Why Does Coffee Make You Tired? (2024)

Sleep Deprivation

More than one-third of Americans Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source are sleep-deprived and not receiving the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep per night. Although coffee can provide a quick pick-me-up, it is not an adequate substitute for sleep. Sleep deprivation can reduce alertness Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , slow down response times, and negatively affect thinking.

Drinking more coffee in an effort to overcome tiredness might backfire. Ingesting too much caffeine can negatively impact sleep Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , making you sleepy the next day. As a result, turning to coffee to fix the effects of sleep deprivation can create a negative cycle. Because you feel more tired, you drink more coffee, but that coffee disrupts your sleep, leading to more tiredness in the long run.

Caffeine Tolerance

Rather than making you tired, it is possible that coffee simply is not making you as alert as it once did.

Initially, consuming caffeine can improve your mood and reaction times Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , as well as your physical performance Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source . However, similar to the way people can develop a tolerance for alcohol, those who consume caffeine regularly develop a tolerance to it. As a result, consuming the same amount of caffeine will not produce the same positive effects over time, and consuming more coffee to try to recuperate its positive effects could have negative effects for your sleep.

Additionally, regular caffeine use over just three days is enough to spark withdrawal symptoms when you stop consuming it, including an increased feeling of tiredness.

Dehydration

Coffee is considered a diuretic Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , which means it can increase your need to urinate and lead to fluid loss. If these bathroom trips wake you up throughout the night, you might feel more tired the next day. Additionally, mild dehydration itself can cause you to experience fatigue Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source . Mild dehydration can also decrease cognitive performance, impair memory, and increase anxiety and tension.

Coffee may be more likely to affect hydration for people who are not regular coffee drinkers Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , and it may have little to no effect until a certain level of caffeine is reached.

Blood Sugar Changes

Drinking coffee in the morning may contribute to insulin resistance and negatively impact your body’s ability to tolerate glucose Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source . This makes you more sensitive to sugar or carbohydrates found in your drink or breakfast, and it can cause a temporary surge in blood sugar. Most common in people with diabetes or prediabetes, high blood sugar levels are associated with increased feelings of fatigue Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , particularly in women.

Even if your blood sugar does not reach clinically high levels, you might feel increased tiredness due to low blood sugar after your blood sugar levels decrease. In the hours after consuming sugar, blood sugar levels peak Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source and then dip, and this falling blood sugar may affect your energy levels.

If you believe you have diabetes or other blood sugar problems, make an appointment with your doctor.

Adenosine Levels

Released in larger quantities when we are sleep-deprived Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , adenosine is a key chemical that helps bring on sleepiness Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source . Coffee promotes alertness and reduces tiredness by blocking adenosine receptors Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source and preventing the chemical from exerting its sleep-promoting effects. However, research suggests that the body compensates for this effect by increasing sensitivity to adenosine. Once the effects of the coffee wear off, the resulting surge can cause sleepiness and muscle fatigue Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source .

Not everyone metabolizes caffeine Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source at the same rate. If you metabolize caffeine slowly, it might not make you feel alert as quickly as it does for other people. Conversely, if you metabolize caffeine quickly, it might not impact you as much or it might wear off more quickly, leading to feelings of sleepiness sooner.

Multiple factors impact how quickly a person metabolizes caffeine. Smoking cigarettes speeds up caffeine metabolism. By contrast, conditions such as pregnancy or liver disease might slow down caffeine metabolism.

Genetics

Although more research is needed, researchers have found that genetics Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source impact how an individual responds to caffeine. Having specific genes could make you more sensitive to caffeine’s negative effects, such as anxiety or sleep disruption. If ingesting caffeine negatively impacts your sleep, you might experience increased daytime tiredness as a result.

How to Maximize the Benefits of Coffee

There are multiple actions you can take to help you maximize the benefits of coffee while minimizing its potential negative effects.

Get Enough Sleep

Although coffee increases alertness, it has limited effects for higher cognitive processes, and it cannot mask underlying sleepiness forever. If you are feeling tired despite drinking coffee, you might be sleep-deprived. Consider sleeping for longer, or examining your sleep quality to see if you might be experiencing unrefreshing sleep despite spending a long time in bed.

Drink Coffee Strategically

Studies show that drinking coffee within the six hours before bed Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source can disrupt sleep, so consider limiting coffee to the morning and favoring sleep-promoting foods at night. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration recommends consuming no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day — the amount found in about four cups of coffee Trusted Source U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.View Source . Different people have different sensitivity levels to caffeine, so if you notice that caffeine is negatively impacting you, it may help to reduce the amount you consume.

Cut Back on Added Sugar

Be mindful of what you eat with your morning coffee and any sugar or sweetener you add to it. In many parts of the world, drinks like coffee have become hidden sources of added sugar Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source in a person’s diet. For people with diabetes, consuming sugar can prompt fatigue. Additionally, caffeine consumption can negatively impact the body’s ability to properly manage sugar, potentially increasing any resulting fatigue.

Stay Hydrated

To combat the potential dehydration that often accompanies higher doses of caffeine, be sure to drink plenty of water. This is especially relevant if you do not regularly consume coffee, as you may be more sensitive to its diuretic effects.

References

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