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
EDDIE says
re: STAY UP
Hang in there i quit drinking caffeine in jan after drinking it heavy since i was 16 and im29 now.I also had the flu symptoms and the muscle pains also.But the hard part is getting used to my relaxed mind because caffeine kept my mind racing and alert.First please exercise,eat good and meditate and right it out you will be okay remember your brain has been altered and it has to get back right so dont let this mess scare you our bodys are stronngggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg just relax and it will pass.
Arron says
re: good inspiration!
Hey, I've been addicted to caffeine for about as long as I can remember. My mom always gave me more soda and coffee than any adult could even handle. Now I'm 21, and making a change. I took it down to 2 cups for 3 days, and now am at none today. With advil, exercise, vitamins, and naps, I'm surviving the headaches and cloudiness. I would love to get a timeline from you for when the fatigue and headaches can be expected to go away, and now that you are over a month free, I would love to know your progress!
pinkz says
re: wow so thats why i have been feeling like crap..!
I left caffeine for lent expecting it to be easier than leaving cigarettes or pot.. but come to find out it's not easy at all.. and to top it off i just started a new job and i'm working 10hr shifts.. I actually had a dream i was drinking a coke a cola last night.. that's when i got worried and googled my question. unexpectadly i realized alot of the problems i have been having are all caused from caffeine withdraw.. i thought i had the flu or a cold.. answer to that caffeine withdraw.. my head has been pounding non stop.. agen caffeine withdrawl.. can't sleep at night but like 3 hrs at a time.. caffeine withdraw.. my muscles and bones hurt as if i have a fever.. caffeine withdraw.. i been feeling depressed and just out of it like im in a dream.. caffeine withdraw.. i'm super irritable.. caffeine withdrawl.. 0mg i really cant wait till my 40 days are done.. i really always thought it was a myth.. well my mother basically brought me up thinking that.. to her its ok to give kids coffee or coke.. or even red bull at times.. when i would tell her not to she would reply.. "that's a myth" lol.. wow.. i'm glad i googled.. now i noe not to ever introduce that drug to my kids
Casey says
re: I also quit about 6 weeks ago
I also quit about 6 weeks ago and I was a heavy coffee drinker for years, I am just starting to feel a little bit better, it takes longer for some people and I had every thing you mentioned, you are not alone! Drinks lot of water, rest, eat well, try to get out and take walks especially if the weather is nice, make sure you let people know where you are and what you are experiencing, all these things will expedite your recovery. Quitting smoking is always a good idea but one thing at a time...
betsy says
re: 7 days without caffeine
matt...i am right there with you on everything you said!! i was almost ready to take myself to the emergency room with the anxiety when i started reading this after searching caffeine withdrawals. i had heard they were BRUTAL but i had no idea they would be THIS brutal!! i can't sleep...anxiety and sweating wakes me up when i seem to be peacefully sleeping for no more than a half hour. now, with no good sleep, i am TOO nervous to sleep and have been awake for the most of 4 nights now. i believe that the no sleep is now making the anxiety worse too - my heart pounds...i am shaky...i feel like i am about to die! i just can NOT believe how bad the addiction of caffeine is and if i am successful in continuing to not drink caffeine any more, i hope i NEVER start it up again!! at least i know what is happening to me now. i thought i was just going crazy. after all, i thought the anxiety would be worse WHILE i was drinking caffeine products, NOT afterwards!!! thanks for sharing your story.
Say No To Joe says
re: Marco-
Fear not, my brother.
Marco-
Fear not, my brother. I just celebrated my six month birthday from being caffeine free. I quit cold turkey in September and suffered every single symptom that you mentioned above. I thought for the longest time that I was losing my mind. Finally, after months of waiting, I am beginning to feel like myself again. I was a heavy caffeine addict for four years before I quit, so I'd presume that your symptoms won't last as long, considering the fact that you only drank heavy for a month. As far as what you should do, the best advice I can give you is to just be. Time will heal you. Just hang in there, surround yourself with happy people if possible, and remember that you are not crazy! Keep your head up.
Brandon says
re: Withdrawl
Thank goodness i'm not going crazy, I really thought I was. Having frequent headaches, the insomnia is HORRIBLE. I would cry and ball my eyes out to my parents cause I felt like i'd never be able to sleep again, the anxiety is extreme at time. Being around my mom and dad help me to calm down alot, gives me comfort. I'm having some muscle twitches at times, pressure in my head. The depression is there also, hopefully I can get over this completely. At time I feel like I couldnt breath correctly and just felt on the edge of having a panic attack. Again, it's good to know i'm not the only one. Goodluck everyone, thanks for the post made me feel tons better. Wish I never had started drinking the stuff now 🙁
Dennis says
re: symptoms have lasted for 2 months!
After seeing 4 doctors and taking 6 different prescription the past 2 months, I have lost 30 pounds. I have been scared, not knowing what was wrong with me. I stopped drinking coffee in January, after being a coffee drinker for 20 years. I'd drink about 4 cups each morning.
My symptoms started like a sinus infection and scratchy throat. Those antibiotics did not help. Never did I get a headache. Amazing. But I was depressed, my body hurt, and the clogged nose drove me crazy. I couldn't breath. I had to have a CT scan to see what was causing this. Nothing showed up. Now I am wondering if it is the dilated blood vessels in my nose that have made me extra sensitive. I can't go out in public at all because my nose is so sensitive to smells (evidently this can be caused by caffeine withdrawal) My wife can't cook strong smelling foods or my nose reacts. I have to prop myself up on FOUR pillows in order to breath when I sleep at night. If I walk past someone wearing cologne, my nose clogs up. MY wife can not use cleansers in the home. I can not stand the smell of smoke as my neighbors burn wood this winter, so therefore I can't get outside to do exercise, walk, yard work, etc. I'm living in a bubble. Cigarette smoke really irritates my nose too. My nose has never been this clogged or this sensitive!
Has anyone had the same symptoms?? I have seen an ENT doctor and will return to him next week. I am seeing improvement, but I'd love to know if I am actually having caffeine withdrawal or if I am allergic to everything in the atmosphere.
I feel badly for all of you who have written in. I hope you find relief soon.
Please help me in my search for the cause of my extra sensitive nose and my clogged nose feeling. The good thing is that I have stopped drinking coffee and won't ever drink caffeine again. Powerful drug.
Marco says
re: Been a month and not feelin betterrrr :/
Hi, Its been a month now since ive been feeling as these symptons. I wasnt a caffeine addict but i did drink quiet a lot of caffeine every day for like a month. I had a panic attack the second i finished drinking an energy drink and thats when the hell began.
I feel dizzy, unbalanced, anxiety/panic attacks, feeling unreal/foggy headed, no headaches just mostly tired and really lazy.
Its been a month now and i dont seem to be getting better, i feel depressed at times and i cant seem to be alone, i have to have someone with me !
Ive had ECG exams and blood tests done and everything fine.
I find it weird how after a month i aint feeling better and im really scared because i dont know what to do, the worst for me is the anxiety + really foggyheaded and unreal with the world.
I also am a smoker.. could that be the problem leading to me not feeling better?
Also my nails have turned into a darker pink/purple color but people tell me thats normal.
My eyes are always blury, i cant look at something bright other wise my eye goes all funny :S 🙁
IS this caffeine withdrawal ? And what do i need to doo....
Chuck says
re: Caffeine
I also gave up coffee/caffeine for Lent (started Wed, March 9) and I have been coffee/caffeine free for a week. I am 54 years old and have been drinking coffee for a long time. Moslty a couple of cups in the AM with the occasional latte or esspresso in the evening. Giving it up for Lent seemed perfect. Until I actually did it. Symptoms? Oh yeah. I "thought" the headaches would stop after a couple of days. They have not. I'm happy when it is just a dull ache and aspirin does help. I have also had some insomnia. I wake up minimum 4-5 times a night. I thought I was losing it until I read here about other folks with the same problem. It seems counter-intuitive. Another thing I've noticed is I am always hungry, always tired, sometimes on the verge of lethargic. Besides all THAT, I miss the "ritual" of making/smelling/drinking my coffee in the AM. I feel like a junkie. When I started on this path I was thinking I could easily make it through the 40 days of Lent. Now a week later I'm still dreaming of making a pot of coffee and thinking I need to kick this caffeine habit permanently. Hang in there.
Ryan Keller says
re: ur comment.
Hey bro i am a 19 year old and i just stopped drinking soda a week ago. I am pretty much going through the SAME exact thing you mentioned... Its terrible i have the same feeling of only being comfortable and not as anxious when im around my parents.. i wake up jittery and anxious every day and i constantly keep thinking about the anxiety. Which scares me the most because i fear i will stay like this the rest of my life. i usually go out everyday but now i feel like staying home all the time because the anxiety gets so bad i fear going out... i am wondering if you are at all experiencing the same thing im talking about.. its scary stuff we need to hang in there... has ur condition gotten any better? nwhat helps?
kikaida says
re: Severe Insomina After Quitting Cafeine 3 months
Ever since I quit my caffeine addiction 3 months ago, I've developed severe insomnia and my body doesn't seem know how to cope with anxiety. I only get about 2-3 hours of sleep per night. Lately I would sleep for one hour, get up, the go back sleep for another hour. A total of 2 hours sleep max. Then I can't go back to sleep. My body will have these myoclonic jerks. I don't know what to do because I feel like I am going crazy. My doctor told me myoclonic jerks are normal and he said that the anxiety is what is making my insomnia worse. My doctor has prescribed me Ambien and also Clonazepam for sleep but all have not worked that well. I think out of the two, the Ambien worked best which gave me 4 hours of sleep. I tried other sleep meds from Lunesta, Trazadone, and so on. I've tried them all and they all didn't do much for me. I don't know what to do from this point. I was off of sleep meds for a month and it was just pure hell. Any suggestions?
Allie says
re: Gave up coffee for Lent
As of March 9th, Ash Wedneday, I gave up coffee for Lent. White Castle coffee was my drug of choice. My usual intake - I drank a 20 oz in the morning, another 16 oz during the day, and another 16 oz. in the evening. I also decided to quit cold turkey. I had a horrible headache until yesterday, now it's tolerable - just on the right side of my head. However my symptoms seem to be the opposite of most of the rest of the posts. I have been sleeping non-stop. I used to be a person who could go to bed between 1 - 2 am and get up at 7 am. Sometimes I'd take a nap on the weekends to feel "caught up". I went to bed Thursday night at 11 pm and got up about 8 am on Friday. Went to bed Friday at midnight and slept until 11 am. Went back to sleep at 4 pm and slept until 10 pm. went back to sleep at midnight and slept until 8 am.
Is all of this sleep from not having coffee? It seems like everyone else is experiencing insomnia and anxiety. I am definitely depressed, but I was before I stopped coffee. It just seems a little more intensified right now. Is anyone else experiencing these symptoms?
User says
re: stop 3days ago drinking coffee
OMG i now dont feel so bad knowing what my problem is.. i have all the same issues and its only been 3days. this thing with the food is unbelieveable, i cant eat without feeling sick and at nite when its time for me to sleeep i awake feeling like i cant breathe. If i would have known that coffee withdrawn would have put me in this shape i would warn the world. never again will i drink the stuff when i get this trash out my system. Hang in there and keep the faith. Ive been walking about 4miles a day and at nite i put in a cd of pastor joseph prince and prayer has been keeping me from checking myself in a hospital. lol
God bless,
Faith, 44yr young
Espresso Nut says
re: 8 days and counting...
I got off caffeine about 8 days ago. It might be 9 or 10 because I quit rather suddendly..and my brain has been in the fog ever since my last cup. I did not realize what I was doing - I think that I was drinking so much of it that I became intoxicated. I did the math - I was drinking something in the range of 700-800+ mg's a day - every morning I would get up to a cappucino with 4 shots (yes, 4!) and then I would have another 2 shots before lunch to keep me going and another 3 shots in the afternoon to beat the blues. I had started to also drink a natural energy booster in the late afternoon - little did I know that it contained more caffeine in the form of all sort of caffeinated supplements. I finally maxed out when I took a pain killer that had caffeine as one of the ingredients and that was it. My blood pressure was high suddenly and it had been very normal - and I decided to quit cold turkey. I didn't know what I was doing, clearly. I put up with the migraine for 48 hours and the horrible brain fog symptoms. My doctor thought it was the blood pressure - but then I mentioned that I had quit caffeine cold turkey and he gave me that "are you out of your mind" look....and suddenly the brain fog lifted long enough for me to learn what I had done to myself!
I found this site - and now I know that I'm not losing my mind. I have felt so bad for the last 8 days - and because the first 3 I did not know it was caffeine withdrawal, I know it was not psychological! I have all the symptoms - brain fog being the worst, but also fatigue - I used to bounce out of bed to reach for the coffee and now I drag myself out of bed and it takes me hours to wake up fully and I feel tired like I'm jet lagged (I used to travel a lot - I know jet lag!). I have nausea when I eat (and acid reflux afterwards...) and my hypoglycemia has gotten worse - so I have to try to eat in small portions often in order for my blood sugar to stay normal. I have been having anxiety, nervousness, irritability and panic attacks. I have a tremendous difficult focusing on anything - and my memory is really not as sharp as it used to be on coffee.
I did some acupuncture for the migraine right away and that really solved the problem with the headaches - and I've been taking some of the vitamin and herbal supplements recommended by the Caffeine Blues book - and that seems to also help give me energy and reduce the stress and anxiety. I'm just starting to exercise daily - very, very slowly - and it seems to help give me a little more energy throughout the day. I haven't touched coffee - the idea actually makes me nauxious but my body heads to my espresso machine every morning like a zombie...I am drinking black tea in very small quantities and also green tea - and that helps a little...but I'm very dehydrated so I am also drinking loads of water.
I am a real health nut and I eat very healthy foods - I don't smoke and I drink very little. Caffeeine was my only vice and I can't believe what it did to my body and what it does to a person's nervous system. I do admit that I am a lot better today than I was a week ago - I can't believe it - it is so bad. Please tell me that this will get better so I can function again!!
EDDIE TAYLOR says
re: MY CAFFAINE WITHDRAWAL STORY 2 AND HALF MONTHS IN
I QUIT CAFFAINE IN JANUARY 2011 AFTER HAVING A BAD PANIC ATTACK HERE IN ATLANTA .I BEEEN DRINKING CAFFIENE SINCE I WAS LIKE 16 HEAVY BUT AFTER THIS PANIC ATTACK I SAID TO MYSELF I HAD ENOUGH.I HAVE BEEN JITTERY ALL THESE YEARS WALKING FAST,TALKING FAST ,NOT BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE ANYTHING AT ALL. I HAVE HAD MUSCLE PAIN,HEAD PRESSURE,BACK PAIN,SNAPPY ATTITUDE FOR LIKE 15 YEARS AND BECAUSE OF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE I HAVE NOT LIVED A HAPPY CALM LIFE.OKAY WHEN I QUIT IN JANUARY I HAD NO HEADACHES AT ALL BUT MY MUSCLES FELT LIKE I WAS BEING CRUSHED BY A GARBAGE TRUCK AND I HAD FLY SYMTOMS WITH THIS PAIN.I ALSO HAD A STREP THROAT OR SOAR THROAT THAT LASTED FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AND I WAS LIKE WHAT THE HELL IS THIS I DONT GET SICK AND I FINALLY REALIZED IT WAS THE CAFFAINE.ONE NIGHT I HAD NAUSEA AND THE BAD CASES OF DIARREA I WAS THINKING I WAS ABOUT TO DIE BUT IT SEEMS AFTER EVERY SYMTOM AND AFTER EVERY PANIC ATTACK I WAS GETTING BETTER .IT MAY SEEM WIRD I SAY THIS BUT AS MY BODY TRYS TO REPAIR ITSELF SOME SYMTOMS WOYLD MAKE ME PANIC AND I WOULD HAVE A PANIC ATTACK.ITS BEEN TWO MONTHS AND I CAN SAY I FEEL LIKE I WAS WHEN I WAS 17 NO PAIN NOWHERE BUT SEE ITS SCARY BECAUSE IM NOT USE TO THIS FEELING OF HEALTHY ANYMORE I MEAN ALL MY PAIN IS GONE DUE TO THE DRUG OF CAFFIENCE.I WILL ADMIT I HAVE ONE PROBLEM IM NOT USE TO MY MIND BEING THIS CALM AND CLEAR I MEAN MY MIND IS SUPERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR CLEARRRRRR AND YES YOU MAY SAY ITS A GOOD THING BUT IF YOU HAVE HAD THE NEURONS IN YOUR BRAIN FIRING OFF FROM CAFFEINE FOR LIKE 15 YEARS YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND.I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS I HAVENT HAD ANY CAFFEINE SINCE JAN 6 AND I FEEL GREATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT ONLY THE CLEAR MIND FEELING I HAVE TO GET USE TO AND WITH GOD HELP I WILL GET USE TO IT.ALSO THE BIGGEST REPLACEMENT I FOUND FOR QUITTING CAFFEINE WAS EXERCISE DO IT PLEASE THAT IS THE KEY WITH A PROPER DIET YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.
Matt says
re: Thanks, this blog really has
Thanks, this blog really has helped me calm down and realize its not me, its the withdrawal. I actually was caffeine free for about 5 days but it got so bad that I decided to cut it back gradually. Like 1/2 cup less a day. I think my problem too is that I put a lot of sugar in the coffee I drink. So my symptoms might be heightened by the low sugar too which can cause anxiety and depression and insomnia. Thanks for the reply!
This captcha sucks.
Say No To Joe says
re: You are NOT alone!
Hey Matt,
I feel your pain my man. Six months ago I quit cold turkey after consuming 600-700 mg of caffeine per day. I experienced all of the same symptoms that you did. For me, the insomnia and weird sleep cycles went away after about two or three weeks. Everything else slowly tapered down over time. Unfortunately, the anxiety and depression have yet to totally leave me, although they are MUCH better than they were at first. For me, that first week was terrible, so I definitely empathize with you. It's funny that you mention feeling like a baby and wanting to be around your mom and dad all the time and dropping 50 IQ points. I felt that same way for awhile and had yet to read about anyone else feeling the same. Anyways, the best advice I can give you is to never forget that YOU ARE NOT CRAZY. The withdrawals have got you feeling this way and nothing else. Coming back to this realization really helped get me through the worst times. Reading through this blog daily also helped a bunch. Hang in there man. Things will get better!!
Matt says
re: Hey there, I am trying to
Hey there, I am trying to kick caffeine as well and I have experienced tingling in my feet and fingertips at times, although it really was nothing to be alarmed about and usually did not last long.
Matt says
re: 7 days without caffeine
It has been 7 days without caffeine for me. I basically quit it cold turkey. I used to drink a 16oz cup of coffee every morning I worked, and on days I didn't work, I would usually drink a mug of it. This ritual has been going on for at least 3 years.
I'm a 25 yr old guy in pretty decent shape. I never expected that kicking caffeine would put someone through this.
Right now the symptoms I am experiencing are: Insomnia, anxiety, hungry but food making me feel sick when I'm eating it, fatigue, and some depression. I find myself getting emotional at random times and just want to cry. The worst part of any of these symptoms for me personally has got to be the anxiety; which in and of itself, prevents me from sleeping. I'll get a wave of panic that sets over me that makes my skin hot. The worst of these usually happen at night.
I don't know if the worst is over for me, but right now, its not fun in the least. I feel like I'm losing my mind and feel like I dropped 50 IQ levels. I can't focus on anything too long.
Since this is all new to me, has anyone ever experienced these type of things before? Any comments would be awesome.
Also, this blog is really a great thing for people looking to quit the caffeine drug. Thanks to EspressoCoffeeGuide for letting this up here.
User says
re: i have drinking caffiene
i have drinking caffiene everyday for atleast twelve years and i gave it up cold turkey. i knew if i just slowed down my intake it make it hard for me to finally quit. i have gone seven days without caffiene and have been experiencing some symptoms. i have been really nausitous, headache, havent slept in a couple days, muscle aches, and i been really tired. does it get easier? i know giving caffiene up is better for me in the long run but its hard to not give up
User says
re: Cold turkey withdrawal
First of all, let me say that this blog has really put my mind at ease. I was thinking I was going crazy or somehow developed an anxiety disorder.
I am a 25 year old male in pretty decent shape. I started drinking coffee about 3 years ago on and off, but over the past year and a half I drank it religiously every morning at work. It was Sheetz coffee about 16oz worth, and on days without work, I would drink a mug of it with quite a bit of sugar in it. I decided to just try to quit it because I was nervous about what it was doing to my heart etc etc. I thought it would be a good idea to try to quit it altogether.
Lets just say I had NO IDEA how hard it was going to be to go cold turkey. Right now I have been off for about a week and man I am in the worst of it. I have anxiety attacks, insomnia, no appetite, depression and fatigue. I feel so tired and just want to lie around and do nothing. The worst part of it has gotta be the anxiety for me. I dread going to bed at night. Usually takes me about 1hour to fall asleep at night and then if I wake up in the middle of the night, I usually cannot fall back to sleep. I feel like a little baby, wanting my mom and dad around all the time.
I also feel tightness in my chest but that is because of the depression and general nervousness that comes with this withdrawal.
Thank you all for posting on this blog and thanks to the EspressoCoffeeGuide who allows this blog here.
I just would like to know how long these symptoms will last. I gotta admit its pretty brutal. I am going to stick this out for as long as I can.
I am trying to be proactive and get exercise as much as I can to help with depression.
Thank you all for posting comments!
Say No To Joe says
re: Wow. A year and 3 months and
Wow. A year and 3 months and still experiencing symptoms. Did you have any other symptoms that have since subsided? I'm 6 months off caffeine after quitting cold turkey and still experience mild anxiety and depression. Did you ever experience these? If so, how long did it take until they were gone? Thank you!
kikaida says
re: Re: Digestive, numbness and tingling problems
Hi there,
Have you been seen by a doctor for your numbness and tingling sensations? If so, what did they say could be the cause? Do you have the numbness and tingling in your legs and arms? Mine is mostly in my legs. Let me know.
Kikaida
User says
re: I do not believe that a
I do not believe that a doctor could say that caffeine would cause tingling I would go and see another doctor tingling is a sign of nero problem not caffeine
User says
re: Digestive, numbness and tingling problems
I've been off of caffeine for a 1 year 3 months and I still have these symptoms. I have a tingling sensation through out my body. Let me not get started on the digestive problems!! It's not as bad as when I first started the withdrawal process, but it still sucks!! I was told that depending on the person it could take a year or more for your body to function normally without the caffeine. The body needs time to heal.
LeeInOceanside says
re: I have same exact feelings.
WOW I have the exact same thing. No HYDROXYCUT tho. Just caffine via coffee and Rock Star drinks. Went to ER twice. Heart thumps. BP goes high. Short of breath. Very very mild tightness in chest. I have had these feelings now for two weeks. Less severe each day I must note.
User says
re: Caffine withdrawls
I get tingling on my skin. Mainly my arms. Sort of like the feeling when you havent showered for a few days. I am tired. Not that irritable. I just wish I had more energy. Im on day 5 of no caffine.
kikaida says
re: Hi Adam
Did the electric shock sensations go away?
kikaida says
re: 3 months off caffeine
It's been 3 months since I quit caffeine. My insomnia is improving. Still have digestive problems from time to time. My gastro doctor diagnosed me having IBS. I also have mild to moderate numbness and tingling in my legs and throughout my body. My former pcp told me that the numbness and tingling in the legs can be a result of acute caffeine withdrawals. He told me to give it a few more months and then make a follow up appointment to see him. I don't know about caffeine withdrawals causing numbness and tingling after 3 months. Any of you experienced that before? I would also like to hear updates from other people who quit caffeine as well.
Kikaida
User says
re: reply
that has to be anxiety, i have and taking meds for anxiety,i have had serious caffine withdraws and it last a week or two but no more, good luck and also if you take meds for aniety depression ect you are not suppose to drink caffine with them.
Lisa says
re: OMG I'm having the same thing
I was sick last week with the flu, so obviously I wasn't eating or drinking , just water. Friday I started having shaking in my upper body so bad I thought I was losing my mind. I have no appetite and have to force food down. I went to the er and there was nothing physical wrong. One of my best friends swears it's because I was an iced tea drinker, at least 3 cans a day. I get better in the evening but then when I get up it's the same thing all over.
Feel free to email me directly (Lasmith66@aol.com)
User says
re: Yes I got this before.
Mine
Yes I got this before.
Mine was the entire top part of my head, along with tingle sensation throughout my arms and even my legs. The sensations you feel in the scalp/head/neck area could be contributed to poor posture.
When you have poor posture there are nerves/other anatomy (I dont know technical terms, my doctor explained this to me years ago) in that area such that if it remains like that for long periods of time (poor posture) it will lead to those sensations.
Hope this helps.
kikaida says
re: I know the feeling!
Hi Herman,
I know the feeling what you are going through. I have been to so many doctors, had so many blood tests and a ctscan of the brain and everything came back normal. They always say to me that it's all anxiety and look at me as if I am crazy. I even have seen two neurologists and both of them look at me as if I am a hypochondriac. I don't know what to do anymore. I agree with you that doctors do need to be taught more about caffeine withdrawals. I guess all we can do is wait it out and see if time heals.
Kikaida
kikaida says
re: Tingling on Left Side of Head on Scalp
Hi there,
Has anyone ever experienced a tingling sensation on top of their head? Mine is on the left side. I was wondering if that could be a withdrawal symptom of caffeine too. Sometimes there is a burning sensation also on my forehead. Let me know if you have experienced this before. My doctors think its anxiety. I have had this for 3 months now. I think it could have been caused by two things.... either from taking one month of cipro antibiotic or due to caffeine withdrawals. Let me know what you think...
Kikaida
EDDIE TAYLOR says
re: HOW CAFFAINE MESSED ME UP AND WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
I BEEN DRINKING CAFFAINE ALL MY LIFE BUT BECAUSE I WAS SO BLIND I DIDNT NO THE DANGERS AT ALL.FIRST OFF I ALWAYS HAD TENSION HEADACHES EVERYDAY AND I WAS POPPING GOODY POWDERS BACK TO BACK TO FEEL RELEAVED AND THE THING ABOUT IT EVEN THE GOODY POWDER HAD CAFFAINE IN IT TO.MY MUSCLES STAYED TIGHT ALL THE TIME UNTIL 2005 WHEN MY BODY BROKE LIKE A RUBBERBAND MY ADRENAL GLANDS AND NERVOUS SYSTEM JUST SHUT DOWN AND AFTER THAT CAME THE PANICK ATTACKS THINKING ABOUT THE SYMTOMS THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH IT WAS A MESS.WELL TO THE POINT I QUIT FOR GOOD IN DECEMBER OF 2010 AND MY WORST PART IS THAT IM SO USE TO MY MIND BEING ALERTTTTTTTTTT AND JUMPY THAT I FEEL WEIRD AS HELL NOW BECAUSE MY MIND NOW IS CALM AND IM NOT USE TO IT.BASICALLY WHAT IM SAYING IS I ALWAYS HAD THAT TIGHT BAN AROUND MY HEAD FEELING NOW ITS GONE WHEN I WITHDREW FROM CAFFAINE IS THIS NORMAL
Casey says
re: I am still off caffeine, my
I am still off caffeine, my insomnia is already better although I have surges of anxiety in the morning, this could also be related to being 44 and perimenopausal but I think the caffeine withdrawal plays a role, as my adrenal glands are no doubt out of whack and my cortisol secretion is probably too high. I also still feel fuzzy headed but I'm sure that will take longer to normalize. All in all not fun but hopefully getting better 🙂 I will say I find myself less snappy with my kids mid day, I'm sure they're thankful for that!
buy essay says
re: And me too, what shall I do?
And me too, what shall I do?
Hermann C says
re: Now I know...
I went to the ER twice this week and couldn't figure out what was happening to me. I was having Palps around the heart area and some headaches and some pretty nasty anxiety. Im 6 days without caffeine but still recovering. I can't believe drinking coffee for over 15 years and quitting cold turkey can do this to a person. I had a panic attack the second trip to the ER so they gave me Vallium to calm me down. All my tests, scans, blood work was normal and the doctors were starting to treat me like a crazy person LOL. They need to be taught caffeine withdrawal in medical school because none of them knows whats happening to me. Thanks for the great advice on this site!
Janet says
re: Yes believe it or not, it's
Yes believe it or not, it's all caffeine withdrawals. I had all the same symptoms and it was terrible!!! Ginger tea worked great for me. Also keep yourself hydrated with water and make sure you take a good multiple vitamin.
User says
re: Oh my god!! I have the same
Oh my god!! I have the same problem and I've been off of caffeine for almost a year now! I've heard that it can take up to a year or more for your body to fully adjust to being caffeine free.
kikaida says
re: Hi Casey
I have been experiencing the same insomnia problem like you. I will wake up every hour throughout the night. It's been happening like this for more than two months. Its very hard to have to wake up every hour but its better to have some sleep than no sleep at all. I have OCD, which is an anxiety disorder that makes my mind race all the time. Having the OCD makes the insomnia ten times worse. I can't seem to relax and clear my mind when I sleep. I am trying to utilize every skill my therapist has taught me over the years to get through this crisis. The worse thing to deal with is the muscle twitching while sleeping. It makes it very hard to sleep. I didn't realize until now how much the caffeine has affected me both physically and psychologically. Twenty years of drinking large quantities of caffeine will not disappear in a matter of days. The doctors have told me the longest it should take for the body to withdrawal from caffeine is 9 days max. Don't believe everything the doctors tell you. Just 9 days for the body to withdrawal from caffeine maybe is what is written in books but for long time caffeine addicts, I don't think so. I think it will take months for the body to normalize from years of abusing our bodies like how I did. For me it hasn't been easy at all to deal with the withdrawals symptoms because each day something new happens. All we can do is try to not to panic when we experience a new withdrawal symptom. Let me know how things go...
Kikaida
Adam says
re: I know how ya feel
Hey Kikaida I quite drinking soda about a week ago and I used to drink quite a bit of it everday. I am feeling the same things you are , the electric shocks are mostly in my legs but do come and go in almost all other parts of my body as well. Today Ive actually been feeling pretty good so I am hoping that this is just withdrawl symptoms and that its almost over. If it is withdrawl from caffiene/soda then I will definitely be releived. I have read up on soda recently and never realized how bad it really is for you as well as the caffiene. It does seem like a real possibility that all of these symptoms are from withdrawl.
Adam
User says
re: Hi there,
I'm not a doc but
Hi there,
I'm not a doc but I've had alot of experience as a patient. If your having trouble swallowing you should tell your Doc. That's serious! You could have an obstruction of some kind. I'd think they would like to have an upper GI done.
kikaida says
re: It's me again...one more problem...myoclonic jerks/hypnic jerk
Hi there, I know I have so many problems dealing with the caffeine withdrawals. I have another really irritating problem. When I am just about ready to fall asleep my head jerks. Its like a muscle twitch. I've been having that for two days. My doctor said that it's normal. Have any of you had this or dealt with this before? Please let me know. Because of this I had to resort to taking my sleeping pills again. I can't sleep the past two days. Very disturbing.
Kikaida
marco says
re: Thankss Say No To Joe !
I feel so much better reading what you wrote ? How long did your symptoms last ? It gets unbareable at times but I'm starting to feel better. I'm just getting quiet a lot of foggy headedness but I'm guessing its all just caffeine withdrawal and I just have to wait for this to pass ! Thanksss
kikaida says
re: Doctors don't know everything
Hi there, I went to see a neurologist today and I told him that I have been having nerve problems. He said that there is no way that the caffeine would have any affect on my body after 9 days and anything after that is purely psychological. So for me its been 9 weeks of being off caffeine So does that mean I'm going crazy? My conclusion, doctors don't know everything.
Bryan says
re: Disbelief
First, I really want to believe what I am reading is true. That all of these same symptoms that I have are related to my lack of caffeine. I found this site by doing searches for my symptoms and everything seems to be pointing back to this. Trips to the ER, chest pains, muscle aches, twitching, vision issues, bad stomach, bowl issues......is this really just a case of caffeine withdrawals? Lots of blood work down, breathing tests, etc. One doctor is confident that my problem is acid reflux - and we have an upper GI test scheduled but if it turns out to just be caffeine - then I will be pretty darn relieved. Really hoping that everyone that has posted here is right!
I have had these symptoms for some time (8-9 weeks now) and from time to time I will have a coke just to see if this helps but it typically does not help. Has anyone found any sort of drink that will alleviate these symptoms. Black Tea, green tea, ginger ale?
Casey says
re: bad caffeine withdrawal?
Hi all, I have a history of drinking at least 4-5 cups of coffee daily for years, sometimes I cut down a little but not for long as I get fatigued and headaches. I had a stomache bug last week and decided that's it, I'm going to give up caffeine. I tapered a little (had some tea and one cup half decaf) but have pretty much cut it out, and I'm experiencing all sorts of weird symptoms....insomnia where I bolt awake at 2am, 3am, etc., anxiety, morning depression, "surges" of adrenaline, feeling hot and cold, muscle twitches and no appetite. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I have a history of anxiety but have been on a low dose of antidepressant for years with no recent problems. I am also a 44 year old woman so thought some of this may be perimenopausal but the timing is so extreme I can only blame the coffee. Any experience appreciated!
Kobe says
re: Hey
Well basically all thats wrong is your experiencing the withdrawl symptoms of caffiene. Everything you mentioned is a symptom of caffiene. I had the same problem with sleeping and nightmares but after about 8 days I started to sleep better than ever. One way that helped me sleep was to run or exercise for awhile. But if you just now quit, then hang in there and youll just have to deal with the withdrawl symptoms for awhile but they will pass before you know it. Dont give up, be positive, be healthy, and you will succeed.