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
Richard says
re: darksodas
Dark sodas have caffine even thoe mountain dew is clear is has caffine and lots of sugar . How many dark sodas did you drink a day ? If you drink alot of sodas with caffine in them its a caffine addiction . I drank several cokes and Dr peppers a day while at work . Your going to have the anxietys if you drink alot of softdrinks with caffine in them I had them . I drive for a living and your going to have to deal with it .The resaon you gaged is because ur body is going through the withdraw process of it . Your prob going to have muscle spasms , your heart might race . your probaly going to experience alot of fatigue I did and still going through it . Its been a month in a half since I have cut alot of my caffine out I only drink 1 cup of coffie in the morning and thats it .When Im at work I either drink water or sprite. If your anxiety gets to where u cant drive take a day off and rest or go to your dr and get a sedative to help you stay calm but you will still feel that way to a point . There is no easy way to come off a caffine addiction . I did it cold turkey but I went through hell doing it to . But at least I wont go back .I refuse to drink coke , Dr pepper or any dark colored soft drink I wont even drink caffine free soft drinks cause they do have caffine in them to a point . If you feel the need I can talk to you even more via facebook or even by phone if I can get ur email addy .
John C says
re: John I'd suggest:
1. Stopping
John I'd suggest:
1. Stopping acohol (a depressant).
Also
2. Consider also stopping sugar, wheat, gluten - think about what else you are taking into your brain.
3. Exercise may help.
Best wishes, John.
Vee09 says
re: Help ?
Hello Everyone,
Well i'm a little concerned, I am 20 years and i've quit dark soda for the past 3 weeks and i had a anxiety episode on wednesday and I keep having them especially when I drive. I thought it was just going to go away till i realized i stopped drink dark sodas. How do i control it should i start drinking soda again maybe once a day. My job i'm at right now it is mandatory for us to drive and I dont want to lose my job. And I have tried soda today but just wanted to gag and i felt different. Advice anyone please.
Liz says
re: Hi John,
Don't give up now! 4
Hi John,
Don't give up now! 4 months is an awesome acheivement, you should be very proud of yourself.
What's your diet like? do you eat much saturated fat? Our brain is made up of about 50% saturated fat and all our hormones require it to work optimally too. I have added butter and coconut oil to my diet in generous quantities and it has helped me ENORMOUSLY. Seriously, I can not recommend it more strongly.
Also, I have lost weight in the process. From my research, we have been very foolish as a society to shun these natural, healthy fats in place of industrial vegetable oils.
Sorry to go on, it's something I've become very passionate about, and I can't help wondering if it would help you too.
Don't give up now! Hopefully others will come along with some suggestions for you too.
Best wishes.
Richard says
re: caffine withdraws
I has been over a month since I have pretty much quit caffine . I still have a cup of coffie in the morning and I have something with chocolate once a day or everyother day at lunch. But thats it I dont drink any dark colored sodas or take any medicine with caffine in it . Some headache medicines have caffine in it for example BC Powders , Excedrin Migrane. I still having some withdraw effects but nothing like they was it can take a while. I quit cold turkey so that I wouldnt go back .I still crave a coke every now and then but when I do I get some water or a sprite if Im at work . At home milk , water , juice , sprite or 7up. Im putting on some more weight . I still get the jitters but I barely feel it and still have the muscle spasms but not like I use to . I call energy drinks death in a can . I may not ever be completley caffine free but as long as I only have my 1 cup of coffie in the morning and some chocolate every now and then I will be ok . The 1st of next month will be 2 months for me since I have cut all of that other crap out . To me having a sip of coke or any other dark colored softdrink is like ok I can stop at this and then all of a sudden your hooked again .
John says
re: Going on 4 months
Hello Everyone
I am reaching the 4 month mark and I go through a couple of days to where I think I am in the clear, then all of sudden I am back in the funk (anxiety/depression) for another couple days. Has anyone else experieced this at this point? I am beginning to think that this is who I am as a person and might need to consider some type of anxiety/depression meds. That is the very LAST thing I want to do. Considering the fact for the past 6 years I did not have one case of anxiety, panic attack or depression. I just can seem to shake the "worry thoughts" about this whole situation and just worry in general. Every day I wake up this whole issue is streaming through my head in one fashion or another. If anyone has advice I am open to anything. Thanks once again.
Liz says
re: Thanks John,
Here I am at Day
Thanks John,
Here I am at Day 15, still caffeine free! I've beaten my previous records now. woohoo! lol.
Thanks again for your reply,
Best wishes
ahuman says
re: Time Log
Yes. My mood has reached a really high point and i have virtually have no anxiety. To the point where i look at everyone around me and they seem to be way too tense. It almost feels like i have a secret power or something.. lol
But this just must be how the body functions drug free. Stessful situations are a breeze now, i don't worry about much anymore. It took about 6 months to feel fully functional. But now around 12 months and i feel rushes of happiness and my energy is awesome all day, even after i eat lunch. I wake up without an alarm in the morning and go to sleep when i get tired at night. It's pretty awesome now, i could die happy at this point. 🙂
It's a feeling of zen or calm that i'm not sure i've felt too many times before. I still get worked up in emergencies but its different now. I can drop things quickly if they aren't important.
It takes alot of patience and you really have to understand what is causing the problem but it will get better if your problem is the withdrawl. I didn't take any other substances to try and offset the withdrawl, im sure that has made it better as well. I see alot of people trying to trade one substance for another, but i wanted to be free, not trade.
Here was my timeline to the best of my knowldge:
1-4 weeks: Horrible anxiety, bad headaches, nausea, OCD, depression, phobias, foggy head
1-3 months: Bad anxiety, minor headaches, milder OCD, depresion, phobias, foggy head, some shakes or stuttering
3-6 months: Slight anxiety, minor OCD, milder depression, slightly foggy head, slight shakes or stuttering
6-12 months: really mild depression, really mild OCD
12+ months: Feel better than ever. All symptoms mentioned above are gone. Actually more positive than normal. Feel pretty great. Tons of patience, road rage gone, rushed feelings gone.....
Sloefruit Fields says
re: This was very helpful for me
This was very helpful for me as I have certain health issues that called for me to stop coffee. This is like a dying romance for me- I truly love coffee. I can get through that part however I am on day 5 of no coffee and for the past two days I have been constipated and even bought herbal laxative. Did this happen to you? Just curious. Thank you!
John Campbell says
re: Hi Liz thanks for the
Hi Liz thanks for the saturated fat point - very interesting. I agree with you that diet plays a huge part. Our brains are very sensitive to all the stuff we're putting in.
Hope you can be tough and avoid temptation (drive a different way, not past Starbucks! throw the coffee stuff out of your house for a while at least!) through to day 15 and beyond!
Liz says
re: Day 7.... Finally feel I will do it this time
First of all thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. I have been reading along for months now, and this is my first time posting.
I have been an avid caffeine consumer for the past 16 years (I am now 31). Like most of us here, I loved the ritual, the taste, the social aspect, and of course the buzz... until I became very sick with coeliac disease and chronic fatigue syndrome a year ago.
I'm not laying all the blame with coffee of course, but I am certain it didn't help things at all.
I have spent the last 12 months rebuilding my health and have found over and over again that diet plays a huge part in all sorts of illness and disease. I have ditched gluten (coeliac requirement), refined sugar, all additives etc and it has helped enormously. However, I have had such a hard time getting off the coffee. I have quit so many times but never seemed to make it past the first 14 days.
Anyway, I recently added a whole lot of saturated fat (butter, coconut oil etc) to my diet after becoming convinced that it is not only unfairly portrayed as the 'bad guy', but that it is also vital for good health! What I didn't expect was how much it would diminish my withdrawal symptoms!!! usually by day 7 I would be a nervous wreck, and struggling to move from the couch (not good when you have two small children to care for). I have only had very mild withdrawal symptoms this time around and I have received many compliments from family and friends on how well I am looking. I strongly encourage anyone having a hard time with this to look into saturated fat and it's role in good health.
I will come back and update once I make it past my previous record of 14 days. I am very hopeful I will finally do it.
Good luck everyone.
Carrie says
re: Coffee withdrawal - question
I'm thinking that maybe this is too old and maybe no one will see this but I have recently stopped drinking caffeine. Basicily it started because I had a bad reaction to a medication that caused anxiety and feelings of extreme hyperness. So the logical thing seemed to not add to the feeling and stop with the stimulants. It's been almost a week now. I was a pretty moderate coffee drinker. At least 2 LARGE cups (probably 16oz cups each) in the AM and usually tea or soda during the day. I did drink water too so it wasn't crazy amounts, but there anyway. The actual anxiety from the drug has seemed to subside except I wake up every morning with my feet and legs tingling. They attributed this to the anxiety (too much oxygen during a panic episode, etc) but I no longer feel nervous or panic-y (is that a word?) Just tingling..... and its not circulation. It doesn't go away when I move. Sometimes it's in my upper body too, but mostly my legs. Could this be a symptom of caffeine withdrawal????
If anyone is out there and has experienced this please let me know. I feel like I going nuts.
thanks!
Marc says
re: Linc
Yeah, I would say my anxiety has been the worse in the mornings and evenings. I too have experienced symptons similar to yours. My stomach pains lasted about two days. It was more of a sorenessness, than a gut ache. Kinda like you did 500 sit-ups the night before. I know that coffee/caffeine withdrawals can cause constipation with some folks. Definitely consult your doctor if things do not improve soon.
Some of the things that have worked for me when dealing with this (in no particular order):
Diet, excercise, time, sleep, time, acceptance, and time (you'll note that time is pretty much the answer to what we're going through. We just have to choose how we do the time - sort of like a prisoner).
Best of luck to you. It sounds like the worse part is behind you. Marc
Linc says
re: slightly relieved
Ive been drinking coffee almost everyday for the last 3 years, or just about. ive been quite relieved to find that there are other people suffering with similar symptoms to what ive had, over the years i had experienced minor panic attacks from caffeine, but it was never bad enough to scare me away from it, but recently just over two months ago i had a really brutal one, (as well as mild food poisining i believe) in which i experienced accelerated heart rate, uncomfortability, anxiety, mind racing, stomach pains etc. i decided then and there that if coffee can knock me around this bad, (im far more concerned with psychological than physical) then for me its not good. at first after i stopped coffee i got the headaches etc, which werent too bad, then a week later the anxiety and panic attacks kicked in, accelarated heart rate, paranoia, panicky thoughts, my mind would often go into overdrive and just go on these tangents, an i would feel like i had no control of my own thoughts. Its not as bad as it was at first, but i still get a bit of anxiety, and panic, and also some stomach pains. But most of these seem to occur at night, and im probably talking down all my issues too, because im not used to having to voice this kind of situation about myself. does anybody else feel these problems increase at nighttime? im assuming its just a bit of paranoia, but still its odd.
i was wondering if anybody could give me any recommendations to get a healthier diet, or look into a diet to help battle my withdrawal symptoms, i havent had any tests yet but ive been thinking about getting some blood tests to see if i have any food problems as my stomach hasnt really felt right since i stopped drinking coffee. i come on to check some of these stories quite a bit at the moment, so all the best to everybody going through any problems. if anybody can offer any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks
kitten123 says
re: caffiene drinker for 40 years
Ive been a coffee, soda, ice tea drinker for the last 40 years of my 56 years. Ive had anxiety and panic attacks at the age of 21. I finally got tired of feeling so horrible and being a horrible person. Lost a lot of friends and family members. I think this has come from so much caffiene intake....anxiety...menopause. I finally decided to quit the roller coaster of caffiene first and then get off the anxiety medication. It has has been 32 days of no coffee, no soda, or ice tea. I only had a couple of days of headaches. My blood sugar went down one day..scared the crap out of me. So many muscles hurt...getting better though. The one thing that really bothers me is my stomach problems. Im nauseated and feel like throwing up..kinda afraid of what to eat. I have tried to quit many times before but went back. I am determined to quit for good this time. Tired of feeling so crappy all the time. It really didnt hit me that my anxiety was from all the caffiene and thats why Ive stayed on anxiety medication for over 20 years. I will give it a good 4 months of no caffien before I start to wean myself off of my anxiety medication. I do get scared when my heart skips beats..is this heart palpatitations?
Emily says
re: Nutritional Therapy
Hi John, If you're trying to find a diet that will help your mood and energy level I strongly recommend the book "The Mood Cure." I'm not in any way connected to the book and this isn't spam, the book has made a big difference in my life and I have recommended it to friends and family who have been helped by it also. The diet outlined in that book is specifically targeted to aid in maintaining a positive mood and a healthy energy level. I am 36 and was diagnosed with BiPolar II disorder about 4 years ago and just this week I was diagnosed with ADHD (not clear yet if that is in addition to or instead of the BP II). I also have hormone imbalances (PCOS). Whatever the diagnosis, I've struggled with mood and energy level my entire life and I found a lot of help in that book before I'd been diagnosed with anything. I stumbled across this site because I'm quitting coffee now because I've just started on Adderall to treat ADHD. I've gone off coffee several times before, but this is my first time going cold turkey, so I'm trying to sort out what are caffeine withdrawal symptoms and what is related to the Adderall. Good luck! - Emily
Emily says
re: DLPA
Hi, DLPA helps your body produce Endorphins. Endorphins are what give you the "high" from exercising. I have taken DLPA prior to an intense workout before to increase the endorphin high. DLPA levels can also be low when you're dealing with pain, and are probably definitely low if you are feeling depressed. 5-HTP is another amino acid supplement that can help with depression. It increases the amount of seratonin in the brain. It can make some people tired though where DLPA can provide energy, so 5-HTP would be something to try at night. It is a really great supplement for balancing brain chemistry in general. You said you're taking vitamins, so I'm not sure what you're taking, but a B-complex and Omega 3 supplements are both helpful for energy and mood. Most of my information is from the book "The Mood Cure" about nutritional therapy and also personal experience in dealing with clinical moodiness and uneven energy levels. Good luck withdrawing from the caffeine; hopefully you'll be feeling much better in the long run.
John Campbell says
re: it's hard what you're going
it's hard what you're going through.
I think exiting caffeine is very good, you may need to exit other things too (I did; alcohol and sugar; then began to feel very, very good).
Also I suggest maybe using exercise, daily; I did c.50 mins aerobic daily for a long period; was great.
User says
re: Wierd
I find it wierd that you're still experiencing high amounts of anxiety at your 100th day. I had a terrible anxiety attack on August 8th, which prompted me to quit caffeine cold turkey. I'm nearing my 3rd month and am not anxious anymore. It's virtually gone. Even the depression. Mind you, I became suicidal at one point (300 - 500+ mg of caffeine a day with very little quality of sleep). I find myself laughing at it today. Are you taking multivitamins? Some multivitamins have caffeine in them, especially the "for active men" ones. So just heads up on those. Hopefully you get better really soon and that you don't have any underlying mental illness. Pay your doctor a visit, who knows, maybe your caffeine binging might have triggered something awful that you're prone to. Best of luck to you.
John says
re: Other concerns/findings
I also found some other things out about myself throughout this process. I had some blood work done and found that my testosterone is low. My total test is 409 and my free test is 4.7. Im 30 yrs old and consider myself in shape. I am wondering if caffeine addiction played a role in having low hormone levels??The Doc also said from her observations I am insulin resistant/reactive hypoglycemic. I am also wondering if this too is related to caffeine/sugar addiction?? I simply got these things checked because of the low energy levels and not wanting to do anything. I was extremely motivated while on coffee, built an entire business, got off coffee and could care less about the business amongst other things. I get moments to where I start to feel motivated/interested in the business I built, however, they are just moments and they usually fade.
With that said, I am going to try the Paleo diet. Cut all sugars, grains, etc from my diet and see if I can maintain a stable mood/state of mind. I am having to many depressive episodes and it ruins my whole day, sometimes two. If anyone has any advice, I am all ears. Thanks again everyone.
Nick says
re: No, I don't think you're starting over
No, I don't think you're starting over. The misery that you experienced when you first gave up caffeine was the result of years of abuse, and 1/3 of a cup can't acheive that same level of damage. As I mentioned in my earlier note, I slipped on days 69 and 70, and the caffeine really didn't do for me what I'd hoped it would, but I didn't suffer a new series of withdrawl symptoms, since the amount had been so small. I just felt crappy for the rest of each day and went back to my usual post-caffeine state. I still count myself as on day 104 of quitting, with a couple of lapses on days 69 and 70. And I console myself by thinking that, even though I don't have full energy back, I do feel better than I did when I was on caffeine. As a teacher, I have the objective measure of observing how well or poorly my teaching is going, and I feel I'm better without caffeine than I was with it.
gmman1976 says
re: Thank you I feel better
I want to help everyone I can its not easy I know . But you have to have will power and support and encouragement
User says
re: I thought I was going crazy
I must say, I am very relieved to find this site. After searching the internet and only coming up with "your symptoms should be gone after 7 days", I thought I was going crazy. I am a small framed woman who drank about 2 cups a day. I quit coffee two weeks ago, and since then I have had so many symptoms. It started with a headache and sleepiness. Then the anxiety set in. My mind would race, I couldn't stop my thoughts, I would feel obsessive. I became paranoid. I thought if too much time went by before I heard from my friends then it was my fault, and I had done something to upset them. I have a history of mild depression, and this just seems to make it worse. I feel listless, hopeless and unmotivated. I wouldn't say that it is all the time, but probably most of the time I experience all of this. I can't believe it is all because of caffeine!
To combat it, I've been taking vitamins and doing yoga, but what I think I really need is some more upbeat exercise like running. I have also read online of people taking DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA)- anyone have experience with this?
Also, after a max of 60 days, am I gonna feel better?? This whole experience is very dehabilitating. I drink green tea sometimes, but it just doesn't do it for me.
John says
re: Day 100
Hello everyone. I just want to say thank you for replying to my previous post. I was having a hard time and still am constantly worrying about what I eat and drink. I am always searching on what to eat and not to eat I am mostly in a constant state of worry. Prior to quitting caffeine i didn't worry about too much. One of my biggest concerns about this whole process was if the state of mind I am in now is how I really am as a person. With that said I worked up the courage to try a small amount of caffeine. I tried about a 1/3 cup with no sugar. I can say that it is in fact a chemical dependency. Shortly after I drank it I didn't really seem to care too much. I also didn't get to sleep until around 2am. My question to anyone who knows, did I just basically restart this treacherous process back to racing thoughts, extreme anxiety etc? I am hoping that i didn't because i couldn't weather another mental storm like this. In one fashion there is a sense of relief that this is in fact a caffeine issue. I feel kind of dirty today for trying coffee, but i needed to know for sure. it also seems if i am prone to anxiety attacks over simple things. i bought a nutribullet and made a fruit drink and had an anxiety attack after i drank it????? Im not sure if it was because of how it basically turns food into vitamins and minerals?? Thank you again for all of your posts, it means a great deal.
John Campbell says
re: Hi Richard well done you,
Hi Richard well done you, sounds like you are making great progress! It's great if you can help other people on here when they post. Also one of the best things you can do is just be a little bit vocal about caffeine in your community, family, forums, blogs etc places you go; many people just have not made the connection you did between caffeine intake and panic attacks and other anxiety. And it's easy for them to do a trial to find out by just going caffeine-free for say 40 days! All the best, John
gmman1976 says
re: Symptoms and withdraws
Hi My name is Richard . I used to drink several cokes during the day but I would have atleast 2 cups of coffie in the morning when I got up . I also was taking alot of BC powders for headaches which also contain caffine .I could go through 2 boxes a month . When I got home from work Id drink more more coke and If had still had a headache I would take another BC . I sometimes would take up to 3 BC powders a day . If I went on a long trip I would drink a 5 hour energy drink sometimes 2 but Id wait till the 1st 1 ran its course. I drank half a energy drink once and threw the rest out cause I got a real big buzz and said no more.
When my panic attacks started . I thought it was because my other half would get in a bad mood and start fussing at me because of what ever got him in a bad mood. Then I noticed when I was off work for 2 days in a row it happened and he would not even be in a bad mood . I would start crying and I thought I was going to have a heartattack and almost called 911 but my other half knew what was going after watching my activities . When I did not do my usual routine cause I was off and I was also out of BC powders thats what told him. The 1st week was HELL . Aweek after not taking any BC powders was hell then I was asleep 1 night and I felt a big click in my body and all of a sudden I was more calm and could sleep better. The next morning I tried drinking my 2 cups of coffie and threw them both up I felt real jittery and tired. I took off from work and rested that day. The next day was real bad I stated having panic attacks and my heart would race . I didnt want to eat .
Realizing and and setting my mind . When I realized what was going on I made up my mind its time to take control and start getting off of caffine. We have fountain drinks at work in the retirement community that I work at . I would get a small coffie cup of coke fill it with Ice and sip on it till about 12pm then go to water I did that for about a week , I started feeling better. I would say its been about 4 weeks for me know since I have cut all cokes, Dr peppers , any soft drinks with caffine out completley. I have 1 cup of coffie I will continue to drink in the mornings .I still want choc sometimes and if I do eat choc its like a small cookie and thats it but working towards no choc to . I feel better about myself my mind is better along with my sleeping my appetite is comming back slowly I lost some weight I didnt need to loose . My energy level is starting to get straighned out now . I still have my moments .I feel the musclespasms ,numbness, lethargy sometimes but its not as bad as it was . My attitude is better. Plus the money Im saving on not getting all those drinks . I have found out thoe that my addiction was not as bad as some of the post I have read on here thoe. I know a addiction to caffine is a addiction no matter how bad or minor .
Qutting cold turkey or gradually. I basicly did it cold turkey. So I wouldnt go back .Im paying for it bit I have a constant reminder of why Im doing it. I know I still have sometime to go but Im proud of what I have done so far my family and friends have really been there for me to . To me gradually quitting is not an option for me cause I would still be hooked.
Drinks and foods that have caffine . Look at the labels on drinks and foods . If it has caffine in it dont buy it .
I would like to bceome friends with others in here to and help others with there addiction to caffine .I have a fb to so if you would like to talk or need advice hit me up on here
Link says
re: these panic attacks and
these panic attacks and paranoia etc sound exactly what ive been going through, i was not drinking coffee as much as yourself, just one large cup a day, but my body is sensitive to stimulants, and i came to realise now after stopping drinking cold turkey for about a month, that i was properly addicted to coffee. every morning it was on my mind, id crave the coffee and the kickstart it gave me, and if i didnt have a coffee my temper would get stupidly short. although cold turkey is bad, as i feel occaisionally that im going crazy (paranoia), and my guts play up and i also get anxietypanic attacks (though not as often as yourself, its been a semi bad one about once a week now) i strongly suggest that you continue. im not a doctor, but surely going back for a lil taste will just prolong the whole process. ive almost considered seeing a doctor or going to the hospital a couple times because the attacks have been so intense, but all its doing is making me never want to touch anything that can do this to me again. if the attacks get worse maybe its worth seeing a doctor even if its just for some kind of reassurance.
Best of luck!
Marc says
re: Good honest post
I think I am going down the same path you ventured down. Question: I assume you feel better today than you did during your 12 month detox from caffeine. However, can you say that you feel better now than you did while you were consuming caffeine (i.e. before your withdrawals)?
ahuman says
re: Those all are symtoms of chemcal withdrawl
Anxiety, Depression, Flu symptoms, etc, and worrying about worrying are all normal symptoms of caffine withdrawl. Thats the incidious part of the whole process. And now you know why its hard to quit a substance once your body gets accustomed to it. You sounds like you are past the accute withdrawl symptoms and moved on to the Post Accute phase (PAWS). Some people get it, some people dont. And it varies from person to person how long it lasts.
It took me 12 months to really feel like i was in the clear. Most of the things i have read say anywhere from 3 months to 2 years. During that time you will notice the symtoms fade but it's not going to just stop one day. Eventually they will be gone but it takes time and other events in your life can have an in fluence on the severity and length of PAWS.
Think of it this way... Your brains got used to counteractiing a foreign substance in your body over a length of time by adjusting your other hormone levels to compensate. Since caffine is a stimulant it made you feel good and awake, so when i take that away its going to swing the other way until your body adjusts to the new levels. Anxiety is the brains way of making you go get some more of the chemical by making you uncomfortable
.
Coccaine,caffine,nicotine, etc... are all chemical substances that change the body's chemistry in some form. That part that gets past me is the lack of information about caffine but nocotine everyone knows about now. They just dump huge amounts of stimulants into drinks and food and nobody thinks there will be side effects.
You will have to tough it out for the most part and maybe your doctor can give you something to offset the symptoms if they are too much to handle. I toughed it out but it was a horrible experience. I feel great now but it was a long hard road and it not for everyone. Some people may just want to keep drinking it and try to slowly cut back.
You have to face the fact that you are addicted to a substance and now you have to deal with the concequences. It feels shitty when you find out that you may have avoided drugs your whole life and now you are hooked on one you didnt know about, but thats life and companies arent going to volunteer this information when it cuts into thier profits. Caffine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world. So people are going to look at you wierd if you tell them they are hooked on a stimulant, but facts are facts.
Good luck whatever path you choose! And if you choose to quit then try and remember its not you its your brain pissed at you and it will pass with time unless you have some other disorder.
Marc says
re: Don't stop now
is my advice. 3 weeks is a pretty good headstart. If you were on day 3, maybe weaning would be an option. I opted to go the tappering off route myself, and cannot really say which is better (Cold Turkey VS Weaning) when it comes to anxiety. Is it better to just get it over with sooner w/more intense withdrawals? Or, just prolong the withdrawal period with moderate sypmptons? I guess each individual must make their own decision. I hope for your sake that this time around is much easier. Good luck.
Marc
John Campbell says
re: dont stop now you"ve come
dont stop now you"ve come this far
arielle says
re: Caffeine withdrawal and anxiety
This is the second time I stopped caffeine cold turkey. The first time in 2001 I was drinking about 800 mg (4 large DD coffees through a straw every day) when I got caffeine posioning...felt like the worst panic attack ever. After stopping, it took a month for the anxiety to set in, then it was 4 months of pure hell, I had continuous shakes, depression, panic attacks, agoraphobia and paranoia. About 5 years ago I started drinking coffee again, this time about 300 mg a day. I decided to stop, when I started to get minor panic attacks, about 3 weeks ago. I have been going through horrible anxiety, and getting at least one whopping panic attack every day. Doing research I learned it can take a good 3 months for caffeine to leave your system. I swear, I will never drink coffee again!! But I was wondering, is it too late for me to wean off, since I already stopped my caffeine intake 3 weeks ago? I was thinking of drinking a small amount to see if it made the withdrawal any easier, or if I should just stick it out. If you are prone to anxiety, caffeine can be your worse enemy.
User says
re: Well I was drinking coffee
Well I was drinking coffee for the last month everyday n just 3 days ago I got a really bad anxiety attack so I stopped n though I would get better but since then I've been getting aniexty attacks n it's been 3 days now without caffiene , every time I get it I start thinking imma die but I just have to constantly remind my self that its just the caffiene and that imma live and be alright, I have been feeling down too n feeling weak but every time I take my mind off it the symptoms start to fade away
Jayson says
re: @John
John. You should try ingesting caffeine the next time you feel anxious or depressed. See if it eliminates it, or if your mood improves. I, myself, have been caffeine-free for at least two months now and I still get really anxious and depressed at times. And it sucks, 'cause it pretty much ruins my day and the feeling of lethargy lingers on for quite a while. But I definitely have been improving.
Nick says
re: Reply to John
Hi John,
I'm at about the stage you are (day 88, with slips on days 69 and 70--a cup of black tea and then a cup of green tea) and I wish I had answers for you, but in large part I share your questions: it seems too long to still be feeling so foggy in the head after this long a period of time and it seems hard to believe that a couple more months will make the difference. That fact has actually made me wonder if my problem is something other than the aftereffects of caffeine consumption, perhaps a shortfall of dopamine or some other chemical imbalance. I've managed to get an adderall prescription from my doctor, partly thinking of it as a transition to keep me functional until I fully recover from the effects of caffeine, partly wondering if that's the real problem rather than the caffeine. I must say, though, that Adderall hasn't really solved the problem either. From my point-of-view now, I think my best bet is to find a doctor who really knows how to respond to human systems and doesn't just work in terms of the disease model of treating symptoms. There are doctors who follow the practice of "functional medicine," a mode of medicine which thinks of the person as a whole system rather than a collection of symptoms, and who test for nutritional deficiency. My current thinking is that seeking that kind of expert advice is the most likely course to some satisfaction. I wish you recovery soon. Your sound of desperation rang a bell with me and I felt I had to reply.
Marc says
re: Yep
First off, great job! It seems you've made some important lifestyle changes. You should be proud of that!
Yep, I know the feeling you're going through. The anxiety and depression has lingered with me (100 days in, and I am down from 800-1000 mgs/day to about 200 mgs/day). I'll be caffeine free by the end of the year. It's been an effing rocky road for me too. BUT, I keep telling myself that I generally feel alot better than I did 30, 60, and 90 days ago. Some days are better than others, but I try to measure by weeks, if not months. I read somewhere that about 25% of people will experience severe caffeine withdrawals, so I suspect pretty much all on this message board fall into this bucket. I guess our bodies/minds take a little longer to adjust. I am looking forward to the 'reborn' feeling that many have expressed having once they're completely adjusted. I always say, no pain no gain - and this experience is no different for me. Hang in there, John, you're doing the right thing and you're body will eventually thank you for it.
John says
re: Caffeine Withdrawal- Day 84
So I made it 84 days without caffeine. I have days that I feel really good, shadowed by the uneasy feeling that anxiety and depression could come back any time. With that said, the past 3 days I have been kind of down with some anxiety. Is this normal for me to still be experiencing bought of depression and anxiety?? Another thing that I experience is my emotions go up and down a good bit, and I find myself still crying over things rather easily. I also think I am fighting off a cold/virus and it seems I get really depressed when I get sick, does anyone else experience this? It seemed while on caffeine I did not experience these types of emotions often. These episodes seem to be spacing out a good bit at this point, I just have a hard time dealing with these episodes from time to time. It is a LONG road, it feels like it has been a year already due to the symptoms. The longevity of the entire process just wears me down. The other thing that bothers me a lot is the fact that if I tell someone that I am going through caffeine withdrawal, they look at me like I am crazy. Even my wife says that my symptoms are not due to caffeine and I just have depression at this point. Drinking coffee for six years on a daily basis, at approx. 300- 500mg a day with 2 table spoons of sugar in each cup? And not having experienced any type of anxiety or depression in comparison to this all the while drinking coffee, guess Im just crazy.
Another thing that I have become obsessive with is my diet, due to the trying to replenish neurotransmitters/balance my body out. It becomes so overwhelming just simply eating healthy. Before quitting coffee, I would wake up with a mug of extremely strong coffee, a cup of yogurt and a glass of creatine. My lunch would always be garbage and my dinner was sometimes healthy but very late. Now in the morning I have a shake that consist of plain yogurt, cottage cheese, banana, apple, blueberries, raspberries, 2 raw eggs, beets, spinach all organic. Lunch is always greens with either egg salad or chicken. My dinner is also healthy. I also get down on my self when I cant eat sugar/cookies/cake etc. The problem is that I crave sugar so bad when it is around. I feel that I am going to set myself back if I do so.
Sorry for rambling on here, I just don't have anyone else to talk to about this and this site has been a huge help on getting me through this process. So if there is anyone out there that has experienced anxiety and or depression this far into the process or is just familiar with this, I would love to hear your feedback. Thanks for listening.
John Campbell says
re: good for you - you are on the
good for you - you are on the road to better health - probably through the worst of the initial withdrawal stage now
John Campbell says
re: one idea is to write down
one idea is to write down very clearly the reasons you wanted to quit
e.g. want less anxiety
and refer to those at least once/ day as you go through withdrawal
it will take at least 30 proby 60 days
life will be much, much better when you get your 'real you' back!
http://www.caffeineevaluation.blogspot.co.uk
Jon says
re: Dizzy and Tired (10 days)
I hate this. My adrenals were/are wearing thin so I figured it was time to try to shake some of the culprits. I have slowly been reducing my coffee intake (down to about a half cup a day for about 1 week) and today I shut that down and migrated to a half cup of green tea. For about 10 days my head has been pounding on and off, I get the chills, I got hot, I can't focus, my stomach gets weird, I feel like I just stepped off of some ride that has spun me around, and I have no energy to do anything except for the most simple tasks and even need a rest after them. This is terrible.
I also cut sugar down quite a bit and I'm working on getting rid of snacks like pretzels and chips (craving salt) so I think my body and mind are going through shock. A handful of times I got a little depressed too so I started doing some easy exercise (walking or any yoga with breathing) just to make things move. Discovered that I had to boost my water intake. To make that tolerable since I don't really like water I blend berries and water together and add a packet of stevia. Also started taking a hot shower followed by a cold shower that helps the headache and fatigue a little.
Monika says
re: 5-HTP For Depression
Hi everyone, I'm glad to have found you as I was wondering about some of the symptoms I'm having. From reading your messages they're pretty normal. I've been off caffeine for six days now. I'm still having headaches mostly at night, and it looks like I'll be in for symptoms for awhile. If I could just focus a little better I can live with it. It's hard to be productive.
The posts about depression caught my eye. I've quit caffeine countless times before, and I know the sadness and hopelessness I get. This time I haven't had either. I've had the headaches, the tiredness, the muzzy brain, but not the depression. I'm pretty sure it's due to the 100mg of 5-HTP I've been taking for a few months to help me get to sleep. Please do some reading about as there isn't much documentation for it and you may decide it's not worth it for you, but maybe for a few weeks it can help you through the depression. I found it takes about a week to build up to a level where I know it;s making a difference.
Hang in there, everyone. 🙂
Celia says
re: caffeine withdrawal
I decided to detox and cut out tea and coffee in anticipation of a yoga spa week I'm teaching at the end of October. For the first few days I had a crashing, constant headache, could not stop sleeping, had muscle aches and pains and just had zero energy to prepare my classes or to practice my own yoga. I particularly missed tea and herbals just do not do it for me. I gave it 10 days and just had to succumb to a caffeine fix again yesterday but I hope that, after the spa week, I can have another bash at getting caffeine out of my system. Any tips? I don't drink alcohol and am not a smoker - both of which I quit 10 years ago but this feels by far the worst of the addictions to kick. I live in rural Africa so don't have the temptation of delicious coffee shops but Kenya produces some of the finest coffee in the world and it's difficult to resist that dive aroma of fresh brewed coffee! Unfortunately decaff tea or coffee is not so easy to come by and I was finding it hard to find an alternative to fill the void. Is it really worth giving another go at kicking the addiction?! Do you REALLY feel so much better in the long run? Maybe life's too short for this torture!!!
eyes blurr says
re: quiting caffine...
hello i have quit caffine cold turkey for 5 days now ...i did it for my heart and blood pressure..it has been ruff i have a headacke from hell and my eyes are burning and blurred and i feel like i could sleep all day..so glad i came across this thread.it will give me what i need to stick it out..
shae says
re: Noble challenge, indeed
I'm glad to hear you fought the urge to drink a strong cup of coffee to ease the pain! That same thing has crossed my mind a few times since I quit about two weeks ago, but I've stuck it out! Those first five days are hell, but it's gotten a bit easier a few weeks into it, although the road to recovery is long. I can say I feel a bit more clear, mentally, but that depression and anxiety is still weighing me down. Those of us with a history of those two things makes this all the more challenging. I hope you start to feel better and keep up your strength to see this through!!
User says
re: Sugar, food, 'treats', 'having fun'
Yeah Rob I know what you mean.
I'm 7.5 months in, and am also off alcohol now. Sugar has been a pressure from my wife to 'treat yourself to something' e.g. if we drop into a coffee place, cake, etc.. More generally I've been enjoying food for similar reasons.
I see no correlaton between me actually being more 'fun' if I've eaten sugar; in fact the opposite.
So I think the next step will be harder ball on no sugar, just good food, and being more robust in face of 'how boring you are' social pressure. In time hopefully they'll realise I can still be fun to be around without ingesting sugar etc...
P.s. yes my energy levels etc were far from stable and good at 60 days. I went off alcohol for this reason. After exiting alcohol for a month or so I found I was really flying. Now sugar and food excess has knocked me back a little. So I'm going back to that flying configuration.
Denise says
re: Congratulations Rob!
Good to read your post this morning. Congratulations on making it 60 days! Your comments about the lingering lethargy and difficulty focusing are all completely normal at this point, at least in my experience. After surviving the first two awful months I found that while physical symptoms abated, there was a kind of gloom over everything - just a lack of energy or zest for life. That was depressing enough, but then like you, I started craving sugar (7-Up in my case), which also had to be stopped as it was waking up the caffeine craving again.
LOL - I never thought of the financial benefits, but good for you on that as well! 🙂
I wish you continued strength and good luck. Trust me, by the time you hit the 6-month mark you will feel like a new person. Please keep us posted! ~ Denise
Rob says
re: 60 Days In
Today marks the 60th day of quitting caffeine. Seems a long time ago and life is generally pretty good now. I don't have any physical withdrawal symptoms (headaches, muscle-aches etc.) anymore and am not missing coffee at all. Don't really think about it much now, have had the occasional “flash†craving, but it passes pretty quickly and I force myself to remember how bad it made me feel. Overall I feel much better, clearer headed, more energetic, with big financial benefits (2-3 visits a day – every day - to Starbucks adds up !).
Still don't feel 100% though. I find there is a lingering lethargy, a bit of anxiety, hard to focus sometimes. Nowhere near as bad as it was, but it seems there is an immediate withdrawal “hump†you have to get over, then a long, lingering tail back to (hopefully) normality and a more energetic life. I need to be wary of this as in the past I've given up a couple of times for 4/5 months and then got fed up with the lingering symptoms, going back to caffeine to perk me up. It worked initially, but quickly got to being a big problem, then round the merry-go-round of quitting again. This time I'll hopefully stick with it, and from what others have said, it could be a long term thing to get back to full health. I guess I must have thrashed my adrenals pretty badly, so only reasonable to expect things to take a while to get better.
As I get better, I'm finding sugar is proving to be a significant issue. When I was on caffeine I would often pair my coffee with sugar (think about the kind of foods you tend to see in coffee shops – typically very sweet – not a coincidence). Now that I've dropped the caffeine I find sugar is also causing me issues, so think that will have to go as well !
John Campbell says
re: Hey Kim how is it going? Best
Hey Kim how is it going? Best wishes
Ojas says
re: I feel terrible but thanks all for sharing
Hello, I am a 25 M professional who quit caffeine cold turkey 5 days ago. I have had a history of depression but more like dythismia - a milder chronic form of depression. Being addicted to both nicotine and caffeine I gave them both up in quick succession after months of feeling and coping well in life. But if the first 2 days of the caffeine withdrawal were sluggish, the next three have been high anxiety and low self esteem, listless and miserable, reminding me of my dark days of depression. I was literally about to go light a cigarette / have a strong coffee before coming across this forum and it's great to know so many of us face similar challenges, and that it's a matter of time before these withdrawal symproms go away. I am certainly banking on that and will hold my stand at work and hopefully not get fired before recovering! Best wishes to all those that are trying to quit - it's a noble challenge.
Jayson says
re: semi-update
I'm almost 2 months into quitting caffeine (cold turkey), and like you, I found myself gorging on a piece of chocolate. But it only happened twice, and it was the York chocolate, which had about 6 mg of caffeine. I'm not sure how significant that amount is, but it did eliminate my tiredness. It could be the sugar rush. But after doing that twice, I shook myself out of it and decided that I don't need anything with caffeine in it. I looked it up and found out that chocolates are usually in the single digits, in terms of caffeine content. But could easily add up to a hefty amount.
I definitely feel a lot better than I did 2 months ago. Though, unlike you, I don't suffer any physical symptoms from caffeine withdrawal, it's the anxiety and depression that gets me. They're virtually gone today, but they still come around every once in a while. When they do happen, the anxiety is pretty much tolerable now. They're being overshadowed by the fact that I'm getting better very gradually. Though, I wouldn't be surprised if it takes half a year to a year for me to make a full recovery, I did do this to myself. And now I have to pay the ferryman. #commited
Best regards!