# Different caffienes hit me different... why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-caffienes-hit-me-different-why/146175>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 2, 2003, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-caffienes-hit-me-different-why/146175 "2003-01-02T08:43:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-caffienes-hit-me-different-why/146175/1 "2003-01-02T08:43:42Z")

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I drink a staggering amount of Mt. Dew. I know the Master has discussed which soda has the most caffeine, but I have another question…

However, while I can pound a can of Dew and go right to bed, if I have a cup of coffee, I will get wired.

Why is it I can drink a 2 liter bottle of Mt, Dew and have no problems sleeping, etc., but if I drink a cup of coffee I get the shakes and can’t sleep…?

Is there different types of caffiene?

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-caffienes-hit-me-different-why/146175/2 "2003-01-02T10:36:46Z")

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Well, caffiene is a member of group of compounds called hypo-xanthines which have similar pharmacologic effects, but varying potencies. Tea, which is sometimes marketed as “caffiene free” instead contains theophylline, which is more potent than caffiene. However, I would imagine that all softdrinks use pure caffiene so that would not account for the difference. Coffee probably has several related chemicals, one of which you are extremely sensitive to.

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**Author:** ![rampisad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/858c86/32.png) [@rampisad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rampisad)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-caffienes-hit-me-different-why/146175/3 "2003-01-02T12:26:43Z")

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I’ve suddenly become extremely sensitive to caffeine in tea and coffee. One cup and my BP goes sky-high, I can feel the heartbeat and it sometimes skips a beat or gives a surge. My doctor says “Hmmm - interesting. Lose weight”. I know I should lose weight, but it’s the sudden onset I’m interested in - I used to drink modest amounts of tea and coffee without effect. Since I stopped all intake, no symptoms. I’m pretty sure its the caffeine, because decaf coffee does nothing.

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**Author:** ![heresiarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-caffienes-hit-me-different-why/146175/4 "2003-01-02T14:01:19Z")

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Sorry, I don’t have an answer. I just thought I’d relate a similar experience.

Caffeine in soda and coffee have only a moderate effect on me, and I don’t notice any difference. But once I took No-doze and I hated it. I was still sleepy, physically, but it made me emotionally agitated - almost how I imagine a mild anxiety attack would feel.

As I think back, maybe stress had something to do with it. But I haven’t used No-doze since, so I don’t know if it was just a fluke.