Caffeine

=__Caffeine__=

Caffeine is a stimulant drug that works in the central nervous system. It is known for its very bitter taste, and its main side effect of working in your nervous system which can help keep you awake and alert. It is commonly found in most soft drinks, tea, and coffee. Its chemical composition is [|C]8[|H]10[|N]4[|O]2. (1)

Caffeine is an alkaloid. Effects: Stimulant of central nervous system, cardiac muscle, and respiratory system, diuretic Delays fatigue. 3,7-dihydro- 1,3,7-trimethyl- 1H-purine- 2,6-dione; 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine; 1,3,7-trimethyl- 2,6-dioxopurine; coffeine; thein; guaranine; methyltheobromine; No-Doz. (2)
 * America's most popular drug because it is consumed every day by around 90 percent of Americans. More than half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams (mg) of caffeine every day. This makes caffeine America's most popular drug.
 * Caffeine is known medically as trimethylxanthine,
 * chemical formula: C8H10N4O2
 * When isolated in pure form, caffeine is a white crystalline powder that tastes very bitter. (3)

Caffeine changes the chemistry of the brain by blocking the action of a natural brain chemical that is associated with sleeping. To a nerve cell, caffeine looks like adenosine. Adenosine causes drowsiness by binding to adenosine receptors and slowing down nerve cell activity but, caffeine binds to the adenosine receptors. However, it doesn't slow down the cell's activity like adenosine. The cells cannot sense adenosine anymore because caffeine is taking up all the receptors that adenosine would normally bind to. So instead of slowing down because of the adenosine level, the cells speed up. (4)

Caffeine has many side effects along with keeping you awake. It can make you dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, give you an upset stomach, nausea, and sleeping disturbances. An irregular heartbeat can also occur in which a doctor would need to be notified immediatly because this could result in a bad situation. If an excess amount of caffeine is consumed over a very long time to the point where it is exceeding the healthy limit, liver disease can be obtained as a result. (5)

__Works Cited__
(1) http://www.worldofmolecules.com/drugs/caffeine.htm (2) http://coffeefaq.com/site/node/21 (3) http://health.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm (4) http://science.howstuffworks.com/question531.htm (5)http://www.medicinenet.com/butalbitalacetaminophencaffeine-oral/article.htm