Is there such a thing as caffeine addiction? In one of my articles I came down pretty hard on coffee and the caffeine that it has. Tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and soda, all of our favorite things contain caffeine. That is unless we go decaf in coffee and tea and turn to diet soda. Chocolate is just wonderful the way it is.

I explained earlier that caffeine is a substance called an alkaloid and is grouped in a class of substances known in the medical field as psychoactive medications. When you take any medication in this group, side effects can develop. It really depends on the particular medication about what side effects that the patient will develop. Many side effects come about when the medication is stopped suddenly. Patients have to have these medications slowly tapered, to help curb side effects. Are these medications addictive? In my opinion I would have to say yes.

Is caffeine additive? In my opinion I would have to say yes to this also. I have often heard that people who do not have their coffee will develop a bad headache. If my husband does not have his cup of coffee in the morning he will often develop a headache. People who are switching to decaf beverages often complain of headaches. I have also heard of complaints of excess fatigue, irregular sleep patterns, irritable disposition, unable to concentrate or work if they do not get their coffee.

I do not particularly enjoy soda and will probably drink soda about six times per year. I am also happy with drinking an herbal tea. If I don't have my coffee a particular day I find a substitute such as herbal tea or just flavored water. I don't seem to develop a headache. Sometimes I notice fatigue, and sometimes a restless sleep. Some people who consume caffeine daily sometimes tend to build up a resistance to its effects. Not everyone reacts the same and the way our systems react or don't react to caffeine can be very different.

Since caffeine is a stimulant it no doubt affects the heart and circulatory system. It probably affects the blood pressure in that it rises the blood pressure. How much caffeine does one consume who are taking a prescribed blood pressure medication? What if that person cut out caffeine totally, would their blood pressure become more normal. I have to think that it probably would help a great deal. I have heard of people who have quit caffeine and soon their doctor was able to stop their blood pressure medication. I sure don't recommend anyone to do this except under their doctors recommendations only. Many people cannot drink caffeine past 6:00 pm due to it tends to cause sleeplessness.

To manufacture or produce decaffeinated beverages, chemicals must be used. In turn we consume these chemicals when we drink the decaffeinated products. What are these chemicals? One is Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Dioxide is used in various foods and drinks from wines, to soda pop to candy you name it. It is also used in fire extinguishers, to put out fires. Carbon dioxide is a gas. To decaffeinated beverages it takes even more chemicals such as meth, chloride, ethyl acetate, meth and water.

In my opinion I don't think that the chemical process is all that alarming or harmful to us. If you are thinking that you want to switch to a decaffeinated beverage, do it slowly and taper yourself off caffeine to help avoid the side effects.

To find out more on this process do an internet inquiry on *coffee and caffeine..*