Medically caffeine is known as trimethylxanthine. In its pure form caffeine is a white crystalline power. It is odorless but, has a strong bitter taste. Barq's Root Beer contains caffeine, and the company says that it has "12.78mg per 6oz." They also state that it is used as a "flavoring agent for the sharp bitterness." Caffeine is used medically as cardiac stimulant and a mild diuretic (increases urine production). Surprisingly caffeine affects the body much like amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. All of these drugs are addictive and they all use the same channels to stimulate the brain. Caffeine effects are much more mild on the body though. However, researchers believe that those channels used by amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and caffeine in some manner affect the addiction

Caffeine naturally occurs in some 70 plants the best known include coffee beans, tealeaves, and cocoa nuts, it is also added to many beverages and other man-made foods (see attached list). Here is a small listing of Americans' most common sources for caffeine: A typical drip-brewed coffee contains 100mg per 6oz serving. (Remember that is for 6oz, not the 12, 16, or 20oz cups sold at most coffee shops.)A typically brewed tea contains 70mg per 6oz serving. Typical colas (Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper, etc.) contain about 50mg per 12oz can. Colas such as Jolt or other "high caffeine" amounts usually contain about 70mg per 12oz can. Typical milk chocolate contains 6mg per ounce. Anacin contains 32mg per tablet. Non-Drowsy contains 100mg per tablet. Vivarin and Dexatrim contain 200mg per tablet. Most people have multiple servings of caffeine per day. Have you ever considered how much caffeine you consume per day? If you were to calculate your daily caffeine intake, you may be surprised. Many people take in a gram or more without realizing it.

On October 20, 1998 a student at Carteret Community College collapsed outside his class. He died later that day. Authorities revealed that Jason Allen had swallowed most of a 90-pill bottle of caffeine pills. That dosage is roughly equivalent to drinking 250 cups of coffee. It appeared that Allen died of heart rhythm irregularities associated with extreme high dose of caffeine. This is just one recent record of a caffeine overdose. If you did not know, it can happen. You can die from ingesting too much caffeine. Here are a few symptoms of caffeine overdose; in adults: difficulty sleeping, muscle twitching, general confusion, in and out of consciousness, increased urination, increased thirst, fever, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, rapid heart beat, and death; in infants: very tense muscles alternating with overly relaxed muscles, rapid, deep breathing, nausea and/or vomiting, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, shock, and tremors. To put it bluntly this means a very unpleasant time. It is important to realize these symptoms are associated with doses of caffeine no greater than 400mg. Above that mark and subjects begin to experience convolutions and sometimes-extreme doses cause death.

Caffeine is a very complex and interesting drug. While caffeine can have some nasty side effects

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