Caffeine

Drugs and Our Society

CJUS/HPE 151

Part 15

Popularity1. Most frequently used stimulant

- most popular

- foods / beverages consumed

- average daily intake: 2 cups coffee (200 mg)

- 30%: 500 mgs or more daily

a. Most common sources:

- coffee bean / tea plants / kola nuts / mate leaves / guarana paste / yoco bark

b. Coffee drinking throughout history

Popularity - early 1820s: active stimulant identified

- French / German scientists

- extracted from green coffee beans

- substance with alkaloid properties

b. 40 / 60 years later: identified in several other plants

- stimulate effect found desirable

2. Chemical Nature

- group of drugs similar chemically

Properties, cont. - Xanthines

- theobromine (1842): cacao bean

- theophylline (1888): tea leaves

c. Unique pharmacological properties

- most potent CNS stimulant

3. Beverages containing caffeine

- unique role in US society

- most common source: unfermented beverages

Beveragesa. Coffee

- derived from coffea plants

- Coffea Arabica: shrub / small tree

- 3 to 5 feet (wild)

- South America / East Africa

(1) Ethiopian prince “Kaffa”

- Ethiopia to Arabia

- important in Arabian civilization

- writings of 900 AD

Beverages, cont. (2) Reached Europe through Turkey

- medicine

- 1650s: coffee houses England / France

- relax / talk / learn news

(3) Consumed by English colonists

- tea preferred / replaced by coffee

- symbol of English repression

- political expression rather than taste

(4) Movement west: popularity grew

Beverages, cont. - daily intake peaked in 1986 - consumption: 10 lbs. per person

(5) Side effects: - attributed to decline - sleeplessness / heart disease / etc.

(6) American lifestyles - plays major role - considered America’s drink

Beverages, cont.b. Tea

- Camellia sinensis plant

- China / India / Burma / Thailand / Viet Nam

- caffeine / theophylline

- earliest use unknown

(1) Emperor Shen Nung (273 BC)

- first reliable account: medicinal plant

- Chinese manuscript: 350 AD

Beverages, cont. (3) Use grew slowly

- Dutch brought to Europe (1610)

- adopted by British / integral part

- major economy / colonize India

(4) Dutch (1650) introduced to America

- New Amsterdam

- British: exclusive rights to sell

- high taxes levied

- symbol of ‘British rule’

Beverages, cont.c. Soft drinks

- 2nd most common source

- 12 ounce serving: 30 / 60 mgs

(1) Consumed by children / teenagers

- others: soda replaces coffee

(2) Added to juices / water

- alluring names

- Surge / Jolt / Aqua Buzz / Krank H2O

Beverages, cont. - targets young consumers

4. Social consequences

- consuming caffeine-based beverages

a. Impossible to accurately assess

- both subtle / non-subtle

- stimulant effects = some social influence

b. Integrated into social customs / ceremonies

Social Consequences, cont. - traditional drinks

c. Consumed with ritualistic devotion - morning - meals (or after) - “interludes” throughout day - coffee breaks / tea times

d. Popularity: stimulant action - “jump start” effect - avoid withdrawal

Other Natural Caffeine Sources5. Coffee / tea most common

- other sources popular in rest of world

- guarana: Brazil

- mate: Argentina / Brazil / Paraguay

- kola nut: West Africa/ West Indies/ So. America

a. Chocolate

- contains small amounts

- principle stimulant: alkaloid theobromine

- theobroma cacao tree

- Aztec: “fruit of the gods”

Sources, cont.b. High esteem: fruit / seed pods - medium of exchange

c. Mayan Indians: warm drink from beans - chocolatl: warm drink - thick / unsweetened / ate with spoon

d. Hernando Cortes: chocolate to Spain - Dutch (1828): chocolate powder / cocoa

e. Over-the-counter drugs

Physiological Effects6. Significant influence

- minor / short-term effects

- high doses / medical problems = dangerous

a. CNS effects

- most potent: caffeine

- followed by: theophylline

- theobromine: little influence

b. CNS responses vary considerably

Physiological, cont. - 100/200 mgs: enhance alertness /

arousal

/ diminishes fatigue

- block drowsiness / facilitate mental activity

c. Stimulates formation of thoughts

- does not improve learning ability

d. More pronounced: un-stimulated / drowsy

- diminishes sense of boredom

- compensate for tedium

Physiological, cont.7. Xanthine drinks popular: stimulate effects

a. Adverse effects (greater than 300 mgs)

- insomnia / tension / anxiety / muscle twitches

b. Over 500 mgs: dysphoric feelings

- panic sensation / chills / nausea / clumsiness

c. Extremely high: 5 - 10 grams (1 = 1000 mgs)

- seizures / respiratory failure / death

Physiological, cont.8. Cardiovascular / respiratory effects

- stimulate brain / stimulate cardio system

a. Tolerance can occur

- low doses: may increase / decrease

- higher doses: contraction of heart increases

9. Caffeine intoxication

- high dose: physiological/psychological problems

- caffeinism (10% of adults)

Intoxication, cont.a. American Psychiatric Association

- caffeine intoxication of CNS

- “psychoactive substance-induced psychiatric disorder”

b. Essential features:

- restlessness / nervousness / excitement /

insomnia / flushed face / diuresis / muscle

twitching / rambling thoughts – speech /

heart arrhythmia / motor agitation

Intoxication, cont. - higher doses: ringing in ears / seeing flashes of light

c. Medical profession:

- large quantities: cancer of kidneys / bladder

/ ovaries / colon

- fetus problems in pregnant women

10. Caffeine dependence: limited

- most: relatively minor

Dependence, cont.a. 50% consume 1 to 3 cups: headaches

b. 10%: significantly depressed / anxious /

fatigued without coffee

c. Some experience withdrawal every morning

- before first cup of coffee