Is Caffeine a Stimulant or an Inhibitor? A Deep Dive
•
4 min read
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approximately 90% of Americans consume caffeine in some form every day. The answer to whether caffeine is a stimulant or an inhibitor is both, but not in the way you might think. Fundamentally, caffeine acts as a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant by inhibiting the effects of another compound, a clever biochemical trick that increases alertness and energy.