in handy in satisfying their crazy craves. Here are some reasons why caffeine pills are a better alternative to most people today:
- Some people don’t like the taste of coffee, not ready to spice it, and yet craving caffeine. For such individuals, one of the surest alternatives is caffeine pills.
- Coffee contains acids that can upset our stomachs and irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Caffeine pills eliminate the acid, but caffeine itself may still increase reflux symptoms in some individuals.
- Coffee contains many components besides caffeine, such as oils (cafestol and kahweol). These may raise cholesterol levels in some people, especially those drinking large amounts of unfiltered coffee, such as espresso and boiled brews. Caffeine pills lack coffee oils and don’t appear to have this same effect.
- Caffeine is a diuretic. Both caffeine pills and coffee may increase urinary frequency. Nevertheless, some people may need to use the bathroom more often if they sip drinks containing caffeine. Therefore, this makes pills a better alternative for those in certain professions, such as train conductors, bus drivers, and long-haul truckers.
Caveat! It is much easier to overdo it with caffeine pills than it is when sipping coffee. So be watchful when using pills to avoid caffeine overdose. Stick to caffeine in your cup if you can’t take pills safely.
Benefits of taking pills
Caffeine has been linked to many health benefits. Some of these benefits are felt shortly after consumptions. Others take a while to manifest. Here are some of the temporal benefits caffeine in your pills may offer:
- Reduced pain perception
- Reduction of headaches
- Decrease in depression
- Quick energy boost
- Reduced constipation
- Sharper mental focus
- Improved memory
- Ability to stay awake
- Enhanced athletic performance
Risks and side effects of taking caffeine pills
Caffeine in moderation is good for your body but if you overdo, be ready for a rough experience. Here are some of the risks and side effects of gulping too much caffeine:
- Reduction in calcium absorption, causing weakened bones
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Acid reflux and gastric distress
- Insomnia
- Reduced fertility in men and women
- Irritability
- Muscle tremors, or jitters
- Pregnancy loss
- High blood pressure
Symptoms of caffeine overdose
Taking too much caffeine can lead to severe effects. Below are some symptoms linked with toxic caffeine overdose:
- Disorientation
- Rapid, erratic heartbeat
- Vomiting
- Stupor
- Seizures
Milder cases of caffeine overdose aren’t normally fatal. Symptoms include:
- Tremors, or feeling jittery
- Nervousness
- Diarrhea
- High levels of thirst
- Irritability
- Fever
- Headache
- Wakefulness
- Inability to sit still
How much caffeine is too much?
Most people can comfortably consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day without adverse side effects. That is around 4 – 5 cups of coffee per day. Some are forced to consume less because of their sensitivity to caffeine. Honestly, any amount of caffeine can be too much if it wreaks havoc, including stroke, loss of sleep, etc. Keep that in mind!
Now considering caffeine pills contain 100 – 200 mg per serving, it is unlikely you will overdose unless you fail to read and follow package instructions.
When calculating your daily caffeine intake, make sure also to consider other drinks and food that contain caffeine, such as:
- Green tea
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Energy drinks
- Hot chocolate
- Black tea
- Cola
- Energy bars
Bonus!
- Some medications such as migraine medications and some supplements also contain caffeine. Be careful if using such medication or supplements!
- Consume your pills at the right time. For example, taking them late in the evening is not a good idea as they may impact your sleep.
- Discontinue use if adverse reactions such as anxiety, rapid heart rate, or restlessness occur.
What should you do if you have caffeine side effects?
If you suspect you have drunk too much coffee or when the above symptoms occur (especially the adverse ones) consult your doctor immediately. In case of minor symptoms, supportive measures like talking a walk and drinking water can help.
Caffeine pills or caffeine powder?
Caffeine powder has been criticized not once and even linked to some vibrant souls’ death prompting the FDA to step in and ban some pure caffeine products in 2018. The bone of contention was how the bulk powder products were labeled – they were poorly labeled posing health risks.
Poor labeling led to some people, especially those unfamiliar with proper caffeine dosage consuming deadly amounts of powder. To cut a long story short, today, it is rare to come by powdered caffeine. So, for both convenience and safety’s sake, you’re much better off sticking to consuming it in pill form.
How long does it take for a caffeine pill to kick in?
Generally, it takes about an hour for caffeine pills to be fully absorbed in the bloodstream and take full effect. However, depending on your body’s composition, sometimes it can take anywhere between 3 – 12 hours for the body to metabolize half of the caffeine present.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. Remember to support us by purchasing through the Amazon/Walmart/Impact Radius links provided. Last update on 2024-04-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Disclosure: No compensation or free products were received in exchange for writing this review.
Editorial Staff
The editorial staff at Crazy Coffee Crave is a team of coffee enthusiasts & Baristas who enjoy the one thing we all think about as soon as we get up in the morning. Trusted by thousands of readers worldwide.
