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Coffee Can Make You Hallucinate, Study Says

Too much caffeine increases odds of seeing, hearing things

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 13, 2009 1:19 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Caffeine junkies shouldn’t always trust their ears, according to a new study. Subjects who drank the equivalent of seven cups of coffee proved three times more likely to hear voices, and slightly more likely to experience other hallucinations, than those consuming less than a cup’s worth. Researchers theorize that the cortisol hormone caffeine releases may trigger or exacerbate psychotic experiences, Scientific American reports.

“The prevalence of hallucinations is probably greater than people would expect,” says one researcher. Every year 5% to 10% of the population experiences some form of hallucination, including hearing voices and seeing things that aren’t there. The research doesn’t conclusively pin caffeine as a cause of those delusions, however; researchers are looking into sugar and fat as well.

Too much coffee makes you more likely to hallucinate, according to a new study.
Too much coffee makes you more likely to hallucinate, according to a new study.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
freethemall
Jul 13, 2009 9:58 AM CDT
I'm retired now, but I was a liberal Democrat before I retired. My bosses were all Republicans. I got raises from time to time, and every time I did, I told them: "I appreciate it, but I still don't make enough money to be a Republican". We disagreed, without being disagreeable.
kokuaguy
Jul 13, 2009 9:51 AM CDT
Not a coffee drinker? Perhaps that explains your curious form of dementia. Don't forget to look for those green papayas.
doingtherightthing
Jul 13, 2009 9:02 AM CDT
I'm hallunciating now.........give me more I think I see a bunch of liberals actually working..........nah, I'm hallunciating again..........

 
medical breakthrough • coffee • study • caffeine • stimulant • hallucination

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