[BetterHealth] How Much Mental Illness is a Caffeine Allergy?

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CAFFEINE ALLERGY: Past Disorder or Present Epidemic?

Ruth Whalen, MLT, ASCP

 

How Much Mental Illness is an Allergy to Caffeine?

 

....And now we know why so many persons are " eating " Ritalin, Prozac,

Paxil, and other medications...misdiagnosed with OCD, BPD, ADD, and

schizophrenia.

 

I'm sure this info will help millions, and spare them from being

erroneously stigmatized as " mentally ill, " and prevent them from

swallowing pills they do not need.

 

Due to medical ignorance, for 25 years, I lived this nightmare.

Because I am reserved by nature, not liking to voice negative

comments, I appeared normal. Until the end---with liver, kidneys, and

heart failing, and I was institutionalized for several days, forced

to take meds. Upon caffeine cessation, Neurontin caused a grand mal

seizure.

 

Researching on my own, to save my own health, because goodness knows,

doctors, having misdiagnosed me with a menagerie of disorders, finally

aware of and agreeing with my findings, confessed that I was their

" first patient. " The others are institutionalized, or ingesting meds.

 

Please feel free to contact me, for detailed updated medical

information.

Sincerely,

Ruth Whalen, MLT, ASCP

DoctorYourself.com

 

CAFFEINE ALLERGY: Past Disorder or Present Epidemic?

by Ruth Whalen, Medical Laboratory Technician

Cape Cod, MA USA.

 

With the upswing of " chemical imbalance " disorders that surfaced in

the latter twentieth century, many researchers frantically attempt to

unravel the brain's intricate clockworks. In turn, as the number of

persons suffering with mental issues mount, it seems that doctors,

pressed for time, are quick to refer patients to psychiatrists.

Failing to request a medical physical, many psychiatrists hand out

medications, often masking the underlying physical problem.

 

People have overlooked two simple but deleterious factors: 1,3,7

trimethylxanthine and allergy. Simply put: caffeine allergy. It is

medical knowledge that the longer a person is exposed to a drug, the

higher the chances are for developing a tolerance, and an allergy to

the substance. Once this happens, caffeine allergic persons can't

properly metabolize caffeine, which is rapidly absorbed by all

organs, and distributed into intracellular compartments, and

extracellular water.

 

Mentioned in a 1936 article by Drs. McManamy and Schube, a young

woman, allergic to caffeine, presented with alternating states of

delirium and mania, resembling schizophrenia (1). After the recorded

case, allergy documentation becomes rare. And not surprisingly.

 

The drug's stimulating properties masks its allergic symptoms.

Circulating adrenaline (epinephrine) increases in caffeine consuming

persons (2,3). In its synthetic form, epinephrine is the drug of

choice for anaphylactic reactions, halting allergic reactions. But

added to a stimulant reaction, excess adrenaline may induce

delusions. And the breakdown of some adrenaline byproducts mimics

symptoms of schizophrenia (4).

 

Brain levels increase proportionately with dosage (5). In allergic

persons, each cup of coffee, cola, tea, every piece of chocolate, and

any ingested caffeine products, intensifies toxic psychosis. Half-

life increases. Subsequent doses, including minute amounts, act as a

bolus. Cells are poisoned, including neurons.

 

Symptoms of cerebral allergy can range from minimal reactions, such as

lack of comprehension and inability to focus, to severe psychotic

states, such as delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations (6). It's

known that amphetamine psychosis can't be distinguished from

schizophrenia (7,8). With a caffeine allergic person's inability to

eliminate, continually ingesting caffeine, neurotransmitter levels,

including dopamine and adrenaline, quickly increase. Cells rapidly

absorb the drug.

 

Dopamine increases proportionately to the amount of stress (9). The

higher the adrenaline level, the greater the increase in dopamine.

Serotonin also increases. Dopamine and serotonin decrease during

partial, toxic withdrawal states. But as long as caffeine remains in

the toxic body, neurotransmitters never adjust to the victim's natural

state.

 

Toxicity is known to cause excitement, agitation, restlessness,

shifting states of consciousness, and toxic psychosis (10), mimicking

amphetamine psychosis. Allergic individuals may be erroneously

diagnosed, medicated, and lost in a dark disturbed world, until death.

 

Adenosine receptors are blocked by caffeine (11,16), maintaining

neuronal firing. Persons remain excited and often euphoric.

 

Caffeine toxicity may be mistaken for bipolar disorder (1,12).

Symptoms include: chattiness, repetitive thought and action

(resembling obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD), restlessness,

psychomotor agitation, alternating moods, anger, impulsiveness,

aggression, omnipotence, delirium, buying sprees, lack of sexual

inhibition, and loss of values.

 

Allergy can mimic Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) (13). As far back

as 1902, T. D. Crothers noted that many caffeine consuming children

" exhibit precocity " and " functional exaltation " (14).

 

Caffeine poisoning may also resemble schizophrenia. One woman's

conversational topics wandered from subject to subject. She screamed,

and believed that she was in prison. Natural judgement was impaired

(1).

 

In 1931, a truck driver brought to the hospital in a confused and

irritable condition, complained of being attacked by flies. Flies were

never present. Examination revealed that he'd consumed large amounts

of cola (15). One gentleman ended his political speech with

predictions and threats, out of the ordinary for his personality,

stunning the audience (14). Another case describes a man, who

imagined himself very wealthy, and assumed that his mental state was

normal (14).

 

Caffeine toxicity may also masquerade as depression, and anxiety. In

1925, Powers described nervousness, visual problems, and dizziness, in

patients he discovered suffered from caffeine toxicity (16). In 1974,

caffeine toxic patients, experiencing the same symptoms, were

erroneously admitted to a psychiatric hospital, for treatment of

anxiety

 

(16,17). In other studies, depression and anxiety are also correlated

with caffeine intake (18,19,20,21).

 

In several reports, patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder

experienced panic attacks with ingestion of caffeine (18,19,20). One

study reveals that six persons improved with caffeine cessation and

remained improved for at least six months (21). Other reports reveal

that some persons not afflicted with panic disorder, experienced panic

attacks with intravenously administered caffeine (22, 23).

 

Written materials on panic disorder symptoms and anaphylactic symptoms

do not clearly differentiate between the two. Parasthesia (pins and

needle sensations), a feeling of choking, hyperactive symptoms, chest

pains, and hyperventilation, amongst other symptoms, are common

in both conditions. They're also common in many caffeine consuming

persons.

 

This suggests that caffeine allergy may be responsible for many cases

of panic disorder. In which case, panic attacks in allergic

individuals are suppressed anaphylactic reactions - mimicking ADHD,

and panic disorder. They're " have to get up and run " and " I think I'm

losing my mind " feelings, brought about by increased neurotransmitter

levels, associated with the " fight or flight " syndrome.

 

Dr. William Walsh connected anxiety and severe allergic reactions. Dr.

Walsh maintains that allergic anxiety stems from a choking sense, and

loss of air; not a psychological deficit (24).

 

Caffeine converts into many byproducts, including theophylline.

Theophylline keeps the bronchial tubes open. Allergic individuals are

less likely to suffer respiratory collapse, during an anaphylactic

reaction.

 

A proficient Boston neurologist mentions that sixty-six percent of

elevated CPK MM (creatine phosphokinase of muscle) levels are of an

" unknown origin " (25). Innumerable mid to late twentieth century

studies reveal that a high number of persons diagnosed with mental

disorders, including personality disorder, mania, BPD, depression,

catatonia, and schizophrenia, exhibit elevated CPK MM levels

(26,27,28-38,39,40-50).

 

The high majority of these studies, and others, attribute elevated CPK

levels to a commonality between patients with mental disorders. Not

one focuses on caffeine allergy as a contributing factor of mental

disorders.

 

CPK MM, a muscle enzyme, increases with severe muscle trauma, burns,

inflammatory states, and poisoning. This may stem from drugs

(36,37,38,39), including cocaine, alcohol, amphetamines, heroin, and

stimulants (37,40). Antihistamines, salicylates, cyclic

antidepressants, theophylline, and others also cause this disorder

(37).

 

This condition, called rhabdomyolysis, stresses and inflames tissues,

including brain cells, breaking down muscle fibers, and discharging

potentially toxic cellular matter into the bloodstream (37). Caffeine

poisoning can cause rhabdomyolysis (10,37,41).

 

Myoglobinuria is a symptom of rhabdomyolysis, but often urine

myoglobin disappears early in the course of the disorder, or is

absent altogether (37). Generalized muscle cramping (associated with

rhabdomyolysis) (14,37) may also be absent, or subside early on.

Accumulation of caffeine acts as morphine, alleviating pain and

discomfort, often inducing muscle rigidity.

 

With toxins leaking into the bloodstream, the CPK increases. The

higher the CPK, the higher the neurotransmitters, and the deeper into

psychosis a person spirals.

 

In the late 1960's, Bengzon et al proposed that the leakage of CPK and

aldolase might explain schizophrenia (26). Studies on patients with

non-restrictive diets, concentrated on various factors, including

medication, but failed to include caffeine as a possible factor (26).

More recent studies have also overlooked caffeine allergy as a factor

in any mental disorders, including schizophrenia.

 

A study theorized caffeine as a possible, psychosis inducing agent.

Researchers eliminated patients' caffeine for a short duration. It was

decided that caffeine aggravates symptoms of thought disorder and

psychosis (42). Caffeine was reintroduced-never allowing for

sufficient withdrawal times-and significant improvements.

 

Proportionate to toxicity, physical withdrawal may take up to 12

months, or longer. Recovery symptoms include memory loss, confusion,

tremors, agitated states, insomnia or somnolence, and nightmares

associated with amphetamine withdrawal. Following physical recovery,

residual mental symptoms, primarily confusion and mood alterations,

may exist for several months.

 

Evidence suggests that caffeine, and synthetic neurotransmitter

altering medications, merely balance one another, and that upon

cessation of caffeine, medication is no longer needed. Several

reports indicate that upon caffeine cessation, tremors increased in

lithium consuming individuals (43). In some patients, caffeine

withdrawal increased lithium levels (44). After experiencing a 10-

year course of seasonal BPD, a woman eliminated caffeine from her

diet. She no longer needed BPD medication (45).

 

Caffeine may compete for benzodiazepine receptors (5). In which case,

benzodiazepines reduce caffeine's effects and vice versa; balancing

each other.

 

Chronic toxicity may affect functional aspects of every organ (14).

Allergic persons may become sensitive to bright light, and resort to

sunglasses. It's not uncommon to find dilated but reactive pupils on

examination (14). Toxic persons usually present with a whitish, or

grayish coated tongue (14, 46). Other findings imply that caffeine

inhibits anaphylaxis, by suppressing histamine release (47,48). Due

to caffeine's antihistamine properties, a skin test for caffeine

allergy may be negative.

 

Several laboratory tests may be used as markers for allergic

toxicity. A detectable Theophylline level in a patient not receiving

Theophylline therapy, and an elevated CPK level are indicative of

caffeine toxicity. Along with these, an increased glucose level

(10,49) and an elevated white blood count (1,49) may also be

significant of toxicity, as many patients assumed afflicted with

mental disorders present with elevation of these (1,50). An elevated

sedimentation rate, indicative of inflammatory processes, might

signify rhabdomyolysis.

 

It's highly probable, that millions of consumers developed an allergy

to caffeine, especially since availability and production increased

rapidly mid-twentieth century. In which case, natural insights, and

physical and mental health, have been sacrificed to chronic toxicity,

resulting in organic brain, silently posing as ADD, ADHD, anxiety,

BPD, depression, OCD, panic, and schizophrenia. Physical ailments

resemble amphetamine poisoning, and include drug eruptions,

masquerading as " rosacea. "

 

Back in 1936, McManamy and Schube maintained that in all probability,

many people of that era might have already been erroneously diagnosed

with some form of mental illness. The doctors further predicted, that

in the future, with lack of time, and proper medical insight, many

doctors would not be able to diagnose simple disorders such as

caffeine allergy, and would label many patients as psychotic (1).

 

Well, here we are. Welcome to the future.

 

(Copyright 2001 © Ruth Whalen M.L.T., ASCP, BA. Reprinted with

permission.)

 

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AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This page is not in any way offered as

prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness,

infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or

alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's

acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons

needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your

doctor before making any health decision.