Caffeine withdrawal and intoxication now considered mental disorders

If someone told you that too much coffee can give you mental health problems, would you believe them?

The American Psychiatric Association recently added caffeine withdrawal and caffeine intoxication in the list of mental disorders in its fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” handbook—a textbook used by psychiatrists the world over.

This spells bad news for the many coffee-loving Filipinos who consider the hot drink an inseparable part of their daily routine. How much is too much, then? The question divides both coffee drinkers and psychiatrists alike.

In a State of the Nation video, psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Sayo of the Philippine Mental Health Association said, “Kaya nagiging controversial kasi, parang ibig bang sabihin nito yung mga mahilig sa kape, kailangan na rin magpatingin?”



For their part, Cecille and Noel—who finish off four and five mugs of coffee a day, respectively—don’t believe in such a prognosis.

“Ay hindi, hindi ako naniniwala diyan,” said Cecille. “Tsaka, wala naman akong nararamdamang masama.”

“Pag nagkakape kami, parang maaliwalas na,” added a smiling Noel. “Pag nawala na yung kape, iyon naman…para kaming di mapakali, magkakape na naman.”

The issue of caffeine intoxication and withdrawal came up due to caffeine’s being an ingredient in certain diet pills, softdrinks, and energy drinks.

Intoxication vs. withdrawal

The energy boost coffee can give a drinker can be attributed to caffeine, which can also be found in tea and chocolate. A person should have no more than 250 mg of caffeine—or two to three cups of coffee—in his or her system on a daily basis. On the one hand, more than this amount will result in caffeine intoxication.

“So ang ibinablock nito [caffeine] yung chemical na adenosine,” said Sayo of the mild stimulant. “Ito [adenosine] yung nagbibigay nang feeling of tiredness.”

Sayo enumerated the symptoms of caffeine intoxication as restlessness, nervousness or excitability, and a rambling or very fast way of talking or thinking, and possibly abnormal movements.

On the other hand, suddenly ceasing the liberal amounts of coffee will result in caffeine withdrawal, which sounds a lot like the withdrawal one feels from suddenly quitting a smoking habit. Fatigue, headaches, and “yung feeling na hindi mapakali,” as Sayo put it, number among the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal—these, the drinker feels, are only relieved once one has drunk another cup of coffee.

However, the symptoms do go away after a few days.

The public is reminded that one must take everything in moderation and that there are always professionals ready to help you overcome either problem. — Vida Cruz/BM, GMA News