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Textbook of Addiction Treatment pp 215–228Cite as

Addiction to Caffeine and Other Xanthines

Abstract

Xanthine (3,7-dihydro-purine-2,6-dione) is a purine base that can naturally be found in human body tissues and fluids as well as in plants and other organisms. Methylated xanthines (methylxanthines) are phosphodiesterase inhibitors and adenosine receptor antagonists. Methylxanthines have thus different effects: reduce inflammation and immunity, reduce sleepiness, and increase alertness, but also stimulate the heart rate and contraction and dilate the bronchi. The most well-known methylxanthines are caffeine, methylbromine, and theophylline. Large observational studies suggest that caffeine may have long-term health benefits. Coffee and caffeine withdrawal symptoms exist and are often not recognized, especially in treatment settings, where caffeine withdrawal can be confounded with other symptoms. Caffeine intoxication and withdrawal are recognized clinical entities, but caffeine dependence is currently not. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms occur in half of regular coffee drinkers, even at moderate caffeine intake. The most common symptoms are headache, fatigue, and difficulty to concentrate. Health professionals and patients should be better informed about these symptoms and the risk of occurrence of caffeine withdrawal. There is little research on treatments for clinical problems associated with xanthine use or abuse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit for Dependencies, Division for Primary Care, Department for Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

    Thierry Favrod-Coune & Barbara Broers

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  1. Thierry Favrod-Coune
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  2. Barbara Broers
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Correspondence to Thierry Favrod-Coune .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Addiction Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Nady el-Guebaly

  2. Mental Health Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Monza e Brianza, Italy

    Prof. Giuseppe Carrà

  3. Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Marc Galanter

  4. Population and Behavioural Science Division (Psychiatry and Addictions), University of St Andrews, St.Andrews, UK

    Prof. Dr. Alexander M. Baldacchino

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Favrod-Coune, T., Broers, B. (2021). Addiction to Caffeine and Other Xanthines. In: el-Guebaly, N., Carrà, G., Galanter, M., Baldacchino, A.M. (eds) Textbook of Addiction Treatment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36391-8_16

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