Mathematical Modeling of Caffeine Dependence Dynamics

Caffeine is the mostly widely used psychoactive substance in the world. It is estimated that 80% of adults in the United States consume caffeine daily. Tolerance to the psychostimulant effects of caffeine develops quickly for daily users. Regular caffeine use can also cause physical dependence, and a withdrawal syndrome may develop upon cessation of caffeine use. Withdrawal symptoms can include headache, fatigue, drowsiness, and irritability. These withdrawal symptoms, while generally mild compared to the withdrawal syndromes associated with other drugs, can last over a week and are a common reason that people fail in their attempts to discontinue caffeine use. The objective was to mathematically model and simulate blood caffeine levels over time in regular users using compartment modeling. This model can be used to determine an optimal schedule of dosing for those who wish to discontinue their caffeine use while minimizing withdrawal symptoms.