A little Q&A
Q: Is a caffeine overdose possible?
A: Yes, it is and it usually results from a recent consuption of about 350 mg +.
Q: What are some warning signs of a caffeine overdose?
A: People sufering from caffeine overdose can be identified with at least five of the following signs: restlessess, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, flushed face, diuresis, gastrointestinal disturbance, muscle twitching, rambling flow of thought and speech, tachycardia or cardiac arrythmia, periods of exhaustability, and psychomotor agitation.
Q: Is caffeine overdose permanently damaging or fatal?
A: In 99.999% of all cases, the caffeine overdose will be extremely unpleaseant to the suffering party, but not fatal or permanently damaging. However, there is that small area of exception:
Q: How much caffeine could be fatal?
A: The LD-50 (lethal dosage that would kill approximately 50% of the population) is 10 grams of oral administration. This is equivalent to approximately 100 cups of coffee, or 50 Vivarin pills. One exceptional case documented survival after ingesting 24 grams of caffeine. The minimum lethal dose of caffeine given intravenously was 3.2 grams. While coffee drinkers often have caffeine blood concentration of about 1-10 mg/L, a concentration of 80 mg/L is considered lethal.
Q: What are the symptoms of a lethal overdose?
A: Acute caffeine poisoning- anorexia, trermor, and restlessness, followed by vomiting, nausea, tachycardia, and confusion. Serious intoxication causes causes delirium, seizures, supraventricular and ventricular thachyarryhtmias, hypkalemia, and hyperglycemia.
Chronic high dose caffeine poisoning leads to nervousness, irritability, anxiety, tremulousness, muscle twitching, insomnia, palpitations, and hyperflexia.
Enjoy!
Info from:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/6202/faq.htm#c
