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
User says
re: how do u feel now? i have
how do u feel now? i have been having them for the past 4 days, the sypmtoms lessen in intensity everyday, but still prettty bad. Never taking caffeine again
Adam says
re: Decaf is great if you want to
Decaf is great if you want to kick your habit. Drinking coffee without the caffeine can help to break the link between drinking coffee and the kick. It should be noted, however, that the methods used to decaffeinate coffee are very envrionmentally damaging and energy consumptive. It depends on your moral bent whether you consider this an acceptable price to pay to get your decaf.
Sheri says
re: Constant pain in my thigh muscles
IMG! Yes, I went off tea (not coffeee) on Monday. It is Thurs and my thighs are still killing me. Fiesrt 2 days was a headache with the thigh aches. Feels like I ran a marathon. I decided to go off off even green tea, because I was addicted to it (I guess that isn't bad). I guess it depends on you level of caffeine tolerance, some people can gussle the stuff all day at Starbucks and I'm dying from weaning off of grean tea. Took Advil for the pain, woke we up at nite with a deep pain in my hips and thighs. Hope that helps!
User says
re: Day 3
I had my teeth whitened and was advised to not drink coffee or tea for 24 hours. Because of withdrawal, I went out and got a Mountain Dew in the early evening, figuring the light color of it wouldn't stain my teeth. Then, since I already had a head start on eliminating coffee and tea, I decided to try and kick the habit once and for all. I am finding it to be very hard, much harder than I thought it would be. And yes, no more Mt. Dew, either, or chocolate. Of course, I have the resentment -- being mad for having to give up things I really like. Why can't things that SUCK be the things we have to give up? Anyway ... I am on Day 3 and am fairly miserable. I can't concentrate. my kidneys ache, I am irritable. Another thing I am finding is that (typical of an addict) my addiction is now attempting to find a substitute for the caffeine. My SUGAR cravings are incredible. Cookies, candy. I want them BAD. I'll hang in there, but I feel pretty bad. Hope things get better soon. It's also difficult making people understand the experience of withdrawal. The non-addict tries to "get it," but I don't think they are really able to. I read one guy in here saying "just moderate ... use your intelligence." It's not like that for an addict ... it's all or nothing.
User says
re: Thanks Jesse for posting
Thanks Jesse for posting that. I am on day 8 of no caffeine. The first 3 days were a living hell. Even though I had weaned myself to one excedrin a day taking that final step of no excedrin sent me in to flu symptoms. Vomiting all night, migraine, body and neck pains. I tried lessening the symptoms with my migraine medicine but that didn't help at all. I had attempted no caffeine two times before and couldn't make it through a full month without going back to it. I'm determined to make it this time. I'm still really headachey and have a lot of muscle soreness. How long did it take you to overcome the aches and pains or do you still have them?
User says
re: Caffeine withdrawal is same as Meth comedown.
I've been off coffee for the last 3 days and I've had major mood swings, headaches, and neck pain.
This stuff is definitely just as bad as meth-amphetamine. I had comedowns from meth before and they are very similar to this coffee withdrawal.
User says
re: Yes... I have been "cold
Yes... I have been "cold turkey" for 2 weeks now. I drank a TON of coffee... Starbucks... I mean like at least a pot a day if not more.... I love it and miss it.
My headaches were excruciating....my body aches- almost laughable how the changed each day- but my hamstring muscles ached like I ran a marathon... weird? Why? So yes- your thighs can hurt!
Daniel says
re: RE: A quick word on my habit
Decaf does have a trace amount of caffeine but nowhere near 10-15% of it's original level. In the United States federal regulations require that in order to label coffee as "decaffeinated" that coffee must have had its caffeine level reduced by no less than 97.5 percent
Davex says
re: A quick word on my habit
At this time of the year I take a month off from alcohol & caffeine. Alcohol is nothing more than resisting the occasional "I would like a glass of wine with this meal" desire, but caffeine makes me pay. I'll have a headache for 5 days minimum. And truthfully, I am kind of fatigued feeling but the headache is the big ticket item. I do not take aspirin because many brands contain caffeine. Plus, I like to remind myself that my coffee addiction carries consequences. This year it hasn't been so bad. I split my coffee 1:2-caffeine: decfinated. Maybe after this sobriety I will go 1:3.. or maybe 4. I still love the taste so I do not want to give it up. BTW, I drink only coffee decaffeinated by water and not th chemical process. Ask around if this interests you. And also, remember that decaffeinated coffee is not 100% caffeine-free. It has about 10-15% of the caffeine still in it.
User says
re: I'm on my 3rd day. Got raging
I'm on my 3rd day. Got raging headaches and woke up this morning with pain on my thighs and butt. Go figure. From reading all I've read here, I guess its normal?
Jesse says
re: Day 7 of My Caffeine Detox
It is Day 7, and since I've tried to get off of caffeine before, I knew what to expect. The longest I've been caffeine-free was two years. Best, healthiest two years to-date.
My side effects are numerous and last over a week, maybe two. Headache is gone, but the body aches are numerous and keep me from sleeping. For the lower back pain (kidneys and adrenals), I wear a support belt for part of the day - one of the exercise rubber wide belts. It supports my innards while they are purging the demon.
Honestly, it makes me smile when folks write that there's nothing wrong with caffeine. Research the correlations of various illnesses for women and caffeine intake. Research caffeine among those who are not defending it for any reason. As far as the one blog that said only addictive personalities have problems with it, that writer either is in deep denial or doesn't know many people. Look at this society and learn what the average consumer drinks. I guess they all have addictive personalities?
I didn't start drinking coffee until my 30's, so it wasn't something I grew up enjoying. But since it (like food, drinking, and other behaviors) is such a societally-reinforced behavior, coffee is everywhere. And a social thing - "let's meet for coffee" is a commonly heard statement.
Honestly? You'll laugh when I tell you how much I drink daily, because it is minimal. Yet, I have the most horrific side effects when detoxing that you'd think I drink a ton. You know the small mugs? On most days, I drank a third of coffee. On other days, at most, a half of a small mug. Unreal! I'm hoping this is the last day of the body aches.
My guess about why our legs, back, etc. hurt is that substances are stored throughout the body. When it is no longer being provided, and our body is used to it, our organs, nerves, and muscles re-adapt to having to function without it. Especially my kidneys and adrenal glands (located on top of each kidney) just ache beyond reason.
Keep up the good fight. You will sleep better, think better, and eventually have the energy that you no longer do. It is not gone forever. Remember to eat right and get good protein. Exercise.
Hooray for us! And, no, it is not because we are "addictive personalities." And those who say there is nothing wrong with caffeine are justifying their own usage.
long time addict says
re: I'm in my late thirties also
I'm in my late thirties also and have a story similar to yours. But I'm still addicted and wake up every morning drained even if I've had several days off in a row from work where I can sleep all I want. Yeah, cold turkey or tapering off are both hard in their own ways.
I was wondering..do you sleep less now or more? It's a concern as I sometimes have to get up real early..
The_Nuts says
re: how I kicked the habit
I thought I'd share how I managed to quit drinking coffee. Hopefully it will help someone out! I haven't had a chance to read the whole thread, so I hope I'm not repeating something that has already been suggested.
I'm in my late thirties, and have been drinking coffee regularly since high school. During the last few years, I started drinking up to two pots of coffee per day (I blame grad school and having kids). I tried to quit multiple times, usually cold turkey, and the withdrawal symptoms were debilitating . . . I was not able to function. I tried tapering too, but I had a hard time regulation how much coffee I was drinking, so the taper wasn't "smooth," and I failed.
A better tapering-off method was what finally helped. I bought three bags off coffee beans (this will work with ground coffee too) . . . one regular, the other two decaf. When I made my coffee in the morning, I would take two scoops of beans from the regular bag, and use that for my coffee. I would then place two scoops of decaf beans into the regular-bean bag, and then shake the bag to mix the beans. I repeated this every day, such that the regular beans were slowly diluted by the decaf beans.
When the decaf beans were gone, I went ahead and finished the "regular-bean" bag (which should now be mostly, if not all, decaf). The change is amazing. It takes a week or so to fully recover, but I have tons of energy now, and when I wake up in the morning I actually feel like I got some sleep.
User1 says
re: Aspartame has phenylalanine
Aspartame has phenylalanine which potentiates caffeine, so the two together have an enhanced kick.
User says
re: i feel sick after a while of
i feel sick after a while of not drinking caffeine. it kinds of have an effect on the body
secretpopde? says
re: >:(
i am experience weird pains bcoz of caffeine. how can i lessen caffeine in my body?
User says
re: I havent gone off caffeine in
I havent gone off caffeine in years. After I had some panic attacks last year I maybe went off for 2 weeks. I developed anxiety and some depression last year and I think caffeine had a major part in that. At that time I was drinking close to 500mg of caffeine a day!
Anyway I use workout energy supplements (which contain caffeine and other stimulants), but they havent done much for me lately (I hadnt used them in months before trying again recently). So I decided I needed to take a break from stimulants. I thought back to how caffeine used to make me feel super awake and excited and stuff, but now it just like gets me through the day. In the morning if I dont drink any coffee or anything I feel completely drained.
Last week I went 6 days without anything, but then I broke and had coffee/energy drinks for the last 4 days. Now I swore I would start again and go for a full month. I hate this depressing feeling of ZERO energy all day.
User says
re: Caffeine Side Effects
I am on day three of a Diet Coke detox - 2-4 liters a day for 10+ years. I can handle the headaches, but the pain in my thighs and legs is distracting. I keep waking up several times a night due to leg ache.
User says
re: Caffine Withdrawals
You are experiencing the same withdrawal symptons that I have!
I went on the web to see if my symptons were related to going off caffine.
I have headaches and aches in my lower back (kidney area), thighs and legs.
I am glad to read your comments to confirm that the symptons are related to caffine withdrawal.
Actually decaf coffe from Tim Hortons tastes just the same as caffinated coffee and is very good.
That is all I have been drinking for the past four days.
I went off caffine because my doctor said that my stomach problems were do to a Hiadas Hernia.
You know, my stomach has not bothered me to much over the past few days.
Good Luck!
User says
re: I had the headache and I've
I had the headache and I've been taking a ton of naps - all of which I can deal with, but now I'm getting the "flu-like" symptoms and its miserable. The nausea is the worste part. I've been using mass-quantities of water to fend off the other symptoms, but I can't stand water when my stomach is upset, so the cravings are 10 times worse now. I'm on my 7th day and they say you're officially "no longer addicted" on the 9th day. I can't wait for the next two days to be over!
Dave MM says
re: No doubt. I experience this
No doubt. I experience this pain every time I've quit caffeine, although my pain is in the hamstring area (back of my legs). If you search, you'll find that many people complain about this pain. However, after much searching, I can't find what causes it! Kind of scary...
User says
re: caffiene withdrawal
I feel like I got hit by a car and headaches and leg and but pains its really weird I didnt think I was so hooked
User says
re: Caffeine side effects
I have a question - I had a headache after day 1 of quitting caffeine, however for 4 days straight I have had constant pain in my thigh muscles. Has anyone else experienced this? it is very strange. Any help is much appreciated.
Leon says
re: Thank-you
Thank-you thread-writers - its great to see I'm not alone. I've come off coffee twice (four mugs of black coffee a day) and I get a withdrawal similar to mild opiate withdrawal (I work in a detox so I've seen it). Even my doctor didn't believe me and said I just got a flu at the same time. Flu doesn't make your vision go and the muscle aches are terrible - and different from flu and accompanied by cravings - thats not flu and I've had it twice so I should know! Thank-you everybody for sharing your stories, I gave up coffee - my favourite drug - to try and get my energy back, this thread has inspired me to keep clean! It was easier to pack in drinking. By the way my wife has struggled with a one can a day aspartimine addiction, that stuff is definitely addictive and she can't replace the diet coke hit with caffeine so its definitely the aspartimine.
Jay smith says
re: Good luck. Thinking of your
Good luck. Thinking of your Mom will give you additional strength in improving your own condition. I'm about to phase down caffeine for the sixth time at age 58. I drink from 4-12 diet sodas a day. I've quit cigarettes and alcohol cold turkey with no problem, but caffeine is tough. The headaches kill me.
Vishnu says
re: Those who get addicted to
Those who get addicted to caffeine are mainly those who have addictive personalities in general. These people swing from one extreme to the other, of a very unhealthy lifestyle to a fanatically healthy lifestyle.
There is nothing wrong with caffeine or coffee if used in moderation, and in fact can contribute to a healthy, happy and productive lifestyle. Coffee helps prevent several diseases such as parkinson's, diabetes, colon cancer and liver disease. It also helps to lift mood, focus and energy. The coffee experience itself - the pleasure of looking forward to and enjoying that tasty brew, is itself uplifting.
As with all things, moderation and balance is the key. If you drink lots of other caffeinated beverages, then reduce coffee intake and vice versa so that total caffeine intake is acceptable. Don't drink caffeine too close to bedtime. Space out your intake and consume it more slowly so the effects are more smoothe and stable. Basically, just use common sense - there is no reason to become an anti-coffee health nazi just because you are unable to moderate your own intake.
Jane says
re: I decided to put myself through withdraw on purpose
I started drinking coffee at 17, I was a regular at my local coffee shop. On top of that I was drinking up to three cans of heavily caffeinated soda a day (that was an average day, it was even more on a bad day). I started drinking caffeine in such large amounts to cope with depression and anxiety. More than two years later, now in college, I accidently went into withdraw where I had the most painful headache of my life, and I've suffered from migraines for over ten years, in my first day of withdraw I was even vomiting. I went to the doctor and he told me what was happening and that it was going to end up being more healthy for me that I stop drinking so much caffeine and to stay away from headache medicines containing caffeine. Being a college student, I didn't listen to him. A few months later, on a very humid day, I was outside and I passed out. According to the doctor, again, I passed out due to dehydration. Because I was consuming so many sodas I wasn't getting enough water. I then purposefully put myself through withdraw. For three days straight I had a debilitating headache and for days afterwards I suffered from major cravings. I replaced my coffee and sodas with glasses of water however, but the cravings still persisted. I also found myself uncharacteristically emotional and more anxious.
User says
re: My heart has been giving me
My heart has been giving me palpitations, on and off since coming off though having the odd 1/2 teaspoon in a decaff. I am going to get checked as the feelings are grim.
User says
re: I am a 34 year old female who
I am a 34 year old female who just got diagnosed with asthma. I was told i had to quit smoking and drink lots of water. without ever thinking about it i quit smoking cold turkey and stopped drinking my Dr. Pepper. i have not had a problem with the headaches but i have had a problem with my pulse rate going over 120 whenever i try to get up and do anything. i went to the er and they tested my heart and found nothing wrong. i was wondering if anyone else has had this experience and if so how long it lasted? Thank you for any help
Mikel says
re: Watch the Tylenol Consumption
Hi, Mack - please be careful with your Tylenol consumption. Too much at once can kill you, seriously! If you have a bad headache again, try ibuprofen or aspirin or naproxen, or Tylenol -- but all according to suggested dosing!
RichE says
re: Misc replies
The main withdrawl cycle is about 3 days, though you may feel cravings much longer.
Whatever you're treating with caffeine can be treated in a better way. Usually, just improving your personal life, making more friends, exercising to avoid boredom and depression.
Aspirin or other analgesic is a common treatment but be careful! Many extra strength and migraine formulations contain caffeine.
Midol is mostly caffeine, which may be why women having their period might crave caffeine. Oh course it also restarts the caffeine dependency cycle.
Your sensitivity to caffeine may increase after prolonged use. Treat it like you would any drug. Know your dosage, be aware of side effects, and plan ahead for the withdrawl cycle
sudafed relieves the sinus pressure and therefore the headache. This is most severe day 1. By day 3 you should be done with withdrawl, though you will still be recovering as your internal symptoms reset themselves.
This may sound scary but usually it's not ad bad as it sounds. It's not like heroine withdrawl. The sympts are mild, but knowing what to expect helps you avoid going back to caffeine.
RichE says
re: Coping with withdrawl
Mii, I'm doing the same thing this weekend. Taking a sudafed helps the withdrawl symptoms and is less addictive than the cafeine. Otherwise, plan on erratic sleeping. Just go with it wherever it takes you, if you can. If not, use deep breathing and energetic walks to keep you going when you need it. Sudafed or B12 vitamins can give you a boost too but don't overdo that either. Allow yourself to be tired at night and to fall asleep as easily as possible.
Also, use the dry-out time to work on other good habits so that you will be less tempted to start another caffeine binge later. Habits like Exwrcising, eating well, good hygiene, and positive mental attitude. The things drive off boredom and depression tha can lead to caffeine binging.
Mack says
re: Worse headache of my life!!
I've been drinking about 3-6 cups of coffee everyday for the past 2 years. I used it throughout grad. school and also now at my job. I never felt that I had any addiction problems what so ever. For some odd reason I just decided not to drink any for the past 2 days. I didn't actually plan to not have any but it somehow happened. I can honestly say that early this morning about 3 a.m. I woke to the worse headache of my life!! I downed 4 extra strength Tylenol, which didn't seem to have an affect. Finally after another 2 and an hour later the pain subsided. I thought for a while about what could have triggered such an agonizing headache. Throughout the rest of the day I felt groggy, drowsy, and a dull pain in my head. I decided to have one cup of coffee to see if this could offset the symptoms. What do you know...right now as I type these words I feel GREAT!! I still love the feeling of a cup of joe but I definitely need to slow down my intake. It's not a Tumor!!
Dave MM says
re: While I may disagree with
While I may disagree with some of your comments and methods, I'm not inclined to argue those points. You are trying to improve yourself by breaking your addiction to caffeine. Best of luck to you. It will not be easy for the first few weeks, but you will get through it.
Dave
Mio says
re: Caffeine Addiction and Withdrawal Can Be a Very Serious Problem.
I'm a 21 year old guy who is also trying to quit the caffeine habbit. I've been drinking caffeinated drinks since I was a young lad...but nothing serious when growing up until I was 18. During my late teenage years I started to drink coffee and enery drinks from time to time along with smoking cigarrettes...as oppossed to my childhood were I would only drink a couple sodas a week. It all started gradually and I really liked the sense of well being it provided..especially along with cigarrettes (started a classic case of drug use and dependence around this time I guess...even if legal) Caffeine and nicotene boosted my energy levels a lot...I could concentrate more, my witt was a lot better, and I had a very positive and secure outlook on life. Maybe being a teenager and not having to worry about a lot of real life stuff yet had something to do with it also. But anyway, a year ago I went through a pretty bad depression for some reason...I guess pressure to further my life and real life responsibility kind of threw me over the edge. I didn't think that caffeine and nicotene could of drained my balanced brain chemistry..but they both probably helped it go that far with my usage.
During that time I thought things through a lot and tried to make my body and mind stronger. I quit my three year nicotene habbit with the last year of that being a pack a day habbit because of the depression. Quitting nicotene was actually pretty easy to me (I started smoking weed during the first week and it made the withdrawal a lot more managable..a safer alternative compared to both of the poisons mentioned before in my opinion). I can even smoke a couple of cigarrettes a week from time to time and get away with it no problem ( I know, I know you all are thinking that this is wrong and I'm setting myself up to fail but I've learned that only smoking a couple does not make me go into a nicotene fit..hopefully the same will happen once I quit caffeine because I plan on drinking coffe and/or enery drinks from time to time for the lift and other benefits..just without getting addicted again). I have been nicotene addiction free for six months now...thank you MJ 🙂
Then I wanted to quit caffeine and THAT WAS AND STILL IS A FRICKIN' NIGHTMARE. I'm getting all the classic symtoms. The headaches are not that bad really...but the tiredness is EXTREME. Luckily I took this week off from work because I slept for about 20 hours today on and off. It was very weird. It's been day 2 since I last had a cup of coffee...I can't wait for this nightmare to be over. Reading through all the comments left by people sure gives me hope. I can't believe I actually had a much much easier time quitting the highly addicting nicotene and I'm having a extremely hard time with this...maybe I just need to make my brain snap out of it like I did with the tabbacky.
User says
re: I was drinking about 6 cups
I was drinking about 6 cups of black tea every day and decided to stop. The next day my head was hurting and I had no energy, the thought of food wasn't appealing. The day after that was even worse, my headache was horrible and I couldn't stand the smell of food, I thought I was going to throw up. Today is my 3rd day off of caffeine and I am starting to feel better.
Joe says
re: Caffeine withdrawl ?
I have been a regular coffee drinker for the past 9 years now. I needed a change of diet and I knew that I relied to heavily on caffeinated beverages, mostly coffee and tea. About 3 days ago I straight up quit cold turkey. I experienced extreme tiredness, depression like symptoms and a scratchy throat with a cough. I feel like I am starting to rebound a little but I am glad I am back on the rebound. Thanks for your post Phil.I wasn't really sure what was happening to me. After reading your experience it sounds like we are both in the same boat. Caffeine-holics anonamous anyone?
Dave MM says
re: Thanks for the advice. Good
Thanks for the advice. Good luck, Rick.
Dave MM says
re: Yes, this is definitely
Yes, this is definitely withdrawal. You were consuming an extremely high amount of caffeine (probably 800 mg) or more per day, and you went down to nothing. This is the equivalent of being a drug addict and suddenly stopping drug use, although to a lesser extent. In three days, you will likely start to feel better. Until then, your head will hurt and you will have no energy, and will likely be depressed as well. The good news? It is temporary! You will feel better, just do your best to ride it out. You can do it! You can break the power that caffeine has over you, even if it only is temporary. Feel free to email me if you need any support, as I've gone through what you're going through many times. Best of luck.
Rick says
re: Heavy withdraw
Well its now 2am here. Yesterday I had drank about 3 sodas with about 55mg of caffeine each. I basically just signed a ticket to hell. When i fell asleep about an hour ago I had a slight headache nothing serious, or so I though. About an hour later I awoke in agonizing pain from my head and stomach, and some of the worst nausea ive ever had. My bp was fine but my pulse was 146, luckily i had diazepam on hand which helped. A trick for anyone going through caffeine withdraw, herbal expressions make a peppermint tea which really helps with the nausea.
User says
re: caffeine problem
hi
i wanted to know how long you went with the symptoms of caffeine withdraws because i think im going through it right now.
thanks
User says
re: caffeine withdrawal
One symptom of caffeine withdral is sore muscle/body aches (flu like soreness) due to adenosine receptors in our bodies need to regulate again. Google for more info on adenosine receptors. God bless you in your effort to quit.
Breathing says
re: Exploding Headache
Yesterday about 2pm, the inside of my head began burning in the sinus and forehead areas. This went on for about an hour leading into pressure building within my entire skull. By 4:30pm I was on the couch in agony that was only just beginning. My head felt like it was going to explode. I had to sit up with my head laying on a pillow in forward position over the back of the couch to even get a touch of relief. Two Advil did nothing. I became nauseous but never vomited. By 7pm, I took 2 Extra Strength Tylenol. 30 minutes later I started to get sleepy and enter twilight state, and the pain began to relieve somewhat. I was able to eat something by 8:30 or so. This headache was scary.
It didn't occur to me until this morning that I did not drink coffee all day yesterday. I usually have 4 cups of high quality coffee a day (i.e., Seattle's Best, Green Mountain, etc.)
Is this a withdrawal headache? Anybody have this experience?
User says
re: Me too!!!
I have had the same symtoms, lack of focus, short term memory and it feels like I dropped 50 IQ points since giving up caffine about five days ago. The headaches were anoying but I got through them; now I'm just moody, I eat to much, and seem to walk around with my head in a cloud. I hope this weres off soon other wise I'm gonna need to grab a tripple latte or a CAT scan.
Phil says
re: Caffeine free on day 6, my symptoms...
OK, for five years now I've had off and on strange symptoms, started with dizziness, loss of appetite, stomach problems, restlessness, being "shooken" awake, depression, etc..
I decided to quit caffeine about three years ago and noticed a big change. While I had general anxiety symptoms - I've been an anxious person most of my life, most of my scary symptoms started to dissipate. I began working again, have two jobs now and had a hearty appetite.
Then in December - after going back on caffeine, at least 3-4 cans of pop a day since the summer, if not more, I felt the symptoms hit back pretty hard. I got scared again, anxiety really crept in. I tried to quit caffeine but couldn't. palpitations, chest pain, GERD symptoms, twitchyness, numbness, flu-like nausea, anxiety through the roof.
I got back on caffeine and that was able to get me through somewhat. Until last Friday. I had my third pop (diet mtn dew this time) of the day at work (I work 15 hour double duty on Fri and Sat - I like to call it my nightmare weekend). I began to feel dizzy, confused, lightheaded, twitchy, panicky. I have klonopin, which I take only when I need to (and I've been taking a lot more of recently), and that settled me down.
I decided enough's enough and quit cold turkey. Needless to say most of my "scary" symptoms went away. The pains, twitching, numbness, chest pains and general anxiety haven't shown up since. I'm left with a set of new ones though. Saturday I had an awful headache all day and by Monday night I developed a pretty raw throat and cough that hasn't got worse, but hasn't got really any better. On top of that I'm quite tired and haven't been able to sleep that well and have had some shakes/anxiety. That said, I feel like I'm withdrawing rather than going nuts like I was when I was on caffeine. I'm pretty hopeful these new symptoms will dissipate as well as I stay off caffeine (and sugar for now) and they are definitely not as scary as the weird stuff I experienced drinking caffeine.
By the way, I also ordered a product called Well Tabs that I saw a commercial for. Generally I don't "fall" for such ads targeted at, well, the frustrated self-medicating depressed type. But I've had success with multi-herb formulas before and I've been taking it for two weeks or so with some nice results. At the very least it seems to keep your bowels regular and thats always a plus. I'll continue to try those (plus my daily intake of One-A-Day, Grape Seed, Flax Seed and Magnesium) as well as stay off caffeine and (for now) sugar. Despite my new sluggishness, I'm generally feeling a lot better about things.
User says
re: How often dp you take
How often dp you take antibiotics as they will weaken your immune system.
Kevin Willis says
re: Aspertame
I have recently given up caffeine and aspartame (as a prelude to going on a much-needed diet, as I have suspected artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and other such substances had been playing havoc on my appetite forever). I have had a similar problem with joint pain, specifically in my knee, which used to bother me a bit when I was running regularly in college (and I haven't been jogging in years), but only minorly since. I woke up yesterday and was in significant pain, which is now fading, but I think that was the second or third day that I hadn't had as much as a stick of artificially sweetened gum. So, I could see that aspartame might play a role.
In my case, I also quadrupled my consumption of vegetables and vegetable juices recently, and I'm told that can contribute to joint pain. So, I'm avoiding my low sodium V8s this week. Sigh.
But I suspect aspartame withdrawal is real, and I'm almost certain that (in my case) it actually enhanced my appetite. As it is, I'm happy to be getting off both aspartame and caffeine, finally, after 40 years.
I stopped to think about it, and the last time I had tried to quit caffeine was when I was in college, 20 years ago. So for the last 20 years, I probably haven't gone more than a day without ingesting some form of caffeine. Now, I've gone will over a week, and I think the worst of the withdrawal is behind me.
I'm glad to be getting this particular monkey of my back.
And, boy, that captcha is terrible. Got it first try, though.
Ray C says
re: Can anyone please help me with this
I always had some caffeine here and there but all of a sudden I had the smart Idea of taking diet pills which had about 186 mg of caffeine in them twice a day for about 2-3 weeks all of a sudden on a Wed. I didnt take them with a good breakfast and during class I experienced a caffeine overdose I was dizzy and had numb and tingly feeling from both of my hands and heart felt like it was gonna explode so I went out side and calmed myself down and went back then right before class ended I had another one so I went to the campus med. facility where I had another papiltations I guess that what they are called.. they wouldn't let me go till my heart rate went down.
So that that happened on Wed. and it got better and better, Fri. after my job interview I developed a lump feeling on the right side of my throat and lost my breath every time I thought about it got worse and I couldnt go to sleep so I went to the Doctor on Saturday and he said that He could not see anything really wrong with my throat except maybe a little inflammation so he gave me some antibiotics I dont know whether it is the throat inflammation or the stress and anxiety I have because of the caffeine withdraws
So far I have these symptoms; Chills that go off and on, dizzyness and once and a while loss of balance but this can be due to my bad eyesight since I do not have glasses, I can hear my heart beat but i dont freak out anymore, loss of weight, depression, weeping and crying, hot and tight face, and loss of Hunger, I also feel very tired.
I wanted to know if this is due to the caffeine withdraws and how long this will last, or should i ask the doctor to check my blood and see if that stuff messed with my thyroid or heart.
I need help because im 19 and I have never experienced this type of thing before and its scary
guest says
re: No actually caffeine
No actually caffeine *constricts* blood vessels. STOP spreading misinformation!
kerry says
re: Sore shoulder from caffeine?
I am only on my second day without coffee, I drank 2 or 3 cups a day. I recently saw a kinesiologist and he told me that caffeine (coffee) is one of the very worst things I could be putting into my body. I knew it was bad but have been putting quitting off. I have had pain in my right shoulder that my chiropractor cannot get rid off, nor other things I've tried- I have been doing hair for 27 years. The kinesiologist said that caffeine causes inflammation, or also something else in my diet. Also I am wondering how acidic my body is... I was wondering if anyone posting here got rid of a ache or pain in one area after getting off coffee? I thought for sure my trouble was from my job, but I guess you never know. And also I am so thankful to see all these posts about everyones withdrawals because I am already extremely foggy, sick feeling, all sorts of stuff already on day two, I feel like poop and feel sad/ depressed. Feeling this terrible makes me realize even more what this must have been doing to me. I tried a coffee substitute from the health food store but its gross.....
Kerry