Can Caffeine Cause Muscle Spasms?
Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause side effects, especially if you consume too much or if your body is sensitive to the substance. Caffeine is in chocolate, coffee, kola nuts, tea, soft drinks and is even in some medications. It is important to learn how much caffeine you can safely consume since it can affect each individual differently.
Usage
It’s best to limit the amount of caffeine you consume even if you can tolerate large amounts. The average person can consume two to four cups of coffee that contains caffeine, according to MedlinePlus. Consuming more than four cups may cause harmful side effects. If you are sensitive to caffeine, you may be unable to consume even two cups without experiencing side effects.
- It’s best to limit the amount of caffeine you consume even if you can tolerate large amounts.
- If you are sensitive to caffeine, you may be unable to consume even two cups without experiencing side effects.
Side Effects
Congestive Heart Failure & Caffeine
Learn More
Consuming too much caffeine can cause muscle spasms, twitching, restlessness, headache, abnormal heart rhythm, anxiety and anxiousness. You might experience shakiness, insomnia, diarrhea, irritability, nausea and dizziness, too. Caffeine also acts a diuretic so you might urinate more frequently. It can even cause eye twitches if you consume too much.
- Consuming too much caffeine can cause muscle spasms, twitching, restlessness, headache, abnormal heart rhythm, anxiety and anxiousness.
Muscle Spasms
Factors other than caffeine can also cause muscle spasms. They can occur due to a diet deficiency, such as a lack of magnesium or potassium, and from overusing a particular muscle. It is also possible that drugs or medications such as diuretics, estrogen and corticosteroids can cause muscle spasms. Some diseases and disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig's disease and myopathy, can cause muscle twitching and muscle spasms as well.
- Factors other than caffeine can also cause muscle spasms.
- Some diseases and disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig's disease and myopathy, can cause muscle twitching and muscle spasms as well.
Considerations
Can Excess Caffeine Cause Rashes?
Learn More
If you have certain conditions such as abnormal sinus rhythm, or if you’re pregnant or nursing, you should limit or completely avoid caffeine. If you’re used to consuming large amounts of caffeine and suddenly stop, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal may include drowsiness, headache, nausea and vomiting, according to MedlinePlus.
Related Articles
References
- MedlinePlus: Muscle Twitching; March 2010
- All About Vision: Eight Causes of Eye Twitching and Eyelid Twitches; Burt Dubow, O.D.; Jan. 2010
- Drugs.com: Caffeine Side Effects; June 2011
- MedlinePlus: Caffeine
- MedlinePlus: Caffeine in the Diet; May 2009
- Meredith SE, Juliano LM, Hughes JR, Griffiths RR. Caffeine Use Disorder: A Comprehensive Review and Research Agenda. J Caffeine Res. 2013;3(3):114-130. doi:10.1089/jcr.2013.0016
- Richards G, Smith AP. A Review of Energy Drinks and Mental Health, with a Focus on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression. J Caffeine Res. 2016;6(2):49-63. doi:10.1089/jcr.2015.0033
- Brunyé TT, Mahoney CR, Rapp DN, Ditman T, Taylor HA. Caffeine enhances real-world language processing: evidence from a proofreading task. J Exp Psychol Appl. 2012;18(1):95-108. doi:10.1037/a0025851
- Koppelstaetter F, Poeppel TD, Siedentopf CM, et al. Caffeine and cognition in functional magnetic resonance imaging. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20 Suppl 1:S71-84. doi:10.3233/JAD-2010-1417
- Harrell PT, Juliano LM. Caffeine expectancies influence the subjective and behavioral effects of caffeine. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2009;207(2):335-42. doi:10.1007/s00213-009-1658-5
- Lucas M, O'reilly EJ, Pan A, et al. Coffee, caffeine, and risk of completed suicide: results from three prospective cohorts of American adults. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2014;15(5):377-86. doi:10.3109/15622975.2013.795243
- Abdel-Hady H, Nasef N, Shabaan AE, Nour I. Caffeine therapy in preterm infants. World J Clin Pediatr. 2015;4(4):81-93. doi:10.5409/wjcp.v4.i4.81
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th edition. Washington DC; 2013.
- Turnbull D, Rodricks JV, Mariano GF, Chowdhury F. Caffeine and cardiovascular health. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2017;89:165-185. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.07.025
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and Caffeine. Updated October 23, 2018.
- Alsunni AA. Energy Drink Consumption: Beneficial and Adverse Health Effects. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2015;9(4):468-474.
- Lyngsø J, Ramlau-Hansen CH, Bay B, Ingerslev HJ, Hulman A, Kesmodel US. Association between coffee or caffeine consumption and fecundity and fertility: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Clin Epidemiol. 2017;9:699-719. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S146496
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pure and Highly Concentrated Caffeine. Updated September 21, 2018.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. Updated July 2018.
Writer Bio
Derek Buckner has been writing professionally since 2005, specializing in diet, nutrition and general health. He has been published in "Today's Dietitian," "Food Essentials" and "Eating Well Magazine," among others. Buckner is a registered dietitian and holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and food science from Drexel University.