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. 2008 Sep;26(7):799-802.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2007.10.018.

Hospitalization for caffeine abuse is associated with abuse of other pharmaceutical products

Danielle M McCarthy  1 , Mark B Mycyk, Carol A DesLauriers
Affiliations

Hospitalization for caffeine abuse is associated with abuse of other pharmaceutical products

Danielle M McCarthy et al. Am J Emerg Med. 2008 Sep.

Abstract

Study objective: The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics and outcomes of patients seeking treatment for abuse of supplemental caffeine.

Methods: This was a 3-year analysis conducted of all consecutive cases involving caffeine abuse in patients 10 years and older reported to a regional poison center. Excluded were suicide attempts, therapeutic errors, and cases involving only a coffee or tea product.

Results: Two hundred fifty-four cases met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 20.5 years, 50% were women. Caffeine was in the form of a nondietary medication in 201 cases, a dietary supplement in 35 cases, and a caffeine-enhanced beverage in 35 cases. Caffeine was abused alone in 174 (68%), with alcohol in 7, illegal drugs in 6 cases, and with other pharmaceutical products in 81 (29%) cases. Thirty-four patients (13% of total) were hospitalized for medical complications from caffeine. Only concomitant abuse of other pharmaceutical products was associated with hospitalization (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.8-8.8; P = .0004).

Conclusion: In this cohort, supplemental caffeine was abused primarily by young adults. Concomitant recreational abuse of other pharmaceuticals was associated with hospitalization and warrants further investigation.

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