Primary Insomnia Induced by Caffeine Consumption: A Non-Pharmacological/behavioral Remedy

Insomnia, the most common type of sleep disorder is fast encroaching cavernously into the global community. The impact and correlation of insomnia with caffeinated food and beverages is often under-estimated. Failure to identify caffeine as the culprit in most cases of insomnia and many psychiatric problems may result in false diagnosis of anxiety, depression and related disorders.  Without a quantitative listing of caffeine on food labels, consumers lack the information needed to control their intake of caffeine. There is paucity of data from various locales to support the basis and outcome of insomnia, in the developed countries especially Nigeria. A quantitative survey of 120 respondents receiving treatment for primary insomnia was investigated in three primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Port Harcourt, from June 2012 to June 2013. Findings divulged the role caffeine played at the end of acute treatment, given   that diminished use of caffeinated food/beverages exhibited a comparable efficacy in quality of sleep than most pharmacotherapy. We deduced that caffeine induced insomnia is a growing major public health concern in the Sub Saharan region especially in Nigeria. Excessive use of caffeine and many other substances that alter sleep-wake circle constitute a significant etiological factor for most insomnia. This article deserves the attention of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) in Nigeria, as the authors urge NAFDAC to ensure that a routine quantitative labeling of caffeine content in food and beverages, be made a material factor for consumers.