Caffeine and Panic Attacks
You’ve probably heard the rumors and you’re wondering whether caffeine can cause panic attacks, right?
I take a lot of caffeine during each day. I drink tea like there’s no tomorrow, and no, I won’t drink decaf tea – it’s the worst stuff I’ve ever tasted. The question is, can caffeine cause, or at least contribute to, the onset of panic attacks?
Well, it seems that as far back as Jul 1997, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) encouraged scientists as well as public consumer groups to submit a petition to the FDA to include warning labels on all products that contained caffeine. Although it was required to disclose the actual amount of caffeine in a product, most companies are only indicating that caffeine is an ingredient.
According to CSPI, there are quite a few potential adverse effects of caffeine on our health, and although panic attacks are not specifically mentioned by the CSPI, but having some sort of warning label on caffeine products has got to be a good idea for people suffering from panic disorders. We know that caffeine and panic attacks are closely related because caffeine increases anxiety as well as causing insomnia – two conditions that can make people more susceptible to panic attacks.
We know the effects of caffeine on panic attacks will vary from person to person, but nevertheless anxiety disorder specialists still recommend that people prone to panic disorders avoid caffeine, and let’s face it, that’s not easy for people like me that consume caffeine on an hourly basis. And that’s not even taking into account the fact that completely eliminating caffeine often results in something close to withdrawal symptoms, with headaches and fatigue that can last for days.
So, if you’re going to thwart these panic attacks which may or may not be caused by caffeine, you might have to stop consuming caffeine anyway, even though caffeine consumption doesn’t necessarily lead to a panic attack.
Why? Because there is still evidence that strongly suggests a link between caffeine and panic attacks, as with marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines. No, I’m not implying that you are taking any of those substances, it’s the relationship between these and other substances that destabilize the brain activity so that anxiety ultimately reaches the stage of being a panic attack.
How can caffeine cause panic attacks?
If someone has low adrenal function, caffeine consumption can lead to a panic attack because caffeine interferes with something called adenosine, which is a brain chemical that is used to calm us down.
Caffeine also raises our lactate levels and this is a known factor in producing panic attacks. Caffeine can be found in coffee and tea as well as chocolate. It’s also in many soft drinks. A cup of coffee can contain about 100mg of caffeine, whereas a cup of tea might contain 30mg or 40mg.
Many experts have discovered and confirmed that caffeine as a stimulant will interfere with the natural tranquillizers in the brain. They conclude that the improper functioning indicates that caffeine may cause panic attacks.
To be honest, it’s not at all surprising that caffeine is not recommended for people suffering from panic attacks, but the problem is that caffeine is hidden in so much of what we eat and drink. If caffeine and panic attacks do go hand in hand, we’re all in a lot of trouble.
Just to bring this into perspective, it only takes a couple of cups of coffee to increase your heart rate. If you notice this and begin to worry, this can easily lead you to into a panic. I guess to be on the safe side, any of us suffering from panic attacks should at least limit our intake of caffeine. That’s not going to be easy.
15 Responses to “Caffeine and Panic Attacks”
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This was extremely helpful and just what I was looking for. I was wondering why I felt these symptoms when I drink tons of caffeine. Now, I know why.
Thanks =]
I have cut out all forms of caffeine from my diet with the exception of chocolate. It has really helped a lot, however I have noticed that if I eat a large amount of chocolate, it can trigger panic attacks too. Chocolate will be the hardest thing for me to give up, but if its that our panic attacks, well..
Thank you! You confirmed every thought I had regarding my panic attacks and caffeine intake. These attacks are terrible almost debilitating. More chamomile less coffee! Decaf maybe?
I have always been highly sensitive to caffeine, including the shakes and headaches with even one cup of coffee, but never realized it could also be the cause of the panic attacks I get. Because of this I decided to do an experiment where I went a few days without drinking caffeinated tea and I was fine, but then one cup of tea and I was again shaking and panicky to the point of an attack. Lesson learned, no caffeine for me. It’s just not worth it.
Thanks for the article. I have been trying to read as much as possible on panic attacks because I have been having them. I quit drinking coffee, tea and energy drinks and I haven’t had one attack. I’m really interested in learning more about the specifics of the effects of caffeine on the brain. Last week I purchased a multi-vitamin, brought it home and took my vitamin for the day, that night I had a panic attack that woke me up out of a deep sleep, which was usually how it would happen for me. Anyway the next morning I read the label on the vitamin container and sure enough it had green tea in it, so I guess I have to be careful of the vitamins I buy too.
So true! I feel like a different human being now that I have been able to kick my quarter century caffeine addiction. In the last 2 years this addiction has led to 3 panic attacks, one of which had me admitted to hospital. As others have said it was caffeine or my sanity and I have made the right choice!
I am an avid coffee and red bull drinker. In the past few months I have been having panic attacks. This is all very new to me as I have never felt the effects of caffeine so severely before. While having these attacks I was convinced I was crazy. Looking back I now realize that each time I had an attack I had drank a red bull. I am quitting caffeine today. I hope I have the same results the previous posts. Thank you for this article!
I only drink decaf now as regular tea/coffee always makes me more edgy and panicy (real word?) and doesn’t really have any positive effects on me.
As for chocolate, I’ll only really eat it if I’m home alone and don’t have to do anything so that if I feel anxiety coming on I can chill out and just ride it out. I avoid caffeine when I’m out with friends or at work or in any situation the extra edginess could potentially ruin my good time.
But I’m extra sensitive to caffeines effects anyway. One cup of coffee or tea or one bar of chocolate is enough to raise my heartbeat up to a noticeable level.
I used to drink three to six cokes a day! One night I went to watch a stupid “horror” film and during the movie my chest began to hurt and I felt awful. This had never happened to me before, but I figured I had gotten really sick. Well the following weeks, I become extremely ill and my weight dropped from 168 to 140 in 8 weeks. Every night, my chest would tighten and it would hurt to breath, anxiety would set in, my body would begin to shake, I would vomit almost every night, I was not sleeping and worst of all, I honestly thought I was going crazy or dying. I was scared to eat or go out in public because I feared my symptoms would set in, so I became withdrawn. I had an upper scope done because of my sever chest and stomach pains, and the entire linings of my intestines were severely inflamed to the point where I could hardly keep water down. I was taken completely off caffeine and started exercising ever day (which kept my adrenaline levels down) which eventually led to my full recovery! I still have problems, but only once in a blue moon and only when I drink caffeine.
I started having panic attacks in the beginning of this year. I didn’t know what was happening. I noticed how they would be triggered in the morning right after I had my coffee. I only had a cup a day, but would then drink a soda at lunch and probably one at dinner. Once I started drinking decaf coffee and diet ginger ale they steadily decline until I didn’t have them anymore. I decided to try caffeine again a few months ago (big mistake) and they started back again. I guess I will have to live without it. I didn’t have withdrawals so it wasn’t a huge deal, but it is definitely difficult to get going in the morning. I have been taking Vitamin B for energy, seems to help. Panic attacks are so horrible, I wish there was a quick fix that wasn’t addictive (i.e. Xanax).
Great advice. I am in the same situation as a lot of the people here. My panic attacks started about 12 months ago and I noticed they would usually occur at work (where I was drinking tea and coffee which I do not do at home). I also noticed that caffeinated soft drinks had the same effect for example when we were out at the cinema drinking coke after about an hour I would have quite a severe panic attack and need to leave.
In the past week I have switched to decaff coffee and so far so good! I would also advise to be careful of anything too sugary as I have noticed this with certain cordials and juices will have the same side effects!
Good read, thank you! I started having panic attacks about 4 years ago. I had one now and then for about 6 months or so, then they subsided. Recently (over the past year) I start to get them now and then. I did notice they usually occur after I drink my morning coffee (which is weird because I’ve been drinking coffee semi-heavily for about 12 years). In fact, they always occur when caffeine is involved.
Granted, I haven’t done much research, but I think after a person has a panic attack or 3, they are more prone to keep having them, at least that’s the case for myself, I feed my brain worrying that I might have one, then I sometimes do lol. They happen to me most often when I’m driving. It’s such a horrid feeling, as I’m sure most reading this can relate. Like feeling a loss of control, and not sure if you can make it through the next moment. Fuddle around and try to get your mind off it and it won’t work…
Anyways, without much research… For myself, I definately believe that caffiene and panic attacks go hand in hand. Of course everyone’s body is a little different, and it might just be a pure psychological thing. None the less – It is good advice to lay off the caffiene if you experience panic attacks =)
I never experience panic attacks when I don’t drink caffiene or smoke cigarettes. But it is so hard to stop those substances. For me, I just have to be realistic and moderate them. Almost every time I over indulge in nicotine or caffiene, I have a panic attack.
I searched and found this article after, yesterday when I was at school, I thought I would drink a Mt Dew since I hadn’t really drank any soda in over 2 months. By choice of course, just because I thinks it’s terrible for the body.. anyway. I got my little treat, and drank just a fourth of it, and to my dismay I started getting really nervous and my heart was sort of beating strangely, and I just felt odd. I was starting to have a panic attack. I’d had them weekly at times in my life so I knew that’s what it was. At first I didn’t have any clue what was causing it until I realized that I had had nearly 0 panic attacks during my soda hiatus. So I suppose I just need to lay off of caffeine at all. I don’t really crave it so it’s not a problem.. it is very interesting how much it can affect our bodies and minds.
I have been suffering from panic attacks since 1991. I have been prescribed klonopin since 1991. All of these years and I had never made the connection between panic attacks and caffeine. Up until 3 days ago, I would drink between 2 and 5 Venti (20oz) sized regular drip coffee’s from Starbucks. Also, I would occasionally have 1 to 3 diet Coke’s a day.
Since I have stopped drinking coffee and soda 3 days ago, I feel like I have emerged from a 20 year old nightmare. I’ll keep you posted on my situation/progress.