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Yes, drinking caffeine in the morning can lead to sleepiness later in the day. A few possible reasons:
- You feel relatively tired compared to the surge in energy following caffeine intake. Caffeine’s effects peak in 30 to 75 minutes and last for 3 to 7 hours (upper end of the range if you take in higher amounts of caffeine). At the end of the caffeine ride, you may feel less energized.
- That morning cup of coffee is “covering” for lack of sleep, and it eventually hits you. If you’re not getting enough sleep, your morning cup of coffee can raise energy and alertness for a few hours, but once the effects of caffeine diminish, your true state of fatigue hits.
- You’re having “caffeine rebound”. This takes about 12 hours, so if you had a cup of coffee in the morning, it might not be until early evening that it hits. Remember, caffeine is a drug. “Rebound” is the phenomenon of feeling the opposite from the way a drug makes you feel after it leaves your system. In the case of caffeine, the rebound is feeling drowsy and sluggish. That’s why, compared to people who don’t consume caffeine, coffee drinkers feel more tired and sluggish in the morning before they have their first cup of coffee. They’re experiencing rebound from the overnight caffeine deprivation.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.