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
Jack says
re: Caffeine
Hey Ron, I just thought I'd comment from my own experience. I just took a week off from work because I was exhausted from 2 years of dealing with my brother having brain cancer. All I wanted to do was rest up and do some stuff around the house that I've been letting slide. I'm a heavy coffee drinker. I didn't think twice about drinking coffee on my week off, I was hoping for sleepiness and sluggishness so I could rest. About 4 days into my vacation I found I wasn't sleeping well and felt anxious during the day. I had a hard time getting motivated to get the things I needed to do done. I chalked this up to overall anxiety from the stress over the last 2 years. I got on this site to find out the side effects of caffeine withdrawal when it dawned on me I went 9 days without a cup of coffee. Apparently I'm the only one who had insomnia as a side affect of not drinking coffee. I felt weird for awhile but it really wouldn't be that big of a deal to quit.
Gene says
re: hi
I suffered a caffeine withdrawl a few years ago and it's true : i became very irritable for a long period of when I stopped my coffee consumption, now I don't drink coffee anymore.
User says
re: If you have to consume
If you have to consume something everyday to feel normal (other than prescription medication) you are addicted. Your parents are right to be worried. Energy drings are harder on the body than coffee.
Janet says
re: Re:
Yes! I had nausea and vomitting for a few weeks after withdrawal. It'll go away eventually!!
Tee says
re: I've been having that same
I've been having that same problem-- that and waking up. I checked some other sites and they say that the sleep cycle may be affected during caffeine withdrawl.
Tee says
re: Withdrawl?
I'm a student so I used to consume a lot of coffee. And it wasn't just hot coffee, but iced coffee (which apparently is twice as strong as hot coffee...), iced lattes, etc. I switched to French vanilla cappuccino and would drink anywhere from 12 to 16 oz of that a day. After getting the shakes, I switched yet again to chai lattes which don't have much less caffeine that a cup of regular coffee. The point of the story is this: I drank two caramel lattes (32 oz) within a few hours went home and had a freakout and haven't been the same since. I haven't had caffeine in a week and my heart races, I feel anxious/nervous, and I'm not as alert as I used to be. I'm worried that this isn't normal…
David says
re: Addiction to Sugar & Caffeine
Given how you feel when you don't drink it, it sounds like you have at least a dependency on Monster. I know those energy drinks are popular, but they're basically just a quick delivery system for sugar; one 8 oz can of Monster contains 2 servings, for a whopping total of 54 grams of sugar (I checked the website). I'm currently in the process of quitting caffeine cold turkey, and I'm really feeling the effects; headaches, sleepiness, and just a general feeling of malaise (it goes away in about 72-96 hours). Your parents are right. I'd stop drinking that stuff ASAP.
Rob says
re: Depends on your definition of
Depends on your definition of addiction, but I'd say if you need something to feel normal then you're addicted to it. All drugs (including caffeine) are adapted to by the body - essentially you take it to feel good, but if you take it regularly enough your body adapts to it. You then need the drug to compensate for this - i.e. without it you feel something is missing. Another name for it is withdrawal.
Whether you should quit or not is up to you. Again my personal view is an ongoing addiction can never have a positive outcome - over time your addiction will progress, your body will adapt more, you'll need more of the drug to compensate and you'll end up in a big mess. Even if you feel you can control it (which addict doesn't !?) then Monster really isn't a great choice to put in your body - a huge sugar and drug bomb. Try and see through the marketing hype and see it for what it really is - cheap, sugary rubbish with enough drugs to keep you coming back for more.
Brittney says
re: Monster Energy Drink
Okay, I'm currently 15. I started drinking Monster Jan 2010 I believe. I brought one to school every single day during lunch. Now I don't eat breakfast or lunch, the monster was basically my inbetween. I've just recently started getting the 24packs at Sams club. I'm now on my last pack of 24 because my parents are worried about my heart and nervous system since I did not stop drinking them in the summer. I think in my opinion monster is doing no harm to my body but I feel like I do need one every day or I won't feel the same or be the same person. So, I'm just wondering if you think I'm addicted or not?
User says
re: I am in Hell!
First 48 hours was the worst. Not only have I quit caffeine but white sugar, all sugar as well. I am on my 5 day and I have pain all over - big time fatigue. So at least one of us has no pain. I really did not think I drank that much coffee. I am starting a 3 day detox and will only have jucie, veggie and fruit, water.. to clean my liver.
I hope this pain goes away soon. Its to much.
C.J. 🙂
Juanita says
re: 10 days without coffee...
Hi,
I'm on about day 11 here now with these caffeine withdrawals and am having chronic facial and neck pain along with low back pain. It's not exactly the same as your problem but I have read that a symptom of caffeine withdrawal is tense muscles. I also am having some tenderness underneath the right rib cage.
On a brighter note, the anxiety that coarsed through my body day and night is gone and when I don't have a headache or feeling so sleepy I can think so much more clearly. I'm looking forward to 30 days caffeine free!
Good Luck!
Daniel says
re: RE: Moderation
I'm sorry to hear that you feel this way. I have enjoyed your comments. But I will continue to delete or edit messages with commercial links. When there are links it's just too hard to tell legit postings from spam. Check the forum rules for that one. If you are the person who posted their personal contact info the other day I deleted that for your protection. I will take that action again. Beyond that the only things I have not approved lately have been very obvious spam. I might mention on the spam front if I didn't remove the spam you would probably see 10 spam posts for every legitimate posts and nobody wants that.
Daniel
the evil moderator who tries to keep this site relatively clean and useful
rawvegron says
re: Moderation
If this comment is censored, it will be my last on this site.
This site is very strange. The rules seem to be so strict as to "moderate," or reduce sharing and communication. For whatever reason the sharing and communication on this site is "moderate," shallow, un-supportive. Perhaps I expect too much from a support group/discussion group, but there seems to be no feedback, no interaction, no sharing on this site!!
I feel like I'm talking with myself; or talking to someone who's not there; not listening, doesn't care--or is perhaps too afraid to respond. That is a very unsatisfying experience from a "support group."
Strange. It seems as if everybody wants to hear about how difficult it is to quit coffee. But when somebody does it...and makes it look easy...there's no curiosity; there are no questions, comments or feedback whatsoever. Everybody runs for the hills when somebody finds a way to quit coffee!!!
This could very well be my last post on this site. There is too much on the internet to waste my time on this site.
Ron
rawvegron says
re: No Withdrawals, yet!
I quit coffee about a week ago. I don't remember the date, because I'm also tapering off sugar, salt, fats and oils, processed foods, junk food, and so much other stuff that I can't remember the dates for all of it. The only date I remember now is that as of 10/2/10 I'm off everything! The tapering-off process was not all that difficult.
For coffee, for instance, I substituted tea so I would not get caffeine withdrawals. After a few days of drinking tea, I began tapering off tea. As of yesterday, I'm off all caffeine and I've had no withdrawals that I can remember. Today might be a "test" however, because I had no caffeine yesterday or today. But if I feel a headache starting, I'll brew a cup of green tea and drink 'till the headache goes away.
I believe I'll make it today without any caffeine, however. Actually, today is the continuation of my tapering-off process for a water fast. Probably today is the last day that I will even eat salads and veggies. I finished my fruit yesterday and today I'm grazing on the last of my probiotic veggies and green smoothies, with omega-3 flax seeds. Soon I hope to start a water fast.
The purpose of this extreme lifestyle change is to arrest my sleep apnea, depression and bipolar mood disorder--without doctors or drugs. I believe that most of my problems are obesity-related and I've tried dieting for a year or so now and only lost 25 lbs. So it's now time to go ahead and get serious.
In fact, I seem to be the kind of person who finds it simpler to set extreme boundaries than to simply eat a moderate meal! I can't seem to just have one cup of coffee and a doughnut--and lose weight. I have to get all psyched up and renounce coffee, sugar, salt, fats and oils, etc., etc., etc., then go on a fast!!!
Ron
rawvegron says
re: Headaches
I have to be careful about headaches. I have one now and I don't know if it is caused by...
1). untreated sleep apnea (but I slept with my CPAP and my mask last night, so I don't think so);
2). A new CPAP mask that is too tight (that could be. I'll swith masks tonight);
3). excessive exercise (I rode my bike some 6 hours yesterday, and that could be it);
4). caffeine withdrawals (I'm brewing some green tea right now to test that hypothesis. I plan to have a cup or two and see if the headache goes away).
This caffeine addiction is a tough one! I'm also starting my own 12-step group to apply the 12 Steps to addictions other than alcohol.
Ron
rawvegron says
re: Day Five
I'm in my fifth day without coffee or caffeine energy drinks. No headaches or withdrawals yet, because I have substituted tea and cokes!!! There are probably not too many people who would think that I'm making any progress, but coffee has been such a tough addiction for me that I do believe I'm making progress just to stay away from coffee and caffeine energy drinks. I'm also staying out of coffee shops--for the same reason I stay out of bars, taverns and casinos. I'm attacking the whole coffee addiction and renouncing everything that causes my cravings...if I even smell coffee or see someone else drinking it, or sit and watch advertisements about it, that seems to put the idea in my head.
So right now I'm getting the coffee idea out of my head and staying away from the smells, environment and idea of coffee. Today is Day Five.
Ron
User says
re: I have to say, Drinking 15-20
I have to say, Drinking 15-20 cups of caffeinated tea probably contains as much if not more caffeine than your 5 cups of coffee. If anything, you are not able to get to sleep because of TOO MUCH caffeine. I would just try 2 or three days with NO caffeine, and see what happens. Just drink water instead for a few days.
rawvegron says
re: Headaches
Say!! Why do you guys suffer these headaches, kidney pains, sleeping problems and other weird symptoms of caffeine withdrawal? That is the hard way to do it, isn't it? Then if you have a slip...well, then when I have a slip I've got to quit all over again! I spend my life having withdrawals, and having slips; and having more withdrawals, and having more slips!!
Any buddhists here? They call that Samsara: it's like a cycle of self-inflicted suffering. So I should not do that! If I want to break the cycle, I have to renounce coffee (and all other caffeine products--that can bring me back to coffee). But when I renounce it, I use tea to help me taper off without the withdrawals. Then when I get off tea, the problem is to stay sober!! Abstain entirely!! Not go back! Once I get free from Samsara; once I get off the merry-go-round I need to stay off!
I'm not preachin'. This is only my second day. Actually, I'm preaching to myself. I need to learn this! It's been long enough!! It's time to quit this insanity.
Ron
rawvegron says
re: Spiritual Approach
Hi Patrice,
Well, I'm starting again today also. I think this thing is emotional as well spiritual and social. In fact, I think that smell and taste and emotions and relationships with people, and peer pressure, and mass media advertising, and thoughts as well as the addiction to caffeine are all tugging at me to "have a drink." Then after the first cup, my addiction tells me to "have another! It won't hurt you!!"
But it does seem to get me started on a spree of some kind. Once I'm Off To The Races again; once I walk into a coffee shop again, I seem to have no more boundaries! I seem to have no more will power!! It seems like I lose control if I take even one sip of coffee! It's almost like alcohol!
Could I be addicted to coffee? Do you think coffee could be having some kind of drug effect on my brain receptors?
This is Day Two for me, again. I'm off coffee, cokes, caffeine energy drinks--but I'm allowing myself to drink tea. That way, I am getting away from all sources of caffeine--especially coffee--and I'm not suffering the caffeine withdrawals. In a week or a month or so--but not today--I'll perhaps taper off tea. Then the problem will be to entirely abstain from all sources of caffeine--because one little taste seems to "get me started again"! I think the only way I can stop this addiction is to draw the line with the first drink...like the alkies do!
How are you doing today?
Ron
Chris Judd says
re: I started drinking coffee at
I started drinking coffee at a young age and since I was young Ive been drinking 5 cups of coffee every day for most of my life. Just recently because of my grankids I've been trying to kick the habit (my daughter got sick from caffene, thats what her doctor said). she said to me that I should stop because i seem to be getting older more quickly and caffene is bad for you. Ive been drinking cups of tea instead 15 or 20 cups of tea every day sometimes more. since i've stopped drinking coffee I sometimes have lots of trobule getting to sleep when Im in bed a. could that be from caffene withdrawral?
LeeLii says
re: How are you doing now?
Joanie, how are you doing now? I can totally understand how you feel=none of my doctors seem to take this seriously, like they do with cigarrettes-my gastro doctor actually TOLD me to have a couple cups of coffee (and I am being treated for gastritis!). Trying to get my life back- been rough couple of months without coffee. I was never depressed before I quit the caffeine, but I understand totally your feelings of agoraphobia. Do let me know, I care!!
LeeLii says
re: HI BOb!
I cannot see the link you posted- can you put it up for me? Thank you so much.
LeeLii says
re: Thank you
Thank you for your kind insights...and yes, I have been tested for Celiac (I am negative) and I have been pretty much on a no-fat, mostly vegetarian diet for the pat 8 weeks. My appetite was shot and I lost about 30 lbs so far. Lots of brown rice, vegetables, only cottoage cheese and yogurt (no milk, only almond milk) and small amounts of chicken.....I started seeing a naturopathic doctor a few weeks ago who has given me supplements for stress and homeopathic remedies. He told me the caffeine was out of my system but said it takes differrent amounts of time for my body to re-adjust. I still feel horrible. I still cannot sleep, and am wondering if the PPI I am taking has anything to do with it. I also read that coffee has antihistamine properties in it. I am wondering if I should injest any at this point to see what happens... my primary care doctor has told me nothing is organically wrong with me. I have never felt this before in my life. I am at a total loss as to explain what is going on with my body. All I can say, is do not try to go cold turkey a I did. Thank you everyone for your help....I appreciate it.
Paul says
re: Two VERY weird symptoms - am I crazy???
Hello all. I have been off for 10 days and other than the common symptoms, I have very two weird symptoms that I cannot find mentioned on this site. Will someone reply and let me know if I am not alone?
1) Temple Pressure - the sides of my head, near my ears/temple area are so painful and feel swollen. It is actually very painful to talk/eat/chew food
2) Kidney Pain - I have lots of stabbing pains in my low back area right where my kidneys are
Any help? Thanks in advance!
-Paul
User says
re: caffeine withdrawal
I have been taking headache pills that contain caffeine. It suddenly dawned on me that I may be having continued headaches from the caffeine withdrawal from headache pills! I was addicted to caffeine. It took me a month to wean myself off of coffee. I did it by reducing my caffeine by 1/2 cup of coffee per day then staying at that level for 3 days. I also had decaffeinated coffee ready in case I wanted another cup of coffee that day. I was able to do it that way without much headache.
Patrice says
re: Well said!
Hi Ron!
I agree wholeheartedly with your honest and revealing post. This "coffee thing" is so much bigger than just having a cup. It is a lifestyle!
I'm starting again today, as well.
Good luck to you!
Patrice
Patrice says
re: Only the beginning....
Day 1......the headache and the fatigue are incredible.
Good luck to all others.
Patrice
Shining Star says
re: One Day At A Time!!!
Hello All,
This will be my fourth time quitting Dr. Pepper. I went to the doctor yesterday and they told me my blood pressure was sky high and that I should eliminate caffeine. So, now I really need to this.
Today is day one and I have a headache. I have replaced my Dr. Pepper consumption with homemade lemonade, as it is really difficult for me to just to drink plain water. So far, this is working fine. My weaknesses are driving by a gas station or fast food restaurant.
I wish you all the best in your plight as well as mine. 🙂 I will keep you all abreast of how it goes. Until then....one day at a time.
Patricepl says
re: Thanks to everyone for the posts and encouragement!
I have begun again today....feeling so tired and lethargic......and the headache is unbearable for me.
This is why I always cave and go back to drinking coffee.....plus I do like the taste, and that's another thing that always leads me back.
I'm going to take the advice of some posts and approach this addiction spiritually.......I have no willpower on my own....that's apparent by the number of times I've tried to quit.
Thanks so much for the support shown to me.....it really helps to have people who understand what this is all about. My friends can't believe that I'm having such a hard time with this, and find it quite silly. It is such an acceptable drug in our society and most people are unaware of the harm it does to the body.
I really need your support and I thank you so much for it!!
The second day is usually the one that's the hardest for me to get through.....I am praying ....
Isn't it unbelievable that it is this difficult?
Congratulations to those who have conquered this addiction and other addictions as well.
Patrice
rawvegron says
re: Coffee Withdrawals
I'm using tea to withdraw from coffee. Tea has enough caffeine in it that I can get off coffee without the headaches and withdrawals. For some reason, I'm not as "addicted" to tea, and I can "taper off" easier than coffee. So I drink a cup of tea when I feel the headache coming and that stops the coffee withdrawals. Then one day I can get off tea when I've tapered off enough.
I've done it before, then gone back to coffee. Hopefully, this will be the last time.
Ron
rawvegron says
re: Lifestyle change
My attempt to give up coffee lasted a day or two, then I had some pastry I usually associate with coffee.... Then I had some junk food I usually associate with a coke.... Then my "new lifestyle" finally became so eroded that I could see no reason to deprive myself of coffee when I'm eating sugar, salt, fats and oils, chemicals, preservatives and additives, etc., so I had a coffee! And another!! And another!!!
Today I'm back at Square One. Today I see the problem as bigger than coffee. It is the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the coffee shop. The smells, tastes and atmosphere associated with coffee. It's the mass media, peer pressure, social norms and lifelong habits I've come to accept as "normal." It's a whole multiple addiction associated with coffee that eases me back a step at a time, until I see no reason not to have a cup! It's the progressive breakdown of all my boundaries by multiple addictions related to coffee; multiple misinformation---and a lack of understanding about myself---that finally means I don't have a chance.
It's like alcohol! AA has a way to stop drinking alcohol. I wonder if that would work on coffee? Today is Day One...again! I'll try The Twelve Step approach to quitting coffee.
Ron
Denise says
re: Giving Up Coffee
Hi Patrice, how is it going? I am on day 8 of giving up coffee and still having splitting headaches but they are getting lighter and lighter. Some days if I can't bear it anymore I take Excedrin which has caffeine and that does the trick. I am still committed though. I am also trying to lose weight and I've read that getting caffeine out of your life helps with that. I'll let you know, this is all new to me.
Anyway, wishing you luck! Keep going.
Denise
Jay says
re: Day 1 of no caffeine or nicotine
Today i decided enough was enough.
I'm currently 28 years old and have been drinking coffee since i was 17 and smoking since i was 18.
Since then i have felt a real downward drag on my life as i developed stress-induced epilepsy shortly after my 18th birthday (great present, lol) and was therefore unable to drive (my ambition since i was a kid) unless i was fit-free for over 1 year. So far my personal best has been 8 months but thats from 10 years of trying. I am currently on medication (tegretol) which i take every day without fail.
After over 10 years of abusing my body with caffiene & nicotine i no longer feel that i have any aspirations or drives to succeed in anything i do. I drink coffee for the sake of drinking it as it really doesn't seem to do anything anymore (15-20 cups a day) and smoke because it helps my current depression state at dealing with Grand Mals and the fact that i may never drive have to use public transport for the rest of my days.
Strange, before i started these bad habits i was full of energy and drive. I had a successful career in IT and always went out to clubs, pubs, etc but now i just feel sluggish.
BTW i mention that i used to frequent pubs but i failed to mention that i have been tee total for over 8 years now. Drinking really affects my medication so it was something i had to choose to remove from my life.
I know this is going to be hard and from 10pm GMT i have smoked my last cigerette and drank my last coffee. I'm tired of feeling so depressed and worthless. I really want to get my life back on track. Drinking coffee had made me so incredibly lazy that even when someone suggests a night out i always try to find excuses to stay at home.
From what i've read so far i guess the coffee withdrawal is going to be the hardest but i guess if i take it in tandem it won't be as hard as doing one and then doing the other. Coffee fuels smoking for me so i'm going to try and remove both from my life.
Wish me luck and its good to know i'm not alone in this.
Will keep you posted.
Withdrawal Starts 22-09-10 22:00 GMT
rawvegron says
re: Quitting Coffee
Good luck, Patrice. I sympathize with your dilemma. I've been there many times myself. In fact, I'm starting again today. Seems like I've quit coffee more times than I've quit alcohol! In fact, I've got 3 1/2 years of sobriety, and 2 hours of abstinence from coffee!
I now admit that self-will doesn't work. My problem may be that I've been trying to use self-will, self-discipline, self-control, will-power, etc. Just for today I'm going to try giving up; admitting complete defeat; turning it over to God...like I quit alcohol. I'll let you know if it works for me.
How have you been doing since your last post?
Ron
Ron says
re: Quitting Coffee
Hi Patrice,
I quit alcohol 3 1/2 years ago, but I can't seem to quit coffee!! Actually, let me re-phrase that: I quit coffee--again--today! Actually, I'm allowing myself to have all the tea I want so I don't get caffeine withdrawals.
I sympathize with your struggle. How are you doing it? Self-will?
In AA they convinced me that self-will does not work. Today I'm trying the "spiritual approach"! The spiritual approach seems to center around helping and being helped by others.
Anyway. I'm looking for a way to do this. I've been off coffee since I woke up today...over an hour ago! We'll see how long it lasts this time! Best of luck to you as well.
Ron
msnattcafe says
re: Good luck
Stick with it. I have been caffeine free for 3 weeks. I went cold turkey and the first week was horrible with the symptoms and all. Once the withdrawal symptoms left no more headaches, panic attacks, low blood pressure, no issues. I feel a lot healthier and much more energized than I did with coffee. It is definitely worth it. Wish you lots of luck getting thru it.
msnattcafe says
re: Caffeine withdrawal
Thanks! I haven't given up and like you said, I feel amazing. Sure I feel a little tired in the morning but no different than what I felt when I was drinkin coffee. I feel a lot healthier bc I am drinking more water. I feel more energized and alive. The best decision I could ever have made.
User says
re: reply to end of week 7
Hi there,
I just wanted to chime in with my 2 cents:) I was wondering if you have any other food allergies? I have been hooked on caffiene for about 20 yrs. When I drink coffee, I retain a tremendous amount of water, and have moderate acne, but when I don't drink it, I have "panic attacks". The "panic attacks" went well beyond the *withdrawal* period. I had stopped drinking it for 4 yrs and recently again for a few weeks, and it was a disaster. (yes the whole 4 yrs of panic attacks). I also feel very freaky and anxious if I drink too much coffee.
The reason I am telling you this is because I was also just diagnosed with celiac and other food allergies. I have just learned that caffiene has antihistamine properties in it. So I am wondering myself, since the actual withdrawal headaches only last a week or two, if the other symptoms (panic, anxiety, agoraphobia etc...) are actually allergy symptoms surfacing since the coffee is no longer there to supress them? I have gone into anyphalactic shock before and the symptoms are nearly identical. So for myself, for now, I have decided to stick to one cup of not too strong coffee in the morning, and deal with being a little bloated:) Still it is so hard for me not to drink more...lol
steel pipe says
re: usually lasts from one to
usually lasts from one to five days, and can be alleviated with analgesics such as aspirin. It is also alleviated with caffeine intake
Patrice says
re: So Frustrating....
Well, here's an update on my quest to eliminate caffeine.....I went one day and this morning the headache got so bad I caved and had a cup of coffee. I am very disgusted with myself....
I'll start again tomorrow..... (sigh)
Patrice
Another Kim says
re: OK Patrice, here you go. I
OK Patrice, here you go. I know the trying over and over routine myself. This is my 5th try in 15 years. I hear it takes many smokers about 7 tries to finally be sucessful.
Get ready for days 3 and 4. OUCH!! I'm on my 5th week! Let us know how your doing.
Patricepl says
re: Maybe if I write it out for the world to see, I can do it!
I've lost track of the number of times I've attempted to give up coffee, and all caffeine containing foods and beverages. The withdrawal symptoms always lead me back to my morning cup after only a few days.
I want to quite because it infuriates me that I have become a slave to a drink.......and because I think some health issues I'm having are directly related to caffeine, and all the other poisons in that cup of black nectar. Don't get me wrong, I love the taste of coffee and the feeling I get from it.....well I used to.....now it just makes me feel sick!
Tomorrow I am starting my caffeine free life!
I'm making this announcement on this public site so it will hopefully compel me to stick with it. I will be regularly writing about my ordeal on this site, if that's okay to do.
Seeing it in writing for others to see, will make it more real for me, and hopefully help others who are battling this addiction as well. Knowing that I have to write about it in public might help me stay on course.
Thank you to all others in the past who have written about their experiences.
Wish me luck!
Patrice
User says
re: caffeine
i really hate to burst your bubble but cigarettes contain caffeine so if your still smoking then you havent actually gone 7 weeks without any caffeine. Caffeine is also found in many common foods and drinks that you wouldnt think they would be in. Im sure youve probably cut down a lot but not completely.
Bob says
re: Panic Attacks
I have recently stopped drinking coffee because of panic attacks. I believe the root of the problem was because I was taking medication (PRO Air Inhaler) for a respiratory infection. However, even when the medication was finished I could not handle caffeine. I started having panic attacks and it was the most in-comfortable feeling I ever had. After doing research, I found out that stress can deplete your body of certain vitamins. Lack of Vitamin B1, other known as Thiamine, can have neurological effects on your body. I'm guessing that when you quit drinking coffee it increased your amount of stress thus depleting your body of B Vitamins.
I think that most of us forget the basics of wellness. I know that I did. Being happy, having a proper diet, exercising, and plenty of rest can go a long way. I started feeling better within days after I started eating healthier, added vitamins to my diet, and slept a proper 8 hours every night.
I would recommend asking your doctor about a vitamin regiment and do some research about B Vitamins. If you like more natural healing, I would recommend finding a doctor who takes a natural approach. Also, if the panic attacks are still a problem, check the link I supplied below. Under supplements and herbs there is a section about what supplements will help ease the attacks. I purchased a book on herbs and supplements after seeing what they did for my problem.
Anyways, I wish you the best. I hope your symptoms clear up.
Cheers,
Bob
Debbie says
re: Restlessness
After going to the doctor and finding out I was severely dehydrated I decided it was time to stop drinking sodas for atleast a couple of weeks. I have been soda free now for almost 6 days and I've noticed I'm having a lot of trouble sleeping at night. My back feels restless and I'm guessing that it is the same feeling people with RLS feel in their legs at night. It is uncomfortable and has kept me up until the early hours of the morning. I am wondering if the restlessness in my back is a symptom to no longer drinking caffeine, since I have no other explination for it.
User says
re: withdrawal
Seems to me that taking an aspirin or something with a mild amt of caffiene in it might help reduce the symptoms until you are totally free of it. A cold pill would not have the comfortable neuro-association of the warm coffee and so would not be a temptation. Although maybe aspirin isn't good for the stomach? I don't know.
I sympathize with your panic attack. I had one on coffee and was so very dissoriented. i also stopped, but had only been drinking a cup a day for about 6 months. Yeah. Scary stuff. I'd prefer most physical discomfort over the panic any day.
long time addict says
re: Congratulations on making it
Congratulations on making it this far. The longest I ever made it was 31 days and I caved. I then drank a diet Dr. Pepper and it really made me feel sick but I was hooked again.
LeeLii says
re: End of week 7
I am in the 7th week of qutting cold turkey. I had been having some stomach issues back in July and decided to quit after loving my coffee for the past 35 years pretty much (I am 50 now). Everyone in my family drinks it. Anyhow, one morning past July I was on my 3rd cup and experienced a panic attack-I felt scared and horrible. I decided to just stop. Big mistake, but I do not know if weaning would have helped. I have not been able to sleep very well, or at all for that matter for the past 5 weeks, and the brain fog and lethargy, along with the agoraphobia are unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have Never felt this way my entire life and am at a loss. Leaving my house to go anywhere is a major issue. My darling husband has been doing everything and this upsets me too....the medical profession does not seem to take this seriously. What I found unbelievable was when my gastro doctor last week told me (after I told her how bad I felt) to just "go ahead and have a couple cups of coffee". After not having any caffeine for the past 7 weeks I cannot imagine what it would do to me. I am also tryig to quit smoking, down to 5 a day but the caffeine withdrawel is just hell. Anyone who could give me any help, I would greatly appreciate it. I have not found a lot of resources on the web, most of the Yahoo groups for caffeine cessation seem to be totally inactive now. I also read Stephen Cherniski's book, and I think it will take longer than 8 weeks to detox if you have been drinking it your entire life. God Bless everyone trying to detox.
Another Kim says
re: Yes, I'm sure the vomiting
Yes, I'm sure the vomiting had to do with withdrawel. The first time I tried to quit caffeine, 10 years ago, I threw up a lot. Had no other illness at the time. Very bad memories! 🙁
User says
re: It does get better soon
It gets better. I've quit cold turkey before and it got better around the 4 day mark for me, and I was a pretty bad caffeine addict.
Second attempt at dropping the habit right now. Day 2 and it's sucking. Feel better