Caffeine is an addictive drug with many side effects. I actually wrote an article: The Secret Side Effects of Coffee: Your Health is at Risk! http://www.squidoo.com/caffeinerisks

Thanks for sharing your info!

I have reason to believe, that I have discovered the mechanism of
caffeine poisoning. Caffeine poisoning can manifest as mental and/or
physical symptoms mimicking various conditions ranging from depression
to psychosis and from slight muscle stiffness to multiple sclerosis.

The mechanism is based on caffeine’s potentation of various
neurotransmitters according to individual genetic properties. Adrenaline
accelerates the sodium exchange pumps of resting skeletal muscle cells
and the intracellular sodium level rises. Sodium binds extracellular
water in the cell until it bursts, letting out myoglobin, which causes
levels of porphyrins rise in blood and apply toxic stress to brain
cells. The process can take years before manifesting any symptoms, as
they are hidden under the pharmacodynamical effects of caffeine.

First symptoms can be peripheral neuropathy in the form of muscle
stiffness in neck and shoulder region. This is accompanied with
paresthesia in scalp, face, upper extremities and expands to other parts
of the body and limbs on individual timeline. GAD, panic disorder and
depression start at the same time or after the physical symptoms.

I suggest, that caffeine poisoning is actually a rhabdomyolysis based
form of aquired porphyria.

If you have access to patients, you can test them in a matter of days,
and start treating them immediately. Patients should be caffeine users
and fill the diagnostic criterias of fibromyalgia, ms, or other
condition with similar symptoms, or depression, anxiety, panic disorder
with or without peripheral neuropathy.

Blood, 24hr urine and feces should be eaxamined for myoglobin,
protoporphyrins and coproporphyrins.
If the first tests are unclear or negative, myoglobin and porphyrins
stored in the broken cells can be chelated with a suitable sulphur-based
chelator like DMSA, MSM or plain garlic from the grocery store. New
tests can be made in 3-5 days after introducing the chelating agent.
Amounts of porphyrins may be so high, that some form of blood filtration
may be needed in worst cases or if the chelating process advances too
fast. Porphyrins are known to cause kidney failure and liver cancer.

Kari Luoto