Caffeine. We all know it, most of us love it, and some of us are obsessed with it. Whether it is in the form of a caffeinated soda, like Mountain Dew (my personal favorite), coffee, or tea, caffeine is consumed by eighty-five percent of Americans daily, including myself.¹ My preferred caffeinated beverage is a delicious Mountain Dew, or the occasional coffee (Starbucks or homemade). However, I don’t drink caffeine for the typical reason - an energy boost or a morning pick-me-up - because caffeine makes me sleepy.

Caffeine is supposed to “... stimulate (increase the activity of) your brain and nervous system,” yet, when I drink caffeine, it has the opposite effect.² The number of times I’ve drank a Big Q Mountain Dew from QT around four in the afternoon, and then proceeded to lose all my energy shortly afterward is too many to count. But, I’m not just some random anomaly, I’ve heard from others that caffeine makes them sleepy too (glad to know I’m not alone, phew), but no one knows why.

A theory I’ve conjured up as to why this happens is because it takes so much energy to process and break down caffeine, that instead of receiving an energy boost, our bodies wear themselves out. But, I’m no scientist, so the reason behind it remains a mystery. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a laugh at this weird reverse caffeine effect. So, I interviewed my fellow Tiger Tribune editors and asked them a very simple question: “Has caffeine ever made you sleepy?” Five of us, including myself, agreed that yes, caffeine has made us sleepy, two of us do not drink caffeine (thus never experiencing this weird opposite reaction), and one of us disagreed, detailing a time when caffeine gave them a major pick-me-up.

Now, a poll of eight people is a small group, but it’s interesting to hear the stories. Let’s start with those of us who have experienced this weird effect. Starting with the best, our Editor-in-chief, Zoe Bauerle⁽¹⁰⁾ explained that she drank two Monsters (a well-known energy drink) and a Rebel (Dutch Bros’ signature energy drink), and rather than receiving an ultimate energy boost, she fell asleep and took a two-hour nap. She’s not the only one who passes out from drinking caffeine. Tessa Abbiatti⁽¹⁰⁾, our Copy Editor, said this past Wednesday, that she had a cup of coffee around seven at night and ended up falling asleep thirty minutes later. Keira Sanchez⁽¹²⁾, this year’s Managing Editor, attempted to fuel an all-nighter with two canned Starbucks coffees, and instead, “I ended up going to bed around twelve or one at night?” We will never stop being confused by the opposite effect caffeine has on us. Lastly, Hailey Whippo⁽¹⁰⁾, our Advertising Editor who manages the lovely Tiger Tribune Instagram (@tigertribunenewspaper), agreed that whenever she drinks coffee it ends up making her sleepy.

It’s quite ironic that even though caffeine makes us sleepy, we all continue drinking it. We have a toxic relationship with caffeine; we keep going back expecting something different. However, not all of us editors are caffeine addicts. Our Photography Editor Isabella Kaut⁽¹²⁾ never drinks caffeine, and neither does our Opinions Editor Lexie Cardine⁽¹⁰⁾. However, Lexie⁽¹⁰⁾ did share a story about some of her friends who experienced the reverse caffeine effect. “The other day [three of my friends] were all discussing how it [caffeine] knocks them out rather than energizing them.” Thank you, Lexie⁽¹⁰⁾, for helping your fellow editors feel a little less alone in this weird caffeine anomaly.

Yet, one editor remains, who not only drinks caffeine but is actually energized by it! Glory Ruiz Jones⁽¹¹⁾ our Sports Editor, “had 400mg of caffeine in a day and didn't fall asleep until like 1 or 2 in the morning.” I am glad to know at least one of us editors can have a normal relationship with caffeine.

In the end, it’s quite confusing why caffeine has the opposite effect on some people, and it is even more confusing why we continue to drink caffeine if it does not give us an energy boost, and instead knocks us out. I can’t speak for my other editors, but I can explain my situation. The truth is I am a raging soda-holic who will never turn down a Mountain Dew, and waking myself up with a nice hot cup of coffee is an effective way to start my day (for about ten minutes, and then I am ready for a nap).

Despite the craziness behind it, not everyone is energized by caffeine, and more of us are tired out by it than we would expect. But, even though I am happy to know I am not alone in this weird reverse caffeine effect, I would still like to know why on Earth caffeine makes me sleepy!