“The magic pill” at Suhoor: A safe alternative for coffee “addicts”?

Many people have come to rely on drinks and foods containing natural stimulants to overcome laziness, lethargy, and lack of focus, and to increase the body’s ability to perform the tasks required of it during the day. Perhaps the most prominent of these stimulants are tea, coffee, and chocolate, but their daily and continuous consumption often leads to addiction and the body becoming accustomed to them.

These substances target the stimulation of the central nervous system, so stopping their use – especially on fasting days – leads to unpleasant symptoms such as severe headaches, in addition to a decrease in performance and concentration levels, which affects studying and work.

To try to solve this problem, extended-release caffeine pills have flooded the markets, which are promoted as a “sustainable alternative” to coffee and other stimulants. What are they? And are they safe?

Caffeine pills and their uses

Caffeine pills are a pharmaceutical alternative to the caffeine found in some drinks and natural foods. They aim to stimulate the nervous system by supplying the body with a certain amount of caffeine over a specific period, depending on the type of pill, without the need to consume one of its sources, such as coffee or chocolate. People have recently become more interested in them with the arrival of Ramadan and their abstention from consuming stimulants during the long daytime hours.

While the effect of a single dose of caffeine from coffee or other sources, for example, may last for about 90 minutes or even 120 minutes, caffeine pills allow the stimulant effect in the body to last for about 8 hours sometimes, which has tempted many who have become lethargic and unfocused, and perhaps have headaches due to abstaining from coffee during the day in Ramadan.

Extended-release technology and its effects

Extended-release tablets are those manufactured to slowly release their active ingredients into the body, remaining effective for a predetermined period (depending on the type of medication), unlike regular pills that we swallow and are fully absorbed, to which the body immediately begins its rapid response.

Instant caffeine pills are fully absorbed by the body as soon as they are swallowed, while extended-release pills are absorbed slowly over varying periods depending on the type of pill. Some may reach peak caffeine release after, for example, 4 hours, which means that the body’s ability to respond to them will be better and more stable, and their effect will last longer.

According to the few studies available so far, a group of researchers from the University of Central Florida studied in 2015 the effect of coffee beans programmed to release their active ingredients over a specific period (such as extended-release beans) compared to instant ones, and showed that they can increase the rate of alertness, concentration and mental performance during periods of sleep deprivation for a period of up to 13 hours, which may make them one of the reasons why many people who suffer from insomnia or lack of sleep turn to them.

Is it suitable for suhoor to maintain energy?

It depends on the type of caffeine pills. Some take effect after one to two hours and continue to reach their peak within four to six hours in the blood. This means that taking caffeine pills after the pre-dawn meal, which may be a little before dawn, may allow a few hours of sleep before the body begins to respond to the stimulating effect of these pills.

However, accurate and reliable information on this matter is still scarce, and the information circulating is based on experiences that began to sweep across social media sites and platforms not too long ago.

Safe limit for daily caffeine consumption

The amount of caffeine that is permissible varies from person to person, depending on body weight, the diseases the person suffers from, and how sensitive each person is to such stimulants.

However, the US Food and Drug Administration has determined that the recommended daily intake of caffeine for an adult is a maximum of 350 ml (400 mg), roughly equivalent to 2 to 3 standard-sized cups of coffee.

As for caffeine pills, the safe dose varies depending on the type and manufacturer, but usually one pill contains 100 to 200 mg of caffeine, provided that the daily dose does not exceed 400 mg for healthy adults.

Caffeine pills are classified as safe, provided that other sources of stimulants or caffeine are avoided along with them, and that they are also consumed in moderation without excess. This applies to people who do not suffer from any health problems. As for those who suffer from various diseases and health conditions, it is recommended to consult the specialist responsible for their condition to avoid any possible interactions.

Groups that should avoid these pills

As with any manufactured drug, caffeine pills are not suitable for everyone. Specialists recommend that patients with high blood pressure and other heart problems, or those who experience different symptoms when consuming caffeine (known as caffeine sensitivity), should avoid taking them. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is also a contraindication for using caffeine pills.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to avoid caffeine pills, and they must be withheld from children and even adolescents to maintain their health and avoid any potential complications.

The Food and Drug Administration warns of the danger of taking high and rapid doses of concentrated caffeine, exceeding 1200 mg of pure or concentrated caffeine (without additives), which can be fatal and highly toxic to some, and is different from less concentrated caffeine pills.

However, in all cases, caution should be exercised and these pills should be avoided by those who are highly sensitive to caffeine, which may cause severe allergic reactions, or those who suffer from heart-related health problems, or those who have been previously diagnosed with migraines and other diseases and health problems for which it is preferable to consult a doctor.

It is also noted that caffeine pills may interfere with certain medications such as antibiotics, asthma medications, heart medications, or stimulants.

Are they made from natural ingredients?

Caffeine pills may contain natural or sometimes synthetic substances, depending on their type and manufacturer. However, the main active ingredient in each is anhydrous caffeine. They may contain other substances, each working for a different purpose, such as manufacturing the pill, controlling its dissolution, or enhancing its pharmaceutical stability within the body. Among the most prominent auxiliary substances included in the composition of caffeine pills are microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide.

Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) between coffee and grains

It may depend on the pattern of use, but coffee is generally metabolized and consumed in the body shortly after it is taken, specifically after about two hours, but the information shows that the pattern of use may also play a role in this.

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Greifswald in Germany and published in 2024 compared effervescent tablets with extended-release tablets, and showed that taking instant tablets after a filling meal had a longer-lasting effect compared to extended-release tablets.

However, it must be noted that other factors may play a role in the body’s response, such as genetic factors that vary from person to person and determine the nature of their response to caffeine according to the pattern they follow.