Not long ago, we blogged about coffee allergies which are not always as straightforward as they seem. Some allergic reactions to coffee are often reactions to components of the coffee.

One component that can pose a problem is caffeine. Aside from the well-known and sometimes sought-after effects of caffeine (like keeping you alert), a caffeine allergy or intolerance deserves as much attention for what it is not as for what it is. So what is an allergic reaction to caffeine?

Here’s what I mean: Caffeine can cause extreme alterations in behavior, including delusions, franticness, and mania. These behavior symptoms can lead to diagnoses of mental disorders like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, ADD, or bipolar disorder. Properly recognized caffeine allergies could avoid these diagnoses, their attendant treatments, and other consequences.

As AllergyRemedy.org explains, caffeine targets cells and neurons directly causing the body to release large amounts of dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline, which are responsible for these alterations in behavior and personality. In smaller amounts, these chemicals produce the desired effects of caffeine, but when they are excessive, there is a problem.

Caffeine allergies are also interesting in that the cause of becoming allergic to caffeine is often related to a person consuming too much caffeine. Consuming too much caffeine causes the body to react to even a little amount of ingested caffeine, because of the high levels already present in the body.

Physical caffeine allergy symptoms include a tingling in the mouth (often the first symptom), difficulty swallowing, itchy skin, chest pain, hyperventilation, heart palpitations, and anaphylaxis.

Remember that many products besides coffee contain caffeine including soft drinks, tea, chocolate, and even lotion!

Spreading awareness about caffeine allergy and how mental illness diagnoses may mask it is the first step in helping caffeine allergic individuals.