Are you wondering exactly much caffeine is in your cup of coffee. Trying to cut down a bit, or at least know how much caffeine you are ingesting each day with your morning cup of java or afternoon pick-me-up triple espresso Latte?
A typical cup of coffee contains approximately one hundred and twelve milligrams of caffeine. There is a bit less caffeine in a shot of espresso - a typical espresso shot includes about ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How much caffeine in coffee?This is important to keep in mind when making any espresso drinks.
While these numbers are typical, the amount of caffeine in coffee can vary considerably based upon multiple factors. The primary factors affecting caffeine content of coffee and espresso include the genetics of the coffee bean varietal, the particular roasting given to the coffee beans and how the coffee is brewed.
If the coffee beans being used are Arabica coffee beans then one cup of coffee that is approximately one hundred and twenty milliliters of coffee, if it is drip-brewed, will have about 112 milligrams of caffeine.
A 30 milliliter Espresso shot using Arabica coffee will have an estimated ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How Does Roasting Affect Coffee Caffeine Content?
When coffee is roasted it decreases the overall amount of caffeine in the coffee, but not significantly enough for it to be a serious way to reduce your caffeine intake.
Caffeine did not undergo significant degradation with only 5.4% being lost under severe roasting.
Source
Choose your roast based on your personal preferences, not based on caffeine content.
Roasting does have an effect on chlorogenic acid content - possibly what contributes to many of coffee's purported health effects, but another study also shows that caffeine is relatively unaffected by roast level.
On the other hand the Robusta coffee plant varietal has significantly more caffeine than the Arabica varietal. Robusta coffee beans are used primarily for espresso blends and to make instant coffee.
How Caffeine Metabolizes in the Human Body
Once a person consumes caffeine the body starts to metabolize it and this takes place in the person's liver. The result is three different metabolites. These three metabolites include paraxanthine (84%), theobromine (12%) and theophylline (4%).
In the first 45 minutes after consumption of the caffeine it is likely absorbed by the stomach and small intestine and begins to spread throughout the tissues of the human body.
Caffeine's Classification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Considered safe for human consumption by the FDA, caffeine is classified as a food substance with multiple uses.
All About Caffeine in Coffee - Investigating the Side Effects of Caffeine and the Symptoms of Withdrawal from Caffeine continued:
Caffeine is a stimulant and is known scientifically as a xanthine alkaloid. When it is isolated from its source it is a crystalline white substance and is very bitter.
How does caffeine affect the human body?
Caffeine affects the human body by creating chemical changes in the human brain with a whole variety of effects including an enhanced alertness and energy level.
The way this is enhanced energy and alertness is achieved by the chemical caffeine is that the caffeine pretends, or mimics, another compound which is called adenosine.
The caffeine then binds on to the adenosine receptors in the brain with the effect of halting the true adenosine from doing its job which normally would be to slow down the body's nerve impulses and bring a very sleepy feeling to the person, a natural drowsiness that is warded off by the effects of caffeine.
Yes, some drugs may have an enhanced effectiveness when affected by caffeine. For example, some headache drugs include caffeine in their contents in order to help the effectiveness. This may be related to the vasodilating effects of caffeine.
Caffeine may be used in combination with ergotamine to treat cluster headaches and migraines. Some people prefer to use caffeine to overcome the sleepy qualities they feel when taking antihistamines.
Caffeine doesn't specifically, but coffee does.
However, some people who have shown to be at high risk for liver disease have been shown to have less severe liver injury associated with increasing caffeine consumption. This may include people with obesity, hemochromatosis and alcoholisms. [source]
Because of this, people who drink coffee but want to quit caffeine may want to look into decaf coffee instead of cutting out coffee entirely, so that they can continue to benefit from its health protecting properties.
Yes, some studies completed on ex vivo hair follicles have shown that caffeine may decrease hair growth suppression in vitro due to testosterone. In this regard caffeine may be a potential therapeutic agent in Androgenic alopecia, and caffeine has been added by some companies to their soap and shampoos.
Caffeine is found in nature in a wide array of plants, and it is found in plant fruits as well as plant leaves. This includes: cocoa beans, tea leaves, coffee beans and kola nuts. Less common sources are yaupon holly, guaryusa, yerba mate and guarana berries.
Caffeine often serves to help the plant by working as a natural pesticide against harmful predators on the plant such as insects.
What Products Contain Caffeine, and How Much?
A tablet of Excedrin contains about sixty-five milligrams of caffeine while a regular strength caffeine tablet has about one hundred milligrams of caffeine. There are two hundred milligrams of caffeine in an extra-strength caffeine tablet.
Another example of a common product with plenty of caffeine in it is chocolate. There are about ten milligrams of caffeine in an average milk chocolate bar. Dark chocolate, by comparison, may have about 30 milligrams of caffeine.
There are some dark chocolate bars that have as much as 160 milligrams of caffeine so it can vary considerably by the type and the quality of the chocolate.
Six ounces of a typical green tea will contain about thirty milligrams of caffeine while the very same amount of black tea will have about fifty milligrams of caffeine.
Amount of Caffeine in Coffee continued: You will get about thirty-four milligrams of caffeine from 12 ounces of Coke while a Mountain Dew will give you a whopping 54 milligrams of caffeine. A Red Bull energy drink has about eighty milligrams of caffeine while a Monster energy drink has about 160 milligrams of caffeine.
Withdrawal from Caffeine and Human Tolerance To Caffeine
People who consistently consume caffeine will gradually adapt to the continuous presence of the chemical in their body by increasing their overall number of adenosine receptors in their central nervous system. This occurs since caffeine functions as an antagonist to the receptors in the central nervous system for the neurotransmitter adenosine.
Tolerance adaptation to caffeine has the effect over time of reducing the chemical's stimulatory effects. These adaptive responses to caffeine also have the effect of making the person more sensitive to adenosine, and thus when the intake of caffeine is reduced then the adenosine's natural physiological effects will create withdrawal symptoms.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. In general, the incidence or severity of symptoms increased with increases in daily dose; abstinence from doses as low as 100 mg/day produced symptoms.
Research is reviewed indicating that expectancies are not a prime determinant of caffeine withdrawal and that avoidance of withdrawal symptoms plays a central role in habitual caffeine consumption.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
Debate Over Adenosine Receptors, Tolerance and Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
There is some debate in scientific circles about the increase in adenosine receptors being the main cause of building up tolerance to caffeine's stimulating effects, with some evidence pointing toward a conclusion that there are also other causes at work which help to explain people developing a tolerance to large doses of caffeine.
The Discoverer of Caffeine
The evidence is a bit fuzzy but some say that the stimulating effects of caffeine are mentioned in Chinese legends dating to about 3,000 years ago.
Firmer evidence comes from 600 BCE as a Mayan pot dating to this time contains the first clear evidence of a cocoa bean, so we know caffeine was around by this time for sure.
Who First Isolated Caffeine from Coffee?
In 1819 the German chemist Friedlieb Runge became the first scientist to successfully isolate the chemical caffeine from coffee beans. Less than one year later the French chemist Pelletier and another scientist named Caventou also isolated the chemical caffeine, and Pelletier was the one to coin the word "cafeine" which he derived from the word "cafe" meaning coffee.
Who Opened the First Coffee House?
As early as 1530 there were coffeehouses in Damascus, Syria and Istanbul.
What began the spread of coffee all around the world?
In the 1600s the Dutch became the first people to carry coffee from the ancient port of Mocha. This movement of coffee by the Dutch began the rapid spread of coffee beans around the globe and it is still spreading, most recently growing rapidly in consumption in China and other emerging markets.
The Dutch were also industrious in cultivating coffee in other locations, first in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1658.
Caffeine withdrawal
Regular caffeine consumption reduces sensitivity to caffeine. When caffeine intake is reduced, the body becomes oversensitive to adenosine. In response to this oversensitiveness, blood pressure drops dramatically, causing an excess of blood in the head (though not necessarily on the brain), leading to a caffeine withdrawal headache.
This headache, well known among coffee drinkers, usually lasts from one to five days, and can be alleviated with analgesics such as aspirin. It is also alleviated with caffeine intake (in fact several analgesics contain caffeine dosages).
Even small amounts of caffeine (such as a green tea, compared to a full coffee) can do wonders to alleviate a withdrawal-induced headache.
The source of caffeine is important to consider as well. Coffee is generally considered to be healthy, due in part to its anti-oxidant properties. However, energy drinks and unregulated supplements may contain any number of other compounds that can have a negative impact, often working synergistically with caffeine.
Caffeine on its own, particularly coffee, is associated with an overall decrease in all-cause-mortality [4]. Simply put, this means that people who drink coffee are less likely to die from all causes.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms
Often, people who are reducing caffeine intake report being irritable, unable to work, nervous, restless, and feeling sleepy, as well as having a headache. Many of these symptoms mirror having the cold or flu.
- Headache
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Fatigue, lethargy
- Constipation
- Depression
- Muscle stiffness, cramping
- Brain fog, Inability to focus
- Cold-like symptoms
- Anxiety
In extreme cases, nausea and vomiting has also been reported. These are very real experiences [1], and despite recurring jokes, can cause problems with normal functioning. If you experience severe symptoms, seek medical advice.
Is Caffeine Withdrawal Real?
In short: Yes. Negative effects from quitting caffeine have been scientifically documented in clinical studies.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories. [1]
Additionally, caffeine withdrawal is recognized by psychiatrists as a real disorder.
Caffeine withdrawal is a recognized disorder and is listed in the DSM-5. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
How Long Does Caffeine Withdrawal Last?
The answer to this will depend on your level of consumption and the level you reduce your caffeine consumption to.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. [1]
That means you'll probably notice the start within 12-24 hours with the worst being the second day you after you quit. From there, it gradually gets better over the course of a week to a week and a half.
Your brain is miraculously resilient and adapts to life without caffeine in just 2 short weeks. The psychological habit of drinking caffeine can take 3 to 4 weeks to break, but can also be replaced with decaf coffee or another low-caffeine drink (eg. tea).
Reports of people having withdrawal symptoms months or years after quitting coffee or caffeine are more typically confused with general health maladies or other more drugs.
Unrelated Symptoms
Caffeine cessation is often associated with major lifestyle changes, and as such, it can be difficult to associated symptoms directly with caffeine withdrawal. As a best practice, you should isolate factors by making changes slowly, over time, unless under the advice and guidance of a medical professional.
Compounding factors such as other medications, and major health events that lead to discontinuing caffeine, can have a misleading association with caffeine withdrawals.
If symptoms such as kidney pain appears, seek immediate medical attention.
Tingling
There are no known mechanisms through which caffeine withdrawal may cause tingling. On the other hand, caffeine consumption can sometimes cause tingling due to restriction of blood flow to extremities.
Back pain
While back pain is not a symptom of caffeine withdrawal, symptoms may (re)appear when caffeine use is discontinued.
This may be due to caffeine's reported analgesic affect on pain [3] - in english, caffeine might help alleviate (back) pain by amplifying the effect of pain killers. The re-ocurring presence of back pain may be due to synergistic effect being lost, but is unrelated to the temporary effects of withdrawal itself.
Dealing with Caffeine Withdrawal
The severity of caffeine withdrawal symptoms vary with how extreme the restriction, and a gradual reduction can do wonders in avoiding symptoms. Simply starting by replacing one cup of coffee with a decaf coffee or tea will provide a much smaller dose of caffeine, allowing your receptors to re-acclimate to lower levels. Drinking coffee (decaf) or other warm beverage (tea) instead of regular coffee helps psychologically with the well established habit.
Timing large reductions in caffeine consumption is also a useful tool. Picking a time of rest and relaxation such as a weekend or vacation can lessen the burden of symptoms like brain fog and a lack of motivation.
Hydration is also key - while coffee is a diuretic it's also mostly water, and cutting back on coffee may also inadvertently cut back on your fluid intake. Many symptoms of dehydration overlap with caffeine withdrawal including headaches, muscle soreness and leg cramping, irritability and lethargy.
Without caffeine blocking your adenoseine receptors, your body's built up levels of adenosine will lead to a lot of sleepiness. Get lots of rest! Scientists are still puzzled by why humans need sleep, aside from getting tired. According to some research from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) has indicated that sleep enables your brain to drain built-up chemical by products of working so hard (you little genius), which is good for you!
Advil or Tylenol can be an effective method of dealing with the coffee withdrawal headache and muscle pain. Other natural pain relievers such as running / exercise and even an orgasm can provide temporary relief by dilating blood vessels in the brain.
The best solution may not be totally ceasing caffeine consumption though. Coffee does have health benefits, as it contains over 1000 known compounds, with many associated with lowering blood pressure and improving cardiac function, as well as liver protection [2]. Generally, the best coffees are grown at higher elevations will develop more healthy chlorogenic acids that are present in higher concentrations in light roasts than dark roasts. If you're a dark roast lover however, darker roasts cause less stomach acid production. A decaffeinated coffee with just 5-25 mg of caffeine will still retain a lot of its healthy chemicals and will provide health benefits in medium and dark roasts.
With these tips you can reduce the caffeine in your body and avoid the rebound of a caffeine withdrawal.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
[2] Coffee Consumption Decreases Risks for Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0142457
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419343
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28697850
Caffeine and Health. J. E. James, Academic Press, 1991. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research Volume 158. G. A. Spiller, Ed. Alan R. Liss Inc, 1984.
Xie et al "Sleep initiated fluid flux drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain." Science, October 18, 2013. DOI: 10.1126/science.1241224
Anonymous says
re: I've been off Caffeine for 3 years now - my experience
Thought I'd share my experience after quitting caffeine. I was never a heavy coffee drinker as compared to some people out there, but I have always really liked coffee and diet pepsi…probably had 2-3 coffees per day and one diet pepsi. I also went through a period when I took ephedra for about 6 months or so. I quit about 3 years ago cold turkey and went through a mild form of the withdrawals that you're all familiar with. I chose to quit after reading “Caffeine Bluesâ€, which is a great book, easy to read, and filled with a lot of common sense.
The changes I've noticed in that time:
• Memory is significantly improved, both short and long term. No question about this, I've even had people comment to me.
• Energy level throughout the day is more constant. I have as much energy at the end of the day as at the beginning. Of course, diet plays a big role in this as well.
• Easier decision making because I have better context for most things (this is a hard one to explain, but it's as though I'm able to process and consider more information at once)
• Sleep much harder and require a little less sleep
I saw a show on alternative medicine about a year ago that profiled 3 people seeking treatment for low energy and depression. One of the three people was a single dad with 3 little kids. He was tired all the time, short fused with his kids, and said he wasn't the kind of dad he wanted to be. He wanted to come home from the work day with energy to focus on the kids and give them his best. He was assigned acupuncture treatment. The acupuncturist had him quit ALL stimulants, coffee & tea, and diet coke, to which he was addicted. A couple of months later they revisited the three people. He was the only one that had any success with his alternative treatment and he said a big part of it was attributable to cutting out caffeine. He was like a different person, filled with calm energy. You could hear it in his voice and see it in his demeanor. In addition to having lots of energy left over to enjoy his kids, as they walked through his house he pointed out home improvement projects that he had completed (ie: retiled the kitchen floor after the kids went to bed) and commented that before he would never have even considered taking them on. It reinforced what I was experiencing as I had been off caffeine for a couple years at that point. I wish I knew the name of the show or which channel I saw it on.
I still have tea once in a while but not every day. I've grown to not like the feeling of being caffeinated and usually regret having it shortly afterwards. Generally, I try not to have any caffeine at all.
Hope this helps some of you. There's no doubt in my mind that quitting caffeine is the way to go. It's counterintuitive but by letting your body relax more you're a lot more productive.
User says
re: I quit drinking coffee last
I quit drinking coffee last Thursday and by Friday wasn't feeling so good. Sat morning I was woken up by the most absoultly horrible heartburn and couldn't fall back asleep. It stayed at a very high level of intensity for about 4 hours. So much that I almost went to the hospital (and I am not someone who ever goes. Even for broken bones). After is subsided, I still had a small but noticable amount of pain in my chest. Sunday morning, and it happened all over again. But this time, after the heartburn went away, it was followed by just as painful bowel bloating. I looked like I was ready to pop and I couldn't even bend over without yelling in pain. After taking gasx it slowly went away. Now I'm someone who has a bowel movement atleast 2-3 times a day. I eat ALOT but it's all very healthy and high in fiber but since quitting coffee I had only gone 2 times and only a fraction of the size. I decided to get coffee Sunday evening so see if it would help. Nothing happened so I had more today and after only about 20 mins I couldn't hold it in if I tried.
Is it possible that by quitting coffee I had backed up my bowels and therefore not allowed for proper drainage of stomach acid causing the excess amount to flow back into my esophagus?
FreakFish says
re: feeling stoned from giving up coffee
if your feeling tired in the day, all i can suggest is that the moment you get up, splash ice cold water on your face, or pour it down your front if you need your heart rate increased. if your still warm from being in bed this will have an even better effect, and i can garuantee that after a few moments of unpleasent coldness your eyes will be wide open. it gets rid of that feeling of not being able to keep your eyes any more open than squinting. just give yourself a VERY sudden shock and you will be woken up in seconds. however... this wont work so well in the day so the best thing to do is just have a nap 🙂
User says
re: What do you mean heavy consumer !?
How can someone who drinks 4 espressos a day classify themselves as a heavy user ? I've drunk that in my first Americano of the day. I may drink 6-8 of those in a day, i.e. 24-32 espressos a day. I think I've just scared myself as I haven't figured it out like this before - it also doesn't seem that much to me, one cup (i.e. 14 oz Americano) every couple of hours or so through the day. Maybe I should do something about my caffeine intake......
Wasted Space says
re: The mixture of depressents
The mixture of depressents and stimulants (alcohol and caffene) basicaly make your heart try to beat both faster and slower. Mixing them is an awful and harmful idea, and I want to encorage you as much as I can to research what you are doing with your body, and then decide whether or not you want to stop.
User says
re: Caffeine War!
Ok,
So I'm about to hit 25 and have been a long-time caffeine consumer since I was 16. Everybody who knows how addicted I am. So, I know I feel better without caffeine and probably look better too, but it's this whole emotional thing. Like it reminds me of my mom or something. So I've been sick for three days and literally am bed-ridden. Therefore, I've switched to black tea instead:) And I really think the strong, strong, strong espresso I've been drinking, like four shots a day, is finally taking its toll on my body. I've very achy, bored, sleepy, anxious, right now, but a part of me does feel good. Ok, Thanks for listneing!
User says
re: too much caff - advise??
does anyone know what you should do if you have too much caffeine? i mixed energy drinks with alcohol and and am pretty shakey and nauseaus 20hours later ;( this is def. a very bad decision-- wondering if anyone knows how to counteract the effects?
Sarah Summer says
re: palpitations are a sign of
palpitations are a sign of underlying heart disease.Its better if you consult a cardiologist.
thanks
User says
re: I'm 23 years old, grad
I'm 23 years old, grad student, who has recently (3 days ago) stopped drinking Diet Coke after a life long affair with it. My mother would always have it when I was very young and since it was available I would drink it. Through High-school I drank a little bit more but didn't have access during the day so it wasn't really a problem. When I went to College at age 18 the problem began. Since I was living on my own and buying my own groceries Diet Coke was my beverage of choice and for the entirety of 5 years Diet Coke was virtually the only fluid I was in taking with occasional water. I had no Idea what I was doing to my body, my health began to wain severely, my blood pressure went inanely high for a 23 year old who is thin. And a day without Coke would soon follow headaches, but I would never go without for more than 2 days. This being my 3rd or so day without I'm feeling very nauseous with low appetite with lingering pain in my chest and lower back, but i'm going to try to get through this. My mother is 56 and also addicted to diet-coke and I worry more about her than I do about myself.
I just want to encourage everyone that is going through what I am. Its hard to explain the agony to someone that has never been addicted to something, but its not about them, do it for your own health.
I figure I spend about 400-500$ a year on diet coke. If I can switch to a 95% water intake I can 1) improve my health 2) improve my wallet 3) lower my carbon footprint. 4) I can show my mother it is possible, and the benefits that come with quitting (most important) I plan to take that extra money each year and buy myself something as a reward for going through this =)
Dave M says
re: No, its not silly at all.
No, its not silly at all. That is its not silly if you can handle moderating your intake slowly downward. I personally will go cold turkey and go it over with quickly, albeit painfully. Good luck! I'm always surprised just how much caffeine is in coffee, even small cups.
User says
re: "CUP"
Ok I read a 7 oz cup of drip coffee is 115 to 175 mg caffeine. I don't know about you but my mugs are more than 7 oz. I just went and measured. They are 14 oz! And they are regular mugs, not beer steins. Even if I allow for creme that's 13 oz. I drink two a day and sometimes on rainy days 3. I woke up at 5 am for the 3rd day in a row with a horrible headache. I drank a diet coke and it went away. Here's the plan, I'm drinking one latte with 3 oz coffee a day for two weeks. I'll have a diet coke in the afternoon to keep pace. Then just one or the other. Then none.
Is it silly to try to ease out of it like this?
User says
re: No!!
No!!
User says
re: addicted to diet pepsi...
i am now at the age of 19 and wanting to give up the whole addicted to diet pepsi thing. ive drank diet pepsi ever since i can remember, my mother is also addicted to diet pepsi and at the age of 45 had to get false teeth as a result of the acid in all the diet pepsi she has drank over the years or even centurys! this scares me! i also recently watched a tv shoe about being addicting to diet coke.. TOTAL SHOCK!.. aparently being addicted to pepsi can make you infertile, not something i wanted to hear. i really want to give up but i drink 4 litres a day and find it tough to not reach for a glass even after 30 mins. i even take a bottle to bed with me as i always wake up about 4-5 times during the night to have a drink of pepsi which then leads to getting up to go to the toilet... no sleep!!! i find if i dont take pepsi to bed with me id 100% certain, wake up with a headache. i even get a headache after 2 hours without pepsi... my addiction is really bad! does anyone know if theres a easier way to giving it up rather then just willpower let me know thanx
Caffiene pot'ter says
re: Just sharing my withdrawls - thanks for the advise.
About a month ago my doctor told me that my fast, pounding, irregular heart beat was not the dangerous kind, my blood pressure has sneaked up a bit so it was time to give up caffeine. I didn't of course - and the symptoms persisted as did an increase in heartburn.
I stopped drinking coffee about 4 days ago. My heartburn was getting the best of me - and for the first time in my life if I took a sip of coffee it just didn't taste good. So - I quit drinking it. I've had a 2 day headache and while my night sleep seems better - I can't stay awake through my day! The other comments here have been very helpful - I've got most of the symptoms. I was a pot plus per day drinker - usually finished at lunch.
Now I'm groggy, dizzy and can't seem to focus on my work. I slept 9 hours (interrupted sleep) worked 4 hours and went back to be for a 4 hour nap. I NEVER NAP!
I am self employed - and warned my assistant that if I don't bounce back in a week to shake me and let me know.
Isn't it sad - I quit coffee for the heartburn and acid reflux not for the high blood pressure. GEEZ.....
that_fiend says
re: When did you not feel tired
When did you not feel tired anymore?
User says
re: Hang in there!
I posted here about a month and a half ago because I quit caffeine cold turkey and was having just awful symptoms for almost two weeks. It's now been almost two months and I'm feeling 100% better! All my symptoms (anxiety, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, loss of appetite) have gone away. I had been addicted to drinking diet pepsi everyday. Even though I quit drinking the amount of caffeine I was (diet pepsi was all I would drink from lunch time on for over a year), I wanted to be able to have a coffee here or there or a pop one day if I wanted it, without be addicted to it, and I have succeeded. If I want some Starbucks one day, I'll have one cup. Or if the caffeine-free pepsi is out of the vending machine, I'll have regular. But I've started drinking only Diet Sprite at home (Sprite has no caffeine) or water.
I just wanted to post to encourage all of you who are going through the worst of it. Believe me, I was there, and it was awful and scary and depressing but I got through it and you can too! The symptoms will get better; trust me. It just takes time, but you feel so much better on the other side of it.
Xeen says
re: Its day 5 for me (6 if you
Its day 5 for me (6 if you count that its past midnight). I have thought about quitting coffee after, on more than one occasion, sitting there and thinking "Why do I drink this? Its not that good and I just get bad headaches if I don't get it in time when I wake up." What got me to finally take the step was a UTI. I did some reading and figured now would be a good time to quit.
I've been drinking coffee heavily for 10ish years. These past few years its been super strong coffee. For 5ish years before starting coffee I was drinking a lot of soda.
I've been blogging about my caffeine recovery but in case nobody wants to actually go to my blog, in short: $)%#(. My body has been through a lot. How could I have done this to my body all these years? I hurt. I hurt bad. And I was so incredibly tired. It really started kicking in the 2nd or 3rd day. I ended up with major major lower back pain. I found this site when I went looking for caffeine withdrawal symptoms. I was half worried the pain was my kidneys but was relieved to see that it was just the caffeine.
Now the lower back pain is gone but I have a really bad pain on my right side. Its either the withdrawals or my UTI infection. I finally got to a doc today, they gave me antibiotics there. I mentioned the caffeine thing a couple times but they didn't really acknowledge it in any way.
Other than that, I've generally been cranky, foggy, slow and tired. Maybe even crankier as the days go by. I'm craving coffee so bad (I recently fell in love with honey in coffee, which made it a whole new, better tasting experience). I've been a lot more antisocial than normal. I've been falling asleep very very fast, which might be because my body is so tired without all that coffee.
User says
re: excedrine
Im not sure you you realized...but excedrine has caffeine!!
User says
re: 14 days and counting
This is my 14th day without coffee. I too am one of those people who wakes up because I am so excited to drink another cup. I am thirty years old and I have been a regular coffee drinker - only one cup a day - for the last 10 years. I came to the realization that sometimes I don't even like the taste of coffee, but I love it just the same. That's a sure sign of an addiction. So I have been off it for two weeks now, and the headaches are unbearable. Excedrin usually knocks them right out, but I hate taking medicine. I hope they start to subside soon. My body and my budget just can't handle the addiction anymore. Switching over to herbal teas.....
Seriously addicted says
re: Im now on day 3 and its
Im now on day 3 and its torturous. I would have several pops a day, for years on end. But now im trying to get healthy, working out every day for the last two weeks and wanting to lose weight. Day 1 I had a reallly bad headache, day 2 and 3 i've just been really irritable. Been sluggish all 3 days and sleeping 10+ hours a night. But im still holding strong (kinda).
akpe says
re: same here
I'm also around the end of week #4 and I still get minor headaches and some nausea. Nothing extreme, nothing constant, but still pretty much annoying when it happens.
Since I was a heavy coke drinker as well, I believe it's also due to sugar withdrawal, even though I sometimes get sugar with my decaf, or with sodas (sprite only for me, It's caffeine free :D).
User says
re: sugar could be the extra problem
Maybe a withdrawal from all the sugar in the Coke is adding to the problem? Hang in there!
that_fiend says
re: very interesting
And how is your sleep through all this?
User says
re: WAR OF ATTRITION !
I adore your "war of attrition" description--that's a very powerful image and motivator! Kick a**. I plan to use it. Wish me luck--Day One is tomorrow.
User says
re: Pack Your Bags and Get Out of My Life
i have just come to the realization that i have simply got to cut out coffee, a great contributor to my extreme edginess/irritability/unproductive racing around/ad nauseum. like so many other coffee lovers here, i never thought i'd entertain the idea, much less make the decision to drop coffee from my life. i so love the taste, aroma, entire experience of drinking coffee...which i invariably regret hours into my day, when i'm a hyper, practically trembling jumping bean.
coffee has been the last hold-out of my vices (o.k., penultimate--sugar is the ultimate) since becoming pregnant two years and ten months ago, whereupon i immediately quit smoking, drinking & using pot (to which i was addicted). my motivation to cease those three addictions was instantaneous and intense, because i was bound and determined that nothing would adversely affect my developing baby. (don't worry, there is not a bad ending here--my baby was born full term, 8+ lbs. and perfectly healthy.) but, i held on to my dark, hot love in a cup throughout my pregnancy (1-2 strong cups a day after the first trimester) and up through to today, when i finally fully realized that my already highly-wound temperament is getting out of hand when it comes to handling my whirling-dervish toddler.
enough of the snapping and irritability and quickness to scold my little one! it's hard enough to keep calm as a 24/7 mom...coffee is turning me into a crank-head. i'm sure i too will marvel at the difference to come once i'm past the withdrawal.
i'm going cold turkey, because a door left half-way open is too easily thrown all the way back open for me. i'm excited to actually be convinced that now is the time to say "enough, already!". the pain of coffee use has outweighed the gain. i'm fed up with the roller coaster i ride every day as i dance with it: 1) excitement first thing upon waking--it literally has been my only motivation for getting up, the only thing i look forward to with the new day, therefore prized as my biggest priority (that's sad; that's an addiction), and 2) befuddlement as to why i feel so wound up and chaotic and why any little thing makes me jump or sets me off or grates my nerves by the second half of the day (denial, repeating the process over and over; need i say more?).
goodbye to the dehydrated skin and vaguely aching bladder, sayonara to the frazzled nerves, adios to the sour stomach, breath and moods! it'll be interesting to see what positive interests i'll have room for once this demon lover is cleared out of my life. i wasn't a hard-core "user," but my enjoyment of it and side effects from it were! here's to conquering another mountain! thanks for listening. cheers to all.
User says
re: I am finishing day 6 without
I am finishing day 6 without caffeine, and it has been pure hell. I have been drinking coffee for 18 years, sometimes 6-7 pots a day. I am 33 now, and the doctor told me I need to go caffeine free. Day 1, headache, irritability, tired. Day 2, Nauseated, muscle pain, headache, lightheaded, very irritable, body aches, unable to eat. Day 3, same as day 2, only worse. Day 4, started out okay, after a few hours Headache, then nausea, body PAINS...not minor pains, I felt like I got hit by a train, unable to eat. Day 5, Up and down. Body felt like it got hit by a train again for most of the day, headache was minor, able to eat very little like crackers, bread, ate a grilled cheese, was able to keep it down, but stomach was very upset. Day 6, Most irritable day yet, other symptoms are getting better, was able to eat a little more normal, although most food still upset my stomach I was able to keep it down. Headache still there, sometimes minor, sometimes I can barely stand being conscious. Body aches and pains are better, but still there, although sometimes they get severe for short periods. Was not lightheaded much today. Tomorrow is day 7...let's see what that has in store.
User says
re: Caffeine free for 22 days
I have been a reg coke drinker for over 20 years. I have decided to quit because I am trying to lose my last 10 pounds. The headaches have been horrible for 21 days and today (day 22) was the first day that I did not have to take my regular regimen of tylenol and ibuprofen. Good luck to anyone trying to quit caffeine and all I can say is hang in there. I was wondering if anyone else took 3 weeks to get over the headaches like I did because everyone seems to take about 9 days?? Or am I just the lucky one that took 12 days longer than the average??
QuitterZero says
re: I'm on day two of quitting
I'm on day two of quitting coffee. I am definitely tired. I was having major headaches last night, but they were kinda fun in a 'war of attrition' kinda way. Feeling groggy today but I'm committed to quitting. More updates as this goes on.
User says
re: I mainly get really bad
I mainly get really bad headaches when I go a day or two without any caffeine. For being 16 I would say that's pretty bad... I mainly started drinking coffee and lots of Mountain Dew because of early mornings and late nights from school (waking up around 5am every morning and staying up until around midnight).
User says
re: Anxiety / Depression
This is me again 14 days without caffeine now. Anxiety and Depression are almost gone. I will say 98% Heal. Hopefully they will not come back. I have also lost about 5 pounds because of lost appetite but now my appetite is back and im worried I might gain the pounds back! anyways. Stay strong guys, I went to the doctor and hospital 2 times because of this but everything was fine. Yesterday I went to my doctor for Blood test and everything came out fine. I wish you all the best guys! and thanks for your support!
User says
re: I'm right about where you
I'm right about where you are, but the depression and anxiety are a bit more fierce. I think the time frame is different for everyone. I've heard anywhere from 4 days to 3 weeks to get over withdrawal. It could take a lot longer than that for energy levels to get back to normal if you've been a heavy user for a long time. Stick with it. It will get easier. You are doing a very good thing for yourself.
User says
re: Give in, have a cup. It feels
Give in, have a cup. It feels soooo goood.
Lorraine says
re: I am on day one after 16
I am on day one after 16 years of drinking 5 or 6 or more Mountain Dew a day as well as at least one energy drink. I have the worst headache I've every had. It's really scary, to think that caffeine has withdrawals just like drugs. I'm rooting for you
User says
re: caffeine withdrawals
I was always about a 2 cup a day drinker and never really exceeded that until I started to work at a coffee shop. In addition to increasing my caffeine intake I started eating the yummy sugary fat loaded pastries too!!! So, as you all can guess, I was starting to not feel so well and immediately thought it has to be the amount of caffeine and sugar I am consuming. (I already had started to investigate the theory of caffeine and the addiction it causes) So, I started to decrease the amount of caffeine I take in and today I thought I had a slight case of the flu! I really hadn't thought much about the side effects of reducing my intake until I was feeling so bad. I am shocked at how light headed and fatigued I feel just by reducing my intake of caffeine. I started to search caffeine and withdrawal symptoms and found this site. I am encouraged! Thanks for reading my story, lol!
User says
re: day 9 in withdrawal
after researching caffeine withdrawal effects & reading the previous comments, I know longer feel it's my imagination. I've been a Diet Pepsi (drinker) for atleast 20 yrs. but lately added energy drinks, herbal pills w/caffeine stimulants and green tea! I had a caffeine overdose. The depression, fatigue, lack of all energy, sore throat and horrible headaches.-- My brain feels foggy and last night I was driving and had a panic attack. ---I had no idea how serious drinking all that caffeine was, until now.--even the John Hopkins hospital is including c.w.in medical journals. Good luck to everyone kicking the habit.
yvonne says
re: From Caffeine to Decaffe
I went from caffeine to decaffeinated on everything, after a few days I lost interest in the product and replaced it with bottled water. Thats how company's keep us addicted to their product. I was addicted to pepsi for years but when I switched to decaffeinated pepsi, it tastes the same but for some reason (ha ha) I just didn't care for it anymore and I lost pounds like crazy. I also drink decaff green tea and no more chocalate. You really need to read the ingredience on everything to make sure caffeine is not added. take care and best of luck.
paddy fahey says
re: caffeine addiction and withdrawels
i`ve been drinking pepsi for the past 30 years. my daily intake for the past ten years is about 20 cans of pepsi per day. the reason for quitting was night on nights without sleep. i found myself being awake for 50 - 60 hrs without any sleep at all. i thought i was depressed, and started taking antidepressants , i had thoughts of suicide. As of right now i am into day 6 of quitting. withdrawals are really tough. It`s like nothing i have ever experienced. day 1, 2, and 3 were really tough. i had cold sweats at night, shaking, bad nightmares. feeling alot better now, finally getting some sleep.
User says
re: Anxiety / Depression
Hey guys
This is my Day 6 quitting cold turkey. Withdrawal sucks! I quit because I started having Panic attacks right after drinking Coffee or Red bull. Here is my time line
Day 1. Overall Anxiety
Day 2. Overall Anxiety
Day 3. Depressed, Feeling going crazy, feels like crying
Day 4. I was better in the morning but depression hits me during night time
Day 5. A little better during day time but depression/anxiety during night time
Day 6. Woke up a little anxious and had a little panic attack but no more depression
Hopefully I will start to feel better ='( this is so painfull..
Anybody experiencing this too? How long did it take to go away?
Thanks
User says
re: RE: Caffeine (backache)
This is just the info I need to know why my lower back is killing me all of a sudden! It's day 3 no coffee. I actually dont crave it. I was experiencing anxiety and felt it in my chest so I knew it was time to say goodbye coffee. I drink non caff teas. I will suffer the backaches rather than cut down. The anxiety has left! And decaf has chemicals in it and not healthy. No one would know this unless they consult a naturopath or look it up online.
Ben says
re: A withdrawal free way to quit coffee
Hi all,
Good to find people helping each other out with the coffee demon here, LOL. I managed to avoid the black stuff except very occasionally until my early twenties, when early work starts and long hours compelled me to start swilling the stuff like water to keep going. I've probably quit 5-6 times in the ensuing 6 years or so, getting pulled back in each time by stress and lack of sleep. I've FINALLY learned to get to bed early and live a more balanced lifestyle, but of course there's those damn headaches, fatigue and mental fogginess to deal with when you quit. Luckily, I devised a system to make it easy and symptom-free the last few times I stopped, and this is how it goes:
1) Days 1,2,3: halve your normal dose, drink as early as possible, black coffee only (don't want to associate it with tasting good). Substitute later cups with some herbal tea if you need something in your hand.
2) Days 4,5,6: halve the dose again. Same thing across the board otherwise.
3) Days 7,8: halve again, same otherwise.
4) Day 9: have herbal tea or hot water in the morning only. Pay close attention to your state and ONLY if you feel symptoms coming on in the afternoon or early evening, have a TINY amount of black coffee or black tea, I mean just enough to stave off the symptoms. Maybe even only a sip or two.
5) Day 10 and beyond: repeat day 9 instructions. Most people will be okay by this point.
One caveat about this method: You must be committed to quitting to do it this way and exercise discipline. If you don't, it's too easy to have a little too much each day to the point that you're not really reducing your dose or worse yet, just end up back where you started.
Some people might suggest you just substitute the same amount of decaf you remove of regular every 3 days. My problem with this, in function, is that it keeps me used to drinking full cups of coffee which is a slippery slope.
Good luck, and here's to having nice, even, natural energy again!
-Ben
User says
re: Re - Site is a godsend
I know how you feel man. From 14th November last year (2008), I stopped drinking caffiene because I felt like i was gonna die at work or something. However it was my fault as every drink i would drink was a redbull can!
3 months have past now and im still are having the same symtoms - dizziness, hot flushes, back pain (argh thats the worst. Feels like a knife being twisted in your back), racing mind flow, and it annoys me because I havent touched caffiene ever since. . . . . . not even chocolate or my favourite drink coke! =(
Even when i just have a bar of chocolate, all the symtoms come back so im like back at square one........
I hope the symtoms go away I really do because I havent been the same since.
User says
re: That's funny
That last sentence just killed me. We humans are nuts! How sick it made you just to withdraw from it should make it clear just how bad it is for you and make you want to be free from it all the more!
That little diet coke just a load of man made chemicals!
User says
re: Coffee / Diabetes
I believe recent studies have shown that coffee can cause an insulin response.
One would think reading everything here would make you not want to drink coffee anymore regardless.
nicholas says
re: Conspiracy
Hi all.
Well done all of you for giving up caffeine. It really is everywhere and in many things. Over the last 15 years there has been an explosion in coffee shops.
I love good coffee, a fine smooth and robust espresso that I can make myself although at the moment I don't have my machine.
Many places don't know how to make a proper coffee but I would still find myself popping in for an espresso.
I am on day 4 now having had my last coffee (a small instant) last Friday, it is Tuesday now. Caffeine messes with your brain chemistry when you take it, and even worse when you abstain if you have a dependency.
As it is a socially accepted addiction nobody ever seems to question it and line up on the morning to get their fix. If you observer their body language when they have got their cup it is like they are relieved, the snug and cozy hit of the caffeine.
Symptoms I have found are that my intestines and bowels are pretty seized up and I am normally pretty regular. I had organic porridge for breakfast yesterday at 0700 and was not hungry until around 1500. I also had good energy although I get bouts of drowsiness. I've quit before. It normally takes 2 weeks but after day 4-5 it does get better as your body adjusts.
If you are able there are medical studies that define caffeine addiction that can be found online. It is a powerful drug, yes a drug, and when I say this people look bemused. Why are there so many coffee shops? Repeat business, habit formed from a compulsion to get the caffeine but it's OK, it's just a nice drink is it not?
It is a drug. There are many alternatives that are more tasty such as herbal teas. Even good old plain water is delicious.
akpe says
re: Update:
End of day 7, no dizziness at all, some mild nausea the first 15 minutes or so after waking up and a bit of exhaustion... yeah!
akpe says
re: That's normal mate. Last
That's normal mate. Last Monday I decided to quit caffeine altogether after the second caffeine-induced panic attack! For the past ten years or so I used to drink 2+ cups of coffee every day, plus maaaany sodas, at least three cans a day. Withdrawal symptoms struck me like hell from day two, no serious headache but almost everything else, nausea, lightheartedness, exhaustion and lots and lots of naps.
I've read that the withdrawal symptoms are directly proportional to how much you used to be addicted to caffeine. And of course they can differ from person to person. After 7 days I still experience some nausea and exhaustion but it's slowly getting easier and easier to cope with them. It takes nine days for your body to get rid of caffeine. Taking into consideration the psychological effects of withdrawal, I think from nine days to two weeks is a reasonable time to overcome those symptoms.
On day 4 (when I first found out that those were caffeine withdrawal symptoms), I drank a bit of brewed coffee... almost instantly everything were back to normal, I even managed to pull an all-nighter that day. Yes, it will make you feel better for a day or so, however it may kick back your withdrawal timeframe and just make you suffer a couple of more days.
As for ways to cope with them... I tried some multivitamins (centrum) which somehow (read: a tiny bit) helped with exhaustion in the mornings. Also drinking a lot of chamomile tea, green tea, and tilia helps with the dizziness and the anxiety, plus drinking a lot of water also helps clean your body out of it since caffeine is a diuretic.
However I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that for another week or so I'll probably experience slight nausea, feel like a zombie and sleep at least ten hours a day!
Oh well... it's worth it 🙂
Pat says
re: Headaches killing me
Glad I found this site. Having horriable headaches and now no why. From at least 1 pot of coffee a day to 2 cups and 1 cup of tea I honestly am feeling really bad. Just going into week 2. Hope I can make it.
Mercy says
re: Congrats 🙂 We're in the
Congrats 🙂 We're in the same boat. I just found out I was preggers too and the caffeine kick made me feel like I was having a REALLY bad pregnancy. To the point where I told my husband there was no way I was having another kid if his is what all this was about lol.
Does ANYONE know how long the back/hip pain lasts? Is is directly correlated to the number of years you've been an addict? Anyone else who's gone through this and can offer some insight... I'd be VERY greatful. I felt like a twit walking into the ER last night complaining of these pains and sweats like the flu, high fever etc. Told the Doc I was pregnant, FIRST question - Did you quit drinking coffee cold turkey and when? I told him a week ago, he told me to go home, have a cup of coffee and relax. Granted I know a little caffeine won't kill me or hurt the baby but I would prefer to discontinue.
Thanks
Mercy says
re: WOW... All this sounds way
WOW... All this sounds way too familiar! I recently discovered I was pregnant so of course the first thing I did was quit drinking coffee. I've been an AVID coffee drinker since highschool (about 15yrs) and by AVID I mean a minimum of 5 cups a day.
I knew I'd get headaches and chills and such but the back pain. WOW - Feels like a nasty kidney infection. I felt like I was going to die. The fever, all the flu like symptoms etc but 10x anything I'd ever experienced. I'm glad I came about your post. I made a cup of coffee and felt better by the end of the day. Everything in moderation 🙂
As for your allergies... Been there. I suffered from chronic asthma due to allergies to my cat. Singualir didn't do much for me but Advair did. Your pneumologist will tell you to get rid of all pets (yea right, like that's going to happen) and he'll make you feel guilty for not doing so etc etc... Advair did the trick for me. That and I never touch the litter and my husband brushes her everyday. If you come to get another kitten, try to get him used to "bathing" as a baby. Now mind you, never bathe a cat that goes outside, you'll kill him but it's great for indoor cats. That and shaving them. They look a little silly but it makes life a lot easier.
Thanks for the info.
User says
re: Quit Cold Turkey--Is this normal?
So I never thought of myself as addicted to caffeine, but I guess I was. I would drink a can of diet pepsi with lunch, usually another in the afternoon, and then drink it with dinner and all night long. I've been doing this for at least a year, not thinking anything of it.
Recently, I just decided I needed more water in my diet and less pop, so last week I just stopped drinking it altogether. One week later, I still have not throbbing, but annoying headaches in the afternoon, some anxiety in the evening (although it's better today!) where my heart feels like it's racing and I'm unsettled, and the worst part is the dizziness! I feel like I'm walking around in a fog and if I move my head quickly I feel lightheaded. Is all of this normal? I feel like I'm going crazy and am so tempted to just start caffeine again, but I know this will be worth it in the long run.
If these symptoms sound normal, how long until they're gone? I don't think I can handle this for months!!!!!
Thanks.