When you consider that pretty much every soft drink on the market has caffeine; that coffee shops can be found in nearly every neighborhood in America, and chocolate is the number one selling candy in the world you might just find yourself asking this question: Who exactly is taking caffeine pills and why are they taking them?

To which you might also want to add these questions: Do they really do any good and is there any real danger in taking them?

First, we’ll look at who is taking caffeine pills. The answer, as you might expect, includes college students and shift workers who need to be alert through the night. Most college students could probably get by without the need for energy boosting medication if they would just get their schoolwork done before partying, but, well, priorities are priorities, after all. Seriously, though, many students are carrying heavy class loads along with jobs to help them pay for their education. Those all-night cram sessions and last-minute research papers can be very tiring, so it’s probably not surprising they turn to caffeine. Better caffeine than other amphetamines. And those working graveyard shifts and other long hours use pills to keep them going.

So why get caffeine in pill form instead of drinking some coffee or a soda? That’s a more difficult question and the answer can vary. When it comes to late shift workers, often they don’t have access to beverages except during breaks. For college students working desperately to beat a deadline, even that few minute it takes to make a cup of coffee or go down the hall to the vending machine may be too much of a risk. Far more likely as an explanation for the popularity of caffeine pills is that they are easily accessible, relatively cheap and don’t require brewing time or refrigeration. It is also possible that users of caffeine tablets think they work faster and stronger than caffeine diffused in liquid. There is no evidence to support that belief, however.

Do caffeine pills work? Depends on what you mean. One tablet of a typical caffeine pill is generally the equivalent of anywhere from one to four cups of coffee. If four cups of coffee gives you trouble sleeping, then you would probably benefit if you need to stay up and get something done. On the other hand, if four cups of coffee barely affect you, then the pills will probably go in and out of your system hardly even noticed. Yes, they do work. But no more so than their beverage-based equivalent.

Are they bad for you? Yes, but only if you overdo it; just as drinking a pot of coffee or a six pack of 20oz soft drinks could be bad for you. Among the side effects you could possibly experience are nervousness, anxiety, or restlessness; stomach cramps, increased heart rate, or chest pain; headache, or even seizures.