Impairment from caffeine intoxication may have serious consequences, including dys-
function at work or school, social indiscretions, or failure to fulfill role obligations. More-
over, extremely high doses of caffeine can be fa tal. In some cases, caffeine intoxication may
precipitate a caffeine-induced disorder. 
Differential Diagnosis
Other mental disorders. Caffeine intoxication may be characterized by symptoms (e.g.,
panic attacks) that resemble primary mental diso rders. To meet criteria for caffeine intoxica-
tion, the symptoms must not be associated with another medical condition or another mental
disorder, such as an anxiety di sorder, that could better expl ain them. Manic episodes; panic
disorder; generalized anxiety disorder; amphetami ne intoxication; sedative, hypnotic, or anx-
iolytic withdrawal or tobacco withdrawal; slee p disorders; and medication-induced side ef-
fects (e.g., akathisia) can cause a clinical picture that is similar to that of caffeine intoxication. 
Other caffeine-induced disorders. The temporal relationship of the symptoms to increased
caffeine use or to abstinence from caffeine help s to establish the diagno sis. Caffeine intoxica-
tion is differentiated from caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, with onset during intoxication
(see “Substance/Medicat ion-Induced Anxiety Disorder” in the chapter “Anxiety Disorders”),
and caffeine-induced sleep disorder, with onse t during intoxication (see “Substance/Medica-
tion-Induced Sleep Disorder” in the chapter “S leep-Wake Disorders”), by the fact that the
symptoms in these latter disorders are in excess  of those usually associ ated with caffeine in-
toxication and are severe enough to wa rrant independent clinical attention.