Caffeine & Bipolar: Everything You Need to Know

What Is The Link Between Bipolar & Caffeine?

The connection between bipolar disorder and caffeine is strong. Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood fluctuations between manic moods and depressive moods. Caffeine is also known to have side effects that can impact your body’s natural chemical makeup. When this happens, it can interact with the stability that is brought on by mood stabilizers and other drugs prescribed for bipolar disorder.¹

How Does Caffeine Work?

Caffeine is a stimulant to the body and mind. It works to awaken our body and mind when we are tired. It is important to be aware that our body has natural chemicals within it that inform us that we are tired. This may trigger you to want to get another cup of coffee or a drink that has caffeine in it. Since caffeine can mirror the makeup of the natural chemicals in our body, it can give us a false sense of being awake, as the caffeine is what is keeping us awake. Caffeine also helps to send a signal of adrenaline production, which can increase alertness and affect certain bodily functions. However, it is important to note that caffeine use can be a crutch to temporarily manage symptoms of bipolar disorder, so you need to be careful about how much and how often you consume it.²

Caffeine & Bipolar Symptoms

Caffeine is a common way to wake up in the morning, but for those with bipolar disorder and mood symptoms, it can trigger bipolar symptom exacerbation. Caffeine is linked to the onset of sudden mania and hyperactivity, including negative thoughts. Since caffeine is a stimulant, people often experience highs with bipolar disorder shortly after consuming caffeine. While caffeine itself can reduce the instances of depression, as it wears off, depressive symptoms can set in.¹

Manic Symptoms

Caffeine can trigger manic episodes in people with bipolar. Since caffeine is a stimulant, it can trigger anxiety. Some symptoms that can be evident during a manic episode are insomnia, an increase in sexual behaviors, anger, and mood swings.³

Depressive Symptoms

There is a connection between caffeine and depression. Caffeine is known to be a stimulant, and many people often feel good after a cup of coffee, however, depressive symptoms can develop with caffeine withdrawal. The withdrawal period can vary depending on the individual, but sometimes people continue to consume coffee to offset symptoms of depression. For those with bipolar disorder, the highs that come with caffeine can put them in more dangerous situations because people can make risky decisions without taking time to think things through when they have symptoms of mania. In addition, the withdrawal of caffeine in someone with bipolar disorder can lead to symptoms of depression.³

Can Caffeine Interfere With Bipolar Treatment?

Treatment options can be very effective for bipolar disorder, however, caffeine can interact with these treatments. Some of the same enzymes that our body produces to metabolize bipolar medication are some of the same enzymes used to metabolize caffeine. Since these enzymes are essential for the metabolization and absorption of bipolar medications, introducing other compounds in the body, such as caffeine, can take away from the process the bipolar medications need. When there is an excess of these unabsorbed medications, that can lead to risks such as organ damage and the exacerbation of bipolar symptoms if medications are never at true efficacy in the body.⁴

Caffeine & Sleep Regulation

Caffeine can also impact sleep, and sleep regulation is important for mental health, especially for those with bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. Sleep health is pivotal for the treatment plan for managing bipolar disorder. It is vital that those with bipolar should take care of themselves to regulate their sleep.⁵ Tips to help people with bipolar regulate sleep better include:

• Reducing or eliminating caffeine intake: Caffeine is a stimulant, and if taken too much, it can impact your sleep. Also, drinking caffeinated beverages in the late afternoon or evening can impact your sleep quality.
• Having a consistent nighttime routine: Our bodies thrive on routine, so if we can come up with a routine for sleep, we can physically train our bodies to get ready for sleep.
• Avoid the use of screens at night: Using certain screens at nighttime can trigger the production of the hormone that keeps you awake. Try to limit screens and consider using blue light glasses to block out those rays.
• Avoid heavy meals right before bed: Eating big meals right before bed can be hard for your body to digest and work to get you to bed. Try eating your bigger meals at night a few hours before you get to bed so your body can focus on getting sleep.
• Ensure you are processing your emotions throughout the day: Sometimes, when we are not dealing with emotions during the day, it can keep us up at night. It may not be glaring, but our emotions speak to us in both conscious and unconscious ways.
• Stay physically active during the day: Staying active during the day helps your body use any excess energy it may have so you can get to bed at night and stay asleep.

How Much Caffeine Is Safe?

It is recommended that no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day should be consumed by a healthy adult. This does not consider safe limits for those with bipolar disorder or any other condition that is sensitive to caffeine. There is no medical guidance for caffeine limits for those with mood disorders, however, it is important to keep track of your caffeine intake and log your symptoms to learn what a safe limit is.

Sources of Caffeine

You may think that caffeine is primarily in coffee, however, many sports drinks and supplements can contain caffeine.

Caffeine levels for common foods and drinks include:

• Coffee: 95 mg per 8 oz
• Dark chocolate: 24 mg per 1 oz
• Soda: 40 mg per 12 oz can
• Red Bull drink: 111 mg per 12 oz can
• Monster Energy drink: 86 mg per one can
• Black tea: 47 mg per 8 oz
• Matcha: 70 mg per 8 oz
• Coffee ice cream: 40 mg per half cup
• Mushroom coffee: 50 mg per 8 oz

Should People With Bipolar Avoid Caffeine?

People with bipolar disorder don’t need to cut out caffeine altogether. However, they should consider how their caffeine intake impacts them and consider reducing the intake or avoiding them at certain times of the day. They can begin to notice how they feel before and after caffeine consumption and consider tracking their symptoms over time. It is advised that since caffeine can trigger bipolar symptoms to become exacerbated, such as manic episodes and mood fluctuations, they should consider the risks and benefits of it.⁶

When To Seek Professional Support For Bipolar

It is never too early to seek professional support if you or someone you love might be dealing with bipolar. There are many therapists available on this online therapist directory, and you can also utilize an online therapy platform to find a therapist who may be a good fit. You can also consider in-person therapy as virtual is not for everyone, especially if this is your first time going to a therapist. It is important to find a therapist who is familiar with your set of symptoms and diagnosis to make sure they are able to provide you with care that is pertinent to your needs. After speaking with a therapist, they may also suggest working with a psychiatrist. If you are not sure where to begin, working with a therapist is a good first step.

In My Experience

In my experience, people who live with bipolar disorder are able to enjoy caffeine and live a full life. The biggest determining factor is how they are aware of their symptoms and how they manage them. Bipolar disorder symptoms are absolutely something that can be managed well letting people have the ability to live a full life and enjoy what it has to offer. Working with a therapist and keeping track of your symptoms is a good way to learn what patterns you may have. It can be hard to start, but also having a support system who can be there for you is important for your long-term wellness. I encourage you to speak up about what you are going through and get the support you need from your loved ones and your medical team. It can and will get better, and together, you and your therapist can come up with an action plan to help you through this.