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What is Caffeine?

Category: Over the Counter Drugs

Most popular types: NoDoz Vivarin

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Caffeine is a mild stimulant found in a range of popular drinks such as tea, coffee, and carbonated soft drinks. It has positive effects on mental alertness and concentration. Overuse can cause anxiety and insomnia, however. Some 90% of Americans use caffeine every day.

See patients taking Caffeine

Reported purpose & perceived effectiveness
Purpose Patients Evaluations Perceived Effectiveness
Fatigue 49 18
Excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence) 25 14
Headaches 14 3
Problems concentrating 10 2
Difficulty waking up 7 1

Show all 41 reasons taken

  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
See all 188 patients that have taken Caffeine

Side effects

Side effects as an overall problem

Side effects as an overall problem
Severity Evaluations
Severe 1
Moderate 11
Mild 16
None 13

Commonly reported side effects and conditions associated with Caffeine

Side effect Patients
Insomnia 6
Anxious mood 3
Jittery feeling 3
Thirst 3
Bowel urgency 2
Dehydration 2

Show all 25 reported side effects

Dosages

Based on patients currently taking Caffeine

Dosage Patients
20 mg daily 2
200 mg daily 2
daily 2
1 dose daily 1
1 units daily 1
2 units daily 1
3 mg daily 1
4 mg daily 1
8 other daily 1
20 mg twice daily 1

See all 19 dosages

Why patients stopped taking Caffeine

Multiple reasons could be selected

Reason Patients
Doctor's advice 6
Did not seem to work 5
Other 5
Side effects too severe 5
See all 20 patients who've stopped taking Caffeine

Duration

Currently taking Caffeine

Duration Patients
1 - 2 years 2
2 - 5 years 3
5 - 10 years 4
10 years or more 13

Stopped taking Caffeine

Duration Patients
Less than 1 month 2
1 - 6 months 4
6 months - 1 year 4
1 - 2 years 1
2 - 5 years 2
5 - 10 years 2
10 years or more 5
Adherence
Adherence Evaluations
Always 13
Usually 14
Sometimes 10
Never taken as prescribed 4
Burden
Burden Evaluations
Very hard to take 0
Somewhat hard to take 3
A little hard to take 8
Not at all hard to take 30
Cost per month
Cost per month Evaluations
$200+ 0
$100-199 0
$50-99 1
$25-49 4
< $25 22
Not specified 14
Last updated:

10 patient evaluations for Caffeine

Sort by: Most recent

Apr 11, 2018 (Started Jul 01, 2015)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for narcolepsy)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence))
  • Side effects
    None
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 400 mg Three times daily
Advice & Tips: talk to your MD before taking caffeine in these doses
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Sep 15, 2016 (Started Jun 30, 2012)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for fatigue)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence))
  • Side effects
    Mild (headaches)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 100 mg Daily
  • 0 helpful marks

Oct 31, 2010 (Started Oct 31, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence))
  • Side effects
    Mild
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: Taken to help me stay awake during the day it is effective at making me more aware and improves concentration. Taken only once in a while to aviod side effects such as addiction or headaches when stopping. Have only had problems with nighttime sleeplessness when taken too late in the day. Impact on daily life positive as I can manage to do more (anything at all) but wary of overuse so only take once in a while.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks
Last updated:
Showing 3 of 10 patient evaluations for Caffeine