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
User says
re: how long have you been off
how long have you been off caffeine?
User says
re: caffein withdrawl
i am having ecery symptom there, even the nausia thing, i feel like crap. also took a bath and when got out ever since wanting to faint, n headache. f my life.
Daniel Owen says
re: RE: It's Jackie here
This one made it through. If you see the block message again please copy the text and past it into your next message. You are the first person I am aware of that has been having this issue and without knowing exactly where you are getting blocked or by what it's hard for me to diagnose.
Thanks
User says
re: Hello to the new posters, it
Hello to the new posters, it is so good to hear from you that you find it helpful reading our miserable posts. I felt like giving up today, I will have been off for a year in February, and although I have improved a great deal, I still have terrible back ache and fatigue, (plus some other symptoms) but the back ache makes it miserable and tiring to walk any distance (and walking was my main source of exercise and pleasure before I came off caffeine), and the dreadful fatigue makes living any sort of "normal" social life completely out of the question. I fear it may take me at least 2 years to get over my 60 year habit, but I am so fed up with it, I just hope that it will end sooner. At least (thanks to this site) I know what is going on, otherwise I would be at my wit's end and imagining all sorts of mystery illnesses.
rjjgolf14 says
re: Thanks for your comments
Thanks for your comments Mandy.
Ive been having similiar symptoms as yours. This is my second time attempting to quit. Doctors family friends tend to look upon us in disbeleif. So its nice to find some people here who understand. Good luck Mandy..
Mandy says
re: all the best for your journey
all the best for your journey Randall, i felt the same and have read back through 120 or so pages over the last 8 weeks, i was able to get reassurance here rather than worrying my family and friends, and they do worry when we describe the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal! i quit about 8 weeks ago now and its getting much easier though definitly not resolved yet, still get headaches and random waves of anxiety, even then ive learnt not speak to soon, one day, even one hour at a time. i was thinking eatlier that one of the best things about where i am now is the phew! all the worry i had that something was seriously wrong with my brain, blood sugar, blood pressure, heart ... i would be feeling much worse by now, not better, so i must be okay and it was the caffeine all along.... fingers crossed.
Mandy says
re: all the best for your journey
all the best for your journey Randall, i felt the same and have read back through 120 or so pages over the last 8 weeks, i was able to get reassurance here rather than worrying my family and friends, and they do worry when we describe the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal! i quit about 8 weeks ago now and its getting much easier though definitly not resolved yet, still get headaches and random waves of anxiety, even then ive learnt not speak to soon, one day, even one hour at a time. i was thinking eatlier that one of the best things about where i am now is the phew! all the worry i had that something was seriously wrong with my brain, blood sugar, blood pressure, heart ... i would be feeling much worse by now, not better, so i must be okay and it was the caffeine all along.... fingers crossed.
randall says
re: support
After reading many comments on this forum recently. I just wanted to say thanks to all who have posted with there most difficult struggle with caffeine withdrawal. Im also having a terrible time but find some comfort and support here reading your comments. May god give us all strength during our journey.............randall
User says
re: problems with posting etc.
Jackie - you made it!
How are you doing? Good to see you back here.
I think Lisa is still having problems: she said "It goest the first time and let's me put the capcha and the second time it won't work
Sent from my iPhone"
User says
re: It's Jackie here
I've also tried to post but it keeps coming up that I'm blocked 🙁 Not sure if this will post. Hope everyone is doing awap. Jackie
Mandy says
re: thanks, am trying not to
thanks, am trying not to predict how I'll feel in the morning, trying and not succeeding very well, doom and gloom. i did have itchy eyes about four week after quitting, i thought it was being run down conjunctivitis or something, who knows...the list goes on.
User says
re: I checked out rosacea and
I checked out rosacea and that is what i have got too, I just assumed it was eczema because I have not had anything like it before. That would also explain the sore itchy eyes apparently too. Mine started over a year ago when I first started cutting down on caffeine, I hope it goes eventually, it looks horrible.
Do you also find that you can't bear anything rough on your skin now, and I can't stand my hair getting anywhere near my eyes, all new (or since I came off caffeine)
I am going to try and have a relaxed evening in front of the TV too….. I hope you feel a bit better tomorrow
Mandy says
re: yep clumsy too, about a year
yep clumsy too, about a year ago i developed a bit of rosacea on my face, i was reading last night someone else who found their s cleared up after quitting caffeine, it just wouldnt surprise me at all if eczema is also indicated, the effects are so systemic i think. ive had a better morning but then had a bit if dizziness, then felt anxious, then felt sick then wantedvto leave the shop i was in, then felt a bit low....its passed now after a walk in the woods...am near constanly mythering and vigilant about it all. i made an ommelette earlier and changed cooking utensil four times!!! to avoid raw egg, its okay I'll keep an eye on it, have a relaxed evening, perhaps a book or tv? and thanks again for the support
User says
re: Hello again,
I reread your
Hello again,
I reread your posts and it reminded me that I still have tremors (not so strongly) and I forgot to mention that I have also developed patches of eczema on my face (nice!), and your phobias sound remarkably like mine, plus I have phobias about touching anything "messy"at the moment, it is v v weird….. plus I am very clumsy a lot of the time too
Daniel Owen says
re: Lisa who can't post
Lisa,
I'm not really sure why you would not be able to post. I do not have any restrictions on posting beyond the captcha that must be entered before a post is allowed. The system is configured to force you to preview first. After the preview you should be able to click save. Beyond that I have some additional security to minimize spam posts but if you were hitting that you would not be able to get to the page at all. I also occasionally need to manually delete spam but your message would not fall in that category either.
I would suggest checking to see if you have a browser extension that is not allowing you to access part of the page. I would also suggest trying a different web browser to see if maybe that helps. Failing that maybe try from another computer.
Thanks
Mandy says
re: hi Lisa, i dont think youre
hi Lisa, i dont think youre nuts i have valued all youre honesty since ive been reading here, and honesty takes guts girl, and ive read 109 pages of comments so far, lol, i know but its been one of my key coping strategies, and i honestly have concluded your 4.5 monthes is still relatively early days in that many many people are feeling bad for six months, yes there are posts that feel better in a lot less, but many that dont, there's a range, someone said there sister said it takes as long as it takes, and acceptance of this paradoxically can make you feel better because it deceases resistance, i got myself one of those claire weekes books as well that was mentioned a load of posts back. so uou asked about my symptoms, yesterday i was anxious for about 3 hours in the morning and it started within about 15mins of getting up, then i felt very tired, health anxiety was about blood sugar, did lots of reassurance seeking from husband, then i went very tired, jittery, like i wanted to rest but then immediately wanted to be back up again in like a fight flight thing i think, then i started worrying about whether i have epilepsy around the corner triggered by a tv storyline, and then early onset dementia bexause i work in this area for a living, i got some relief in the evening, this morning i had about 6 cortisol rushes as i lay in bed waiying to get up but this time i had a bit of a managemet plan in place where i sat ony bed for about30 mins drank water and had a piece of bread and buttet that i bought to bed with me last night for this purpose, i have been bolting out of bed in fear thinking ive gqot to get something to eat quick, then feeling sick,yheen anxious then wanting to check my blood pressure.... a slower start helped me this morning and i feel okay
at the min but i feel like my symptoms are like a jack in a box. so no i dont think youre nuts and i would like to hear from you again if you can post, I'll be two months free on feb2 and will be 40 end of march id love to start my fortith year feeling well x hang in there x
Mandy says
re: yes i can empathise with all
yes i can empathise with all those, less so itchy eyes and i would say back pain but actually now i think of it ive had some the last week, i thought because of being so physically tense bracing myself against anxiety but yeah who knows. but the othe things fatigue headache irritableoh yeah, with as you say a sense of slowley improving alongside like we've done the sprint and now its a marathon, and some phobia type things linked to the fear of ingesting something harmful, understandable id say, recently i have eaten some food by holding a serviette around the food cos i thuoght my hands might not be clean enough, and worried id left the top of my water bottle in between sip and what if s omething went in?????? what! understandable i reckon but we must guard against them. and a big thank you for sending me Lisa s reply that was very nice of you indeed , lisa im on yhe way, gonna have another read of your post first....all the best folks, you are not alone x
User says
re: I am improving, but I still
I am improving, but I still have extreme fatigue, sore itchy eyes, bowel problems, occasional headache, extreme back pain (which gets worse and worse with any exercise or any movement at all), problems with stress, extremely irritable, and have developed all sorts of ridiculous phobias about silly little things. My sleep is very easily disrupted too, and a good night's sleep is a rarity.
PS if I disappear, it will be because I cannot post here, not because I want to stop posting. I have had occasional problems in the past with posting, so I hope it won't become a chronic problem. Best wishes for recovery to all.
User says
re: Daniel please can you advise
Lisa has emailed me and told me she cannot post here - she has tried several times, I am wondering if other people are having the same problem. She asked me to post this, which `I will do once, but not again. Here is her message:
Still wont work:(.. Can u post this for me?
Thanks
Dear Mandy, I have been very sick this last two weeks ... I'm not sure why but I'm in hell really bad. I'm 4.5 months off caffeine and not doing well at all.. I have those horrible head symptoms you speak of that you can't quite describe.. I have horrible anxiety, agitation, dizziness, malaise, and some other crazy symptoms.. Like I feel like I'm falling , shaking , terrible pain in body, burning in body just horrible thoughts , crazy thinking ill never survive.. I have never suffered anxiety before so to me this is insane.. Panic attacks came d own a little but they hit outta no where still.. My bowels are gettin better nd my sleep is ok.. I still wake up twice to eat cause of the sugar drop.. It's terrible.. Everyone on here probably thinks I'm nuts but I know what I feel.. I have had tons of tests , talked to therapist which said caffeine withdrawal can last a year.. I am also 27 months off Valium which I most likely have not wales from not to mention that about 10 months ago I only drank caffeine for 10 months after I started drinking it again.. I was about 2 years off a 20 years caffeine habit.. I never thought it would do this to me but when I started cutting down the panic started so I quit cold turkey.. I'm
Disgusted with this whole mess.. I just pray everyday that I recover and you all do as we'll.. Are you still having any symptoms? Please keep in touch , Lisa
Mandy says
re: thank you, ive been reading
thank you, ive been reading all the old posts, am on page 103 now, nearly all of the comments have been really helpful. yes things have improved, left with horrible morning as anxiety which can last most of the day if i cant nip it in the bud, different sort of head ache feeling and i can feel very wired. i find the longer i stay off the easier it gets but at the same time i get more tired and down of having to cope with it all, i still thknk back to that panic attack that made me quit and play it over in my mind, can i be sure it wasnt a seizure, mini stoke or la la la the anxiety goes on. its been nearly two months now and i dreamt of opening, pouring and drinking a diet coke last night, how evil is this addiction to still be trying to persuade me to consume after everything ive been thtough on it. how are you getting on? I'll have read your previous posts no doubt, there's nobody about is there, but i keep checkin so...let me know how youre doing.
User says
re: Well you seem to be noticing
Well you seem to be noticing a lot of improvements, after a relatively short time, so I would hang on to that for the moment. I don't know where everybody else has gone, but I guess they will come back and give you a bit of support soon. ( I hope they will, anyway)
mandy says
re: Thank you - just for saying
Thank you - just for saying you know how it feels, I've become very needy the last couple of months lol, I've never known anything like this before, and well done on your success, we each have to find our way. so I was 15 years of diet coke, not really drinking anything else, sounds silly now I realise, I did know it was unhealthy but didn't realise the damage I was doing I suppose, I've been feeling general malaise, tired headachy on the coke then had a weird head feeling one morning, admittedly id slept badley and had not eaten anything, blood tests were okay but still fear I've now got some brain disorder and then the anxiety starts to fade and i can think straight again and thanks to this site feel relatively reassured. What helped me was reading the list of peoples experiences so i could check them off against mine and not feel alone with it, so with the sole aim of trying to help others as I've been helped (do i sound preachy i hope not) here goes. I went cold turkey 2nd Dec 2013 then day 1 had shakes like tremors a couple of times, tried to sleep and keep waking up with a bit of a cortisol rush, then for about two weeks dizzy light headed, feeling like i had low blood sugar or something, panic attacks,3, im going mad, im falling apart thoughts, over last 4 weeks no panic but anxiety and bits of dizziness but weird feeling in my head like, can't describe but i guess i am hyper vigilant about my head feeling weird now, bits of the day feel normal, but felt bad on way home tonight i phoned Samaritans coz i don't want to keep on at my husband and now i feel okay again, yet earlier i was feeling i can't do this anymore, its been really hard, there is no way i am touching that stuff again.
User says
re: Hello Mandy
It is good to be
Hello Mandy
It is good to be back on topic (caffeine) at last, I too re read these posts over and over, it gets me through this horrible process too. I am not as bad as Lisa because I tapered off, but I have been off for 11 months and am still having symptoms, but I was on caffeine for 60 years plus, so it isn't surprising. I am slowly improving and I can't wait to be fully better. I am sure it won't take you and Lisa as long as it is taking me, but I do know exactly how you feel. I could only take 2 weeks of it and went back on caffeine and tapered off over a few months………..
mandy says
re: Hi Lisa -is it? I've been re
Hi Lisa -is it? I've been re reading the posts on this site for about 7weeks now for reassurance and if you're still off caffeine after what you've been through, you've done really well. I stopped caffeine cold turkey about 6 weeks agoand its been vile, the funny head feelings and anxiety and agitation the worst. I was a diet coke drinker two litres a day, this site and reading the posts all the way back has been one of the most helpful things to me -thank you.
Lisa says
re: Sam where did you go?:(((((
I miss your words of wisdom honey:(... Where did you you go? I'm still havin sx of course.. My sleep has improved but my anxiety is still hanging out quite a bit.. 4 months and 1 week already.. Write if you get the chance:).. Miss you.. Where is everyone!!!
Daniel Owen says
re: RE: so wrong
I agree the chances of addiction to OTC pain killers should be very low for most people. One thing to watch out for is after extended use when stopping the use of OTC pain killers you can end up with rebound headaches which are nasty but typically short lived over a few days.
Also be careful with prolonged use of any drug if you have existing or risk for liver or kidney issues. Talk to your doctor. Different OTC pain killers are metabolized differently so you can at least make a best choice to avoid exacerbating an existing issue.
While you are talking to your doctor you may want to determine whether you are having a headache or migraine. There is very little OTC that really helps a migraine beyond dulling the pain minimally but there are prescription drugs that can knock the symptoms back at least most of the time. As an interesting point to this conversation caffeine is a classic helper for migraine before the modern pharmaceuticals were created.
JohnC says
re: many thanks
many thanks
User says
re: A good idea? Smart?
Paracetamol
Paracetamol is a well-known and widely used medication to treat moderate to severe pain. It is also sold under the brand name Paracod and is a brand for the generic codeine. Paracetamol works by blocking the signals in the brain that create feelings of pain and is also used to treat severe cough as it can suppress the cough reflex in the central nervous system.
Paracetamol is often prescribed when conditions call for morphine or codeine. As a painkiller, Paracetamol is known to be nearly as potent – but not quite – as morphine. When it is used to treat cough, Paracetamol is designed to deliver even stronger relief than what is possible with codeine.
Abuses of Paracetamol
Paracetamol is an opiate and therefore is a Schedule II controlled substance. It has a high abuse liability and while it is very similar to morphine, codeine and other opiates, Paracetamol is still structurally distinct. While it alters the perception of pain in the spinal cord and brain, it does not affect nerve endings. Paracetamol triggers the brain’s pleasure centers while blocking pain. This process contributes to its ability to generate an addiction in users.
A tolerance for Paracetamol can be quickly developed and users may require more and more of the medication to achieve the desired effect. Dependency is manifested in a strong desire or need to continue taking more of the medicine; a need to increase the dose to maintain the effects of the medicine; and withdrawal symptoms occurring after the patient stops taking the medication. Effects of Paracetamol
Paracetamol can produce specific side effects, which can be apparent within 10 to 15 minutes after it is ingested and will typically last anywhere from two to four hours. Paracetamol delivers effects that are similar to that of morphine and codeine, in addition to sedation, respiratory depression and euphoria that are less intense than morphine.
Other side effects created by Paracetamol include, shallow breathing, slow heartbeat; feeling light-headed, fainting; confusion, fear, unusual thoughts or behavior; seizure (convulsions); problems with urination; or nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools and jaundice.
Withdrawal of Paracetamol
The abrupt cessation of Paracetamol can cause a range of unpleasant and dangerous symptoms, especially if an individual has been taking the medication for a long period of time. Cessation of Paracetamol will immediately lead to withdrawal syndrome, which closely mimics heroin withdrawal.
The symptoms associated with withdrawal from Paracetamol can include but are not limited to:
• Nausea
• Pain
• Anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Irritability
Treatment of Paracetamol Addiction
Addiction to Paracetamol can be a life-threatening addiction, as well as the associated symptoms of withdrawal. As a result, it is important that those with an addiction seek the help they need to stop taking the drug and to learn how to function normally without it. Detoxification is required to cleanse the body of this drug and must be done under the care of a board-certified physician and a board-certified psychiatrist.
Many quality treatment centers suggest comfortable detox using withdrawal medications specific to Paracetamol abuse. A quality center will do a full physical on a person to determine the right medications for comfortable detox. This method helps to correct the chemical imbalances and should be combined with psychological evaluations and other medical care.
RJS says
re: so wrong
Ur missing the whole point that over the counter pain killers are not addictive. They are not physically addicting like caffeine and opioids and produce no euphoria (sense of well being) like opioids (oxycodone, morphine, etc) do, otc painkillers have zero psychoactive effects so they have no potential of being used for pleasure like opioid pain killers, and in some cases caffeine, so theres a super low potential for psychological addiction. Using otc painkillers for caffeine withdraw is smart not a bad idea. They r extremely safe for short term use.
User says
re: playing with fire
Controversy continues as to whether or not it is possible to have an addiction to paracetamol, a non-narcotic pain relief drug, also known as acetaminophen. Whilst a commonly used and effective pain reliever for everyday aches and pains, paracetamol is known to cause liver toxicity in high or prolonged doses. However, doubt still remains as to whether or not paracetamol is addictive.
Paracetamol (an aniline analgesic) and NSAID’s (non steroid anti inflammatory drugs) are considered to be safer than opioids, “bearing a low risk of addiction, tolerance, dependency and withdrawal”. However, when paracetamol is used in combination with weak opioids, there is said to be an increased frequency of “rebound headaches”, that are also known as medication overuse headaches.
The occurrence of side effects with paracetamol use is high because paracetamol has a narrow therapeutic index – which means the therapeutic dose is close to a toxic dose. People using prescription medications and or over the counter pain killers need to be aware of the total paracetamol content of the drugs they are taking to avoid accidental overdose. Paracetamol may have an antidepressant effect, as a study has shown paracetamol to increase availability of the antidepressant serotonin in rats, but this is not tested in humans
There are many people who consider that they are or have been addicted to taking paracetamol. Paracetamol withdrawal effects include irritability, anxiety and painful symptoms that mimic the original condition that the medication was taken to relieve. Any drug that has both toxicity and a “reward” effect, such as providing pain relief, has a capacity to become addictive.
The recommended treatment for withdrawal effects such as rebound headaches is to simply cease taking the medication, and put up with the discomfort, until symptoms of pain naturally subside. This recovery treatment is no different in principle to detoxing from any drug that has become tolerated and produces painful withdrawal symptoms. Serotonin depletion and resulting feelings of depression could be a further side effect of paracetamol withdrawal.
Given that intense withdrawal symptoms are commonly reported, it would seem that paracetamol can be addictive. If as manufacturers claim, physical addiction risks are minimal, then it is possible that a psychological component accounts for people feeling upset and in need of more medication with paracetamol withdrawal.
People can become psychologically addicted to any activity that produces relief from emotional stress and tension, including prescription drugs. Often the idea of “taking something” is part of what gives relief to people when they are suffering pain of any kind. Paracetamol will automatically provide relief from symptoms of emotional pain at the same time as it reduces symptoms of physical pain.
Hard drugs and narcotics get people’s attention but addiction to non narcotic pain killers is just as much a problem. The risk of fatal liver damage is an issue when abusing paracetamol. People addicted to paracetamol are in need of urgent drug addict help.
JohnC says
re: thanks.
I agree some
thanks.
I agree some painkillers appear addictive, but tylenol/paracetamol does Not appear to be addictive. I will also watch for signs of addiction, and am also keeping to what is regarded as reasonable dosage (I am currently c.1000-2000mg/ day, and it seems 4000mg day is ok if needed).
This feels very, very good so far. I feel solid and sound. (Even if this is placebo effect maybe I can use it to exit caffeine - but I am sure it is more than placebo). So much so that I am going cold turkey caffeine today. My life has been seriously negatively impacted by caffeine.
I'm not necessarily expecting my anxiety to go to zero, particularly during withdrawal, but I'm hoping it will be manageable so that I can continue to withdraw.
JohnC says
re: Cold turkey Christmas
hi Rob wondered how your cold turkey was going? I'm coming along behind you
User says
re: Jackie, how are you doing? I
Jackie, how are you doing? I hope your absence means that you are very much better, but it would be good to hear from you whatever is going on.
I hope 2014 will be a better year for all of us here.
User says
re: use tylenol and possibly have
use tylenol and possibly have all this as well, on top of feeling crappy from caffeine
Serious Reactions
hypersensitivity rxn
anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid rxn
skin rxn, severe
hepatotoxicity
renal tubular necrosis, acute
analgesic-assoc. nephropathy (chronic use)
anemia
thrombocytopenia
Common Reactions
nausea
rash
headache
JohnC says
re: Lisa try paracetamol (see
Lisa try paracetamol (see later post)
User says
re: a bad idea
• Painkiller
a bad idea
• Painkiller Addict by Cathryn Kemp is published by Piatkus. Visit painkiller-addict.com
Lisa says
re: Jayson anxiety ??
Can you please tell me more about the symptoms you had with your anxiety? I'm very interested to know what kinds of things you experienced? I have the worst anxiety imaginable ugh
JohnC says
re: Use of paracetamol/tylenol to reduce anxiety?
There is some interesting research saying psychological pain is felt in the same part of the brain as physical pain, and can be reduced by painkillers (see e.g. the refs in treatment section of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_pain).
I wondered if anyone has used paracetamol/tylenol to reduce anxiety?
Thanks for any comments.
JohnC says
re: thanks for that.
My father
thanks for that.
My father has anxiety also, but he also is a caffeine and alcohol user.
So my anxiety tendency maybe partly genetic tendency, partly over-potentiated anxiety system in brain due to use of drugs.
(I could also mention behavioural wrong thinking (e.g. setting high expectations myself, being too concerned with others approval), and that I have Asperger characteristics, which makes socialising hard. However my father does not have these.)
Jayson says
re: Just wanted to add
I also wanted to add that the busier I got, the more my body demanded sleep and the easier it came. Before I knew it, I was getting the best sleep ever. That was the turning point pretty much. I also read that our brain thrives on fats (the healthy ones of course), because it's made up primarily of fats. So shortly after I gave up caffeine, I also gave up sugar and carbs. It's such a big difference in terms of the quality of life. 🙂
Jayson says
re: @Anon and Lisa
@Anon - You're very welcome and happy Christmas to you too! 🙂
@Lisa - My anxiety lasted for months. Believe me, my experience was a lot worst than you can imagine. Looking back now, I have no idea how I survived it. I never really measured it, but I wouldn't be surprised if the amount of caffeine I was taking were mounting to about 1,000 mg on a daily basis. I was taking A LOT. And I never tapered off. I quit cold turkey. That was in 2011, so it's been 2 years. I have a hard time remembering every detail of my experience because the moment I began functioning normally again, I worked my butt off. I got really busy with school and social life (I live in Los Angeles).
And anxiety is different for everyone. My mom had it too for a short time 'cause she used to drink a lot of coca cola. Whenever she felt anxious, she felt like she's suffocating/having a heart attack. She went to the doctor's office too and everything checked out normally. She quit drinking coca cola cold turkey. Not only did her anxiety issues go away, she was able to eliminate her diabetes medications as well.
I hope you feel better soon. And definitely keep in touch with your physician. Happy Christmas! 🙂
User says
re: I wonder what triggered the
I wonder what triggered the anxiety in your 30's. Alcohol also causes anxiety (as I am sure you know), so it will be great when you are able to do without both, you may find you are relatively anxiety free, because as I am sure you also know, alcohol also disrupts the receptors in the brain, so the combination of alcohol and caffeine must be a no no for anyone prone to anxiety. End of sermon.
I am finding it hard to resist all the xmas chocolate goodies everywhere…………… but I will (I hope)
JohnC says
re: I don't know if that's right.
I don't know if that's right. I had heavy anxiety in my 30s when having been clean of caffeine since my late teens (having previously been a heavy user in my mid-teens).
Coffee seems to give me some emotional protection to stress vulnerability. I also then take alcohol (only c. half bottle wine) in the evening to counteract the caffeine hype, which gives me disturbed sleep.
I'm looking to get to a place where I don't need either, but not quite there yet.
User says
re: But John, if caffeine makes
But John, if caffeine makes your anxiety go away, that is (in my opinion) a sure sign that the anxiety is still part of caffeine withdrawal. Caffeine withdrawal has nothing much to do with the caffeine left in our systems, it is due to the length of time it takes our receptors to get back to normal with all the neurons firing properly again. I will not know whether my anxiety is caffeine related or not until I have been caffeine free for at least 2 years (it takes our brains longer to recover the older we get). And if one continues to dip in and out of ingesting caffeine, one is not giving the brain a chance to recover once and for all, because the receptors are still chaotic. I think if you could stay off it for at least 18 months, your brain might have a chance to calm down for good.
JohnC says
re: Hi Lisa
By day c.30 of
Hi Lisa
By day c.30 of caffeine withdrawal my anxiety is basically gone in a stable, stress-free life.
However if life stresses hit I still get anxious. Stopping caffeine is not the panacea. (Maybe our anxiety (amygdala, limbic) systems in our brains are now over-potentiated.)
So I have to work hard at destroying the anxieties when they arise - read Albert Ellis REBT books. But still sometimes the anxieties are too much and I fold, going back on to caffeine, which takes them away for the few hours after I have ingested.
Maybe it is possible to become a mature user of caffeine, using it as a shield when life is tough.
Maybe I can get better at using REBT or other things instead of caffeine.
Maybe I can make my life simpler and less stressful, and not need caffeine.
(I also find meditation raises my happiness set point, and that the omega-6 vs omega-3 debate seems to be real; I take supplements which also make me feel better. Exercise also helps. But none help enough.)
Hope that helps,
Happy Christmas
Lisa says
re: John
Is your anxiety gone now? How long did it take to go away ? I read over your old posts and you had it for quite some time, Lisa
JohnC says
re: Lisa try REBT on these
Lisa try REBT on these anxieties. You may be awfulizing the concern, i.e. not analysing it.
for example
it would be nice if I could make X laugh, but it's not the end of the world if I can't.
it would be nice if I could get a boyfriend, but not the end of the world if I can't.
User says
re: Thanks again for taking the
Thanks again for taking the time to reply Jayson, I hope you have a very happy christmas and I am looking forward to feeling as healthy and well as you obviously do.
Jackie and lisa and Dav, i hope you are all going to improve in leaps and bounds too.
Lisa says
re: @ Jayson
Hi and thank you so much.. I was wondering how long your bad anxiety lasted:).. It's my worst symptom besides the other million symptoms I have ugh. How long before too noticed it started to taper off? Last night I had a 30 minute window of complete normality!! No symptoms!! Well it was great. It left quickly but im glad I got it.. So tell me about the scary stuff:).. You won't scare me.. I had it all .. Tell me more about what you experienced.. I've never been through something so bad .. Not even benzo wd was this bad.. I tapered very slow.. This is all so nuts to me!!
Jayson says
re: @ Anon
It happened gradually. It was a lot like catching the flu and slowly gaining your strength back, only it took a full year. I haven't had any caffeine at all for 2 years now. Even chocolates, desserts and the good stuff. I haven't had any and will probably stay that way for the rest of my life. 🙂