Caffeine Allergy: Top 20 Symptoms
Way back in yesteryear (2005), we published a post entitled “Yes, You Can Be Allergic to Caffeine” .
Since then this post has received over 190 comments from mostly those who have experienced some type of adverse reaction to caffeine.
I have painstakingly sifted through all those comments and have derived the top 20 caffeine allergic reactions in order from most common to least common. Note that this is entirely anecdotal evidence so don’t take it as gospel, 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. In most cases these symptoms were reported after only having a little to moderate amount of caffeine.
Most Common Allergic Reactions to Caffeine
- Skin problems such as hives, eczema, rashes, acne, severe itching.
- Headaches/ migraines.
- Anxiety and panic attacks.
- Can’t focus or concentrate
- Tongue, glands, or throat swelling.
- Heart racing/ palpitations.
- Angry, irritable, bad mood.
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Extreme jitters.
- Chest Pain.
- Depression.
- Numbness in face, hands, or feet.
- Muscle pain.
- Shortness of breath/ tightness of chest.
- Delusions/ hallucinations.
- Flu/ cold like symptoms.
- Vision problems.
- Cold sweats.
- Eyes swollen shut.
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……..
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 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.
195 Comments
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This article seriously saved me!! I’ve been breaking out on my entire face and slightly on my forearms and abdomen. I could not figure out what was causing it. I used a coffee facial mask yesterday for multiple cosmetic reasons and my face broke out HORRIBLY. If I drink/ingest large amounts of caffine I actually have seizures. This page was immensely helpful.
Hi everyone , for about 10 years I’ve always had bad tummy ache and had many scans for doctors to say there was nothing wrong , I struggle to eat . Anyway a few years ago I started gagging every day like I was about to be sick , which is embarrassing if you’re talking to someone . My symptoms got worse I started being sick once a month , getting pins and needles down the side of my body and face , panic attacks in the middle of the night and pain in my left shoulder . I am only 26 year old and doctors nor me could figure out what’s wrong . Just a few months ago I had a large cup of coffe which I drink all the time every day , but hadnt had coffee for a week that week and had a large cup of coffee and I had to stop the car I was violently sick . Thats when it suddenly clicked could it be the coffee , I cut out coffee for a month , ok tummy pain is still there but the gagging , sickness , pins and needles everything else stopped . Now here I am today just had a couple of cups of coffee yesterday and today I’ve been sick all day and in pain . This now proves to me it’s the coffee or caffenie , it doesn’t happen so much with coke , it only happens alot with red bull and coffee . I love coffee but it’s not worth putting myself through that all the time .
OMG !! I’ve been going through hell for a year, had to go to hospital more than 5 times by ambulance , no one could tell what is wrong , I actually been to hospital TWICE this week
(
Drs couldn’t tell what’s wrong so as I’m a medical student I started to search on the Internet , at first I assumed I’m mental and having the fainting phobia then I ended up knowing that I’m actually allergic to caffeine . My symptoms are soar throat, daireaha, shopping spree, moody, fast heart beats , skin rash, dizziness , panic attack , and the feeling that I’m going to faint in a second.
I had 2 cup of coffees 5 days ago and the symptoms made me to go to hospital, took me 5 days to recover from the caffeine withdrawn , an this morning I felt better so I wa studying and I got tired so I tried a cup of green tea , it took 30 mins for the symptoms to appear again, so went to hospital again
I swear I won’t inake any caffeine contained food anymore in my life !!
Itchy ears are a common allergy symptom especially from enviromental allergies like pollen or dust allergies.
Well, i also have symptoms if i drink too much caffeine. I get really weak and dizzy if i have too much of it, also it upsetts my stomach and i begin feeling ill. Especially from coffee. Tea is better for me.
A few yrs back I struggled with a lot of anxiety after visiting my doctor several times she suggested I stop my coffee intake I had also been drinking a lot of energy drinks while I was decorating my new house so was told to stop drink those too since then I very rarely have any anxiety attacks but now I am finding these anxiety attacks have returned and it is usually after I have eaten chocolate so I think chocolate has to go from my diet which I am pretty disappointed about but hopefully no more anxiety attacks
I had the numbness to my face and I went to the hospital because I was afraid I had a stroke. No stroke though. Doctors don’t seem to pay much attention to caffeine. I am going to try to quit caffeine. So hard to quit.
My symptoms are dark circles around my eyes, migraines, blood pressure sky rockets 200/100, warm feeling around fore head, fatigue, nerve pain, irritable, Moody, swelling, … Caffeine, sugar and caramel flavoring or dye, any type of teas, even decaf , … Its just miserable the amount of things I can’t eat or drink. Ughh…
I have been having panic attacks for one year now. No one could figure out what the trigger was. I’ve been to the hospital 2 for these attacks .one overnight visit. I have found its easier to stay home then fear you would h ave one out in public! !! I will get the tingling on the left side plus my heart races …For a week I’ve had no caffeine last night I decide a ice capp sounded great bad ideal bad bad no I realize I can no longer have caffeine last sad day very sad! !!!!!!!
Some of my friend’s bf had the same allergy to caffeine. Turns out she can’t didn’t know and the allergy reached the deepest stage.
I can add my name to the number of people with a caffeine allergy. It’s great to see I’m not alone. Personally I don’t have any skin problems when I drink coffee. I do get a scarey, intense and weird headache at the back of my head about 10-14 hours after coffee (this is why it took me so long to work out what was going on). I also get bad anxiety (particularly on planes!), my throat glands swell, very scarey chest pains and sometimes my heart will start racing out of nowhere. Same symptoms on decaf coffee only much more mild. Haven’t notices any reactions to food containing coffee, but I’ll be sure to take notice from now on… Now, if only there was a cure!
Immensely helpful. I struggle with self harm, and the anxiety/dizziness that caffeine causes tends to make me relapse out of the blue. Good to know there’s a logical explanation for that particular bit of WTFery, if nothing else.
This help me believe that i’m allergy to caffeine because I drink energy drink a few days ago, that day i drink energy drink just for a quick workout before i landed to the gym I was panicking over my extreme jittering and the feeling of passing away.
Caffine makes me crazy. I go from 0 to 60 in a snap. I get bitchy and cranky. It also gives me diahrea. I’ve been hooked on Ice Capps and Mocha Frapp’s but with this moodyness it’s not worth it.
Wow ! I have had nearly every symptom up there ! Vision blurring, my arms and legs would actually hurt. Almost felt cold. Tingling was insane. ! I’ve been off all caffeine for over six months !!’. I do sneak a nibble of chocolate or my beloved Dr.pepper and do fine ! Coffee is a huge trigger. Dam near crippling if I drink it ! Yes kicking it was tough ! I smell a pot brewing and its tough to pass. But the springs were scary and crippling. ! Give it up !