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Caffeine Allergy: Top 20 Symptoms

HeadacheSometime ago, we published a short post entitled “Yes, You Can Be Allergic to Caffeine“.

That post received hundreds of comments from those who claim to have experienced some type of adverse reaction to caffeine.

We have painstakingly sifted through all those comments and have derived the top 20 caffeine allergic reactions in order from most common to least common.

In most cases these symptoms were reported after only having a little to moderate amount of caffeine.

Most Common Allergic Reactions to Caffeine

  1. Skin problems such as hives, eczema, rashes, acne, severe itching.
  2. Headaches/ migraines.
  3. Anxiety and panic attacks.
  4. Can’t focus or concentrate
  5. Tongue, glands, or throat swelling.
  6. Heart racing/ palpitations.
  7. Angry, irritable, bad mood.
  8. Fatigue.
  9. Dizziness.
  10. Extreme jitters.
  11. Chest Pain.
  12. Depression.
  13. Numbness in face, hands, or feet.
  14. Muscle pain.
  15. Shortness of breath/ tightness of chest.
  16. Delusions/ hallucinations.
  17. Flu/ cold like symptoms.
  18. Vision problems.
  19. Cold sweats.
  20. Eyes swollen shut.

Is this Scientific Evidence?

Learn More

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Caffeine in Your Water Supply?
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This data is entirely based on anecdotal evidence so don’t take it as gospel or scientific, but rather consider these caffeine allergy symptoms as possible since they were reported by a number of people.

Also, there is a fine line between caffeine sensitivity and allergy, but overall we’re dealing with the body not being able to correctly process the caffeine molecule so whether you want to call that sensitivity or allergy it’s up to you.

Most people reported several of the above symptoms and some of the caffeine allergy symptoms were quite bizarre. The ones that take the cake were itchy ears and anus suffered by one poor soul and a sweaty butt crack reported by another…

What To Do If You Are Suffering

caffeine-allergy

Skin rashes are common.

If you’re suffering from the above symptoms, be sure to explore our extensive Caffeine in Food database as well as our Caffeine in Beverages database.

A surprising number of products contain caffeine, and some have a lot more than what you think. Even decaffeinated drinks still contain caffeine – although only a small amount such as this decaf brewed coffee.

in order to be aware of all the products that have caffeine listed as an ingredient along with the amount they contain. New products are being added almost daily.

Education is best way to prevent an allergic reaction to caffeine.

TOPICS: Caffeine Negatives, Coffee Health Effects
Newer Comments →
  • Priscilla

    I’m definitely allergic to caffeine I ended up in the emergency room after a Starbucks coffee had started feeling dizzy my vision got blurry my heart was racing & my whole body felt numb, but in pain and then bam I collapsed in floor felt like I was in another I had a few episodes like this after drinking caffeine left it now I’m fine.

  • http://energyfiend.com/ Exisweb

    Yes caffeine can cause a dry mouth (xerostomia). It is also a diuretic. We also have plenty of reports on this site of people experiencing tingling.

  • Shelley Moyher

    anyone ever get a tingling in their mouths and a dry mouth feeling from coffee/caffeine?

  • Eric

    I’m guessing I’m alergic. I had a coffee this morning and have had a headache all day .. feels like a hangover, very jittery, can’t concentrate, low energy, depressed. Going to quit coffee for the next month and see it makes a difference.

  • Chris

    I’ve been getting heart palpitations just from drinking tea, I also shake and get light headed, and I get chest pains. Obviously this is quite scary. I think its time to get rid of tea and stick to water.

  • Tay

    I’m 20 years old, I’ve been drinking coffee as long as I can remember. In my second year of college, I was having coffee at least twice a day. Everything was fine. No symptoms, nothing. Then all of a sudden, my throat went crazy. It itched every day, and was constantly hugely swollen. I thought it was seasonal allergies or a reaction to smoking cigars. While it may have been a little of those, my mom told me to cut back on coffee. I stayed off it for a week and I felt fine. No sore throat, no itching. I may be allergic to it, which is intensely sad :(
    I still drink it, but even decaf hurts my throat.

  • Julie

    I’ve experience about 15 of the listed symptoms, including bladder irritation, repeately with caffeine use over the last 20 years or so. Over the past two weeks, I’ve been eating RAW sauerkraut I get online. The only symptoms that are left when I have a caffeine habit are excessive thirst, light sensitivity, lack of energy (depression), and inability to make decisions. So a one-time use a couple times a week doesn’t seem to bother me anymore! Raw sauerkraut replenishes your gut flora, which I presume caffeine kills off. No other probiotic supplements have ever made a difference for me.

  • Weird

    I wonder how long caffeine effects stay in the body when your allergic or intolerent? Because for me it takes a solid week before my aches/tension start to go away.

  • Jason

    One side effect which is not listed here is confusional arousal (waking up feeling confused and disoriented, having confusing thoughts that don’t make since upon waking and not knowing where I am) I get that and panic attacks only if I drank caffeinated products.

  • Aaron

    Count me in on the itchy but crack and hole lol but it has to be after drinking mixed drinks the night before also otherwise I will just itch everywhere randomly and occasionally that place will get included. I am trying to figure out if it is just vendor coffee because I remember drinking my own home made coffee before I left for work but I don’t remember itching until I took a sip of coffee bean coffee in my car on the way to work and then I started itching right away and I was like aha it’s definitely coffee. Maybe they are leaving a cleaning chemical in the equipment and not fully rinsing it out and that is what we are reacting to or possibly the organic acids in coffee are attaching to something they use in commercial equipment and that is what we are reacting to.

  • Brittany

    I have 7 out of 20 symptoms. I’ve never tolerated caffeine very well, any kind of upper, stimulant doesn’t react well with me. After reading this it made me realize that I am possibly allergic. Either way sometimes I have to drink some caffeine for a pick me up regardless of the consequences. But my husband has to stay away from me if I do that..I become crazy and irrational if I get into an argument, sometimes I think I subconsciously try to get into one if I’ve had to much caffeine. Interesting article..helped me out.

  • laura

    I also can’t drink alcohol or smoke. And i have had some of those symptoms

  • laura

    I used to drink caffeine like coffee, tea, and soda but one day i started panic attacks and tachycardia so i gave it up then 4 years later i was able to drink it again for almost a year at least until the worst feelings and panic attacks came back. I can’t even drink tea which is supposed to be natural.

  • keith

    I’m 44 yr old male. I have had caffeine all my life except for the last two weeks. I stopped as normal and got a cup of coffee, on my way to work, I had two drinks of the coffee and my head started pounding! The following day I stopped, decided to get a different form of caffeine, I got a diet coke took one drink by the time i got to work again my head was pounding! I stopped for about a week of drinking caffeine and no headache, had low energy buy felt fine. Today I decided to get a coffee, I had two drinks …… after two drinks of coffee my head is pounding and had to leave work early! NO MORE CAFFEINE FOR ME !!!! I stopped by my doctors office and explained what was going on…..I was told people can become allergic to caffeine, wine and other food allergies at any give time in life. Well, I must say bye to my daily cup of caffeine drinks!

  • http://www.energyfiend.com ted

    I would quit drinking coffee or tea.

  • Toni

    Well, i just had a cup of coffee and almost immidietly my head started hurting, i got dizzy and feel weak and shaky. Everytime i have coffee or Tea this happens. What should i do?

  • jacob

    BRO I had to go to the emergence room to start breathing again you have no idea now hard it is just a SIP will leave me so out of breath so I can say and my doctor told me I am allergic

  • Jenny Lee

    In some cases, like my own, it was not the coffee. It was the milk I was putting in the coffee. I now drink my coffee black and no longer have any issues.

  • http://www.energyfiend.com ted

    no caffeine in wine, but sulfites in wine cause a lot of allergy symptoms in many people http://www.sulfites.org/sulfite-allergies/

  • Beryl Ringwood

    Is there caffeine in red wine?

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Last Modified: April 25, 2013
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