There are those who claim to “not be able to function” without a strong cup of coffee first thing in the morning to get in sync with their daily routine. But what happens when caffeine lovers skip their daily fix to get on with the day?
Drowsiness, irritability, headache, constipation, difficulty concentrating, lethargy, and tendency toward depression are some common side effects of coffee withdrawal that many caffeine lovers are probably unaware of.
The biochemical explanation for the negative effects produced by coffee addiction during periods of abstinence is decisive and is described very well in the following article published by: caffeine molecules are similar to adenosine molecules (which has, among others , a sedative and inhibitory effect on neuronal activity). This means that coffee consumption saturates the receptors used by adenosine and blocks its function; When this occurs, caffeine stops the activity of adenosine while stimulating neurotransmitters, making us feel energized after drinking a cup.
Of course, this only works to the extent that coffee consumption is daily; When we stop drinking coffee, the functioning of previously blocked receptors instantly changes so that we end up feeling more sleepy. Additionally, withdrawal symptoms may include heart rhythm abnormalities, anxiety, and disorientation.
Regarding the link between coffee withdrawal and depression, an article published by highlights that drastic mood changes could be reflected in people who are particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine or have consumed it for too long. In this case, insomnia due to withdrawal could affect the individual emotionally; Also, the abrupt suspension of consumption could worsen depression if it existed previously while the body gets used to the change.
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Exaggerated coffee consumption has become a common habit in a society where stress levels and the pace of life seem to require an altered (and accelerated) state of consciousness to survive. However, common opinion regarding caffeine would surely change somewhat if people had access to important information about the side effects of caffeine withdrawal and how complex it can be to treat withdrawal.
According to the specialized website, withdrawal symptoms could last just a couple of days or a week for people whose coffee consumption has been light, but for those who have been excessive caffeine lovers (an approximate consumption of 1,000 mg or more a day), the negative effects of withdrawal could last 2 months or more.
A hypothesis already proposed in previous studies suggests that coffee withdrawal symptoms could also be a psychological consequence of “believing that we are going to experience withdrawal symptoms,” or in other words, what is known as expectation. In this case, migraines (which are a very common symptom) could be the result of expecting that we will have migraines if we stop drinking coffee, which is actually a set of self-generated symptoms.
Either way, the chemical components of caffeine and the effect they have on the brain should be enough to make coffee lovers wonder twice if it’s a good idea to “depend on the cup” to start the day off right.
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