Is it safe to consume 600mg of caffeine and 6mg of nicotine?

From the Guidelines

No, consuming 600mg of caffeine and 6mg of nicotine together is not safe for most people. This caffeine amount significantly exceeds the FDA's recommended daily limit of 400mg for healthy adults, as stated in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 1, and could cause serious side effects including rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, and in severe cases, seizures or cardiac arrhythmias. The 6mg of nicotine is approximately equivalent to smoking 6 cigarettes or using a full-strength nicotine patch, which is substantial, especially for non-regular users. According to a study on the effects of nicotine, it can cause deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, and may also promote tumor angiogenesis and alter neurologic development 1. When combined, these substances can dangerously amplify each other's cardiovascular effects, potentially causing severe heart rhythm disturbances, extreme blood pressure elevation, and increased risk of heart attack or stroke, as supported by guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke 1. Both substances are stimulants that affect the central nervous system and cardiovascular system in similar ways, creating a potentially dangerous synergistic effect when used together at these high doses.

Some key points to consider:

• The recommended daily limit for caffeine is 400mg for healthy adults, and 600mg exceeds this limit 1.
• Nicotine can have serious health effects, including increased risk of heart disease and stroke, especially when combined with other stimulants like caffeine 1.
• The combination of caffeine and nicotine can lead to severe cardiovascular effects, including heart rhythm disturbances and extreme blood pressure elevation.
• It is essential to prioritize caution and avoid consuming high doses of these substances together, especially for non-regular users or those with pre-existing medical conditions.

From the FDA Drug Label

OVERDOSAGE Following overdose, serum caffeine levels have ranged from approximately 24 mg/L (a post marketing spontaneous case report in which an infant exhibited irritability, poor feeding and insomnia) to 350 mg/L. Serious toxicity has been associated with serum levels greater than 50 mg/L One case of caffeine overdose complicated by development of intraventricular hemorrhage and long-term neurological sequelae has been reported Another case of caffeine citrate overdose (from New Zealand) of an estimated 600 mg caffeine citrate (approximately 322 mg/kg) administered over 40 minutes was complicated by tachycardia, ST depression, respiratory distress, heart failure, gastric distention, acidosis and a severe extravasation burn with tissue necrosis at the peripheral intravenous injection site

Safety of consuming 600mg of caffeine and 6mg of nicotine:

• The FDA drug label reports a case of caffeine citrate overdose of approximately 600 mg, which was associated with serious adverse effects, including tachycardia, ST depression, respiratory distress, heart failure, and acidosis 2.
• There is no information in the provided drug label about the safety of consuming nicotine in combination with 600mg of caffeine.
• It is not safe to consume 600mg of caffeine, as it has been associated with serious toxicity and adverse effects.
• The safety of consuming 6mg of nicotine in combination with caffeine cannot be determined from the provided information.

From the Research

Safety of Consuming 600mg of Caffeine and 6mg of Nicotine

• The safety of consuming 600mg of caffeine and 6mg of nicotine can be evaluated based on available studies.
• A study published in 1991 3 found that moderate ingestion of caffeine (up to 500mg daily) does not increase the frequency or severity of cardiac arrhythmias in normal persons.
• However, another study published in 1994 4 found that the combination of nicotine and caffeine can produce additive or greater than additive effects on subjective and cardiovascular measures.
• The study on nicotine and cardiac arrhythmias in dogs 5 found that high doses of nicotine (50µg/kg) can induce supraventricular arrhythmias, atrioventricular junctional arrhythmias, and ventricular arrhythmias.
• A study on the subjective and physiological effects of intravenously administered caffeine and nicotine in cocaine abusers 6 found that both drugs can produce similar increases in ratings of good effect, liking, high, stimulated, and bad effect, but with some differences in subjective ratings and physiological effects.

Comparison of Caffeine and Nicotine Effects

• The effects of 600mg of caffeine and 6mg of nicotine can be compared based on available studies.
• A study published in 2001 6 found that the highest dose of nicotine (3.0mg/70kg) produced greater subjective ratings on a number of scales compared to the highest dose of caffeine (400mg/70kg).
• However, the study also found that both drugs can produce similar increases in ratings of good effect, liking, high, stimulated, and bad effect at doses that produce comparable ratings of drug effect.

Potential Risks and Interactions

• The potential risks and interactions of consuming 600mg of caffeine and 6mg of nicotine can be evaluated based on available studies.
• A study published in 2007 7 found that high doses of caffeine can induce seizure activity in rodents and impair the protective activity of antiepileptic drugs.
• The study on nicotine and cardiac arrhythmias in dogs 5 found that high doses of nicotine can induce fatal ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation.