More on caffeine and depression

16
Aug/090

Hi. Thanks for returning. If you haven't already subscribed to receive each new article as it is published, why not subscribe to receive each new article by email, or else via RSS feed.

Further to the research into caffeine and adolescent anxiety, I have noticed that my own health has been impacted by caffeine.

In the last few weeks I have been drinking a lot of fresh coffee (I can't stand the instant stuff) and I've found that my medication hasn't been as effective as normal.

Normally, I could take my medication in the morning and it would last 24 hours; over the last few weeks and coinciding with my increased coffee intake my meds only seem to last until early evening. Certainly my night-time dreaming has been wacko-weird as a result of the medication not 'protecting' me as long as it normally does; and whilst the dreams are certainly entertaining and vivid, the headaches that I am suffering before and after sleep are equally as vivid and definitely not welcome.

So last week I reduced my caffeine intake. Result: 24 hour cover and a lot less headaches. The dreaming is no longer vividly technicolour, alas, but that is a price I am prepared to pay. Perhaps when I come to write the 'Great Australian Novel' I may revisit that decision... [smile]

Please note the medical disclaimer.

Technorati : anxiety, caffeine, dream, mental health, protection, sleep
Del.icio.us : anxiety, caffeine, dream, mental health, protection, sleep
Ice Rocket : anxiety, caffeine, dream, mental health, protection, sleep