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
keya says
re: coffee gone by accident
Saturday.. I had my usual coffee but saturday afternoon.. I was beginning to feel sick.. Seemed like the begginnings of a cold.. I had a headache and stomach ache and a small temperature.. Through the night my temp.. spiked to 101.4.. Now I usually dring 2 - 3 cups a day.. Saturday I had one cup and I usually have about 4 cups on a saturday.. cause I order it everywhere we go... church..the local bookstore... my sons b-ball games..my daughters music lesson..etc.. so by stomach hurt so much that I would only drink water.... so here I am five day later... the headaches have not gone away... seems I sweat like crazy everynite. I'm still sick like I have a cold.. I was just talking to my hubby and we realized that I have had no caffenine since satuday.. OMG.. Do you think thats the real problem I'm going through withdrawas... how sad,,, what do i do now ...keep off the coffee or have a cup..
buzzinyow says
re: Day Three of no COKE!!!
I have had a bad habit of drinking Colas. Every day. Some days over 2 large bottles of it. I stopped COLD TURKEY January 08 2012. I have had Bad headaches and pain in my muscles and joints. Today Day 3 has been the worst so far!!. I have not had any colas still and I just do not want to go back to all the problems drinking colas has caused. I hope that the headaches will subside by Day 5 and the muscle pain with in a week or so. I have also increased my water intake and when things really hurt I find going outside for a SHORT walk really helps. If the pain persists I take a painkiller to get over it. My wife said I should have a coke today and she showed me a bottle but I did not, out of fear of loosing control again. I really want my previous life back but it will take serveral months, for it took serveral months to get into this problem.
Brooks says
re: Day 23
After spending the afternoon in the emergency room on Thanksgiving day, thinking I was having a heart attack, I decided it was time to quit my coffee habit. Turns out I was having an esophageal spasm, these symptoms can closely mimic those of a heart attack, and it was caused in part by coffee according to my doctor. A little voice in my head had been telling me it was time to give up the java for several weeks leading up to my hospital visit, but it is easy to procrastinate when faced with the withdrawl hell the soon follows consumption of your last cup. My health was shaky leading up to the emergency room visit. General fatigue, cloudy head, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, depression, and apathy. I had been drinking 3 large cups of brewed coffee for the past 20 years. All in the morning so I thought I was safe, I was wrong! My daily caffeine ingestion estimate was in the 750-1000 milligram range, yikes! The first two weeks off coffee I allowed myself two large cups of green tea in the morning. That time did not seem to difficult. My plan was to reduce to one cup of green tea per day for another two weeks before embarking on complete caffeine abstinence. I went one day with a single cup of green tea and then decided to launch right into abstinence because I was so eager to start feeling better. Three of my first four days with zero caffeine I experienced migraine with aura. Not a fun start, but it did say to me that my migraines and caffeine must be related in some way. I stuck it out because I felt like I would be leaving my migraines behind with the caffeine. I have been on a nasty roller coaster with period of insomnia and other stretches where I feel like sleeping all the time, but mostly insomnia. If only I could sleep normal I think I would feel okay, but the insomnia is making me a little nutz. Ah, the cruel irony of being handed sleeplessness as my reward for quitting coffee. Again, this tells me that the two must have a strong relationship. General depression and irritability persist also, but I think I get depressed and irritable when I am not sleeping well. These testimonials have given me tremendous strength and courage to soldier on. I, however, have not been tempted to drink coffee along the way, I am done with the stuff. I know in my heart that my health and happiness could not be dependent upon taking a drug for the rest of my life. Do not believe the lies that coffee tells you. You are drinking a cup of stress, a cup of fatigue, a cup of crazy, a cup of insomnia, not a cup of anything good. I lied to myself for years about this stuff so I know how it goes. I reprogrammed my brain with 20 years of caffeine consumption so it only makes sense that it could take a little while for my nervous system to reacquaint itself with normal. In fact, I probably have never really experienced "normal" since I have been using caffeine my entire adult life. If you have been a heavy user for a long time, be prepared for a protracted battle with many highs and lows. Breaking the habit is no easy task or more people would do it.
User says
re: if you could email me back
if you could email me back that would be awesome. So after your doctor told you not to quit cold turkey did you wean yourself off or just kept pushing through by not drinking anything caffeinated? I've been off coke and coffee for a month and one week and still feel sick.
ahuman says
re: Symptoms
Yes those can all be symptoms of withdrawl. Read some of the other posts it might make you feel better. The only way to know is to quit and give it time.
Fredbro says
re: 1 year no caffeine
I have never posted to this site but have to say that when I quit caffeine in January 2011 it literally saved my senses. I sort of quit by accident after having a stomach bug. Prior to quitting I had probably 4 to 6 Starbucks type coffees a day. I quit cold turkey and at one time or another had all of the symptoms -- Headache, muscle ache, fever, chills, fatique, spiking BP, but the two symptoms that lingered the longest were insomnia (almost 3 months- would wake up after about 3 hours of sleep and not be able to go back to sleep) and anxiety ( about 5 months). Reading the posts on this site helped me soldier on. Even my doctor recommended that I not quit cold turkey and literally brought me a coca-cola while he was talking to me.
All I can say is regardless of whether it was all in my head or all in my body I can tell all who are pushing through this right now to keep going. Life is so much better with out it. I am calmer, have energy throughout the day and a great outlook on whatever the next chapter in my life brings. Exercise and lots of water were the keys-- along with knowing that you are not in it alone. Good luck all. Hang in there and happy new year!
Toomas says
re: Day 15 whit out caffeine
Decided to quit caffeine 15 days ago + had a major issues in a personal life .I work in kitchen so coffe is for free and i drinked alot about 7-9 half pints every working day so basically 5-6 days a week. First week had major anexaiety and slept maybe 24 hours in whole week . Were very tired + working in a kitchen and it wast christmas time so very busy . Felt light headed and tired all the time . Worried about something all the time . Had couple of panic attaks . Been even 1 time in ambulance beacause of it. Second week slept more but in a morning time felt like have a high temperature and got flue . Still always tired and light headed. Got cutting pains in muscels legs and hands get soure some time . Getting feeling that I dont understand what is going on around me. Started reading how to get rid of anexiety I think I have it for a couple years . It helps alot . I want always something sweet to eat . Eating less than usually mostly have to force feed myself. Day 15 felt really dizzy and tired and light headed .Sigarettes tase diffrent now as well. When i will get better ? Sorry for bad englis .)))
User says
re: Major symptoms are gone in a few days
I've quit caffeine a few times and am currently just over 2 weeks "clean" after giving up for the (hopefully) last time, cold turkey.
Withdrawal is not at all pleasant, although it varies depending on your biology and how much you used. I got really bad headaches for the first few days, then milder for the next week or so. My muscles (mainly back and legs) hurt, starting from the 3rd/4th day and again lasting a week or so, although decreasing in intensity. Other main symptoms were tiredness and feeling 'spacey'. Again, the worst of it is over in a week or so.
I think some people here are being a little melodramatic and/or misleading saying symptoms last months or years. My experience has been that 80-90% of the symptoms are gone after the first couple of weeks. It then takes a fair bit of time to get back to being 100%, but during this time you feel pretty much OK, just not perfect. You certainly won't have high level withdrawal symptoms for months or years.
Stick with it for a week or so and you'll be through the worst of it. After that it's slower, incremental change over a longer period, plus learning to live without caffeine - changing habits and behaviours etc.
ahuman says
re: The major symtoms usually
The major symtoms usually subside after 2 months or less. After that, its a gradual progression. It's kind of like a see saw, but a lopsided one. Bunch of good days, couple bad, then more good and less bad, etc... eventually your system resets. just takes time. It just depends how unlucky you are, if you will get severe or mild symtoms. So no one can tell you if it will be easy or hard.
ahuman says
re: For me yes. i didn't even
For me yes. i didn't even realize how it was effecting me until i quit. Life slowed down alot for me. Moods are really stable. But i dont have any underlying depression problems or other pshyciatric issues. So i dont know why it would make you feel worse after its out of your system.
ahuman says
re: Yes, it is a
Yes, it is a symptom.
http://www.caffeinedependence.org/caffeine_dependence.html
ahuman says
re: Yes it can take from a week
Yes it can take from a week to a year or two depending on a bunch of factors.... Length of use, your biology, dose, etc.. So no one can tell you if it will be a nightmare or a breeze it depends on those factors.
User says
re: Yes,you would think that
Yes,you would think that after getting off coffee that you would sleep better but insomnia can be one of the withdrawal symptoms for some people.
Megan says
re: Is caffeine addiction possible with only two cups of pop a day?
I've had around that much for as long as I can remember (I'm 19) and I gave up caffeine four days ago. I planned it so I'm off of school and don't have to worry about doing anything productive. This turned out to be a good plan, as I've had headaches and had no energy to do really anything whatsoever. My brain's so fuzzy! My concern is with the duration of symptoms. I thought this whole thing would be over in a week or two, but a lot of the comments talk about symptoms for a period of months, and I don't know if I can handle this on top of schoolwork. Will it get better?
Also: my academic performance has been slacking lately and I realize now that I had the hallmarks of caffeine allergy for the past few months (poor memory, etc). It's incredibly how the world just treats caffeine as something to be put in food and drink, not the drug that it so clearly is.
User says
re: week and a half
I drank probably 8-10 cups a day for 30 years. I quit about a week and a half ago. Haven't slept for more than a few hours at a stretch since. Can these 2 things be related?
Lyndsay says
re: Is it worth it?
My question to all of you that have completely detoxed is, do you actually feel like a better person than you did before you quit caffeine? I guess I am concerned that I'm going to go through this intense, long, painful detox process and then realize that I was an over all happier person when I was on caffeine. I know that you feel better than you did DURING your detox, but do you feel better than you did BEFORE your detox? I feel GREAT when I'm on Caffeine...its just when I don't drink it for a few days that I start feeling horrible. So in your oppinion is it worth the long process in the end? Are you a happier person than you were while on caffeine?
denis says
re: coffee withdrawl
For all you people suffering from coffee withdrawls you will be happy to know that there is a relatively painlesss solution and that is green tea, Japanese or Chinese, which takes the ragged edge off the nerves and headaches. Try to get a good quality tea since many of the larger companies such as lipton, starbucks etc use the cheaper stuff. If you can go to a chinese store good. Mighty Leaf is okay but best is just a really nice natural as possible green tea. It has cafiene too but has other things in the leaf to balance it. Once you are through the rough period you need to get off the tea as well but it will be a whole lot easier. Good luck
Ahuman says
re: Stick with it
It was the worst 2 experiences of my life. And I think we are the unlucky ones who have to deal with the post acute withdrawl. I noticed once the physical symptoms subsided the mental ones were worse. I'm about 2.5 months in and i am really starting to get some relief. Anxiety and Depression were he worst. I felt extreme guilt for anything, didn't want to goto work, talk to people, groom myself, or at times go on living. It was a nightmare experience but I am not the type to go to my doctor and ask for a drug to fix a problem caused by another drug. And i know that we are all made fun of because "Caffine isn't a drug", just like cigarettes were safe 40 years ago. So you really have to reprogram yourself to understand what we have been taking is a real drug. Actually i think other drugs have it easier, they can go about thier daily buisiness without getting the drug thrown in all thier face all day long. Caffine is in everything... there is no escape.
<p>
And i have no underlying mental issues, i am the most stable person you will ever come across. But i've seen the comments about it only effecting the weak minded..... I only have to say one thing to them... SCREW OFF. And i wouldnt hope this on them becasue they are probably too waek to handle it.
<p>
In the end i think it was the best thing i ever have done. I am more relaxed, more calm, more happy, more energy.... I can't wait to see what i feel like 6 months and 1 year out. Good luck to anyone who gets the rough ride... I'm not gonna lie its hard as hell.... Peace out
User says
re: sure...
Ignorance is bliss.
Nory says
re: Caffeine is a serious drug
I've been drinking 2-3 cups of coffee for the past 15 years. It wasn't until several months ago that I came to the mind-blowing realization that coffee--caffeine--had actually become a detriment to my well being. Sure, it provided that initial buzz that lasted about an hour, but then it was all down hill until my next cup--achy, sore muscles, anxiety, irritability, sleeplessness, mild depression. I think the last 2 years I have been drinking it purely because I'm addicted to it with absolutely no benefits. I'm on day 14 of having gone cold turkey, and it has not been easy. This is definitely not a 2-3 day withdrawal experience. I'm still experiencing all kinds of nasty detox symptoms, although, thank God, they are definitely becoming less intense. The worst is the fuzzy-head, eruptions of chest-crunching anxiety, and depression. I have been taking ambien at night just so I can at least get a decent night sleep, and that is helpful, but plan on weening off of that over the next couple of weeks. I'm very grateful for all the contributers on this site. A week ago, when I thought I was losing my mind, I stumbled on to these posts, and seeing how many folks were going through the same thing I was was incredibly helpful. I realized that I will slowly get through this. I'm amazed at how powerful caffeine is and how sensitive to it my system must be. Many years ago I went through a series of major surguries, so I was on large doses opiates for close to 2 years. This might sound weird, but it was easier for me to kick the opiate dependence than caffeine. With the pain killers, I just felt like I had a bad flu for a couple of weeks, but none of the crazy anxiety and depression. Anyway, day 14 and I'm actually getting some moments of calmness during the day. Thanks to all of you for contributing.
Elle says
re: Don't lose heart if you have
Don't lose heart if you have given in, a small amount is better than too much but you've done really well to get 7 days, I bet you could do it again and in no time stop craving, lots of other people doing it too and thinking about you, chin up and remember what an achievement you've done already, it's all about little steps and if you want to you'll get there... x
Elle says
re: Withdrawing... On Day 5..
Meli says
re: A week and a half...
I stopped drinking coke cold turkey a week and a half ago, not knowing that it would cause so much pain! I have had headaches every day that drive me crazy! I've started taking kickboxing classes which actually make me feel good. But in the mornings I always wake to a headache. I never feel like I get enough sleep- like I am always fatigued.
I drank coke about 6 times a day and didn't realize how serious the addiction was until I quit. Something that has me feeling so crappy when I quit is obviously not good fo me! I'm still getting the cravings but I fight them.
As I was reading some of the comments discussing how good they feel a few months after quitting I am actually having something to look forward to! I can't wait till these headaches go away and I can feel happy and healthy again!
Hopefully soon!!!
User says
re: I am age 43 and on day 13 of
I am age 43 and on day 13 of quitting coffee (for the third attempt) and aside from the intense pain from withdrawal, I find that my mind is functioning much better. I too used to feel feelings of anxiety, depression, brain fog, and self consciousness, but not anymore. My skin is getting much better, but I noticed that I've been breaking out on my face, which rarely happens. It helps to read the experiences of others. I agree with you that caffeine is so ingrained in our culture that people do not even question that it is a drug that negatively affects the body. People quickly scoff at others who claim that caffeine has hurt their body. The Monster drinks are worse than sodas and kids drink them like water. Perhaps we will see the long term effects of Monster drinks when the young generations become older with various health issues.
User says
re: Umm don't sit here and say
Umm don't sit here and say people are over exaggerating. that's the rudest thing to say. Why would someone want to feel like they are dying. EVERY BODY IS DIFFERENT so unless you aren't supportive shut up
Sarah says
re: I think my sex drive lowered
I think my sex drive lowered at first but about 2 months ago I started taking 25 mg of zinc picolinate a day and after about 6 weeks it seemed like I started getting my drive back and feeling a lot more sensitivity as well (been caffeine free for 70 days). I also suggest you try a couple of tbsp of apple cider vinegar per day. Some people put a pinch of baking soda in it, dilute it all in a glass of water. I also noticed some improvement with that and I haven't even done it regularly. So apple cider vinegar (with the "mother" in it, look for Bragg's), and 25 mg of zinc a day are my suggestions. They have worked for me without caffeine. I agree caffeine has a short-term affect on sex drive. Longterm though, I don't know if it's beneficial. Good luck.
Sarah says
re: Update
I've been caffeine free now for about 70 days. I have noticed a positive change in my depressive state over that time which keeps improving. It seems like I don't get clinically depressed anymore. Instead of feeling like I need meds, I feel like reading books and maybe some talk therapy would take care of the down feeling I am experiencing. That is due to the fact that my FIL died, I am getting divorced, and moving back in with my parents with my two small children, all within a few months. I think my feelings are pretty justified. I feel that if I had not quit caffeine I would be in a much, much worse state. As far as energy, it is still low. I do feel better in the mornings, more awake and faster. and the energy I feel is very sustained throughout the day. I've crashed around 3 pm everyday for as long as I can remember. That is totally gone now. My energy levels stay the same pretty much all day. A lot less trouble with the blood sugar fluctuations since quitting. I started sleeping much more soundly a few weeks ago so definitely give yourself a couple of months to expect that benefit. Some people notice it much faster but for others it does take time.
One thing that has really helped me to stay away from caffeine is that I always had a gland that was visible right where my jawbone meets my neck. I always felt it had something to do with my health because during times when I was really overindulging it seemed more prominent. The amazing thing is that it very quickly disappeared after quitting caffeine and has stayed gone since then. I had learned to live with it. I even visited a plastic surgeon who said nothing could be done about it. It wasn't always there but at least a few times a week. I haven't seen it ALL since quitting caffeine. I don't have a scientific explanation for that but clearly caffeine was aggravating my immune system somehow. That isn't to say I haven't been sick since I quit. I have been sick MORE. I can only guess that this might have to do with my body healing and cleansing. Another thing that really keeps me away is how much clearer my mind is. When I have conversations with people I am a lot more articulate. I never drank a lot of caffeine. 1-2 cups of coffee a day plus a coke a few times a week, plenty of chocolate, a Starbucks mocha 1-2 x a week, but nothing like some of you here. We are clearly all very different and for some of us even a "safe" amount of caffeine is 100% too much. Oh, and my skin looks better. Wrinkles diminished. I am 38 but I get mistaken for 28 lately. I am not saying it's a youth elixir to quit but I think it helps a lot to improve your skin. I think it's been really dehydrating to me, or just acidifying which also shows up in your face and body. I have a lot less bloatedness around that time of the month too, in fact I pretty much have none. I also have almost no breast tenderness at all whereas I used to get it quite painfully every cycle when I drank coffee. Too many reasons to not ever go back. There are plenty of substitutes out there if you love a hot, tasty drink in the morning. Added bonus - your teeth stay so much whiter! Good luck everyone!
Mark says
re: Day 8 clean
Hello All, Day 8 no caffiene/Stimulants. Thanks to you and god. Wierdest detox withdrawls ive ever experienced. Ive managed to quit everything else. Still experiencing strange feeelings in head, anxiety, buzzing ears, food cravings, cannot sleep good. Some say second week withdrawls are worst than the first. I can usually make it about 9 or ten days and then i buckle and bow to starbucks almighty lord of the universe. I dont know this time. Ive surrendered best I can.Im having serious strange thoughts pop in my head during this process. This drug owns me. I never knew how complete it was until the breakup. Will keep on truckin one day at a time. Thanks for listening.
lilly says
re: Day 7 cold turkey, i have to give in.
Today is day 7 of trying to quit caffine all together , cold turkey. I know I'm not as mature as most others trying to ween off caffine, but I am trying to quit now before it gets even harder in the future. I'm 16, been drinking 2 or more sodas a day, and countless cups of coffee with my Dad. I Haven't had coffee or soda Sine sunday 13th. I thought it would be easy peasy over it quick, but I was wrong.Mind you I've never missed a day of caffine since i was 6. And when I woke up Monday, I felt it. I woke up tired beyond belief even though I had slept all night (which is rare for me: insomnia). I couldn't concentrate enough to even put eye liner on. That whole skool day I was literaly the walking dead, all of my friends noticed, since I'm usually the one who's always moving always laughing and smileing. Tuesday, I felt the head aches set in, not as bad as my migranes but just as annoying. I snapped at my Friend, and boyfriend and teacher, very bizzare mood swings. Wednsday I got in trouble for walking around class or falling asleep during a lesson. Thursday was no different. Friday I was angry, and nauseas snapping at my boyfriend about some rumor. and Today, I woke up feeling good, my skin was bright and firm, I felt pretty good but as it went on i got more and more tired, and my narcolepsy won over, I kept falling asleep, on the stairs in the backyard, in the fridge. after a while I got a head ache just as bad as any migrane. And right now, I'm giving in, unfortunatly I can't stand the pain when my own thoughts are to loud... I'll try again eventually. But attempt #1 : failure
Mark says
re: Day 5 off caffiene
Hello all. Day 5 cold turkey off all caffiene/stimulants. Been trying this for about a year. longest i may have got was 4 weeks at a time. Time warps though because of drug addiction. It may have only been 4 days. I have all symptoms like everyone else. Haedaches, depression, irritability, seeing spiders, sick stomach, head buzzing, heart racing at times. pressure on chest/anxiety, sleep is weird. Been eating dates, figs and prunes to take the edge off with natural sugar. Gave up refined sugar 3 yrs ago. Living nightmare that was! Been in dedicated and loving relationship with caffiene for 30 yrs. Time to split with her. Health and sanity going now at age 44. The good new is ive quite Steriods, Alcohol, nicotine, sugar, and meat all with support groups and god. Good luck to all of you.
Laura says
re: Caffeine withdrawl
Well, I was taking two OTC sleeping pills and one 5MG of Melatonin at night. I had 2 to 3 cups of small styrofoam cups of coffee at work and 2 huge cups a day on the weekend. Last Tuesday I had the one of the worst heart palpitations that I had ever felt. My heart was pounding for over 24 hours, felt like my head was going to explode. I ended up going to the ER on Wednesday morning. I was contributing this to the sleeping pills and melatonin. I have since cut out my caffeine. I have had a few palpitations today. I am feeling these panic attacks that everyone is speaking of, too. I had a horrendous headache until Friday. I hope the palpitations will go away. But, I have actually had these since I was young and they have never found anything wrong with my heart. If there is any advice, I would sure welcome it!!!!
ahuman says
re: It's normal
You will get back to normal it's a drug and you are coming off it. Expect a bumpy ride. I felt exactly the same and it passed and i felt better than when i started. No pain to gain as they say.... It can be especially scary because nobody talks about it as a drug so most people cannot associate the two things. And even when you do there is always the doubting side that thinks you may just be going crazy because "it's just caffine"<===== This is the handy work of years of training by advertising companies. No matter how smart we think we are, we have all been duped on something in our lives this was a big one for me. The only reason caffine is legal is because it would take a huge amount to kill you due to the mechinism it uses to change your body chemistry. But that doesn't mean its not a drug. It's just an unregulated drug.
Just remember most crazy people don't know they are crazy, so if you are worried about it you prob arent crazy.. 🙂
User says
re: 24 Hrs In... Not doing so hot...
As I lay in bed at 2 a.m. wide awake with a stomach ache, wondering how I'm going to drag myself through work tomorrow, I decided to peruse the Internet on this topic. I wasn't intending on quitting cold turkey but I ran out of my favorite liquid gold (Pepsi) yesterday and haven't made it to the store. I made it through the headache earlier today, after I got all clammy a half hour into work and thought I was going to throw up. I left work, thinking I had some virus, and it dawned on me over a classic rerun of Matlock that this isn't a virus. I figured if I could just make it through the rest of the day, the withdrawal symptoms would let up and everything would work out. That's probably true, and I have to keep telling myself that as I lay with my head hanging in a bucket off the side of the bed... I'm glad to read others' dilemmas on the topic because I never knew that the random body aches were part of this. My husband and I joke all the time that we're going to have me tested for Fibromyalgia because I'm always sore. Hmmmm... Won't he be interested to hear at a reasonable hour of the morning that maybe we can alleviate some of my crappy feelings by reducing the caffeine?
On a more serious note, I really appreciated reading what other people felt in their detox process because it made me feel like I'm not alone and I'll make it through. So, for the people out there who are feeling awful right now, you're not alone and you'll be ok. My process started out with a sour stomach first thing in the morning. I started to feel sweaty and clammy and nauseous. I slept for a good portion of the day, waking up every few hours with a splitting headache and couldn't find the energy to go get an Advil to help it. I got up and made some dinner and did eat it, but I didn't really want it. I spent the majority of my waking hours with a dull nagging stomach ache and random bouts of nausea and sweating. I also have a weird taste in my mouth that won't go away even when I brush my teeth. It causes horrible breath. My body aches everywhere, especially in my elbows and ankles. I literally want someone to massage my arms. I have a slight ringing in my ears and it feels really good when the furnace kicks on and warms up the air in the room.
I don't recommend quitting cold turkey as there really is no benefit. Come up with a good strategy ahead of time to reduce your intake, and treat it like a serious addiction. Involve family members or friends in your plan. There's no reason to be laying around with horrible withdrawals and flu-like symptoms. I missed a day of work so far with this monkey business and I doubt my boss is going to find the seriousness in all of this.
Glad to be curious says
re: personally, ii've never liked
personally, ii've never liked the taste of coffee, sodas hurt my throat and mouth going down and if ii drink an energy drink ii'm either verry jittery or ii fall asleep(anyone know why?).
despite this, ii do know there is caffeine in chocolate and ii have always liked that. knowing eating too much chocolate is bad for you, ii try to limit it to mugs on a cold evening(in cali, not very many) and some baked goods when ii feel self rewarding.
yet reading all of these stories makes me worry for my freinds. some drink 5 sodas a day, some buy a large can of monster energy drink more than once a day, while others simply sip coffee all the time that they are awake. each of them have headaches with intense pain when they dont drink their regular amount. while this is not as bad as much of what ii've been reading here, it encourages me to help my freinds find ways of limiting their intake. while still a drug, for those not so heavily addicted it does much less damage. maybe ii can help them so that they (as one of my freinds has done with soda) can little by little resist caffeine until they can control themselves to only drink small amounts or turn away from it completely.
if your wondering, ii havent mentioned tea because ii've only seen people react this way to very sweet tea, usually iced, and it is most often due to the sugar, not the caffeine.
ahuman says
re: 6 weeks at 0
Starting to feel like the old me again, plus benefits... Cronic pain almost gone that i had for over a year is gone. It was so bad i couldnt run full speed, this last week i could run again. Which makes playing hockey and baseball alot easier. Everything is slowing down a lot now. Weekend seemed nice and long.
Seemed like it would never end but it has, and i feel really good. I'm done with caffine forever. I wonder how many people are having problems because they dont know they are using a "drug". I know i suffered a lot for no reason. But hey, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger!
good luck everyone!
MikeH says
re: aching legs
I am now caffeine free for about a month and it was a rough go for me too. I drank about 4 -24 ounce Diet Mt. Dews every day. After the headaches came the aching legs just like you. They woke me up too and lasted for about 3 days. Yes they will go away. Don't drink coffee!
ahuman says
re: Post acute withdrawl
http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/post-acute-withdrawal.htm
I figured out that i have been through this both times, thats why it seems to take months to feel normal again. the bad physical stuff ends relatively fast but this lingers for awhile. It helped me to understand why i would have mood swings and depression swings. Hope it helps anyone here with doubts. It's not you its your brain going back to normal, if you remember that you can try and ignore the feelings and not concentrate on them. It's making this time alot easier than last time.
ahuman says
re: 4 weeks at 0
Most days feel really good. Some days not quite as good. Excersise seems to make it alot better. But my anxiety/fear level is almost back to my normal level of really calm. Slight depression is only once and awhile now. Body pains i had for a long time seem to be clearing up. Still tired some days but not excessive. Sleeping about 8 hours a day and i noticed that i have been having dreams every night for the last 3 weeks, though they are starting to taper down. I have started taking interest in listening to my podcasts again and using my computer. I had no interest for the last 2 months. It's funny its like the withdrawls inverted my personality and now its bouncing back. Calm became crazy, happy became sad, confident became scared.... what a mess... I'll never do this again, i can't believe i had to go through it twice to be free.
ahuman says
re: It will pass
The first 2-4 weeks are the worst and it will get alot better. It's drug withdrawl.... it sucks. I felt alot better after a month.
Verity says
re: Cold Turkey
I was a regular consumer of about 6 - 8 cups of coffee per day, over many years.
I am currently on day 8 of withdrawals from coffee, going cold turkey. I haven't felt the need to drink coffee at all during this time, and I know that cutting back gradually would have been much more ' comfortable ' but I have tried to cut back in the past a few times unsuccessfully.
By the end of day 2, I had a shocking migraine headache and vomiting.
The headache, which feels like it is a severe sinus headache, through the nose, eyes and up through the top of the head.... is pretty much consistent throughout the day, building to a more severe level by afternoon / evening.
Panadol, Panadol Sinus Relief.... have been of little use so far.
Terra says
re: I've been off soda/energy drinks for 2 months!!!
I stumbled upon this website looking to see if caffiene would be wiped from the body completely after two months. Not to go on and on but it took me a very long time to kick soda, at first I tried cold turkey and that backfired like three times I tried it. Last year I finally decided enough was enough: my teeth were getting bad, I was gaining weight, and all around I just felt yucky. So what I did was I dropped Mountian Dew (that was a HUGE problem) and picked up a 6 pack of the bottled cokes, for one week I drank one a day and the rest of the day it was either cranberry juice or water...boy did that suck. The week after I bought another 6 pack of Coke and only drank half of one every day, I realized it was getting easier and I didn't really care for the taste of cola anymore. This did help alot but still I drank soda from time to time. It's very hard to kick that kinda stuff just like with coffee (I'm sure), I've never done any drugs so soda would definitly be the closest thing to any of that mess. Again sorry to ramble, I've been off of all soda/energy drinks for 2 months now - I have experienced alot of the symptoms here including anxiety-depression-dizziness but in the end I know this is worth it. My mood is better most of the time-my skin looks 100% better aswell as my teeth (which I've been going to the dentist and getting a cavity filled each month). I really hope you all kick your caffiene/sugar habits its well worth it and I hope something in my comment has helped out aswell. Sorry to ramble again.
~Terra
I
ahuman says
re: What? Keep your smugness to yourself
Im glad you think its a joke and i hope if you ever quit you dont go through what i went through twice. Because im not sure alot of people could take it. It turned my life upside down for months. Imagine taking everything you love and sucking the joy out of it, add fear, anxiety and mix in a little anger. I have never felt that in my life other than those 2 times.
Are you kidding? So a litle heroin in moderation is ok? Maybe just a little coccaine? You know that coccaine used to be in drinks until the 1900's. Why do you think they chose to use caffine in place of coccaine?
coccaine=stimulant - effects dopamine levels of the brain.
caffine=stimulant - effects adenosene levels and receptors... which flows through your whle body... and also effects dopamine and stress hormones <-- much worse in my opinion
It's funny how deep in culture this whole thing is, if you want to rely on a drug go ahead just don't tell others they are stupid for cutting the habit.
R Wood says
re: Kicking the addiction to Dr. Pepper
I am on day 2 of kicking my addiction to Dr. Pepper. I finally felt it was time to do something healthy for my body instead of doing something worse. I have had quite a headache for the last two days, but I am going to stick with it. I hope that some of the small health problems that I have been having will go away as well. I know the next few days will be difficult, but worth it. I am giving daily updates on my website http://www.dosomethingdifficult.net and studying the effects of soda on your body. So far I have not read of any health benefits of drinking soda, only negative.
Demonchild says
re: Baloney
You people are all nuts. A cup of coffee a day is not going to change your life. Everything in moderation and you won't have these problems.
Anne L says
re: thanks
Thanks for this info. I just went through hell for the last 8 months slowly recoverying. Hell is the right word, the panic attacks would not stop and the anxiety was 25 out of 10. years ago when i quite caffeine it took 7 months but i did not have panic attacks . this time I hit the caffeine hard for months then it exploded in a non stop panic attack the lasted 5 weeks i had to withdraw cold turkey immediatley and then continued slowly coming down over several more months. it was shocking,,, so hard to understand and handle.... I don't think I handled it actually but rather just shook and agonized my way thorugh each day and disrupted night. I know there is still more caffeine to get out of my system and more healing but it's so encouraging to read others success stories. thanks again
Michael says
re: Don't fight a war on two fronts.
Ashley,
If you're drinking non-diet soda, then you might actually be working with two different addictions: sugar and caffeine. In that case, it's wise to work on those one at a time. Breaking either habit will take a while, and you might feel worse before you feel better, but you can just look at the other comments here and see that it's totally worth it. The other good news is that, if you're only getting caffeine from Dr. Pepper, your caffeine consumption isn't as high as you might think. A two-liter bottle of Dr. Pepper only has about 240mg of caffeine, or about two cups of coffee worth.
Suppose you decide to start with the sugar: just gradually switch to diet soda. Take that two liters and taper it down until you're getting your caffeine from some non-sugared drink. I know diet soda's not a great option for long-term consumption, but it'll get you off the sugar ledge without forcing you to change too many habits at once. If this takes weeks, fine. If it takes months, fine. Just don't take it too fast and your odds of success will be higher. If you don't like the diet taste, it might help to find a different brand such as Diet Coke or Pepsi. For instance, when my mom wanted to curtail her Coca-Cola habit, she switched to Diet Dr. Pepper. Ironic, I know, but the point stands: she now drinks less than half the soda she used to.
Once you're off the sugary stuff, you can apply the same strategy to caffeine by switching (again, gradually!) to a caffeine-free diet soda. Or you might choose to replace the soda altogether at that point; one option is a fruit-flavored carbonated water like La Croix or Poland Springs. The trick is to pick something refreshing, and a little fizz goes a long way in creating that impression. After you've weeded out sugar and caffeine, the soda habit itself won't have nearly the appeal it does right now.
And that's all I've got. No big steps. Just be patient with yourself; modest progress is still progress. If you discover any other helpful tips along the way, be sure to come back and share them!
All the best,
M
P.S. Any other commenters want to chime in? Let's help Ashley put together a foolproof plan.
Ross Gerard says
re: You are my inspiration stranger
Thank you for taking the time to write this. I am looking forward to the day when I will not be dependent on caffeine! Warm wishes!
ahuman says
re: You are right it does. I
You are right it does. I wonder where these people come from telling people its not that bad or its not a "real drug". It is a drug the same as nicotine, coccaine and heroin. its just milder. The fact that it is milder may be worse because most people dont realize they are hooked.
Actually it effects more of your body than those others do. It uses a more incidious method of tripping your dopamine receptors and it puts you in a fight or flight body state. So it effects your whole body. Adenosene is a very important central nervous system regulator and caffine pretends its adenosene.
Its a stimulant and there is no doubt about that... you know what they used to put in soda before it became illegal... coccaine. So think about why they replaced one stim with another next time you want to post dumb ass comments about everyone making shit up.
http://www.caffeinedependence.org/caffeine_dependence.html#withdrawal
ahuman says
re: 2.5 weeks at 0
The depression has lifted. Anxiety is almost gone. Things i enjoy are starting to bring me pleasure again. All i can say is that it will pass, but it sucks for some people(ME!). If all you get is a headache count yourself lucky beacuse it was a nightmare for me. And i have done it more than once without knowing. Tapering was way better than cold turkey though. DO NOT GO COLD TURKEY!!!! There is no advantage to cold turkey it will just take longer to recover from the extra stress it puts on your body and brain. It took me months to feel normal when i went cold turkey, this time only a couple weeks. It does help to know i wasn't just suffering anxiety it was a checmical withdrawl. It lets you put it behind you permanently.
The funny thing is who is ever told that drinking pepsi and eating chocolate will get you hooked on a drug? This should be more public.
Now that i know what happened i think i will be alot more aware of whats in my food and drink. It makes me wonder how many other people are effected by this and just dont know it.
User says
re: why do people post comments
why do people post comments that are completely wrong. Drinking too much or withdrawl can cause panic and anxiety. Read the medical studies.