How Does a Caffeine Pill Work?

Caffeine pills are a great alternative to those who wish to gain the benefits of drinking coffee or tea but do not want to actually drink them. Caffeine pills are very popular, especially among college and high school students. Many of these students take caffeine pills before tests to keep their brains sharp, or before physical activities so that they will perform better. When taking these pills, it is important to know how they work and what they are doing to your body.

Taking the Pill

A caffeine pill usually contains a white powder know as xanthine alkaloid that causes the mental stimulation that everyone attributes to caffeine. Usually, the pills contain about half the caffeine as what is contained in a cup of coffee. To get a feeling of stimulation, two or more pills usually have to be taken for the caffeine to have a noticeable affect on the body. When the pill is swallowed, it usually takes about 1 hour for it to be fully absorbed into the bloodstream and start kicking the body into action.

Usual Effects for a Normal Dose

Taking the caffeine slightly increases a person's ability to conduct mental and physical labor. For people with breathing problems, caffeine can help boost their respiratory system so that they are able to breath normally again over time. Caffeine also is a slight dietetic, which can be a problem on long trips.

Effects on the Metabolism

Taking caffeine speeds up the metabolism slightly. Usually, it is not enough to cause significant weight loss, but it is enough to provide a boost in physical activities. It can take anywhere from 3 to 12 hours for the metabolism to get rid of half of the caffeine present in the body. Because of this, it is possible to become addicted to caffeine. The body gets used to the effects of caffeine, because when caffeine is consumed on a regular basis, it is never completely removed from the system.

Effects on the Brain

Caffeine acts as a block against certain usual brain functions. Most notably, it blocks the part of the brain that lets a person know that they are tired. Caffeine is like alcohol in the fact that it easily crosses the blood brain barrier. What this means is that when caffeine is consumed, it allows a person to work beyond his brain, enabling him to have increased locomotive skills and wakefulness.

Over use of caffeine

When caffeine is used constantly, it has different effects on the body. Caffeine is an antagonist to the body's central nervous system, so over time, the body makes more resistors to caffeine, making someone taking caffeine need more and more of it to get the feelings that a lower dose used to provide. Anyone who has built up a tolerance to caffeine will exhibit withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and headaches when they have not had any caffeine. This is because the resistors to the caffeine are too much for the body when caffeine is not present in the system. Taking too much caffeine can also cause nervous twitching and anxiety. However, a normal dose of caffeine will not cause these symptoms.