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

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.

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.