How Much Caffeine Is In That?

An ordinary, old-fashioned cup of coffee has about 60 milligrams (mg) of caffeine. Drink an extra-large hot or cold coffee from the corner coffee shop, add an expresso shot, and you’re drinking more than 400 mg of caffeine.

Drink an old-fashioned cup of tea, and you’re drinking about 40 mg of caffeine. Make that a giant-sized ice tea and you’re multiplying your caffeine intake many times over.

Add a chocolate bar (about 5 – 35 mg of caffeine) and drink a cola (another 40 to 60 mg or more). How about a “black coffee shot” added to your convenience store coffee? An energy ball from what looks like a gum ball machine? Would you like that chocolate-flavored? How about an energy drink? Energy pills? Even some over-the-counter headache remedies contain caffeine.

It’s easy to swallow enough caffeine to make your hands shake and your heart pound. Your stomach might be upset and you definitely can be irritable and have trouble sleeping. If you miss your usual morning cup or mug, you could have a headache from caffeine withdrawal.

Caffeine is hard to avoid because it’s found in so many common foods and drinks. Even decaffeinated coffee or tea usually contains a small amount of caffeine. In moderate amounts, caffeine is not harmful to most people. It can increase alertness, help you concentrate, and maintain energy. 

The line between enough and too much varies from person to person. Many people can manage and enjoy the amount of caffeine in about three cups of coffee daily. But people who overdo it can experience unpleasant side effects until the caffeine wears off in a few hours. People who take too many caffeine pills to stay awake can have seizures. There have even been some deaths from caffeine overdoses.

If you have symptoms of a caffeine overdose, call the Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222. The experts there will ask about the amount of caffeine you’ve taken in and about your overall health. Then, they’ll tell you what to do. Most cases of mild symptoms can be managed at home with guidance from the Poison Center specialists. If it might be enough to cause problems, the Poison Center will work with paramedics and emergency department staff to see that you get the needed care.