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Dangers of Caffeine Powder

The Dangers of Caffeine Powder

There has been a mounting concern over the last few years concerning caffeine that is sold as a powder in bulk form. The media has recently reported the deaths of several young people who have ingested extremely high amounts of caffeine.

When caffeine is processed into powder, it is classified as a multi-purpose food additive – which means it’s safe for consumption, and perfectly legal to sell. It is sold 100% pure and in large quantities. The Mayo Clinic recommends that people’s consumption not exceed to 500-600mg per day. Consuming more than this can result in overdose symptoms. In order to measure exact quantities of cafeine poeder you would need a professional milligram scale.

The amount of caffeine in one cup of coffee is approximately 100 milligrams. In powder form this would be barely enough to cover your finger nail. The manufacture of the power recommends  not using more than a 1/16 of a teaspoon a day. There was a recent media report of a 19 year old man who died after consuming 2 spoonful’s of caffeine powder. To put it in perspective, this would be the same as drinking 70-100 Red Bulls in one sitting. Ingesting massive doses of caffeine all at once is particularly dangerous as it doesn’t give your body time to react. The caffeine power can put a person at a toxic level quickly and bypass the body’s safeguards like nausea and vomiting. What is the likelihood of drinking 100 highly caffeinated beverages without you digestive system objecting at some point? 

Another major problem is that there is a propensity for young people to snort the caffeine powder. When you snort something; a greater amount of the drug gets into your blood system and at a faster rate. If you drank 2 cups of coffee over a 4 hour period of time then the caffeine gradually enters your system. Snorting 200 milligrams of caffeine puts it in your system right away. If the manufacturer is recommending 1/16 of a teaspoon (a pinch), imagine how much caffeine would be in 1 ½ inch line. 

Another product that has the Federal Food and Drug Administration concerned is AeroLife Energy. Originally AeroLife Energy was marketed as "inhalable caffeine" but due to a warning from the FDA, they had to change their product labeling. The FDA was particularly concerned about the way the product was marketed as "breathable energy" even though its packing clearly stated it was only intended to be ingested. Dietary supplements (caffeine) that are inhaled are prohibited by law. 

The product comes in small canisters containing approximately 6 individual doses. The user shoots a puff of the lemon-lime powder, which begins dissolving in the mouth almost instantly. The dangers are the same as the ones of powder caffeine. A large dose can be administered in a short time leading to acute health issues and damage to the heart and other organs over time. 

Caffeine is a stimulant, and in extremely high doses, it can cause rapid and irregular heartbeat, seizures, and death within hours. Experts say that powdered caffeine is incredibly potent and can easily lead to accidental overdoses. Overdose symptoms serve as an early warning system but it is important that they be recognized. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur while taking caffeine: 

  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Hyperglycemia, including blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, flushed dry
  • Irritability,
  • Nausea (severe)
  • Tremors
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal or stomach bloating
  • Dehydration
  • Unusual tiredness or weakness 

Symptoms of overdose include: 

  • Abdominal or stomach pain
  • Agitation, anxiety, excitement, or restlessness
  • Confusion or delirium
  • Convulsions (seizures)—in acute overdose
  • Dehydration
  • Faster breathing rate
  • Fast or irregular heartbeat
  • fever
  • Frequent urination
  • Headache
  • Increased sensitivity to touch or pain
  • Irritability
  • Muscle trembling or twitching
  • Nausea and vomiting, sometimes with blood
  • Ringing or other sounds in ears
  • Seeing flashes of  lights
  • Whole-body tremors 

If you, or anybody you are with, experiences any of these signs, you should seek medical help right away. Many people are afraid to seek help for their friends who are in trouble but many states have new laws that protect the caller from criminal charges when seeking medical attention for overdoses.