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
Sarah says
re: Dizziness with caffeine?
Hello. I've posted to this site in previous months. I'm 3 weeks off Lexapro (yay!). I took Lexapro for 7 months for acute anxiety. I finally made the connection that when I drank coffee while being on Lexapro, I would get intense flashes of anxiety, dizziness, and scary/worried thoughts. So although I've never had a caffeine addiction, I really decreased the amount of caffeine intake - mostly drinking decaf teas and maybe the occasional cup of coffee with later regret when it gave me anxiety. Now that I'm off Lexapro, I want to enjoy the occasional cup of coffee. But just a couple days ago, I had half a cup of coffee and have since noticed slight episodes of dizziness, almost like my head is buzzing. I notice it when I'm sitting still or trying to focus on something. I just talked to the pharmacist who said the withdrawal symptoms should be done by now and that the dizziness must be caused by something else. But half a cup of coffee?
So my question is, for those who have gone several weeks (or months) with little to no caffeine and then start consuming caffeine again, do you experience these head sensations? I know that strange head sensations accompany caffeine withdrawal, but how about on/off/on caffeine intake? I've been keeping up with these posts and I agree with those who report that the head sensations are the scariest/weirdest. I initially worried that I was having minor seizures or that it was a symptom of something else, but I've never had this problem before until I had my first panic attack just under a year ago. In the days and weeks following the panic attack (probably brought on by extreme stress and anxiety and not caffeine withdrawal), I had those same buzzing/dizzy spells that last barely a second or two. Then when I started Lexapro and would drink coffee, the dizziness and buzzing sensations increased. But now that I'm off Lexapro, shouldn't they be gone too? Unless my nervous system is still settling into my new state of being and is a bit worked up...
Thank you for your insights.
Daniel Owen says
re: RE: Dear owner of this site
I do not have contact info for people who post on the site. I might look into a poll module in the future for this type of thing but right now life is keeping me busy with other projects and as you said any info you could glean from such a survey while interesting would have such a self selection bias as to be useless for anything but curiosity about users of this site.
JCJC says
re: Dear owner of this site
it would be so valuable, and cool, for you to email everyone who has posted here, going back all the way (2006?), to survey them about if/how they withdrew from caffeine, and what their experiences were. Sure there would be some self-selection maybe in who replied (as I'm sure there is in who posts), but the results could give a really useful handbook on withdrawal. If you'd like to work with a science researcher on this, let me know, I could try some people. Thanks for the site, and best wishes
Rob says
re: 5 Days Clean
I’ve now completed 5 days off caffeine in all forms – coffee, tea, chocolate. It should be closer to 2 weeks, but I was out with friends on Friday evening and a huge urge to have a coffee came over me. I gave in and had one, then stopped again. On Saturday I had a couple of really strong cravings that seemed to last about an hour each, but I managed to ride them out and haven’t had any since. It’s quite scary how quickly and completely the craving got hold of me on the Friday though. A lesson to be learned…
I feel pretty good now. I’m still in a bit of a daze and have some minor muscle pains in my legs and back, but they’re fading slowly. I’m taking it a day at a time and also taking nothing for granted, but I’d like to think this is the last time I’m going to go through this. I am truly sick and tired of this caffeine merry-go-round and have had enough. I feel like I’ve given in – I have years and years of experience of how it doesn’t work for me, so I’m just not going to bother trying to use it any more. It may work for other people, but it doesn’t for me. I’m better off caffeine free.
User (60 yr habit) says
re: jC and ahuman,
thank you both
jC and ahuman,
thank you both so much, it was your posts here that gave me the inspiration and info to get off caffeine, JC it was your post about having "some of the best days of your life" off caffeine that made me want to try and get off and made me so disappointed when you went back on, and ahuman - all your posts were so helpful. Could you remind me exactly how long it took for you to completely recover - I think it was about a year.
Thank you both very much indeed!!!!!!!!! (and good luck JC in this your last caffeine detox)
ahuman says
re: I posted in the past during
I posted in the past during my experience so if you want insight to how my recovery progressed go read some of those older posts. I think i come back here to help others since this site helped me.
ahuman says
re: Long Road
It took me months to recover from years of fairly heavy caffeine use. I used to get up in the middle of the night and drink a pepsi and go back to bed. That's how tolerant i was.
The worst part for me after the acute withdrawl symptoms was the depression and lack of motivation. If your life isn't perfect withdrawal will make it worse. Even if your life is good it still makes it suck. lol
Now even if i have a chunk of milk chocolate it makes my heart race. I don't like the downside after use it's temporary and short but it makes me feel like crap. If that’s not a drug don't know what is.
I actually feel better than ever so if you want to endure the pain there is a bright side of the tunnel.
But watch it they sneak it into many foods, i wonder why? Oh yea it makes people buy more. lol
User (60 yr habit) says
re: That is such good news, I am
That is such good news, I am v hopeful for you now.
I am finding meditation helps as well.
I am glad you found (my? if you did mean this anon) post a spur, that is what I hoped it would do, but then I got worried that if you couldn't manage to come off everything at once it would make it harder to post for you, but it obviously won't. it 's amazing how a little opposition can help (occasionally).
Every good wish for a successful recovery for us all on here……..
JCJC says
re: meditation is helping me a
meditation is helping me a lot. raises my happiness set point. that's a major difference vs previous withdrawal attempts.
JCJC says
re: Thanks anon for the added spur!
You're right I've been on-off for a long time. In recent years my pattern has been that if I can get through 10 days, as I have now, then I stay clean for 3,6,9 months. (For c.20 years of my earlier life I was totally clean.) I am very realistic that times of stress or boredom have then in the past led to relapse. I think one of the great messages from the addiction discussions after Philip Seymour Hoffman's death was that, even after 23 years clean, you are still at risk. Need to be vigilant.
The point about my withdrawing from alcohol etc as well, is that previously I have found one leads to the other, and that for me the best place is clean. Good so far; my GAD has basically completely gone at this stage.
Wish you all the best - if I'm not on here you'll know is going well for me at least.
(P.s. some notes in withdrawal section (in key points) here might help you; caffeineevaluation.blogspot.co.uk/)
User (60 yr habit) says
re: At last - I could walk at my
At last - I could walk at my usual speed today, for the first time in over a year, I could walk at a fast pace!!
anon, you can't be reading the same posts as me!! the poster to whom you refer had been trying for years to get off, I hope he does this time, I really do, but I think it is unrealistic to give up so many things at once, but maybe he really is a superman.
User says
re: This is a mean-spirited
This is a mean-spirited comment (not surprising). The poster tried to share his/her idea of combining a withdrawal with a period of being ill with the flu. He/she said they were even able to chuckle, which could simply mean that they experienced moments of happiness.
As for your first statement about people who "report" fewer problems, just the opposite seems to be true. The people who quit, quit. And don't come back here to post endlessly month after month year after year.
Best of luck, JCJC! Thanx for sharing your experience.
User (60 yr habit) says
re: it seems odd to me that the
it seems odd to me that the people who report fewer problems coming off and are even able to "chuckle" about it, are the ones
who seem unable to stay off. I hope that you will manage to change this scenario with your latest attempt……..
Good Luck
JCJC says
re: also enabled me to 'mentally
also enabled me to 'mentally mix up' some caffeine withdrawal symptoms within the illness (i.e. 'I'm not sure and I don't care what is causing this headache').
JCJC says
re: Withdrawal; combine with being ill
I've been looking for a withdrawal 'wave to catch' for a while. Made some withdrawal attempts but failed.
We've had a bad cold/flu working through the family; when it began to hit me I thought I'd use it to withdraw.
This allowed me to be 'wiped out', in bed, and socially and professionally unavailable. It also gave me great support from family, made it easier to avoid temptation, and enabled me to associate caffeine with catching the illness; i.e. 'yeughhh' when think of caffeine.
I'm now on day 9-10, and going very well. Some chuckling in last few days. Some up and down feelings; that's ok. Good to be alive.
P.s. I'm exiting caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, paracetamol (was using at advised max to reduce anxiety). Also minimalising sugar, cheese, wheat.
User (60 yr habit) says
re: PPS
I will hope I don't fly into a rage as soon as anything goes wrong today too, because that is one of my v worst sx
User (60 yr habit) says
re: thank you so much for that
thank you so much for that Mandy, I was definitely in panic mode there!!
I am glad you are feeling so much better. I was only drinking 2 cups of tea a day too, but i guess 60 yrs is a v long time. I think that is just the way it goes, symptoms seem to come and go and then hopefully, stop altogether.. For instance I thought that the weird sensations in my feet had completely stopped, (it is a horrible sensation, as if my toes are going to curl up in the wrong direction plus a horrible tingling/cramping sensation) but they came back last night and I also had some chills and hot flashes (which I also thought had stopped) - but today I feel better again. My backache etc is still lurking around, but today the fatigue is not so bad. It 's a lovely day, so i will test my walking ability and stamina - fingers crossed.
Next time it all comes back I will try not to give in to panic.
PS I tried inhaling steam for the nostril blocking and that helped a great deal ……….
Mandy says
re: hey dont despair honestly,
hey dont despair honestly, for as many posts as will reassure you there will be a few that send you panicing, i had one just the same, my caffeine withdrawal started with a horrible head symptom - not a headache - a weird feeling sensation, and there is a post on here , dated very early, about stress induced epilepsy and i freaked!! i started pacing round my house and i feel a twinge of as nxiety even now remembering it, honestly you have to bear in mind all the diverse experiene on here, all those stories, so there are bound to be some that push your own triggers, fears. and we dont know the whole story for "ed" do we. i do empathise, my caffeine withdrawal was some of the most difficult time i have spent in my life and i know well that feeling of p a nic thinking either, this will never get any better, or ive done permanent d as mage, or i have a serious illness, and i dr as nk hardley as ny compared to some, 350-400 mg a day, which i guess is why i seem to be coming through it now, i hope i hope i hope, dont let the despair take over. you are not alone with this.
User (60 yr habit) says
re: I am v worried, I was feeling
I am v worried, I was feeling like giving up today and decided to read through old posts here for encouragement, and I found this scary post:
"
Wed, 2010-12-22 11:00 — ed (not verified)
Long term problems after quitting 12 cup habit
Hi,
I wanted to know if anybody else feels like they've had long term withdrawal problems. Over about 10 years I went from very little caffeine to needing about 4 cups, or a full dark french press worth in the morning just to avoid a headache. Another at lunch. If I needed to feel up, I'd have several more equivalent shots. I had to quit because I could not sleep if I had any after lunch and if I did that then I'd be a complete bear in the evenings around my family and wake up with a headache in the morning (early withdrawal). My vision would also get blurry if I got stressed out and i got generally sensitive to lights and sound. I finally succeeded in quiting about 3 years ago, after going through terrible acute withdrawal. I get massive migraines (which as a guy, I'd never had before) between days 3-5 of cold turkey. I can get through that because I know it goes away after that. My problem was that I'd feel dumb and slow and had no motivation to do anything. I now know this as mild depression, which I was OK with as long as I could just mope around the house. But I felt that my family needed me to get stuff stuff done, or my wife would complain about low sex drive, and I'd fall off the wagon. To get off completely, I had to quit work and lay low. I'd use what little energy I had to get basic housework done. The depression has lifted verrrrrrry slowly, but worse, I seem to have worse sleep problems than before (I used to lay awake and think too much but now I've developed sleep apnea instead). Also, my nose is dry and swells shut at night, which did not happen when I was obeying my addiction. The apnea literature says that caffeine can help, so I'm trying to figure out what affect coming off of a big addiction has had on the tissues around my throat and nose. If I have a little caffeine, it seems to help a little. But i dont want to have a bunch to see if it clears up completely. In the meantime, I've been trying to take up chamomile, meditation and yoga, but I was raised red neck and its been really hard to get all hippy like this.
Advice welcome,
Ed"
I am in despairing mode now, if it happens to anyone it will happen to me - it took me years and years to recover from benzos and now this!!!!
Mandy says
re: YAY! indeed!! 5 months then,
YAY! indeed!! 5 months then, that's brilliant, i still have everything you describe except muscle cramps but i still have sleeping probs, i get to sleep easily but wake around two then restless, dozing perhaps for couple of hours, then back to sleep till eight ish. yes the weird head stuff, nearly impossible todescribe isnt it? so i get two types of things, pressure and weird, slightly moving sensations like what i think i might feel if bits of my brain had excess fluid in, ive always said it feels electrical and i was reading about paws and neurotransmitter s needing to re route and the do this in the thin membranes in the brain and i thought yeah that could be it. last saturday i got scared by having one and started crying and winding myself up, my husband was like take some tablets its a headache and i was like no its not like a headache, it feels different. thats waht id say really its never painful, dont feel lightheaded with it either but just weird, perhaps sometimes like little zaps of hot and cold, i would say this though, its still there but not as bad, provided idont get anxious about it and i just acknowlede it and think right there it is, just carry on you know and then it goes again. anything to do with the brain eh!!! scary. i wish it would all stop now and get you feel the same, what we gonna do eh.
User says
re: thanks for the link Mandy.
thanks for the link Mandy. If anyone can give me a link to any info re other people taking longer than normal specifically to caffeine I would be v grateful.
I have gone back to having clogged up nostrils which make it difficult to breathe and difficult to sleep, I had this symptom initially for a few weeks and now it has come back along with severe leg camps (plus all the other stuff). Does anyone else have (now or in the past) these sx?
Hi Lisa, glad you made it.
User says
re: YAY it worked!!! MANDY:)
Mandy I have terrible head symptoms too..can you describe them for me please?...This is Lisa:)
User says
re: Tryin to post
I am trying to post on here cause i have been having a hard time.. im five months and 1 week off caffeine and i am still having horrible scary head symptoms, anxiety, some fear but its getting better, my insomnia is gone, muscle pain, racing thoughts sometimes, head pressure, feelings of unreality..this all is so terrible and i cant believe how long its lasting.. i pray that i get my life back soon..i cant stand it anymore...just horrible stuff.....Lisa
Mandy says
re: its important to say they
its important to say they were general drugs pages but i think we've agreed on here that caffeine is a drug, even if not as dangerous as some....i did try to copy and paste but cant see how to do it on kindle anyway the page says things like: "paws can occur and recur for up to two years" "others have experienced lingering effects for years".....not to be depressing to anyone else reading this!!!! we're all different etc etc. i cant see how to post the link either so I'm writing it out shorthand: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/The-Symptoms-Of-Post-Acute-Withdrawal-Syndrome
hope you can find it from that, let me know if not and I'll get my lap top out. and for any other readers i cant vouch for the site etc, its all a bit of a persona learning journey and we need be selective.
so you emaphised with my mad woman part then lol, shes my baseline really with any functioning above this a bonus! oh dear this caffeine free experience feels like a double life. what have i got now? mild anxiety, full feeling in head, but the sun is shining and I've got a new book to read... ive got to actively manage this alongside rest as well, i cant spend my precious life waiting to feel better...continuing best wishes.
what a shame lisa can't post, lisa youre getting on for three months now i think, past the point of no return now dont let it beat you.
User says
re: I feel like a mad woman too,
I feel like a mad woman too, a new horrible angry paranoid person who is always in pain and has to walk bent over because of back ache, who doesn't care what what she looks like or anything much except getting through the day somehow.
Mandy do you think you could leave a link to any sites which talk about recovery taking 2 years, because I have not found them yet. and thanks for your update, it really helped me, and I hope it helps the others too. I hope Jackie is doing ok (and Rob )
Mandy says
re: still a bit preoccupied with
still a bit preoccupied with it all, just been looking up PAWS and thought of you as plenty of sites say 6 months to two years you know, which is reassuring isnt it... sort of. i would say slow and steady improvement for me, the weird head feelings and anxiety and waking up early are still going on and as ive said before the longer it goes on the more it gets me down, almost like i was brave and battling the first month of it but now im losing the strengh... . ah not really, i dont know eh what a strange turn my life has taken i feel like a mad woman. im glad caffeine is out of my life though no regrets. i looked up that sam carpenter link jackie suggested - hes a character he is, even s as ys "have some fun with it" at one point, talking about withdrawing from caffeine!! he also makes it clear its hard though and said it took him 9 months, anyway keep going eh, one day at a time.
and well done rob, ive read your update, and, all the best jackie and Lisa.
User says
re: Wow, no anxiety, no back
Wow, no anxiety, no back ache, you are doing well. I wish I could do as well as quickly. Just keep in mind why you want to stay off the stuff……
Jackie thanks for the encouraging post, I am busily trying to think of ways that I am feeling better than I did a year ago, and I suppose that on the rare days when I don't have any back ache and just have the fatigue, then I feel a bit better, but the iirritable mood is never ending. I can wake up feeling sort of ok then the minute the slightest thing goes wrong, back comes the nightmare personality.
The one thing I have noticed is that no matter how bad I feel, I never get depressed now(perhaps I am always too irritable to notice)
If I get a really good night, then I am ok, but that doesn't happen all that often, and the backache is 1000 times worse after a bad night (not really back ache, more neck, back, shoulder and hip ache)
Enough of this moaning, I hope you are doing as well as Rob and I offer you the same unasked for advice, keep in mind why you want to be off the stuff
`hope everyone on here is doing awap
Mandy, how are you?
Rob says
re: A slight change of plan....
Some interesting posts recently and a definite theme developing… Thanks also to those providing the usual warm words and encouragement lol !
While my tapering plan still sounds intuitively appealing and simple/easy, I don’t think it’s right for me. I didn’t make it past the train trip on Saturday before I ended up with a cup of coffee. The day turned into a mini-binge at the end of which I came to a conclusion very similar to Jackie’s below – I’ve done this before successfully by just stopping. No taper, no fancy plans, no dancing around it, just stop. As a friend of mine says, the way to stop doing something is to stop doing it.
So I just stopped. 8pm Saturday evening I drank my last coffee and ate my last piece of chocolate (it contains caffeine too). It hasn’t been pleasant, but I’ve done it. Sunday was a bad day, feeling my head getting muzzier, like sliding into treacle. Monday was a killer, right in the eye of the storm, body ached, head ached, couldn’t think. Tuesday started bad but got better as the day went on and by the evening I felt reasonable. I’m just beginning day 4 and I feel OK. Not great - my head is slightly muzzy, I’m thirsty, muscles are a bit twitchy, my stomach is still a little upset etc. but overall I’m not too bad. I can function. I also know that things can only improve now, so long as I just stay away from caffeine. I don’t know how long it will take and what will happen, but provided I don’t start poisoning myself again, I know my body will sort itself out and get things working the way they should again. I’m looking forward to feeling better.
I’m interested to see how everyone else gets on. So far I’m feeling pretty good – I’ve broken out of prison ! I may only be 50 yards away from the walls and still dodging the searchlights, but I can taste freedom and if I keep my wits about me, there’s no reason to end up back in a cell. I’ll post again in a few days as an update on my progress.
jackie from the U.K. says
re: I'm manning up...
Hi, everyone. I read the 2 replies to Rob's last post from the 2 anons....and they really got me thinking. Instead of fussing and fighting with myself, I finally wanted to 'man up' and just do it, no matter how I felt. Then, I found this fantastic blog by Sam Carpenter which basically echoed the same idea - find some backbone and inner strength and just do it. Here's the site for anyone who needs to buckle up and get on with it. http://www.workthesystem parts 1-3 Scratching the Itch, Life Cold Turkey, You are the Terminator. It made me see how my procrastination had been holding me back and that "by, say, cutting back slowly, the better the chance one will fail". Going cold turkey takes you out of the trap and means you're done with it and that "as significant time passes since the last ingestion, the better chance one will succeed." Suddenly, it all made sense. I've been completely caffeine-free before and I know how good it feels so what the hell have I been doing for the last 2 years?! Truth is, I guess, I was afraid (I'm not even sure what of now) but now I'm not. I've found some backbone. at last. Today is only day 1 and I woke up with a lot of anxiety about 'failing' but I thought so what and carried on and I feel strong now. I think one of the differences is that when I was trying to get off it by weaning, I was never really done with it (obviously). But now I've finally realised that cold turkey is the answer , I feel different because there is an end in sight. I just had to let it go. Someone said to me on here, nearly 2 years ago, "you'll do it when you want to, Jackie." So thanks to the 2 anons - and to anyone who's struggling to stop, check out Sam's blog, it's great! All the best to everyone. Jackie P.S. How's it going, Rob?
jackie from the U.K. says
re: Mandy
Hi, Mandy, glad things are still improving for you......it must be great to know that you're improving all the time - I'm really pleased for you. I had a couple of emails from Lisa a few days ago and it still won't let her post. She was still really struggling and was thinking of going back on it but I haven't heard from her again. How are you doing, Lisa? Well, thanks for your support, Mandy, and best of luck to you. I'm going to make a separate post as I've found a fantastic website that I want to share. TC Jackie
jackie from the U.K. says
re: To Anon
Sorry to hear you're still struggling, Anon. I think I've said before, but in all my online reading I've also read that it can take well over a year (even up to 18 months plus) to fully recover. Maybe because you were drinking it for so long, It's taking longer to get better? Although, as I've also said, at our age, we're not going to feel like teenagers. I know it's hard but try to just keep going. Could you try to think of ways it HAS improved, if only by a margin. That might help. All the best.Jackie
User says
re: hi mandy, I wish I could tell
hi mandy, I wish I could tell you i was doing as well as you are, but I feel so crappy and discouraged, it will be a year tomorrow since I had my last caffeine fix and so far it has not been worth it. I am only managing to keep on because of posts like this (which I can't remember were I copied it from, but it helps me)it might be from this site, but I just don't know. Anyway, here it is:
"I've been off of caffeine for a 1 year 3 months and I still have these symptoms. I have a tingling sensation through out my body. Let me not get started on the digestive problems!! It's not as bad as when I first started the withdrawal process, but it still sucks!! I was told that depending on the person it could take a year or more for your body to function normally without the caffeine. The body needs time to heal."
I just wish there was somebody else posting here that took as long as me to recover and then felt great. If there is anybody reading this who can relate, please let me know.
Mandy says
re: hope everyones getting on
hope everyones getting on okay with their quitting particularly those whove recently recommitted, rob and jackie. lisa how you getting on, and the anonymous i chatted with a couple of weeks ago? i hit the two months free mark a week or so ago and definitly feel better than ever a lot of the time, but still have a milder version of the initial withdrawal from time to time even now, incredible really, with some funny head feelings, some anxiety in the form of jelly legs and swirling stomach and not sleeping brilliant either. i slept really well, or so i thought on caffeine. funny how the head feelings have charged over time like a different readjustment jobs going on up there as each week goes by, anyway just want to post some continuing support.
User says
re: Does anyone know what type of
Does anyone know what type of coffee McDonald's uses in their brew? Or Dunkin Donuts
User says
re: Agreed 100 percent! Stop
Agreed 100 percent! Stop drinking it. Or keep drinking it! either way, man up and move on! Geez.
User says
re: Rob, if it only takes a few
Rob, if it only takes a few days as you said before, and I quote ' But it is only for A FEW DAYS. After 5 days I started to feel a whole lot better. Not 100%, it does take a few weeks/months to get back there, but you’ll be a whole lot better in a few days or a couple of weeks tops."
Why all the fuss? I don't get it……… Just stop drinking caffeine
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: Rob
Hi, Rob, I'm glad you had a reasonable day - it sounds like things went better than they might have done. Good luck for your train journey tomorrow - but as you'll have some caffeine in your system, already, maybe it won't be so bad. I'm not sure if you've had time to read my posts but I just had 1/2 cup of caffeinated tea this morning but I didn't like the 'tinny' taste and as the caffeine kicked in, I didn't like the way it made me feel. I didn't want any more caffeine all day which is something I would never have expected in a million years. Anyway, my commitment is now to stop the coffee completely and, if I feel like I do right now, stop caffeine altogether. I feel like I'm finally coming to the end of my road. Well, let us know how you get on and best of luck! Jackie
Rob says
re: End of Day 1
It’s the end of day 1 – or at least, I’ve taken my last “dose” and am heading home from work. I’ve felt pretty tired and have had a headache all day, although both have been mild and very bearable. I’m also really hungry and can’t wait to go to sleep tonight. On balance though, I’ve felt a lot better than when I’m drinking coffee. I’m less tense, and have had a good, productive day at work. I tried to go cold turkey (again) earlier in the week and made it until 10am, so I’m hoping this approach will be far more successful.
I’m going to London on the train tomorrow, so that will be a big challenge. There’s something about travelling, stations, getting a coffee and watching the world go by. I’m also going first class (it was cheap on a Saturday !) and I’m not sure if they give free coffee. Whatever, I guess it’s just another situation to be dealt with – I’ll just have to buy a bottle of water and a newspaper and be strong lol.
I’m feeling really good and positive about this process. Maybe a caffeine free life is in sight !?
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: To Rob, Anon, Mandy, Lisa and everyone..
Rob - first of all, you are a star! Your plan inspired me, too, and I replaced my coffee with caffeinated tea this morning, in an attempt to break the ritual/habit of drinking coffee (your great idea but with tablets). Oh my word, I can't believe what a difference it made! I drank half the tea - it tasted 'tinny' and I just wasn't enjoying it - I could feel the effects of the caffeine beginning to take effect and, amazingly, I didn't like what I was feeling! I threw the other half away and got myself an organic decaf tea, which I enjoyed much more. I really can't believe what I've just experienced! It just shows how we can get psychologically addicted to our beverage of choice i.e. it's not just the caffeine. Well, like you, Rob, I'm going to make a commitment, too. My commitment to to stop drinking coffee. If I feel I need caffeine, I will have the tea - and hopefully, it will be the same as this morning. I really hope you're still feeling strong and committed and btw, I loved what you said about going on the adventure of living a caffeine-free life. It changed my perception and opened up a new horizon of possibilities. PMA!
Anon, I hope you're staying the course and making some progress. I really hope you improve soon. Let us know how you're doing.
Lisa, I got your email and I will reply later but I will say now STAY OFF CAFFEINE!! I am not a doctor so this is just an opinion but from what I've read, your brain chemistry has been messed up very badly, especially because you were on benzos AND caffeine ....and it will NOT readjust/heal if you put caffeine back into your system. And you've done so long already. I'll write more in the email later but just wanted to let you know I feel for you and that it can get better.
Take care and stay strong, everyone. Jackie
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: To Mandy
Hi, Mandy, I'm so glad you got off diet coke because, apart from the caffeine, it rots your teeth and is full of toxic sweeteners (as you no doubt know). That must have been really scary and no wonder you thought you were having a seizure or something similar - so many people have had the same experience on here and and end up in A & E. But, from what I've read, EVERYTHING you describe is typical of the effects of caffeine and, as you are thankfully experiencing, these symptoms will reduce as your brain chemistry gets back in balance. With my history of endlessly trying to get off, I think you did incredibly well so a genuine well done! Oh, and caffeine does affect blood sugar, blood pressure etc. (I've done so much reading on this in the last 2 years lol) (My blood pressure had always been good but then shot up to 150/90 - very high for me - but is thankfully back down now.) But the good news is that as the caffeine gets out of your system, they will get back to 'normal', The only thing I'd ask you is how is your diet? You probably know but if you're having too much refined sugar/junk food etc, that will play havoc with your blood sugar etc. I'm very pro-healthy eating - as you've probably worked out! Well, keep in touch and if you want to email, my addy is on a reply to Rob. Btw, are you interested in Buddhism? Anyway, best of luck, Mandy, stay strong and thank you so much for your support. I'm going to do a short post about how I seem to be doing - feeling very hopeful! TC Jackie
Mandy says
re: i drank diet coke pretty much
i drank diet coke pretty much exclusively for 17 years or so, ive worked it out to be perhaps 400 mg a day, so not as much as some. but the withdrawal was terrifying and my worst life experience to date, dram a tic i know. ive thought about quitting many times but it took a real frightener for me to do it. it was about 11 oclock monday morning at work, id had a bad nights sleep, nothing to eat and was guzzling diet coke when i experienced what i can only describe as as head rush as if the blood in my brain moved up the back of my head to the front and then back again, i was sitting at the time so i thought... stroke, seizure etc etc then had a panic attack. blood tests came back fine but i was terrified and stopping coke seemed to be the only thing i could do proactive to stop it happening again, i went on to have shakes, dizzinezs, weird head feelings for about two weeks really bad then two weeks not quite as bad, then over the last month more fleeting episodes of yhe same with much morning anxiety, evenings always give me respite, ive had health anxiety through the roof (if anyone reading this thinks my head rush as sounds like some scary illness i do NOT want to hear about it, please respect that, id be okay with someone saying oh that sounds like dehydration though!) in the last few days ive had some twitchy vibrating feelings which ive seen reported in other posts so even two months on, and i still get cortisol rushes in the morning, feel like my blood sugar has been affected somehow, deeply regret the coke but i didnt know did i, got to move on now x
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: Thanks so much, Mandy ...
Thanks so much for your kind words and support, Mandy. 🙂 Congrats on being caffeine free for two months - that really is great news! How are your symptoms now? I'm not sure how much caffeine you were drinking but I'd be interested to hear all about your experiences and how things are going for you now. Thanks, also, for your thoughts re needing to accept how things are more - and I totally agree with you. I've always had a tendency to over- analyse how I'm feeling and to seek an escape from uncomfortable feelings etc. I'm familiar with the Buddist concept of non-attachment and I do have very strong spiritual beliefs so it might help to do some reading up on that again. I think I just need to accept, as well, that I am going to feel rough until I can heal my brain/body ...so thanks for this timely reminder - I think it's something I needed to hear. And I'll take a look at that book. All the best and keep in touch.Jackie
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: That's great, Rob...
Hi, Rob, that's really great, I mean it!! I must tell you that I was so pleased to read your first reply and to hear from you and that you actually got what I was saying about the brain hijack re addiction etc. I've had so many thoughts going round in this brain but couldn't possibly write them all here - my post would be 2 pages long and, also, my neurotransmitters are not firing off very well tonight haha so I'm very foggy. But about your first post, I agreed with and understood everything you said. For me, those patterns re pleasure seeking (or comfort or an escape from pain/lack of life etc) were laid down in my brain's memory very early on in my life i.e. sugar (as a child and for the rest of my life!), alcohol (in my teens and twenties), spending (forever and especially after that dopamine rush, of course) etc etc. So the brain learns those patterns and lays down memories so that you seek all of those pleasures automatically (and it is compulsive) via the same routes BUT the problem is this (according to what I've read) - dopamine urges us to SEEK pleasure as it's the motivator but it's NOT the actual pleasure, itself. So we get hooked to the rush but it's never satisfied...and so we keep searching whether it's food, caffeine/other drugs, gambling, sex, etc etc. What a giddy circle of life it is.
I realised today that I really AM a creature of my life's habits and those damn patterns (although they have diminished somewhat or changed in some areas e.g. food) .......and that this weaning off of is going to be very tough, after so many years, because, like you said, it's not just the caffeine, it's all the other stuff, as well, that creates an addictive personality. However, just as my brain has been messed up, I do believe we can retrain and take it back the other way. I'm writing too much already but I'm trying to get it sorted in my mind (sorry). One thing you did say at the end of your first post really struck me and that was that we need to use our rationality - and I so agree. I naively used to think that things would magically change and that each new day would bring that change and I'd just be able to stop drinking the damn stuff - what a fool! But at least I understand now and they say that self-awareness and understanding are the keys to change. So, no matter what happens, I will keep trying to retrain my brain and my habits and not give up (which I do have a tendency to do).
Well, back to your plan - I'm really pleased for you and you've given me an idea, too - I liked what you said about retraining habits/rituals by not having coffee but having tablets, instead. You see, I LOVE coffee, the taste. the smell - all of it so, in the morning, I'm going to make myself have caffeinated tea, instead - and see if that helps. I'll get my caffeine but not the pleasure of the coffee. I don't mind tea but it has no pull, at all, not even the caffeinated sort. I also wanted to say to you (and I hope it's OK) that you did an incredible job of getting off alcohol. I really mean that. Anyway, I'm writing too much and feel I haven't replied properly to your 2 posts........but my brain really is frying here lol.
I wondered if you wanted to email, Rob? Please don't feel obliged - but, if you do, my email is jackielee59 ....and then separating it out for security .... @hotmail.co.uk
If not, then that's fine and please let us know how you're doing on here, anyway. Best of luck!! Jackie
Mandy says
re: sounds very well thought out
sounds very well thought out to me rob, I'll keep an eye out for your posts and support you, having read your previous posts i know you've done well before and your posts have been a voice of reason ive found, as ive read during my two month abstinence...
the numerical captchas have been much easier daniel thank you.
Mandy says
re: hi jackie, i guess i am a
hi jackie, i guess i am a lurker! ive been two months quit of caffeine now and still check in most days, having worked my way thru about 217 back pages. ive read your previous posts and i wish you all the best this time i really do and I'll chip in with support if i think ive something sensible to add. the only thing id add now, and its based on how I'm feelin today which is a bit fed up, is this: i spend alot of my day thinking do i feel better now, am i better than yesterday, oh i feel nauseous again oh no etc etc i personally need to free myself from the hope that im going to feel better, great etc, you know like the Buddhist non striving non attachment thing. i notice you wrote that youre looking forward to feeling better or something like that, and im sure you will but i think it puts pressure on and adds expectations and for me i am going to try and be open either way as in: i wonder how I'll feel today, have you read the susan Jeffers books theres one called embracing uncertainty that i quite like. at the same time its hopefulness that motivates a person to start, so im wondering now whether i should just delete the last bit, anyway, with very best wishes, stay strong x
Rob says
re: A plan and a commitment...
Jackie, you’ve inspired me to make a plan and a commitment. My caffeine addiction has limited my life, work and happiness for too long. I’m going to ditch the cold turkey heroics and commit to a rational detox plan and go on the adventure of living a caffeine free life. I will :
• Taper off using 50mg caffeine pills. This will mean I get a measured dose of caffeine while also breaking the habit and rituals of drinking coffee.
• Start at 400mg a day, split over 4 doses of 100mg at 8am, 11am, 2pm, 5pm. 100mg is about the same caffeine content as a cup of coffee. The total is around two thirds of my current caffeine intake.
• Reduce by 50mg a day (one pill) until I’m at zero caffeine. In other words, taper over 8 days. I’ll time it so I finish at the weekend and plan to take it easy for a couple of days.
• Hydrate heavily during the detox – a litre of pure water between each caffeine dose, i.e. 4 litres a day to flush out my system.
• Try and eat well, take a standard multi-vitamin, get some daily exercise (even if it’s only a 20 minute walk) and get a full 8 hours sleep each night.
• Take it easy and don’t worry too much about fixing the rest of my life. First things first, get off caffeine, then figure out if anything else needs sorting.
• Expect it to be hard – I may feel bad, tired, grouchy. Who knows, I may even feel good !
In terms of commitment, well I don’t know any of you personally, but I’m making a commitment here. I will start tomorrow and finish my taper next Friday, Valentine’s day. Told you I have a thing about significant dates 😉
I’ll also commit to posting my progress every few days – that should help make sure I stick to the plan and may help someone else.
Rob.
Rob says
re: Thanks Jackie
Jackie
Great to hear from you and good to see you’ve got a plan. Good luck with it.
I like the article and agree with it completely. I am a recovering alcoholic – I haven’t had a drink in 21 years – but through my recovery I’ve struggled with other substances and behaviours. Food (particularly sugar), sex, spending and caffeine. My god, have I struggled with caffeine ! For the best part of my entire recovery from alcohol, I have been addicted to caffeine – physically and mentally. I have been obsessed with it and how I will stop using it. I have managed to get clean on 4 or 5 occasions for a few months at a time, yet the crazy head I have (an addictive one) has sooner or later persuaded me “one won’t hurt” and off I go again. As Einstein said, the definition of insanity is repeating the same behaviour and expecting a different result.
It’s interesting that you assume everyone here quits painlessly and easily. My experience is that couldn’t be further from the truth. I find it incredibly hard to quit; as I said, I’ve managed it only a handful of times in 20 years. I would consider caffeine at least as difficult to quit as smoking and we all know the power of that addiction – people smoke despite knowing they will almost certainly end up with catastrophic health issues as a result. But then that’s addiction – you can’t imagine your life if you keep using the thing you’re addicted to, but you can’t imagine life without it either. That’s a cold and lonely place to be. Isn’t it strange though that we can endure the pain of years of active addiction, but find the thought of a few days/weeks discomfort as we detox too much to bear ? Shows the power of dopamine and the reward centre…
My ego is also my enemy when it comes to quitting. I tell myself unless I do it cold turkey it doesn’t count - I “should” be strong enough to quit cold turkey and that if I taper I’m somehow cheating. I “should” be able to take it one day at a time, grit my teeth and get through it. I also do other self-defeating things like picking certain dates – I’ll quit on January 1st, my birthday, the first of the month etc. This means I procrastinate while I wait for the date to come round and then it normally comes and goes and life drifts on, with my spirit just a little more ground down. Addiction and the games we will play with ourselves to perpetuate it are quite remarkable.
I planned to quit over Christmas (yes, January 1st…) but didn’t. I really NEED to quit too. The relentlessness of the addiction and watching my life drift along in a caffeine haze is slowly driving me insane. Sounds melodramatic, but it really isn’t. I am simply but absolutely controlled by a dirty brown liquid. Just crazy. Finally I agree that sites like this are really useful; it makes me realise I’m not alone and that quitting is possible. You’ve certainly reminded me that my way doesn’t seem to work and maybe I should come up with a slightly more rational plan than just jumping out the trench and running at the enemy’s machine guns…lol.
Rob.
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: Thanks Anon
Thanks for replying Anon and thanks for your concern about me not trying to come off sugar etc at the same time as doing this Final Weaning. I didn't say in my post but I'm OK about that as my diet has been mainly very good for a long time (apart from Christmas, birthdays etc ). I already have that under control and feel better on it, too, so I already feel that's under my belt.....but, thanks, I do appreciate your thoughts. Also, I do really enjoy the food I eat so it's not hard, at all. To be honest, I've been driving my family crazy, endlessly talking about my diet ( I lost 5st 5 lbs about 13-14 years ago) and, for the last few years, talking about coffee.......so it's really nice to be able to talk about it all here. I think this Final Weaning (as I'm calling it) is going to be tougher than I first thought when I was all first fired up with the idea but that's the reality of it, I guess. Boldly on, any way.
Well, I'm sorry to hear you're still struggling, Anon. I think you've talked about this before but, when I was researching online, I did read that when caffeine consumption has been high and over a long period (like you), it can take up to 2 years for the brain to adjust and energy levels to reset to whatever is 'normal' for the individual. I guess when we're older, we're not going to feel like teenagers but it can be better than it is. Oh, and I agree with you, the fatigue is a killer - when I woke up this morning, I felt as if I hadn't been to sleep, at all, and it was the biggest drag to get up. But that's caffeine for you.
Well, all the best and keep in touch. And btw, I saw that Horizon was on - and I do intend to watch it on catch-up - but thanks. Also, best of luck to everyone and any lurkers - where is everyone, these days? Hope you're all doing awap. Jackie
User says
re: Hi Jackie, I do hope you can
Hi Jackie, I do hope you can stop feeling ashamed about your "failure" and I also hope that you will not try and give up sugar, wheat etc etc at the same time as giving up caffeine, you will be making it too difficult for yourself. If I were you, I would pig out on anything and everything that I liked on condition that I didn't take any more caffeine - I gave up sugar 3 or 4 years ago (I didn't know about my future problems with caffeine) and that was bad enough - I know I wouldn't be able to come off anything else besides caffeine. You are a human being, not a machine……. There will be a time to come off the sugar etc, if you still need to when you are off caffeine.
If you can you should watch the last horizon programme on sugar, very interesting.
I am finding that if I limit my activity to about 2 hours a day, I can keep my back ache, irritability etc etc to an acceptable level, the trouble is that life is more demanding than that, but at least I know - fatigue is a killer. I wish it would hurry up and stop.
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: My Final Attempt to Ditch Caffeine Forever!
Hello, everyone, I hope you're all doing awap. 🙂 I think I need to write this and I hope it's Ok - it's my 'confession', I guess. Well, anyone that remembers me will know that I have been battling to stop drinking coffee since March 2012. Yes, it's been that long and I just couldn't do it. I really couldn't. I did reduce my intake from about 500mgs to about 100 or 150 mgs max per day but I was still feeling ill, exhausted, irritable, with bouts of anger and fear flaring up, sleeping was still poor and my joints were so sore. And, also, I was obsessed about trying to get off it - always thinking about it, researching sites etc. I could never understand why everyone else on here mainly just stopped or weaned off easily. My coffee drinking felt utterly compulsive, like I had no control at all. For real. BUT then I came across this site and it changed my perception and helped me to understand that I wasn't a manic, I wasn't weak-willed, I wasn't a failure - it was that my brain chemistry had been hijacked! And suddenly it all made sense. The site is http://www.helpguide.org/Understanding Addiction How Addiction Hijacks the Brain. I found a few more sites that explained it in the same way and after a few days wrestling with my perceived inability to stop, my perception suddenly changed and I realised that if I did a genuine weaning over a period of, say, 3-4 weeks then my brain chemistry WOULD start to adjust and heal and I WOULD regain control again. I finally felt calmer and stronger because there was a way out. Well, today is only DAY 1 but I have a plan and I WILL stick to it. For 5-7 days, I have already reduced my morning coffee to 3/4 of a teaspoon and the same for the afternoon cup. No more than 2 a day. I will then reduce to 1/2 teaspoon a day for 5-7 days and then to 1/4. I will also reduce the size of my cup, accordingly. When I'm on 1/4 teaspoon, I'll also have a fruit smoothie and then ditch the coffee completely. That bit might be hard but I'm hoping I'll be stronger and feeling a little better by then. If I feel like I can reduce earlier, I will, but it depends on how I'm feeling. Also, no sugar/junk food/wheat and I'm vegan so no dairy/animal products - my diet will be superb and not add to the blood sugar problems etc. For the first time, I do feel calm and feel like I have found a way out. I hope it's OK if I 'report' back here as to how I'm doing - I feel like I need to document it, if that makes sense. Spring is only just around the corner and I want to be feeling better by then - and, in a way, I already do!
Well, I hope everyone is doing awap - Lisa, Anon, Rob and all the lovely people on here. Many thanks to everyone for their past support and help and best wishes to all. Jackie