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
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canitbethisbad?
re: Just hook me up to an IV
I have tried numerous times to get off coffee, all unsucessfully. I am going on day four today after having wrenching pains in my stomach last weekend with nausea and vomiting. I decided it was time to quit and get better. The problem is that every morning I wake up to a tension-type headache with some lighheadness that lasts throughout the day. I am so depressed and so sleepy. I hate this. I keep telling myself that I should never be so addicted to something that has this affect on me. I actually started to think maybe I had a brain tumor or cancer. After all, something so readily available wouldn't have this affect on people, would it? This morning my husband was making his coffee, and the smell almost drove me crazy. I finally caved and had two sips. I didn't think anything could taste so good! Is there a recovering Coffee Addicts support group? If not, I think I should start one.
User
re: Third day and had to have a cup!
Hello EJM!
I thought I was also going nuts! One minute I was soooo angry, and very mean thoughts, to totally breaking down and crying. Every muscle in my body aches and the headache is bad! Fianlly, I got out of my own way and go on my computer to look up sites, which is how I strolled upon this one, and realized cold turkey doesn't work for everyone so I made a cup of "weaker" coffee; the headache is still there, but not nearly as bad.
Like my doctor said when I went to him to quit smoking, "It took you more than a day to develop the habit, so let's be fair to addiction and control it logically" God Bless that cup of coffee! I never realized how addicted I am because I never tried to stop drinking coffee before. I'mm 44 yrs. young and it's time to stop!
Good luck to us both and hang in there!!
SM
Cindy from Seattle
re: Sleepy in'Seattle
It is my second day and I have that same headache described. A real pain in the neck. I was only drinkng one-two cups a day and thought I could overcome cold turkey with no symptoms. I was absolutely wrong. I just woke up from the weirdest nap. I felt totally dizzy and for a moment could not figure out what day it was, what time it was, WAS I SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEWHERE?
I did not take my natruopathic doctors advice. I am on my way out to the store to get these items. I'll share it with you:
To mnimize withdrawal symptoms take the following supplements:
Vitamin B12 (1000 mg a day)
B-Complex (50 mg twice daily)
Choline (or lecithin) 50 mg with each meal
Vitamn E 400 I.U. daily.
Contineue these supplements until all symptoms have passed- usually 7-14 days. Then take for an addl. 3-5 days.
I'm also fixin' to get some Chamomille tea. It is recommended to drink 4-5 cups a day. It is specificc for countering the adverse effects of caffeine.
Drink lots of water too, or ya' just might add constpation to the list.
I hope this helps ya'all! I'm on my way to the store. Please send out positive vibes I can pass up the coffee shop!
BTW I was told to cut the caffeine to improve my life. I have been having stomach issues, I do get a bit nasty/worried feeling and have been restless when there is no reason... besides the regular life issues.
Good Luck Everyone!
Sleepy in Seattle (Cindy)
User
re: Caffeine Withdrawl Me Too
I'd decided to get my diet in order which included quitting coffee. (I quit smoking a month or so ago and now it's the food/drink intake I want to fix) I didn't even really drink that much coffee in a day -about 2 cups in the morning. I'm on day 2 of the quit and have had to have this day and yesterday off of work! I too was soooo sick last night. I laughed at the comment re: brain cancer because I thought the same thing. This couldn't possibly be from stopping coffee. Was very nauseous with a headache like a migraine. I don't take drugs so took a calcium drink, took minerals and vitamins, lots of water with lemon juice and slept. I can't believe how tired I have been. This is the first time really that I haven't been out of bed in the past 2 days! Glad I found this site. Thought the drama was just me.
Chris Morris
re: Sarah, your Mom would be
Sarah, your Mom would be absolutely correct. But its not the coffee which is your problem, that is just making it worse. You should have your kidneys checked and look seriously at getting nutritional advice.
If you are tired often
, you could have a viral problem or your diet contains too many toxins (which is most likely these days.) As toxins in food enter the body systems, the energy it takes for your body to try and neutralise them or expel them doesn't leave much over for normal muscle activity, so you feel tired. Coffee overstimulates liver and kidneys which are already over-worked dealing with the other toxins. Get onto good food, sensible exercise, good thinking and a good supplement. Cheers.
DM
re: coming off caffeine
Hi SG - good luck!
I'm on day two and it's exactly as you describe. I've spent most of the day in bed and trying not to throw up. I'm in the throes of nausea too. I do so hope it gets better. Keep us posted!
DM (Dublin)
Daniel
re: thanks
Thanks for this reply. I had meant to reply with a very similar response when this one came through and then got busy and never came back.
SG
re: Going Cold Turkey
Hello everyone,I have been a coffee drinker for most of my life, but my intake grew considerably during my university years. Moving to Italy for 12 years didn't help either. If Americans and Australians (where I grew up and live) drink coffee by the mug load, Italians sip small cups of the sweetest tar imaginable, be it a latte, cappucino, short black, macchiato...whatever. So what's the worst gift to give a coffee addict, an expresso machine! Which is what I got for my birthday 3 years ago ... and never looked back.
I have tried giving up coffee before and once managed to do so for 12 days (there must be something about that number since another reader mentioned it as well), but at the time I was still a student and often frequented bars and coffee lounges after lunch with my peers. Needless to say, I eventually gave in. I don't like the effects of coffee: gastric upset (I resorted to using cream), frequent urination, irritability, short-fuse, hyperactive (frenzied) ... you name it.
This time, I decided to go cold turkey. Two days ago actually. So I went from 3 to 6 expresso coffees to nil, point blank. AND IT TURNS OUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO HAVE BEEN HIT BY A BUS!!!!
Day one: I skipped my usual morning fix. I felt unusually fine, but I yawned all morning and then got drowsy in the afternoon. I didn't fight it, so I slept it off for an hour. Nevertheless, I felt this niggling sensation not unlike what one would feel just before coming down with the flu. Also, I expereined shortness of breath and general fatigue.
Day two: I woke up during the night with a massive headache and nausea.The headache felt like a vice at the base of my skull, extending up the back of my head and to the sides. At times I thought I had some fatal disease ... brain cancer, meninghitis ... this pain couldn't be due to caffeine withdrawal, could it? Two paracetamols (1 gram) every four hours just managed to quash it. Damn it, my sympathies go out to migraine sufferers.
I was useless all day. Just as well it was a Sunday. I slept it off when I could. I couldn't keep my eyes open in front of the tv and anyone that spoke to me did so at their own peril. I did warn them!
Today: I got up with the vice in brain again. The flu without a fever. No bad dreams, but one massive hangover ... without the party. Thoughts of steaming coffee cups pervade my mind, so I drink toasted barley instead.
Oh, I had one really good argument with my wife ... for no reason ..., but then she still drinks coffee and must be up tight about something, RIGHT?
So why am I persisting? Because I have never been addicted to anything else. I don't drink, I have never smoked, so why should I allow my life to be dictated by a brewed beverage that is slowly killing me, elevating my blodd pressure, making me nervous, anxious and irritated and probably raising my cortisol levels off the scale. But there is another reason. As I write this, despite the slight nausea and the light headedness, I also feel a sense of euphoria, a feeling of well being and of total relaxation. That sense of stress has gone and has been replaced with a sense of total body relaxation, which can only be a shell of what long-term abstinence will achieve. I feel like crap, but my body is telling me it feels fantastic. What an absurd dichotomy, but maybe it isn't so absurd since like all substance abusers the links between the mind and the body have been manipulated for so long that all of the latter's ills move back to the mind from where they came.
A few bits of advice I would like to add here for those of you that want to follow this path:
* Don't try quitting coffee/caffeine during testing times. It won't work. Aim for a time when you can either be alone or be left alone.
* When you feel tired and sleepy. Sleep it off. Don't fight it.
* Treat the headache. Don't let it go, it will force you back onto the coffee, but ensure you don't take a caffeine riddled analgesic.
* Don't pick a fight!
* Substitute your daily rituals with a cup of toated barley. It tastes like coffee, looks like coffee, but it ain't (and is caffeine free). This will help you fill those habitual gaps. Don't start mixing barley and coffee, you will only drink more of the mixture to make up the difference!
I hope this will help some of you. The price is worth it, I think.
Good Luck
SG (Australia)
Nathan
re: Hold on, I am a complete
Hold on, I am a complete coffee nut, have been for years. I am currently dropping my caffeine intake, of course I have headaches. My only comment, is you cannot make espresso that has the equivalent of 13 cups of coffee. As espresso is 7 - 9 grams of coffee grounds, pressure brewed. You cannot fit more than 10 grams in a typical espresso machine, sometimes 12 in an industrial machine, but that would still only be at most 1.5 times a cup of coffee. So, the only way to get that large a dose of caffeine would be to drink at least 10 shots of espresso. I used to have 6 a day, and I can confirm it will upset your stomach and make you jittery. But to get the equivalent of 13 sounds a little far fetched, especially for someone not used to consuming espresso.
I would look for a reaction between the pills and the coffee, but there is no way to consume that much coffee in one shot, it is simply not possible unless she drank 10 shots of espresso, which at 1 oz each would be an entire coffee cup of espresso. I would have trouble drinking that, and I love espresso.
User
re: technically if you exercise
technically if you exercise you are doing so to get your resting heart rate DOWN. This is because your heart becomes more efficient at what it does so it needs to work less hard to keep blood circulating.
User
re: I wish the headache was all.
I wish the headache was all. I feel like jumping off a bridge.
User
re: Re: Please help!!!
Natural does not necessarily mean safe. In fact, natural, herbal remedies can be the most dangerous because they haven't all been tested by the FDA. There are many natural substances that are poisonous.
Perhaps your girlfriend created a toxic reaction with the substances she took; after all, the bottle did say not to take with caffeine. At this point, you should take her to the doctor. Be sure to bring the bottle with you.
User
re: HiThis has been happening
Hi
This has been happening to me. I normally drink 8-9 mugs of very strong tea a day plus I make one large mug of ground coffee in which I put three scoops. I've been trying to withdraw but have been experiencing horrendous palpitations. I also have the ringing in the ears.
edjahman
re: hi
I have been drinking coffee for 16 years now. At my worst, I was doing a pot a day or 1 gram of caff. I have tried to quit so many times that I forgot how many. The longest that I have gone is 12 days. For me, it's not the headaches that are the problem. When I quit I get very depressed and I feel very sleepy. I read a book about caffeine that says if you can make it at least 3 weeks that you will feel a lot better. I find it hard to believe sometimes. In the past couple of years I have gotten quite sensitive to caffeine and I can't even hardly tolerate my 30 OZ. that I used to have every morning for years. I also have fibromyalgia which is very painful. If I abstain from caffeine my pain is almost non-existant but the mental anguish that I feel is unbearable. I've talked with my doctor and she just gives me a blank stare with no suggestions. I've been to a psych. doc and she didnt think that caffeine was an important factor concerning my depression and anexity. WTF? I feel like the whole world is not listening to me. Coffee and products containing caffeine are Everywhere and I mean everywhere in our society which makes it more difficult to quit. Cigarettes we're much, much easier to quit.
I feel like I need to go to Betty Ford for 6 months or something.
I hate caffeine and I hate what I have become because of it. I cant help myself. I'm weak. I wish all of you the best of luck in your struggle. Thank You for telling your story. I know now I'm not really alone.
--EJM
User
re: I know people drink that
I know people drink that stuff, but that is just plain stupidity on the part of your girlfriend. She should know better than drinking the equivalent of 13 cups of coffee in one drink. In fact, everyone should. And a vegetarian? Try giving her 500 mgs. of Vitamin C (Ester C has less acid than regular) several times per day to help with the symptoms, and instead of cold turkey, maybe1 or a 1/2 cup of REGULAR strength coffee if she needs it a few times per day---to cut down slowly and make it more tolerable. It can take several weeks to clear so much caffeine from the body . The withdrawal symptoms would not go away in a day. It's better to go slowly , so one can function and not get desperate and then drink large amounts again.
A person can damage their liver drinking as much caffeine as she did. Know the caffeine content of what you drink---average Regular strength coffee, one 6 ounce cup, has about 100 mgs. At 250 mgs. toxicity and addiction sets in, for some people less than that. It's a drug. Would you take thirteen times the dosage of. say, Tylenol, and expect not to suffer? Good luck, and try a little common sense.
User
re: Gassy?
Flatulence could be an effect of aspartame and probably not related to caffeine.
User
re: The high levels of caffeine
The high levels of caffeine could definitely be the cause of your girlfriend's tremors. I do not know what the combination of your diet pill and caffeine could have. Were there other ingredients in that diet pill? Often diet pills contain stimulants, which help raise your metabolism. Since caffeine is a stimulant, the combination of the two can cause the health problems you described.
i would suggest taking your girlfriend to a doctor if symptoms continue. the headaches, nervousness, and irritability are consistent with caffeine withdrawal--since she is no longer ingesting caffeine--and can last for 1-5 days. vitamin c can be helpful in decreasing caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
it is important to note that herbal medicines (like your chinese diet pills) can be dangerous if not monitored by physicians. You said oyster shell and hawthorne berries were ingredients in the chinese diet pill. Both oyster shells and hawthorne berries are sedatives, hence you and your girlfriend's initial sleepiness. hawthorne berries are often used as a herbal substitute for heart medications. also, oyster shells have the risk of being contaminated with heavy metals like lead, mercury, etc. in the future i would suggest talking with a doctor before beginning any treatments.
ADR
re: Please help!!!
Since two days ago my girlfriend started feeling very strange. We both been taking a chinese diel pill (for like a month) that is made of oyster shell, hawthorne fruit and it was supposed to be natural. While taking the pill it was not recommended to drink coffee. We both started feeling stomach upset, constipation, dry mouth and very thirsty since starting taking the pill. Two days ago my girlfriend took the pill and went to work. She felt very sleepy so she drank a very strong expresso that was equivalent to drinking 13 cups of dark coffee. This was not the first time she had done this. She did the same the day before and like two weeks before that... and before taking the diet pill she used to drink that super strong expresso like every week for the past year. Again two days ago after she got home she starting having a some sort of a tremor o seizure that was mostly in the face and left arm. She was really scared so she started crying and seem to be very confused. I could see how her eyebrows were moving and she was blinking a lot and her lips were moving and she could not even talk normally. It lasted like 5 hours that bad.. and i tried to kept her calm and told her to breath deeply. After 5 hrs she got better but up today she still has like a face tremor that comes like every 10 minutes a its almost unnoticed. We both stopped taking that diet pills and she is not drinking coffee, tea or sodas now. She has had headaches and those face tremors and feels very nervous and irritable.
I do not know if it was the coffee and the pill or if it could be like a psychological disorder. I also do not know what to give her to keep her calm because she might be suffering of coffee withdrawal and she is very paranohic now. She also was not eating well while taking the pill because it was supposed to stopped hunger. Besides she is vegetarian so I really hope somebody can give us a little advise.
Thanks in advance to everyone.
User
re: be healthy
I have been going completely nuts from caffeine withdrawals. They're the worst. I have noticed that when I use natural calming herbs I do much better. You can find them at most health food stores. I work at a health food store called Good Earth and have tried many things. The herbs seem to work the best. I use the herbs Chamomile Flower, Passion Flower leaf, lavender flower powder, and lemon balm leaf powder. They're all in powder form. You can put it in empty capsules, mix it in water, or however you want to take it orally. If you have trouble sleeping using natural sleep aids such as melatonin or valarian works really well. I also like to use herbal teas. I also noticed that eating healthy has helped me a lot. Staying away from sugar, white flower, and ofcourse caffeine has helped a lot. I have been through withdrawals of many different substances and I have to say that caffeine is the worst. I know what you're going through.
User
re: I have recently tried
I have recently tried acupuncture for a variety of symtoms including depression & alchohol withdrawal. It really does help and it doesn't hurt having the needles put in your skin. I was impressed and wish I had gone sooner.
Carol Ramirez
re: Rhonda,I have been going
Rhonda,
I have been going crazy too, trying to figure out why I have had ringing in my left ear. I didn't connect it to caffiene withdrawal until I started researching the symptoms.
It started about a month ago and I have had an MRI which showed no anormality. I have taken anti-viral medication, and even tried ear candeling to no avail. Then my husband told me he has been making our morning coffee half caffienated and half decaffienated. The timing coincided with the ringing in my ear. After reading your e-mail, I am convinced caffiene withdrawal is the cause.
Does anyone have a remedy for our problem? I will go back to drinking caffeinated coffee if I have to.
Carol
Houston, Texas
User
re: the answer
Caffeine is a stimulant. Therefore... it stimulates your bladder. It's not just the water in the coffee that someone else suggested you are releasing. From my experience, you release much more than what you put in if you get my drift...
If you are tired, you should try sleeping more on a regular pattern. If you are fluctuaing your bed-time and wake-time, you will experience symptoms of jet-lag. Keep it regular.
Exercise more. Get your resting heart rate up so you aren't so tired.
I would recommend reading this article.
It might be hard to accept, but it's all true.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/99324/do_you_have_a_drinking_problem.html
Rhonda
re: caffeine withdrawal symptoms
My mother recently stopped drinking coffee, she cut down and switched to tea and then decaf tea (she had atleast 2 cups of coffee per day for the past 40 years) and now she is experiencing high blood pressure, panic attacks during the night and the worst is really bad ringing in the ears. She has had ringing ears for the past two years but recently it has gotten much worse with nightmares and her heart races. It's a pulsing ring, that matches her heartbeat. When she wakes up from the nightmares, this is what happens. Could this be due to caffeine withdrawal? Has anyone else experienced this? She is ready to try acupuncture, she doesn't know what else to do and is going crazy!!! Please help.
Thank you,
Rhonda (in New Zealand)
Javaqueen
re: Caffiene
No, there is no evidence that caffiene has bad effects on the kidneys. Caffiene is a diruretic. So you will end up having to pee alot. It effects every one differently so if your exeriencing any discomfort after you drink it your body is trying to tell you that it just can't handle it and you should probably cut back or just not drink it any more.
glennkawesch
re: Hi Glenn Kawesch here,I
Hi Glenn Kawesch here,
I think headache is the number one withdrawal symptom of caffeine.
Thanks,
Glenn Kawesch
Adfcom
re: dizziness
hmm i had the same thing with the caffeine poisoning, panic attakcs and depression, i have been clean for 3 weeks, i thought everything is ok now but its not.One day when i was going to school i felt dizziness and about 10 mints later heart palpitations, soon after that i had a panic attack, no physical symptoms, mostly the uncontrollable fear, i guess my BP was very high because my vision wasnt very good.After that i felt dizziness,anxiety and depression the whole day.
Next day when i woke up i was STILL dizzy, i spent most of the day in bed because i just couldnt do anything.I felt great anxiety, not emotionally as with depression but mentally.I felt i could not take it anymore, fear of going crazy etc etc, the dizziness was the cause i guess.....finaly on the 3rd day(today) the dizziness and anxiety is gone but today im feeling chest pains.. so i dont understand what is happening.
Before the poisoning i was drinking 2-3 liters of tea everyday for 12 years.
User
re: Caffeine withdrawal symptoms
I'm allergic to caffeine. So, I get itchy everywhere and very nervous. I get panic attacks and sometimes feel like I'm losing it. When I abstain from caffeine, I get headaches and become very moody, especially in the morning when I usually would drink caffeine. But I am determined to quit. This is day four with no caffeine!
Daniel
re: PH of coke
I would not worry too much about the acidity of colas unless you specifically have acid issues. Most colas have a ph in the range of 2 - 4. Foods such as most fruits (oranges, cherries, apples, blueberries, etc), wine, chili sauce, and horseradish, to name a few have a similar PH. Check out the about.com article on this topic.
User
re: coke
coke actually has a very high ph, of 2 I believe, which is really bad for your teeth, not to mention the rest of your body. I believe the acid found in coke is phosphoric acid. Try drinking black tea or green tea instead
User
re: Ive always been a tea
Ive always been a tea drinker, I'm from the south where tea is water pretty much. But a month ago I got really motivated to increase my run pace/distance, so I stared taking ripped fuel everyday. One night after ten mile run I had the palpatations and a heavy,but slow heartbeat. the next day the palps continued and I could feel my heartbeat in my face. I then experienced anxiety for the first time. I did not sleep for two nights because of a feeling of doom or death awaiting. I even hallucinated. That was enough for me. I have been off ripped fuel for 2 weeks now, and my runs haven't suffered too much.A lot of energy suppl. have hidden caffiene, in herbs for example, so use caution.
User
re: Overcoming Caffeine Withdrawal
Consider taking an increase in B vitamins as well as plenty of water.
Motrin or Aspirin should help with the headaches, but don't rely on them 24-7.Fruits and vegetables will also help to fill the energy void from the lack of caffeine in your system.Since it's tough to quit cold turkey, I would also recommend a limited caffeine source, such as a cup of diet cola or tea, to keep your body from going crazy.
Cookie
re: ...
Also that might be just Anxiety, thats what I feel after an attack. I had one yesterday form caffiene most likely....
Cookie
re: Caffeine
I have been drinking soda since I was young, I recently stop drinking soda and everything. Then after a panic attack from anxiety I stop even wanting soda, Thanksgiving I broke it and drank 4 cans of soda, was very hyper and in a good mood. Next day nothing. Still drinking soda. Today though I was about to grab a soda, but thought about it and didn't drink it (it was hard Im like addicted to it) now I'm getting a bad headache and im not really thinking and im anxisous and nervous and my heart beat is a bit faster. I hate it. I don't think I want to drink caffine drinks again.
User
re: Caffine
People react differently to caffine. I personally cannot drink coffee because it makes my stomach upset. However, people bodies are different and handle things differently. Also, coffee is just coffee beans and water and whatever else you put it in it. So peeing alot is normal. I have never heard of coffee being bad but I know drinking alot of it is bad. If you need something in teh morning try drinking pop(soda) and see how you feel. HOpe this helps.
User
re: Just drink more caffeine. I
Just drink more caffeine. I only get minor headaches if I forget to drink coffee. In fact I quite for a few weeks and only minor headaches. I can also sleep after drinking the stuff so I think there is more to it than just caffeine. You all may not eat properly too. I notice if I eat poorly and drink coffee I get bad headaches and accelerated heart rate. If I eat a good breakfast and one cup of coffee I feel pretty darn good the rest of the day.
User
re: withdrawal symptoms
you are saying that after quiting the second time you went into withdrawal for a really long time? well, definately possible to enter withdrawal when you quit a drug after only having been on it for a short period of time, however, for most drugs the physical (note: not psycological, these two are very different) only last for about a week. After that i believe you should be over the headaches, chills etc. If you're flu is lasting for a really long time, i'd get it checked by a doctor...
User
re: more on the stomach ache...
Another cause of the nausea could be the pH of the coffee: I'm not sure about hot chocolate, but I know that coffee has a pH of about 5 which might be enough to affect people with sensitive stomachs. Plus I've heard (by no way should you take this as definate information: I haven't tested it - formally or otherwise - nor seen reports from anyone else who has) that Starbucks coffee is more acidic, or at least harder on a lot of peoples stomach's, than other brands.
Caffeine Addict
re: IDK what's going on!
I'm 14 years old, 15 in January. I've gone to the doctors , everywhere I go They havn't found a solution. But now I remember. They did say something about The caffine, and addiction, makes you weak, nausea, headaches, and stomach hurting. I had my days almost once a week, now i only get them about once a month. And omg does that crap suck. It sometimes feels like your going to die! This article has helped me a lot! So thanks!
Caffeine Addict
User
re: withdrawls?
ok so last night I had 4 liters of soda and now I am freaking out....my feet are extremely itchy so I keep scratching them. I have been drinking coffee and soda sense I was like 5 (I am 18 now) so I have a good tolerence I bet, but even this was a bit much for me. I just want to be sure the contsantly itchy feet is just withdrawls or maybe it is something else.
Oh and just so you know I have never had heart problems, headaches, or sleep problems (the only thing I have ever really had is headrushes when I get up too fast after sitting down for a while). this is the first problem I have ever really had with caffene, and I'm not even sure if it is related. all I know is I am freaking out, out of nowhere my feet will hurt and get itchy as hell, no anti itch cream has helped at all.
Dona
re: 10 glasses of water
Hi, just wondering where you get your info, I've been and it's being published all over, drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day. Just would like to know more science behind what you're saying about the nutrient absorption.
User
re: Caffeine is a powerful addictant
You can become addicted to Caffeine and experience withdrawal in about two days of consumtpion. I've seen friend who only occasionally drink caffeine have quite bad withdrawal after only a weekend of drinking tea.
User
re: I have been drinking alot of
I have been drinking alot of soda, diet for the last 4 years or so. If I even go a few hours without a soda the headaches start in. I have to have caffeine right when I get up in the morning and all day at work and right up until bedtime. It does not affect my sleep anymore. I am so addicted. I have quit drinking it before but am right back to it again.
User
re: caffeine withdrawal
I just got off a 25+year addiction to diet colas. I was drinking 6-8 cans a day in addition to occasional chocolate and coffee.
It took me 9 days of Caffeine Withdrawal Syndrom feeling seriously ill to finally get past the actual withdrawal. I feel 110% better now that I'm clean.
The info I read about CWS from Johns Hopkins stated that even one can of cola a day or every other day can actually keep you addicted.
I tried for many years to quit using the one a day or every other day method, but that only kept me addicted until my usage got back up to the 6-8 cans a day mark.
Although it is initially painful, I HIGHLY recommend we all quit being slaves to coke and pepsi and be truly drug-free.
Please check out this web site
http://www.caffeinedependence.org/caffeine_dependence.html
Good luck
User
re: I am not a doctor, but am
I am not a doctor, but I am someone with high blood pressure. High blood pressure has many causes. Some of the symptoms are tightness in the chest, feeling out of breath, feeling like your heart is pounding like you might have a heart attack, headache, trouble sleeping, mood swings. It sounds like your problems go beyond this, just thought I might mention it. For heart irregularities make sure you have sodium/potassium in your diet. A multivitamin should cover your bases. Probably wont cure you, but might help.
User
re: no, it's the caffeine man,
no, it's the caffeine man, it's a diauretic (sp?) and i know if i have more than ONE cup of coffee i pretty much get the runs and a bad stomache ache for the next 4-6 hours. Coke has very little citric acid, if it was the Vitamin C having this dramatic of effect than natural orange juice would be killer. I'd bet my life that it was the caffine
User
re: her try to get some more
her try to get some more sleep and if that dosent work than you should see a doc.
User
re: Coffee drink side effects
Frequent urination is a side effect of caffeine, as it restrict the elasticity of bladder cells.
The nausea/bloating is more likely do to the lactose in hot chocolate or starbucks coffee drinks. I'm not really lactose intolerant (ice cream, milk, cheese, etc will not bother me) but dairy-based coffee drinks do.
User
re: Me too!
I'm going through the same thing! I quit for 2 years and started again. For the first few weeks I was fine, but last week I felt like I was dying! My heart rate skyrocketed and I felt dizzy and nausious whenever I had caffeine. I wasn't sure if it was the caffeine since I didn't feel that bad drinking it those first few weeks. But I'm thinking to just stop it again.
User
re: Quit caffeine, started again
I quit drinking coffee and Cola products for approximately 2 years. I'd have the occasional cocktail (rum and coke) with no problem. However, for the past month I started drinking coffee and Coca Cola Zero. At first it didn't effect me but now when I have a Coke or coffee I get gassy and my heart beat starts to race and it really has been scaring me. I'm not certain if it's because of the quitting for 2 years and re-starting or if it's something more serious. But it goes away after an hour of drinking the caffeine product. Is this due to the caffeine?
User
re: Caffeine harm
You will get a lot of different symptoms that really could harmfully affect you, try something else like getting enough rest and going to bed earlier.