Other Stimulants Oral

Caffeine

A natural stimulant that increases alertness and reduces fatigue by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain.

Sci.1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine 10% caffeine 10 mg caffeine 120 mg of caffeine 1,3, 7-trimethyl-1h-purine-2,6(3h, 7h)-dione 1,3,7-trimethyl-1h-purine-2,6(3h,7h) dione 1,3,7-trimethyl-1h-purine-2,6(3h,7h)-dione 1,3, 7-trimethyl-h-purine-2,6(3h, 7h)-dione 1,3,7-trimethyl-h-purine-2,6(3h,7h)-dione 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine 1,3,7 trimethyl xanthine 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine 150 mg caffeine 150mg caffeine 150 mg of caffeine anhydrous 1.5% caffeine 16 mg of naturally occurring caffeine 17 mg naturally-occurring caffeine 17mg of naturally occurring caffeine 18mg of naturally-occurring caffeine 18 milligrams of naturally-occurring caffeine 1-methyl caffeine <1mg caffeine <1mg caffeine group alkaloids <1 mg of caffeine <1 mg of natural caffeine 200 mg caffeine 20 mg caffeine 225mg from coffea arabica 2nd rush caffeine 300 mg caffeine 33% extract providing 17mg naturally-occurring caffeine 35 mg caffeine 36% caffeine 3, 7-dihydro-3, 7-dimethyl-1h-purine-2,6-dione 3,7-dihydro-3, 7-dimethyl-1h-purine-2, 6-dione 38.5 mg caffeine <3% caffeine 3mg caffeine 40 mg caffeine 4% caffeine 4mg caffeine 4mg caffeine group alkaloids 50% caffeine 50 mg caffeine 5.5 mg caffeine 5% caffeine 60 mg. caffeine <6% caffeine 6 hour caffeine blend 6 mg caffeine 70 mg. caffeine 76 mg of caffeine 7% caffeine 80 mg caffeine 80 mg of caffeine 8% caffeine 8 mg of caffeine active caffeine added caffeine and 50 mg caffeine anhydrous anhydrous caffeine approx. 4 mg of naturally occurring caffeine biozomal cafe alatus caffeine caffeine alkaloids (caffeine) anhydrous {caffeine} anhydrous caffeine anhydrous caffeine anhydrous (100 mg per scoop) caffeine anhydrous 50% extract caffeine anhydrous 98.5% caffeine anhydrous beadlets caffeine anhydrous extract caffeine anhydrous, microencapsulated caffeine anhydrous, natural caffeine anhydrous powder caffeine anydrous caffeine anyhdrous caffeine anyhydrous caffeine citrate caffeine cocrystal caffeine co-crystals caffeine combo caffeine content caffeine cr bead delivery system caffeine, delayed release caffeine glycerite liquid extract caffeine group alkaloids caffeine hydrochloride caffeine, microencapsulated caffeine, natural caffeine powder caffeine, powder caffeine pure powder caffeine, sustained-release caffeine usp caffxtend coffeeberry energy contains 100 mg of caffeine contains 15 mg of caffeine contains 2 mg of caffeine contains ~40 mg caffeine contains 4 mg of caffeine contains approx. 6 mg of naturally occurring caffeine contains up to 3 mg of caffeine crystalline anhydrous 1,3, 7-trimethylxanthine d-caffeine malate di caffeine malate di-caffeine malate dicaffeine malate dicaffeine malate/caffeine anhydrous encapfeine encapsulated caffeine sr complex endless energy energy-boosting complex extended release caffeine extended-release caffeine extended release caffeine blend immediate release as caffeine anhydrous infinergy infinergy di-caffeine malate infinergy dicaffeine malate infinergy-di-caffeine malate infinergy(tm) dicaffeine malate infused with caffeine anhydrous infused with natural caffeine innovagreen innovatea innovatea natural caffeine instantized caffeine anhydrous kaff2 malate kaff2-malate kaff caffeine citrate kaff citrate {less than or equal to} 0.4% caffeine mateine methyliberine methylliberine methyltheobromine methylxanthine methyl-xanthine anhydrous methylxanthine content methyl xanthines methylxanthines microencapsulated caffeine microencapsulated extended release caffeine micro-encapsulated sustained release caffeine anhydrous micro-encapsulated sustained release caffeine anhydrous blend nat. occurring caffeine natural {caffeine} natural caffeine natural caffeine anhydrous natural caffeine (coffea canephora seed, extract) natural caffeine complex natural caffeine powder naturally derived caffeine naturally occuring caffeine naturally-occuring caffeine naturally occurring caffeine naturally-occurring caffeine naturally sourced caffeine net caffeine newcaff organic caffeine pharmaceutical grade time released caffeine pharma-grade synthetic caffeine pharmashure xr caffeine provides 100 mg caffeine providing 200 mg caffeine providing 200 mg of naturally occurring caffeine providing 75 mg caffeine purcaf purcaf caffeine purcaf: caffeine purcaf green coffee bean extract purcaf organic caffeine purecaf purenergy purenergy caffeine pterostilbene cocrystal purtea rapid release realcaf standardized 9% [100 mg] caffeine standardized for 12.5% caffeine standardized for 60 mg caffeine standardized to contain 35 mg caffeine std. to 22% caffeine supplying 190mg caffeine supplying 200mg of caffeine supplying 275 mg of caffeine supplying 60 mg caffeine supplying 80 mg of caffeine sustained release caffeine sustained-release caffeine sustained-release caffeine anhydrous targeted release as zumxr caffeine targeted release caffeine taste masked caffeine theine time released enteric coated caffeine total amount of caffeine total caffeine total herbal caffeine trimethylxanthine up to 12 mg of naturally occurring caffeine up to 2.5 mg of naturally occurring caffeine up to 2 mg of naturally occurring caffeine up to 32 mg of naturally occuring caffeine up to 32 mg of naturally occurring caffeine up to 7 mg of naturally occurring caffeine usp caffeine vegisurge vegisurge natural caffeine vegisurge natural caffeine extract vegisurge(tm) vitashure vitashure caffeine sr yielding a total of 95 mg of caffeine zum-release blend zumxr zumxr 6 hr. extended release caffeine zumxr caffeine zumxr caffeine anhydrous zumxr delayed-release caffeine zumxr delayed release caffeine microspheres zumxr dr caffeine zumxr er caffeine zumxr extended release caffeine zumxr extended-release caffeine zumxr extended release caffeine microspheres zum-xr xr caffeine zumxr xr caffeine Theine Mateine Guaranine Trimethylxanthine caffeine pterostilbene cocrystal Caffeine pterostilbene caffeine alpha keto glutarate Caffeine alpha-ketoglutarate
7 forms
Oral

About Caffeine

Caffeine is a methylxanthine alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant that is naturally found in various plants such as coffee, tea, cacao, guarana, and yerba mate. It primarily works by antagonizing adenosine receptors in the brain, which leads to increased neuronal firing and the release of neurotransmitters, resulting in enhanced alertness and reduced fatigue. Caffeine also has metabolic, cardiovascular, and ergogenic effects, making it one of the most widely consumed psychoactive substances globally.

Official resources

Fact sheets from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements related to this ingredient group.

Dietary Supplement Label Database

Ingredient group data in NutriNav is aligned with the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD).

DSLD group id
367

At a glance

Suggested daily

Health Canada and EFSA suggest a daily intake of up to 400 mg for healthy adults is not associated with adverse effects. For pregnant women, guidelines recommend limiting intake to 200-300 mg per day.

Max safe daily

For healthy adults, 400 mg per day is widely cited as a safe upper limit. Single doses should not exceed 200 mg.

Approval status

GRAS

Compare All Forms

7 forms

Compare supplement forms of Caffeine by absorption quality and what your body actually gets from each:

High Moderate Low
Form Absorption Steps to absorb Notes Action
Caffeine alpha-ketoglutarate — — — View →
Caffeine Anhydrous

Central nervous system stimulant. Consult a healthcare provi...

  • UNII: 3G6A5W338E
  • CAS: 58-08-2
  • Label category: synthetic
 — — — View →
Caffeine Citrate

Pharmaceutical-grade stimulant used primarily for neonatal a...

  • UNII: U26EO4675Q
  • CAS: 69-22-7
  • Label category: synthetic
 — — — View →
Caffeine pterostilbene — — — View →
Dicaffeine Malate

Often marketed for sustained energy and focus with reduced s...

  • Label category: synthetic
 — — — View →
Natural Caffeine (from Coffea/Guarana)

Natural stimulant from coffee beans or guarana. May improve...

  • UNII: 3G6A5W338E
  • CAS: 58-08-2
  • Label category: natural
 — — — View →
Sustained/Extended-Release Caffeine

Provides prolonged energy and focus; may reduce jitters and...

  • CAS: 58-08-2
  • Label category: synthetic
 — — — View →

Also appears on labels as

Additional names seen on supplement labels for forms of this ingredient (beyond the main aliases above).

1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione, Caffeine (natural), Caffeine and citric acid compound, Caffeine citrate salt, Caffeine malate, Coffee bean extract, Controlled-release caffeine, CR caffeine, Dicaffeoyl malate, Guarana extract, Infinity caffeine, Prolonged-release caffeine, Slow-release caffeine, Time-release caffeine

Type: Stimulants

Category for Stimulants ingredients

Watch out for

Possible interactions or cautions — talk to a healthcare provider if unsure.

  • May interact with certain medications such as anticoagulants and stimulants.
  • Caffeine can enhance the effects of some medications, leading to increased side effects.

Potential Benefits

Benefits associated with Caffeine forms:

Increased Alertness & Reduced Fatigue Enhanced Exercise Performance Improved Cognitive Function Increased Metabolic Rate & Fat Oxidation Treatment of Apnea of Prematurity Central Nervous System Stimulation

And 15 more benefits...

Potential Side Effects

Side effects associated with Caffeine forms:

Gastrointestinal Distress How serious: low Anxiety, Jitteriness, & Insomnia How serious: medium Increased Heart Rate & Blood Pressure How serious: medium Dependency & Withdrawal How serious: medium Insomnia & Nervousness How serious: low Tachycardia & Palpitations How serious: medium

And 12 more side effects...

What does the research say?

Caffeine has been shown to improve cognitive performance, enhance physical performance, and reduce the perception of fatigue. Studies suggest that moderate caffeine consumption is safe for most adults and can provide various health benefits.