Are you wondering exactly much caffeine is in your cup of coffee. Trying to cut down a bit, or at least know how much caffeine you are ingesting each day with your morning cup of java or afternoon pick-me-up triple espresso Latte?
A typical cup of coffee contains approximately one hundred and twelve milligrams of caffeine. There is a bit less caffeine in a shot of espresso - a typical espresso shot includes about ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How much caffeine in coffee?This is important to keep in mind when making any espresso drinks.
While these numbers are typical, the amount of caffeine in coffee can vary considerably based upon multiple factors. The primary factors affecting caffeine content of coffee and espresso include the genetics of the coffee bean varietal, the particular roasting given to the coffee beans and how the coffee is brewed.
If the coffee beans being used are Arabica coffee beans then one cup of coffee that is approximately one hundred and twenty milliliters of coffee, if it is drip-brewed, will have about 112 milligrams of caffeine.
A 30 milliliter Espresso shot using Arabica coffee will have an estimated ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How Does Roasting Affect Coffee Caffeine Content?
When coffee is roasted it decreases the overall amount of caffeine in the coffee, but not significantly enough for it to be a serious way to reduce your caffeine intake.
Caffeine did not undergo significant degradation with only 5.4% being lost under severe roasting.
Source
Choose your roast based on your personal preferences, not based on caffeine content.
Roasting does have an effect on chlorogenic acid content - possibly what contributes to many of coffee's purported health effects, but another study also shows that caffeine is relatively unaffected by roast level.
On the other hand the Robusta coffee plant varietal has significantly more caffeine than the Arabica varietal. Robusta coffee beans are used primarily for espresso blends and to make instant coffee.
How Caffeine Metabolizes in the Human Body
Once a person consumes caffeine the body starts to metabolize it and this takes place in the person's liver. The result is three different metabolites. These three metabolites include paraxanthine (84%), theobromine (12%) and theophylline (4%).
In the first 45 minutes after consumption of the caffeine it is likely absorbed by the stomach and small intestine and begins to spread throughout the tissues of the human body.
Caffeine's Classification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Considered safe for human consumption by the FDA, caffeine is classified as a food substance with multiple uses.
All About Caffeine in Coffee - Investigating the Side Effects of Caffeine and the Symptoms of Withdrawal from Caffeine continued:
Caffeine is a stimulant and is known scientifically as a xanthine alkaloid. When it is isolated from its source it is a crystalline white substance and is very bitter.
How does caffeine affect the human body?
Caffeine affects the human body by creating chemical changes in the human brain with a whole variety of effects including an enhanced alertness and energy level.
The way this is enhanced energy and alertness is achieved by the chemical caffeine is that the caffeine pretends, or mimics, another compound which is called adenosine.
The caffeine then binds on to the adenosine receptors in the brain with the effect of halting the true adenosine from doing its job which normally would be to slow down the body's nerve impulses and bring a very sleepy feeling to the person, a natural drowsiness that is warded off by the effects of caffeine.
Yes, some drugs may have an enhanced effectiveness when affected by caffeine. For example, some headache drugs include caffeine in their contents in order to help the effectiveness. This may be related to the vasodilating effects of caffeine.
Caffeine may be used in combination with ergotamine to treat cluster headaches and migraines. Some people prefer to use caffeine to overcome the sleepy qualities they feel when taking antihistamines.
Caffeine doesn't specifically, but coffee does.
However, some people who have shown to be at high risk for liver disease have been shown to have less severe liver injury associated with increasing caffeine consumption. This may include people with obesity, hemochromatosis and alcoholisms. [source]
Because of this, people who drink coffee but want to quit caffeine may want to look into decaf coffee instead of cutting out coffee entirely, so that they can continue to benefit from its health protecting properties.
Yes, some studies completed on ex vivo hair follicles have shown that caffeine may decrease hair growth suppression in vitro due to testosterone. In this regard caffeine may be a potential therapeutic agent in Androgenic alopecia, and caffeine has been added by some companies to their soap and shampoos.
Caffeine is found in nature in a wide array of plants, and it is found in plant fruits as well as plant leaves. This includes: cocoa beans, tea leaves, coffee beans and kola nuts. Less common sources are yaupon holly, guaryusa, yerba mate and guarana berries.
Caffeine often serves to help the plant by working as a natural pesticide against harmful predators on the plant such as insects.
What Products Contain Caffeine, and How Much?
A tablet of Excedrin contains about sixty-five milligrams of caffeine while a regular strength caffeine tablet has about one hundred milligrams of caffeine. There are two hundred milligrams of caffeine in an extra-strength caffeine tablet.
Another example of a common product with plenty of caffeine in it is chocolate. There are about ten milligrams of caffeine in an average milk chocolate bar. Dark chocolate, by comparison, may have about 30 milligrams of caffeine.
There are some dark chocolate bars that have as much as 160 milligrams of caffeine so it can vary considerably by the type and the quality of the chocolate.
Six ounces of a typical green tea will contain about thirty milligrams of caffeine while the very same amount of black tea will have about fifty milligrams of caffeine.
Amount of Caffeine in Coffee continued: You will get about thirty-four milligrams of caffeine from 12 ounces of Coke while a Mountain Dew will give you a whopping 54 milligrams of caffeine. A Red Bull energy drink has about eighty milligrams of caffeine while a Monster energy drink has about 160 milligrams of caffeine.
Withdrawal from Caffeine and Human Tolerance To Caffeine
People who consistently consume caffeine will gradually adapt to the continuous presence of the chemical in their body by increasing their overall number of adenosine receptors in their central nervous system. This occurs since caffeine functions as an antagonist to the receptors in the central nervous system for the neurotransmitter adenosine.
Tolerance adaptation to caffeine has the effect over time of reducing the chemical's stimulatory effects. These adaptive responses to caffeine also have the effect of making the person more sensitive to adenosine, and thus when the intake of caffeine is reduced then the adenosine's natural physiological effects will create withdrawal symptoms.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. In general, the incidence or severity of symptoms increased with increases in daily dose; abstinence from doses as low as 100 mg/day produced symptoms.
Research is reviewed indicating that expectancies are not a prime determinant of caffeine withdrawal and that avoidance of withdrawal symptoms plays a central role in habitual caffeine consumption.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
Debate Over Adenosine Receptors, Tolerance and Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
There is some debate in scientific circles about the increase in adenosine receptors being the main cause of building up tolerance to caffeine's stimulating effects, with some evidence pointing toward a conclusion that there are also other causes at work which help to explain people developing a tolerance to large doses of caffeine.
The Discoverer of Caffeine
The evidence is a bit fuzzy but some say that the stimulating effects of caffeine are mentioned in Chinese legends dating to about 3,000 years ago.
Firmer evidence comes from 600 BCE as a Mayan pot dating to this time contains the first clear evidence of a cocoa bean, so we know caffeine was around by this time for sure.
Who First Isolated Caffeine from Coffee?
In 1819 the German chemist Friedlieb Runge became the first scientist to successfully isolate the chemical caffeine from coffee beans. Less than one year later the French chemist Pelletier and another scientist named Caventou also isolated the chemical caffeine, and Pelletier was the one to coin the word “cafeine” which he derived from the word “cafe” meaning coffee.
Who Opened the First Coffee House?
As early as 1530 there were coffeehouses in Damascus, Syria and Istanbul.
What began the spread of coffee all around the world?
In the 1600s the Dutch became the first people to carry coffee from the ancient port of Mocha. This movement of coffee by the Dutch began the rapid spread of coffee beans around the globe and it is still spreading, most recently growing rapidly in consumption in China and other emerging markets.
The Dutch were also industrious in cultivating coffee in other locations, first in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1658.
Caffeine withdrawal
Regular caffeine consumption reduces sensitivity to caffeine. When caffeine intake is reduced, the body becomes oversensitive to adenosine. In response to this oversensitiveness, blood pressure drops dramatically, causing an excess of blood in the head (though not necessarily on the brain), leading to a caffeine withdrawal headache.
This headache, well known among coffee drinkers, usually lasts from one to five days, and can be alleviated with analgesics such as aspirin. It is also alleviated with caffeine intake (in fact several analgesics contain caffeine dosages).
Even small amounts of caffeine (such as a green tea, compared to a full coffee) can do wonders to alleviate a withdrawal-induced headache.
The source of caffeine is important to consider as well. Coffee is generally considered to be healthy, due in part to its anti-oxidant properties. However, energy drinks and unregulated supplements may contain any number of other compounds that can have a negative impact, often working synergistically with caffeine.
Caffeine on its own, particularly coffee, is associated with an overall decrease in all-cause-mortality [4]. Simply put, this means that people who drink coffee are less likely to die from all causes.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms
Often, people who are reducing caffeine intake report being irritable, unable to work, nervous, restless, and feeling sleepy, as well as having a headache. Many of these symptoms mirror having the cold or flu.
- Headache
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Fatigue, lethargy
- Constipation
- Depression
- Muscle stiffness, cramping
- Brain fog, Inability to focus
- Cold-like symptoms
- Anxiety
In extreme cases, nausea and vomiting has also been reported. These are very real experiences [1], and despite recurring jokes, can cause problems with normal functioning. If you experience severe symptoms, seek medical advice.
Is Caffeine Withdrawal Real?
In short: Yes. Negative effects from quitting caffeine have been scientifically documented in clinical studies.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories. [1]
Additionally, caffeine withdrawal is recognized by psychiatrists as a real disorder.
Caffeine withdrawal is a recognized disorder and is listed in the DSM-5. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
How Long Does Caffeine Withdrawal Last?
The answer to this will depend on your level of consumption and the level you reduce your caffeine consumption to.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. [1]
That means you'll probably notice the start within 12-24 hours with the worst being the second day you after you quit. From there, it gradually gets better over the course of a week to a week and a half.
Your brain is miraculously resilient and adapts to life without caffeine in just 2 short weeks. The psychological habit of drinking caffeine can take 3 to 4 weeks to break, but can also be replaced with decaf coffee or another low-caffeine drink (eg. tea).
Reports of people having withdrawal symptoms months or years after quitting coffee or caffeine are more typically confused with general health maladies or other more drugs.
Unrelated Symptoms
Caffeine cessation is often associated with major lifestyle changes, and as such, it can be difficult to associated symptoms directly with caffeine withdrawal. As a best practice, you should isolate factors by making changes slowly, over time, unless under the advice and guidance of a medical professional.
Compounding factors such as other medications, and major health events that lead to discontinuing caffeine, can have a misleading association with caffeine withdrawals.
If symptoms such as kidney pain appears, seek immediate medical attention.
Tingling
There are no known mechanisms through which caffeine withdrawal may cause tingling. On the other hand, caffeine consumption can sometimes cause tingling due to restriction of blood flow to extremities.
Back pain
While back pain is not a symptom of caffeine withdrawal, symptoms may (re)appear when caffeine use is discontinued.
This may be due to caffeine's reported analgesic affect on pain [3] - in english, caffeine might help alleviate (back) pain by amplifying the effect of pain killers. The re-ocurring presence of back pain may be due to synergistic effect being lost, but is unrelated to the temporary effects of withdrawal itself.
Dealing with Caffeine Withdrawal
The severity of caffeine withdrawal symptoms vary with how extreme the restriction, and a gradual reduction can do wonders in avoiding symptoms. Simply starting by replacing one cup of coffee with a decaf coffee or tea will provide a much smaller dose of caffeine, allowing your receptors to re-acclimate to lower levels. Drinking coffee (decaf) or other warm beverage (tea) instead of regular coffee helps psychologically with the well established habit.
Timing large reductions in caffeine consumption is also a useful tool. Picking a time of rest and relaxation such as a weekend or vacation can lessen the burden of symptoms like brain fog and a lack of motivation.
Hydration is also key - while coffee is a diuretic it's also mostly water, and cutting back on coffee may also inadvertently cut back on your fluid intake. Many symptoms of dehydration overlap with caffeine withdrawal including headaches, muscle soreness and leg cramping, irritability and lethargy.
Without caffeine blocking your adenoseine receptors, your body's built up levels of adenosine will lead to a lot of sleepiness. Get lots of rest! Scientists are still puzzled by why humans need sleep, aside from getting tired. According to some research from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) has indicated that sleep enables your brain to drain built-up chemical by products of working so hard (you little genius), which is good for you!
Advil or Tylenol can be an effective method of dealing with the coffee withdrawal headache and muscle pain. Other natural pain relievers such as running / exercise and even an orgasm can provide temporary relief by dilating blood vessels in the brain.
The best solution may not be totally ceasing caffeine consumption though. Coffee does have health benefits, as it contains over 1000 known compounds, with many associated with lowering blood pressure and improving cardiac function, as well as liver protection [2]. Generally, the best coffees are grown at higher elevations will develop more healthy chlorogenic acids that are present in higher concentrations in light roasts than dark roasts. If you're a dark roast lover however, darker roasts cause less stomach acid production. A decaffeinated coffee with just 5-25 mg of caffeine will still retain a lot of its healthy chemicals and will provide health benefits in medium and dark roasts.
With these tips you can reduce the caffeine in your body and avoid the rebound of a caffeine withdrawal.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
[2] Coffee Consumption Decreases Risks for Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0142457
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419343
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28697850
Caffeine and Health. J. E. James, Academic Press, 1991. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research Volume 158. G. A. Spiller, Ed. Alan R. Liss Inc, 1984.
Xie et al “Sleep initiated fluid flux drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain.” Science, October 18, 2013. DOI: 10.1126/science.1241224
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User
re: Been a week now
It's now been a week since I quit. I am as amazed along with all the
other people
about how strong the withdrawal was. The headache (which lasted for
for a few days on and off) was the least of it. The first few nights,
of sleep were interrupted by suddenly waking up. The first 3-4 days
or so, I also had some stiffness in my muscles.
I used to quit caffeine whenever I had a throat infection or something,
and used to think that all the crankyness and the headache was because
I was ill. No, it was the caffeine withdrawal!! I felt slightly sick
the whole time when I quit, and I didn't have any illness.
I didn't used to drink that much caffeine. A cup of strong tea in the
morning, and 1-3 cups of coffee during the day. Still, the ups and downs of it,
and all the unnecessary stimulation that arose made it
worthwhile quitting.
I feel now like something is missing, but it is definitely worth
not having that coffee mouth, and having the calm feeling/energy. I might
go back to drinking it once in a while, but not as a daily routine.
It is now easier to get up in the morning too.
Quitting cold turkey is not probably necessary, as I did. I meditate
daily, and try to take a walk at least every day just for exercise.
I think these were helpful in coping with the withdrawal as well...
Finally, especially if you are used to drinking something all day
long, it is a good idea to replace it with water. You can heat
hot water and sip it from a glass. Or just get bottled water and
drink that.
Charlotte
re: I had no idea....
I had absolutely no idea coffee could do this. I'm 20 and have been a seriously heavy coffee drinker for years now and had never had any problems when one day (last week of the semester no less) I was suddenly struck with the worst panic attack. Of course I had no idea what was going and thought I was dying so I called 911 and ended up finding out coffee was to blame.
Worst time of my life, I was depressed, restless, constantly tired, foggy headed and naseuous with a little sprinkling of paranoia and panic attacks. I honestly had no idea that coffee could do this but I feel better having found this site and confirming that I'm not dying/going crazy. So it's been about 2 weeks and I'm gradually getting better. Right now I'm just dealing with sleepyness, inability to concentrate and the worst thirst EVER.
Needless to say, my caffine days are over, and good riddance. I'll stick to decaf.
User
re: reply
I have recently experienced severe confusion, fear of going crazy, tingling/weakness in my arms, extreme hot sweats while in bed, depressed feelings, nausea/puking, and extreme overall anxiety...I wake up in the mornings feeling so sick and nervous/anxious that I can't barely function normally.
Is this normal for caffeine withdrawal? I have been drinking about 2-3 energy drinks, 1-2 sodas, and sometimes taking a vivarin for about a year or more now...
I really am beginning to think caffeine is the root of all of this
User
re: Hello there...! I'm also a
Hello there...!
I'm also a female in my late 30's who decided to cut caffeine due to increase irritability, but Oh boy do I regreted...! I was on my third day w/out any caffeine, but the headache the accompanies the withdrawls was horrible..! I was taking up to two advils every 8 hours and it didn't even easy up the headache AT ALL,. I felt slugish, tired, sleepy all the time. I though it was depresion for sure. I was having trouble concentrating, speaking and even making sense of my thoughs :O( I wasn't drinking to much coffee( 16 oz. dark roasted from the big coffe Comp.) but I was a great drinker of black/ green tea. I'd like to withdraw definitly from coffee and "friends" but I fear some much the aftermath....It's great to know that my symptoms are related to coffee withdraw than anything else.
User
re: caffeine withdrawl and panic attacks
I just read your comments on caffeine withdrawl and you hit on something that I have experienced. I have had 2 "panic attacks" over the last week, having never experienced them before, I thought I was having a heart attack!! I have been to my doc and am going back in a week - all blood work was normal - so I am thinking that too much caffeine coupled with little sleep is the either the culprit or simply made things worse? I quit ALL caffeine 4 days ago, after my second attack, because I was so scared that I did not want anything else to make my heart race. I have been so relieved to hear what everyone has been saying about the withdrawl, because I thought I had some wierd virus or something. I had the wicked headache, which I knew was from the wihtdrawl, but did not know that I could attribute the nausea, body aches and lightheadedness to it as well! What has been your experience with the panic attacks?
User
re: caffeine withdrawal
I've quit coffee both ways - cold turkey and titrating down by half a cup every few days. The former is torture, and it takes weeks to feel normal again. It's not worth it. I highly recommend gradually cutting back, you achieve the same results without painful symptoms. Use a measuring cup if you have to and carefully budget out reduced servings. Take 2 or 3 weeks to accomplish it, the last 1/2 cup is extremely easy to skip after this process. No one NEEDS to quit cold turkey, so why choose that method? It's bogus information that caffeine shortens or harms your life - no research supports that. Caffeine is actually healthy, it't the other chemicals in diet sodas, and the creamer and sugar in coffee that you don't want to ingest.
Heather
re: Quitting Caffeine? Proceed with caution.
Last summer I quit drinking caffeine when pushed to do so by my boyfriend at the time, who was totally adamant that I was putting awful stuff into my body. Well, let me just tell you- that was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. I craved soda so much I thought about it at all times. I had headaches for between 3 weeks and a month's time. I craved sweets and salt as well and was unmanageably miserable and short fused.
Do not ever attempt to quit drinking caffeine at a time in your life when you have important things you need to get done or are in a less than rock-solid relationship, because you are pretty likely to destroy things in your life simply by becoming out of control and intolerable company. I did not drink soda for the past couple of days without realizing it somehow, because I was so upset and my head hurt so bad I had no idea what was going on anymore. I became angry about things I had been fine with for weeks, and went from confident and happy with my life and my relationship to picking fights and being unclear as to what they were even about. My head had been hurting constantly, but I thought that was a result of my family visiting and being loud and out of control while here. It became obvious that was not the cause when the headache ceased and then returned today.
I actually talked to a therapist thinking I was bipolar. Upon drinking a liter of pepsi, though. I was happy as ever. This could have been serious had I started taking medications to treat bipolar disorder when I didnt have it.
If you have to quit caffeine for some significant reason, proceed with caution- and if you are a college student like I am, wait until summer vacation. It's not worth it to send your grades down the tubes.
Miltw
re: Caffeine withdrawal
Mike,
I am also having the same symptoms you are having, and I just reduced my caffeine by drinking tea instead of very bold coffee. Curious....did the neck tightness and the panic attacks subside? How long did you experience these troubling symptoms? I tried to go cold turkey, however, I simply could not cope or function. So I am doing a gradual reduction. I am hoping my body adjusts to half or third of the caffeine. Then I will go down from there. Hope things are working out for you. Initially I though I was going crazy. I had no idea caffeine could do this to you. It's scary
User
re: hi!i was about to quit
hi!
i was about to quit drinking coffee but after reading all your comments i'm not sure anymore. you see - someone in the medical profession told me that drinking more than 6 cups a day will shorten your lifespan with about 6 years - and 7 for 7 and so on...but then after reading all your withdrawal symptoms i'm not sure if these withdrawals will ever stop: i didn't read many commentaries saying "it will stop after 4 days", or "flulike feelings & headache & pain in limbs disappears after one month" here. apart from that it might be a blessing to live 6 to 7 years shorter, after all, those last years are the most difficult ones; being stuck in a pensionerhome, not able to live life to the full, dying out like a church candle when instead i could be headache & painfree, happily living my coffeebreak until the day I eventually die of either a heart attack caused by caffeine or making rampant love to the woman who hasn't divorced me yet because of me not being a moody old winger having trouble with caffeine deficits like you all seem to be complaining about here. if it's so hard to stop the habit then quit telling yourself you should. apart from that i think it's good to keep the prices of coffee up by drinking enough of it: otherwise all the coffeefarmers in Nicaragua will start growing weeds instead, now that will be even harder to get rid of as an addiction, apart from that it will bring more costs for society because people would live longer and claim more benefits for a longer period of time: the health system would go bust if all the coffeedrinkers wouldn't have sacrificed first by dying earlier than the rest with their caffeine habits, look at all the people in the commentaries underneath: how much of them have gone for the headachetablets and seen their doctors, had bloodtests and visited their shrinks just because of caffeine withdrawal symptoms? and who's paying for all that? now is that just sheer ignorance on their part, or merely human behaviour? if it is, then who's to blame? shouldn't anyone be sued over it? i mean, what are the risks, really? maybe it's better to keep on drinking coffee - just for the sake of saving society as it is: without all these people feeling so bad without coffee surely the economy would be a lot more cost-efficient and productive, now wouldn't it? what's a good health worth if you've got the pain that goes with withdrawal symptoms yet no money to go and get an icecream or have a beer and sit on a terrace somewhere sunny? i think i should thank all of you for making me realise how happy i am really by quitting my habit of feeling bad about feeling good having a coffee. basically it's the only time of day where i take some time for me, so as i can appreciate the wonders of this life where caffeine makes out to be such an important part of the me inside of the stressed out obsese workaholic which i've become, without coffee my life would be empty as i wouldn't take the time to enjoy my addiction to fluffy cappucino's at four euro ninety at the Murmure on Felix Faure in Paris or the cheap but excellent XL-cup of machinefabricated cappucino at the Hema in Amsterdam-Noord, not to mention the bitter espresso's in Crete of the disgustingly cheap sewer-perfumed crap they sell as coffee in Tenerife (must be the sulfur in the water there - i don't know, but they do know how to give you the local remedy against constipation without even asking you for it there).
just imagine: all those moments would be lost...in time....like tears...in the rain. it's too bad i won't live forever - but then again who does?
User
re: Thank god.
Thank god I googled caffeine withdrawl before freaking my family out.
I didn't used to monitor my caffeine intake, but I know it was high. Diet pills + coffee + energy drinks, etc. I had a panic attack last week without any real stressors to initiate it.
I removed things from my diet, stimulants first, to find the cause. I quit caffeine and other stimulants cold turkey last week.
I started going through short periods of weird dementia (identical to bad hallucinations) which were made worse by my fear that I may have been developing a brain tumor/Alzheimer's/bipolar disorder. These were intense at first, maybe 2-3 a day, and then became subtle 1-2 small mild fits. As soon as I grounded my thinking they would subside.
Thank you for posting this, because I was about to go to a doctor or psychiatrist:
"paranoia/mild hallucination and felt like I was "out of my body" and panic attacks. Basically, I was convinced that nothing was real - very strange and disturbing. I then thought that this might have something to do with quitting coffee and found this site."
Lori Lee
re: I am on my fourth day of
I am on my fourth day of quitting cold turkey of caffeine. I used to be a diet coke drinker about 6-8 cans a day. And I quit drinking diet coke Jan 17, 2006 and switched over to Ice Tea, as I felt pop was bad for you with all the acid. I was drinking about a gallon and half of Ice Tea brewed a day. and I quit cold turkey just March 29, 2007 on Thursday. On Friday, talk about headache to die for, and while I was working, it was horrible. I even took tylenol and Motrin during the day and it did not help. Yesterday Saturday, I still had a slight headache thru out the day, and it was not as bad, but last night my legs started to ache. and then today, I woke up again with slight headache, and took Ibuprofen, and did ok for most of the day until this evening, Oh my, Im having a heck of a headache and fatigued and the legs ache like you wouldnt believe. Im on the fourth day, and Im proud of myself that I have not had a stitch of caffeine, but boy it doesnt end on the 4th day yet. Hope this answers your question. I guess it would depend on how extreme your use of caffeiene is during the day, and Mine was obviously. Im still hanging in there. After I finally get myself feeling better, I will never get back to this fix again, never!!! and Im not a smoker, and not a heavy drinker, and this is horrible enough.
gail
re: I started a detox cleanse,
I started a detox cleanse, (from the health food store). The directions tell you not to have any caffiene, among other things so, I had my first day of withdrawls and wow the headache was horrible. I found that drinking all the water and the effects of the detox were perhaps helpful in ridding my body of the toxins. I will not go back to caffiene after getting it out of my system, I am so glad to be free of it. Maybe the detox cleanse helped to move it out of me faster?!
User
re: So good to hear about other
So good to hear about other people out there with the same symtoms , i have been a strong coffee drinker for many years , average intake 8 espresso a day ,when i suddenly stopped and started drinking only japanese green tea it hit me with a vengence , my body was not at all impressed by not getting it's daily fix , i have had a lot of stomach rumbling and gases ,tiredness and a kind of weird " high " in my head which is difficult to get used to.These last few day's i have given in to a one coffee a day situation which i am not sure is making me feel better or worse ,i never ever thought my body had become so dependent on something that is just everywhere 24/7 , i suppose the best thing would be to give it up completely......., really after giving up booze two years ago this was my only haven , where i felt i still had a little bad habit .....really will be a shame to let it go...
Kathy
re: Pain in the butt!!
Hello fellow detoxers...I'm on the 2nd day only, and I'm blown away by the agony of it all. The headache was OK, relative to the next call, aching legs, back, and now even my butt. Unbelievable. I did drink probably 4 strong expressos a day, and was already getting leg pains. The natureopath said to go cold turkey, and so here I am. Have resisted painkillers so far, but am back off to the natureopath for a massage and maybe some detox help. I guess it suits the people who make so much money out of caffeine products to keep us all a bit anxious and speedy...no more for me! Good luck to all fellow sufferers...the pain will pass!
Anonymous
re: Quiting Caffeine
This is my first day with no coffee or cokes and I have a headache that will not stop. After reading several of your comment I feel I have many more days of this. I work as a customer service reps taking customer complaints all days I thought I was going to die my head killing me customers complaints and everyone in the office talking so loud. Please tell me that this is does not last no more than 3 or 4 days!!!! I just don't know what to do I don't want to be mean to customers or any one in the office.
Any advise???
Benni
re: Thank GOD!!!!!!
I cannot even begin to tell you all that have posted here what a releif I am now feeling because I thought I was losing my freaking mind. I didn't even plan on cutting my caffeine intake, it just happened that I felt lousy for a couple of days, and didn't have any. The headache, (which NO over the counter product seemed to relieve) listlessness, fatigue, feelings of depression, lack of ability to focus and the heart jumps scared me half to death. I thought I had the flu, but I NEVER get the flu. I even went to the doctors convinced that I must have had a sinus infection. I was only consuming 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day, no soda. The weird thing is that up until this very moment, I have no interest whatsoever in drinking a cup of the morning boost that I used to really love. Even the he smell of it can make me feel yucky inside.. I had no idea that that amount would lead to an addiction. I thought I was being poisoned or something, seriously. My head still hurts off and on, just a tad nauseaus from time to time and it has now been more than 2 weeks since I quit cold turkey.
How long is this gonna last?? I am NEVER going to drink coffe or caffeinated tea again. That's how miserable this has been for me. I am a 46 female that is always bursting the energy anyway. I certainly don't need caffeine. Will drinking more water really help this to pass more quickly?? Someone please give me hope that this will end soon. :-/
Mo
re: Off caffeine
I've also been off caffeine for 7 days. I've been amazing lethargic, having been feeling sleepy all the time, have had a very ravenous appetite, irritable, thirsty, with major headaches.
I used to have up to 9 cups of coffe a day, with my caffeine intake at approximately 400-500mg a day for the past 10 years.
Soda Craver
re: Hi Todd. I'm 16 and decided
Hi Todd. I'm 16 and decided to quit drinking soda and cutting off ALL(or at least MOST) caffine out of my diet. I'm in day 2 and at the moment have a BBAADD headache... I decided to go cold turkey also, so I didn't know it was going to be this bad... I have been drinkg A LOT of water but my urine is not clear... Is this normal?
Jay
re: Thanks for all the comments
Yesterday I felt very goggy all day, my forth day with just reduced caffeine, and this morning I couln't hardly get up, felt very dizzy and groggy. Have to drive a lot for work and really felt I might not be as capable as usual, so took the day off. Just identifying what it probably is has really helped and to know that other people have had similar symptoms, and got over them. Its amazing how strong and debilitating the withdrawal from coffee is. I can honestly say its worse than cigarettes in some ways.
SteadyEddie
re: Caffeine Withdraw
Drank 40-50 oz. daily of dark roast for over 15 years. Due to increasing irritability I had decided giving up caffieine might be best. I put off quitting for months in fear of the whole withdrawl freak-show. So I quit about 4 days ago and nothing. No headache, no fatigue, nothing. My caffeine induced anxiety and irritability have vanished.
Elizabeth
re: Give me my coffee back!
It's been 3 weeks now. I am a 51 year old female, fairly fit and just a little bit overweight. I thought that, since the exclusion of red wine, starch and red meat from my diet previously, it might be caffeine that blocks my metabolism. Yes, I do lose a couple of grams per week, but whow....! I really think it will be better to live with a couple of kilo's rather than experiencing this headaches, pain in legs, sleepy feeling (I was a bad sleeper up to three weeks ago) and lifelessness. I am going to try another week and will then start with an occasional cup of decaff. Hope I feel better by then. I am a social smoker, but crave for cigarettes more than ever.
Deb
re: Caffeine - flu symptoms
I just got home from a short trip and felt like I had been hit with the flu. I am in the habit of having a huge mug of tea in the morning and then at least 6 diet cokes during the day, sometimes another tea at night. While I was on this trip I had tea in the morning, but absolutely no soda, mainly because my traveling companion doesn't drink any caffeine. The trip was 3 days and when I got home I had a horrible headache and the worst stomach pain and nausea, as well as pain in the backs of both legs. I couldn't sleep all night and finally took tylenol in the morning. I googled caffeine withdrawal and am amazed at the number of people describing the same thing. I have been wanting to get off diet soda for awhile because I have been having trouble sleeping and I have had some panic attacks that I think are related to too much caffeine. However, I would have decreased it more slowly if I had known how awful I would feel. Thanks everybody for showing me it's not in my head
Mike
re: heart palps
Ive been drinking coffee for 30 years, been on and off from time to time ususlly only for a short period. I have a history of heart palps, all "benign". I quit caffeine a day and a half ago in response to a blood pressure exam. Since then I have been having random chest and back pains, small but annoying, tightness in my forearms and neck, headaches and a general feeling of an impending heart attack and yes panic and anxiety. All I now feel must be from the caffeine withdrawal
User
re: i to have felt this i was
i to have felt this i was drinking 4lt of mountin dew for about 10 yrs never drink any hting else and stop almost cold turkey about 4 day ago i allow only 1 20 oz aday but have felt like iv been run over by a truck all muscles ache back hurts and iv had nausea all day this really sucks and i hgope its worht it
Anonymous
re: The shakes...
I'd say if you were getting the shakes, you may have had a fairly severe addiction to Caffeine, how long have been regularly using it. I never experienced the shakes after having coffee. I do know a colleague at work drank 6 cups of instant per day, ended up with heart problems and was forced to give it up - it was believed that the coffee caused most of his problems.
The way I think of it is 6 cups a day causes that much damage, then even 1 or 2 will be causing a small amount of damage. Some people won't have any ill effects, but some will. Just like smoking.
Another thing I noticed was the very concentrated urine/constant thirst. Definately drink lots of fluids(non caffeinated :)) to flush out the toxins.
I've been off it for about 8 or 9 days now and feel great. I have a natural, positive energy about me now and love it.
jenny
re: caffeine withdrawal
Oh my gosh, I am having the same aching in my legs, to the point where I was getting scared that it was blood clots! I drank up to a pot of coffee a day and I was starting to have twitching in my temple. After a CAT scan, and blood tests, nothing is wrong with me, but the caffeine intake! I've been weaning myself . . . a week ago tonight was my last full day of coffee. Since then I've either had a little bit of coffee (2 cups) or have taken Excedrin for the headache and body aches. Today I've had NO caffeine whatsoever and my legs are absolutely killing me! I had no idea that it was doing this to me. I'm going to take the advice of just sticking it through . . . I sure do hope I'll feel better after the withdrawal!
Todd
re: Day 6 of Cold Turkey
I decided to stop drinking coffee 6 days ago (I am on day 6). I decided to stop because I would overdose of coffee and induce panic attacks for about an hour. I was drinking 3 to 4 cups a day for the past 8 years or more. It also created a lot of ups and downs in a day. First day and a half, I felt nothing - no difference at all. Second night I could not sleep and has cold sweats/hot sweats/paranoia/mild hallucination and felt like I was "out of my body" and panic attacks. Basically, I was convinced that nothing was real - very strange and disturbing. I then thought that this might have something to do with quitting coffee and found this site. No one has ever told me that going "cold turkey" on coffee would produce this severe of a withdrawal - it's unbelievable and very disturbing. It seems like every day the lows are a bit lower and the highs are more susatinable. I hope to be back to neutral over the next few days or week at most. I have also had twitches in my hamstrings. These twitches seem to happen when I am more anxious from the withdrawal than normal. All very strange. However, I have found that the more water I drink, the less anxious I become from the withdrawal. I think that I am literally drinking water and the urinating out the toxins from the caffeine withdrawal - it's amazing.
I am now fascinated by caffeine and how addictive it is - this is basically a legal drug. I am now feeling much better, but because of this awful experience I think the world needs to know how bad this stuff is.
Anyway, to all those in withdrawal right now, just fight it through - it will get better and I am already feeling much better than I did a few days ago. Now, just some mild withdrawal syptoms a couple of times a day. I am hoping this will fully subside in the next few days or week at most. DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!! Looking forward to hearing from all of you of the joys of a non-addictive life with true, pure emotion and joy. Todd
Anonymous
re: One day and Holy Cow!
So glad I found you because it's been 24 hours off coffee and I'm struggling. Last night freezing cold, husband thought I had the flu. Killer headache and TMJ muscles killing me. Bad nausea. Found some relief today with Excedrin Tension Headache and a bite of chocolate. Wow, his is scary! I made a list of all the reasons I want to quit so I remember after I get through this. I was curious about one: did anyone out there ever notice that about three hours after a cup of coffee, you got the shakes? Like the caffeine was leaving your system? Just curious.
I'm going to do this because I have a feeling at the end of the withdrawal, the benefits will be far more than I imagined. Thanks!
Anonymous
re: Flu symptoms! All better now though...
OK - may be a coincidence, but the night after I wrote the last post, I woke up with the flu - or at least the symptoms. First of all shivering and freezing cold and then I was so hot I couldn't cool down. Wierd taste in my mouth and tingling sensation in my arms - like there wasn't enough blood getting to them, and aching joints and muscles. However there were none of the other usual symptoms. Felt very foggy in the head though.
I took the day off as I felt like I had come down with something. However, I woke up this morning feeling about 150%! Not a single symptom, and I feel better than I do normally. May be coincidence, but judging by my instant recovery I doubt it. I don't think I will be drinking coffee again in a hurry - I'm going to be caffeine free from now on I think.
komuso
re: Another casualty
I have been drinking espresso coffee pretty much daily for perhaps five years. Mostly two a day, sometimes three. Up until about a year ago I was taking the occasional break from coffee, up to one week. I dont remember suffering any withdrawal symptoms when I stopped in the past.
I stopped again nearly a week ago because I have a musical performance coming up and I am pretty anxious about it, and I dont want to worsen the anxiety with caffeine. I have had a mild headache every day since. I had a coffee this morning just because I wanted to and it helped alleviate the headache a little. I wont have anymore at least until the performance is over, might switch to decaf beans.
Sometimes I find myself clenching my teeth or doing day to day things with much more tension and force than is necessary. I wonder if caffeine is causing it or making ir worse.
Paul
re: Caffeine Withdrawal - difficulty concentrating
I restarted back at the gym and started to reduce caffeine - I was probably around 8 mugs of coffee a day (1-2 spoons per mug) and reduced by a couple to start with. Started getting some sensations in my head - back, sides, and did not last too long - had a couple of good headaches. Felt absolutely shattered by weekend and camped out in front of the fire and went to sleep. Saw doctor who said I might have a virus as I was getting fullness sensations in the ears. I did not even think of caffeine withdrawal.
No improvement after 4 days so say him again and he could not find anything new - checked by ears, nose, throat, eyes, temp, blood pressure etc. I then decided to cut all coffee (my wife does not drink coffee) and switched to tea (3-4 cups per day). Felt like hit by a bus - tired, could not concentrate, anxious about everthing ..... basically restless, not able to concentrate on much, and sleepy all the time. Now on day 11 since cutting coffee and the tiredness has subsided a lot - though not totally, and still feel anxious from time to time. Also starting to get rushes of feeling great so I hope I am on the later stages of whatever this does to you - I have weakened the tea - bag in and out in a few seconds. I hope this is all caffeine related - felt I was going mad at first - very anxious and emotional at times but hopefully starting to turn the corner where I could consider dropping the tea as well ! heres hoping. Good luck to everyone giving it a go - I never gave this a thought until discussing with my Mum who mentioned her friend had suffered so I looked on the web and could not believe what I was reading and certainly tied up a few things for me.
User
re: Caffeine and leg pain
I was a regular drinker of diet coke and diet pepsi 6 -8 cans a day and today(day 4) of withdarawal of the diet pepsi i was woken by aching in my hamstrings of both legs. I have no other reason to suspect injury or overuse of these muscles as i have not undertaken any exercises in the last few days so maybe like youself it is a consequence of stopping the diet pepsi/caffeine withdrawal...
Anonymous
re: my experiences of going off caffeine....
I have had interesting results from going off caffeine, which I thought I'd best share with others. It really has made a noticeable difference to how I feel - really.
I have only been a caffeine addict for a little over a year - the last 6 months or so I switched to brewed coffee(which I made quite strong). I had 1-2 cups per day, but mostly 1. I am 25 years of age and in good health, I exercise 3-4 times per week (gym) and also bikeride around 1-2 times per week, so am reasonably fit.
I have been off caffeine for around 7 days so far, the first 3-4 days I had a slightly lingering headache, and felt a little lethargic, though the symptoms were only mild. To be expected though as I wasn't consuming that much for that long.
I had a cup of tea yesterday (with family - I have vowed to not have another) and actually got a headache straight away from it. I found that unusual.
Anyway, the thing which made me want to share my experience is the fact that I feel MUCH better. I definately sleep better now, and during the day I seem to have a constant positive/energetic feeling. I feel good ALL day now, rather than having that little burst of energy after having a coffee, and then feeling lethargic, slightly depressed etc for many hours afterwards.
Another thing, though it may be too early to really tell, but exercise seems easier now too, probably because every time I exercised at night I was on the 'down' phase of a coffee.
Yet anothe thing - over the last year or so I have put on around 2-3 kg, not a lot, but a worry as I have changed NOTHING in terms of my exercise regime, activity levels at work/during the day. Googling 'weight gain' and 'caffeine' does show there may be a link between the two. It just seems the last year or so I was constantly hungry and craved sugary/fatty foods. It may be a coincidence, but it's something worth thinking about. I will see how things go long term now! The more I've learnt about caffeine, the more I've realised it's just a drug like any other, which has negative side effects. Knowledge is a powerful thing, I can now be one of the 10% of non-caffiene addicts who lives a more fulfilled life.
Lindajoy
re: caffeine withdrawal
Today is my fourth day without coffee or any caffeine. I've had headaches, all the flu symptoms, sleepy, depressed and last night I thought I'd die from the aching in my legs. I have had dull aching from the first day, but the 3rd day was unbearable. After a full day and all night (until 3:00 a.m.) of dying with the pain, I took two ibuprofin (prescription size). The pain subsided and today it hasn't hit me yet. Is this a typical symptom of caffeine withdrawal? What the heck is causing all the pain? I could hardly walk yesterday and there was no position I could find, sitting or lying down, which would help alleviate the agony. HELP!
Jill
re: Can't handle the headaches
I gave up starbucks a week ago and stopped drinking my morning cup of coffee as well, mainly just to see that I could do it, but I also want to lose a couple lbs and thought this would cut out some calories...I'm having some serious caffeine withdrawals and had no idea that I was addicted to caffeine. I've had debilitating headaches everyday and just couldn't handle it anymore, so I got some excedrin tension headache pain killers...they have caffeine in them, which has helped the headaches sooo much...but, I really do want to cut out the caffeine altogether...is the 130 mg of caffeine I get from 2 of these a day considered a lot? I can't do the cold turkey, so I'm wondering what a small does of caffeine would be per day to start to wean myself off of this stuff?
Anna
re: occasional coffee
I'm on day 8 of caffeine withdrawal and have had a debilitating headache every day, even though I was a pretty moderate coffee drinker (2 cups a day). I don't crave coffee at all, just an end to these headaches. I hope I'm almost there. One question - once I get through the withdrawal, will it be possible to have the very occasional cup of coffee without having these headaches afterward?
Elaine
re: 2 weeks now!
After my day 1 headache I have felt better every day although I noticed that I have been extremely attracted to CHOCOLATE! Do you think I could be getting enough caffiene out of chocolate to keep the addiction going? I hope not.
Trina
re: Not sure but feels like it...
I've had this headache for abuot 4 days now. I've been trying to cut my caffeine intake and drink water for a while... Well, as soon as I got back on my caffeine for a drink or two, then went back to water, the headache got worse. I woke up with it, went to be with it -- sleep is my only relief! Anyway, I'm taking three 500mg each, Tylenol. NOT WORKING. So, I'm hoping that I'm right and this goes away after a while. [No headache for me tomorrow: It's STATE and I MUST be alert; Mtn. Dew, here I come!]
scott
re: Hamstring
I've been off caffeine for about 5 days and my right leg has been hurting for the last 12 hours...perhaps there is something to this?
User
re: Diet Drinks
Thank you for posting the support group for aspartame withdrawal. I gave up diet sodas a couple of weeks ago and the withdrawal is the worst hell I have ever experienced. I have given up cigarettes, alcohol and sugar, and nothing compares to this...
User
re: LEG PAIN
Thank you for posting this. I've had the same excruciating pain in the back of my legs, for three days now. I think it's the nerve endings that are causing the problem.
I've been off coffee for seven days now. I did find that hot water baths helped and taking a hot water bottle to bed with me. Eh, nothing to lose, right?
User
re: DRINK WATER
Don't give up. I'm on day 7 and things do get better.
Try drinking lots of water to help flush out the toxins. I think many of the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal are because the body can't cope with all the toxins being released. Water helps with this. Good luck and stick with it.
User
re: I understand about the
I understand about the muscle pain. I quit coffee 7 days ago. The first day I was fine, just a bit sluggish. The second day, the headache started, but after day 3 the fun really began and hasn't stopped. I've had the worst pain in the back of my legs, like the nerve endings are all tight. It's horrible. I did find that the one thing that helped (I refuse to take drugs, although coffee sure is one), is to take a hot bath and soak the legs. I also took a hot water bottle to bed for between the legs. That helped. I too am hoping the symptoms abate soon.
User
re: I'm so glad I Googled
I'm so glad I Googled caffeine withdrawal and found this board. I started, per doctors orders, to stop all caffeine on. My first day was Wednesday and I ended up with a migraine that had me in bed at 7:00 PM! Sleeping was my only relief from the pain in my head and the eventual nausea. So far the ibuprofen isn't making a dent. I'm going to keep at it. How long before I feel like myself again?
Anonymous
re: How long will the headaches last?
Took my Tylenol ES 2 and one Aspirin and then had to take my Migraine medication this morning. It is now 9:30AM; the headache is gone, but will it come back like it did yesterday?
Anonymous
re: Getting Off CaffeineToo
Tonight will be my 3rd night without caffeine. Yes, I do have the headache.
I was a light coffee drinker, maybe one or two cups a day, but then sometimes I would have a Mountain Dew a day. I think that is consider light.
I basically got off of Caffeine because it was causing anxiety in my body. So, I tried weaning myself off of the caffeine for a about a week or so... Yea, still have the headache for the last few days.
I am so glad I have someone to talk to.
Looking forward to reading the posts.
User
re: worst withdrawals ever
I gave up drinking coke and coffee a few days ago and I'm not sure I can make it. The killer headaches are the least of my problems. I get so dizzy at times that my vision blurs and I find myself unable to move because of it. My body is having the worst time trying to cope with the lack of caffeine. I want to go out and drink a bottle of coke right now just to get past the aches.
User
re: Dehydration
Could anyone please explain why we are dehydrated after giving up caffeine, since it works as a diuretic?
Thank you
User
re: Leg pain
I wonder if this could be another sign of dehydration as I have this since I gave up caffeine, but mine is more in my thighs. Try drinking more water to see if this helps
Anonymous
re: Caffeine and leg pain?
Five days ago I quit caffeine and starting yesterday morning I woke up with extremely tight leg muscles, particularly the hamstrings. Does anyone know if this is a symptom? I've never experienced this before.