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
Rob says
re: What's up ?
Sounds worrying Viv - what's happening ?
viv says
re: I am feeling so dreadful, if
I am feeling so dreadful, if there was a way of giving up that didn't make me feel worse, I would give up at this point.
Joy says
re: Anxiety
I'm not a doctor Of any kind but your issues with anxiety sound very similar to that of someone who has low magnesium levels. Having a regular blood test will not indicate wether or not you have a magnesium deficiency. You would have to ask your doctor for a specific test to determine your body's magnesium level.
What I would do is take myself to Sprouts or any health food store that sells vitamins and find a powder called CALM. You mix it in water per instructions and I would be surprised if that did not help you.
Good lucj
Jackie says
re: Rob
Hi, Rob, how's it going - did you stop at the weekend?
I think you're right.....see my reply to you on page 4. Also, I'll add that I think we are 'taught' to self-medicate from a very early age. Kids (even under 1) are given sweets/chocolate/sugar to placate them or as a reward/treat etc and we learn that sugar calms us down and makes us feel happy - and if you eat A LOT of sugar/carbs, oh boy, do you feel calm and sleepy. The traditional British diet is awash with sugar/salt/bad fats/high glycemic carbs and they play havoc with our blood pressure/blood sugar etc. Then you've got the caffeine playing havoc with your cortisol levels etc etc. With the advent of Starbucks/Costa in the U.K., going to the coffee house was seen as cool (did Friends start it off?) and it became an integral part of many people's social life. Then if you add on the stress of growing up/school/peer pressure/ university/trying to find a job/the work place- the rat race lifestyle ...no wonder we all try to 'self-medicate'. It's my belief that it's not just culturally shaped, either. We don't come into the world as an 'empty vessel'. Kids are born with their own personalities and have their own innate stresses/fears/worries etc. So add on the biscuit tin etc to all that and some of us spend our lives trying to make ourselves feel a better. Well, any more thoughts? Do let us know how you're getting on - all the best.
TwoTrees says
re: Jackie
Thanks Jackie. It's been 6 days now since I had that last decaf, and I've just today started to feel a little bit better. It's very weird, before my first panic attack in July, I never had any issue with the amounts of coffee I was intaking. Ever since, and ever since I started the withdrawal process, I still get these ridiculous 5-10 second instances throughout the day where it feels like complete dread/panic, only to have them flutter away without a consequence. I never had these before. Are they mini-panic attacks? Like I said in my initial post, the severity of the panic attacks have gone down drastically. Last week before that decaf experiment and the week before that, I was feeling awesome (roughly 4 weeks into no caffeine). Ever since the decaf last Friday, though, it's like that space between the bottom of my ribs is constantly tickled and tight with panic/anxiety. I drank Holy Basil tea on occasion to see if it would bring down my anxiety and panic, which it did, but always gave me headaches a few days after daily brewing (I've always gotten headaches with ANY tea, must be the tannins or something). It's like a surge of unrooted fear and doom, multiple times a day, for a few seconds each time, and then nothing. All of my other symptoms of "standard" withdrawal have gone away (headaches, lethargy, brain fog, sore joints and neck pain). The only thing that remained is this anxiety from absolutely nothing. I've been trying to read more on neurotransmitters to see how long those things take to rebalance after long-term caffeine usage, and it seems like my GABA is still out of sync. How did I figure this? Well, about a month ago I drank some Valerian Tea for insomnia (I'm assuming from the caffeine withdrawal), and noticed the following days after taking the Valerian I had NO anxiety/panic issues/weird 5-10 attacks WHATSOEVER. Valerian apparently binds to the GABA-A receptors, so maybe this is why I felt normal those two days (albeit incredibly tired lol). Anyway, maybe it's post acute withdrawal syndrome. With PAWS, it can take anywhere from 3-6 months, even up to a year for the neurological symptoms to improve. Such a struggle! Hah! Dealing with an off week from withdrawal currently, I've read caffeine cessation can cause cyclic withdrawals with up and downs where you'll think you're better, then back down again with the anxiety and panic the next week. Started going gluten free as well, to see if maybe I've suddenly developed a what allergy and that could be cause for the panic/anxiety episodes. If these 5-10 second bouts of out-of-nowhere fear would just go away, I'd be perfectly back to normal. Cheers to the ongoing struggle!
Rob says
re: Cause and effect ?
Interesting comments on prolonged withdrawal and symptoms lasting a number of years.
They've got me wondering about my latest pet theory ! People seem to be saying that they quit caffeine and many years later are still suffering from withdrawal, and are therefore drawing the conclusion that caffeine must be causing the symptoms. I wonder if this is true ?
My theory has me wondering about the hypothesis that the symptoms were there all along, but that we used caffeine to "treat" them, or that the caffeine masked them. In other words, we were unwittingly using caffeine as some kind of (flawed) "medicine".
Maybe it's true more for psychological issues than for physical ones - for example, my girlfriend's daughter has ADD for which she is prescribed a strong stimulant that calms her down. I don't know why it would calm her down, but it does. I wonder if some of us have inadvertently found that caffeine does the same thing ?
As I say, just my little pet theory I'm working on....
viv says
re: I'm not the only one who is
I'm not the only one who is taking more than 3 years to recover!!!
i just read this on another caffeine forum:
Steven September 19, 2016, 10:51 am
Same here Jennifer, you’re not alone! I wanted to quit smoking, and every time I tried I didn’t feel like drinking coffee any longer… so I quit that too. Although…I kept failing at trying to quit both, so I tried just the coffee first. This led to extreme panic attacks, the… I’m dying right now variety. Those were the absolute worst experiences of my life.
The initial episode lasted about three months. This experience was in 2013 and I’m still dealing with some residual anxiety. Finally, sought some help recently and doing a little better. One thing I know for sure… you could NEVER get me to touch anything with caffeine in it again. Best Regards, Steven
viv says
re: Thanks again for your support
Thanks again for your support Jackie, my symptoms have changed over the last year, all the pain has moved up from my hips and legs to my shoulders and neck, it is impossible to get comfortable in bed, I have tried every type of neck support pillow and none of them help, so my sleep has deteriorated because of the pain. i can't think of anything else to say at the moment, but the minute I close my computer, I expect I'll think of hundreds of things I wanted to say...
i look forward to your next post!
Jackie says
re: TwoTrees
Hi, sounds like you've had a rough ride with the anxiety and panic attacks......and to answer your last question, I would say from my understanding and experience and other people's testimonials that, yes, your symptoms ARE coming from caffeine withdrawal. If you google Smithsonian:This Is How Your Brain Becomes Addicted to Caffeine, this article explains the science behind it. However, in some people's experiences, it can take a lot longer to reset the brain's chemistry and feel 'normal' again. You were having a fairly high amount of caffeine every day for 7 years - so it's going to take a while to reset and recover. Regarding the panic attacks (that must have been scary for you), if you google caffeineinformer:panic attacks, this article explains about anxiety/panic. Caffeine informer is a pretty good site, in general, with lots of info. I find it helps to understand the science behind how I'm feeling - I'm not sure if this would help you, of course. It does sound like you've become sensitive to caffeine but the good news is that you're already on your way to detoxing and recovery as your panic attacks are decreasing, already. Btw, as you perhaps know, decaf still contains about 4% caffeine and contains other stimulants - so bad news!
Well, good luck and keep us informed. Jackie
TwoTrees says
re: Anxiety...suddenly?
Hi everyone. I'm very glad I found this website, as I have what I believe to caffeine withdrawal symptoms. The more I read the threads here, the more I seem to find my myriad of problems lining up perfectly with everyone else's. Before I go into this, I'd just like to add that I am 31 years old, male, and have been drinking between 400-600mg of caffeine for the previous 7 years, every day.
On July 1st of '16, I went to the ER with what I thought was a neck injury. A week before this happened, I was standing by my front door waiting for my family to go to Waffle House when I felt an immensely weird twinge in my neck. Almost instantly, I had ridiculous anxiety and almost near panic attack. After a few hours, I calmed down and figured it was just an odd sensation. A week later, after my neck was still feeling sore, I got horribly numb sensations and weird palpitations. Figuring I screwed up my spine, I went to the ER where they took a CT scan and ran all sorts of blood tests. Everything was fine, the CT of my head and neck was completely normal, said I had a panic attack (the first in my life) and that I should talk to my doctor about anxiety.
Before this day, I've NEVER in my entire life had anxiety, even while drinking coffee. Yes, here and there I've been a hypochondriac, but never felt anxiety. I guess the panic attack was indicative of this, though, so I went to the doctor and he gave me Citalopram to take for "situation anxiety"? Took it for 3 days and wanted to kill myself, so I stopped completely. Bear in mind, at this point I'm having panic attacks DAILY, sometimes a few times a day. Why? What in the world happened to my perfectly carefree life that this had to now happen nearly 24/7?
As luck would have it, I completely stopped drinking coffee and all caffeine the night after the ER trip. It has now been nearly 3 months, and I'm STILL having these ridiculous sensations and symptoms, which are: Tingling in hands and feet, weird crawling sensations on my head and face, hot flashes right before panic attacks that instantly give me gas or BM, and a steady anxiety that soon turned to agoraphobia (from the fear of panic attacks, which I apparently had to just live with now, for no reason). Also weird jittery inner feelings I like to call the "Jangles" lol, as well as nervousness and sometimes ridiculous derealization/depersonalization.
Throughout all of this, I tried and went back to coffee 4 different times (in 3 months). This time, at 4 weeks and 2 days caffeine-free, the panic attacks have finally stopped (the last one was 8 days ago). I still have the tingling and face sensations and occasional head crawls, but the headaches stopped a long time ago. Really, the worst of it is the anxiety. I just feel scared and weirdly paranoid for absolutely no reason. Open spaces like malls and grocery stores make me really dizzy and pressure-ridden in my head. When I was having the panic attacks, they started as full blown in July, weirdly abdominal and hot flashy in August, to nearly non-existent in September. Like I said before, this 4th cycle off coffee has been the longest, and coincidently the best I've been with the panic episodes. If I have them now, it's only very mild sensations that last for 5-10 seconds throughout the day. Maybe a few times every couple of hours. The full-blown palpitation attacks have nearly been non-existent, though (thank goodness).
Sorry for the book here, but of course like you all, thought I could go back to caffeine after feeling sorta/kinda better. Yesterday, I bought some decaf, and drank a cup last night and this morning. Bad idea. I went right back to the weird stomach sensations and feelings of "dread/doom", if you know what I mean. I've seen my doctor three times during this 3-month ordeal, and each time he tries to tell me it's a different type of anxiety, then gives SSRI's for it. I never take them, and I don't want to.
Is this ALL from caffeine withdrawal? I hate that my weird neck episode lines up so closely to when I stopped my regular caffeine regime, but the CT scan can't lie and my neck feels much better since the end of July (only spasms and dull pain now, but that's to be expected with caffeine withdrawal). Would love to have anyone comment and share their stories. Thanks for listening.
Jackie says
re: Viv
You're welcome.....and I do have partial understanding. The on-going effects of long-term prescription drugs/caffeine usage must be brutal. . I remember Lisa - who was coming off benzos and caffeine - do you know what happened to her?
Thanks, also, for your continued support and patience. It's been a long road - but I feel we are getting there. I've found it does change you as a person. I had to learn to stop looking for quick fixes and to stop looking for answers 'out there'. You can read a million articles on cold turkey, weaning, brain chemistry etc etc but, in the end, you have to apply the methods and get through it. I have also learned to stop beating myself up and wasting energy on why I haven't done it before. Need to keep focussed on the future and getting better. In short, I feel like I'm finding some inner strength at last.
Well, I hope life is a little less demanding for you and, as ever, that things improve. All the best. Jackie
Jackie says
re: On manning up........
Thanks for your input and for saying that I am a caring person. I do try to offer as much support as I can. However, telling people to 'man up' isn't supportive - it has a judgemental tone and explicitly infers that the person is lacking and weak. That isn't encouraging and supportive. You tell me not to judge but that is exactly what you are doing - you are judging me. People come on here and talk about how their lives have been devastated, how they are ill, in despair and exhausted, how they have to negotiate lives that are very demanding due to other circumstances, such as being full-time carers - and instead of offering support, despite your veiled tone, you criticise. You also say that everyone is entitled to their opinion and suggestions. - well, so am I. I know that Rob struggles with the idea of 'manning up' - he said this himself and someone said it to him on here a while back - maybe it was you. So I said that to try to help him not to feel bad about himself. We beat ourselves up enough without anyone else joining in! You are right in that you say I have to be more realistic. I used to think there was a magic, quick fix for my addiction but have learned, the hard way, that that is fantasy land. I know I am the only one that can stop and I know it sucks. But I keep trying and won't give up.
It makes me wonder why you only bother to make posts like this instead of offering true support and encouragement. If you had said to me - 'Jackie, you did it for 40 days, you can do it again!' - now THAT would have been supportive. But you chose to tell me not to be judgemental etc etc. We ALL make choices that maybe aren't the best. You have no personal connection to me and never offer general support on this forum (none that I have seen) which makes me think it just irritates you that we don't just stop. That says more about you than it does about us. But that is just my opinion, of course. Well, thanks, again - and maybe you could give us your story about getting off of caffeine, assuming that you did? Jackie
Anonymous says
re: You seem like a very caring
You seem like a very caring and wonderful lady. But you arent very tolerant to opinions that disagree with yours. Personally I myself have never read 'nasty comments' on this board and even tho you might not like when another reader says something you dont like such as to 'man up' ---- everyone is entitled to their opinions and suggestions. Some readers are VERY realistic ----- the only way to be off of the drug is to QUIT taking it. You might choose to taper or wean for years, but at the very end you still have to STOP and never go back! It sucks no matter how you do it. 🙂 So please dont judge others or say "they have no idea what theyre talking about". They just might! All the best to everyone. 🙂
User (60 year habit)Viv says
re: I wonder how Shane is doing,
I wonder how Shane is doing, if you ever read this post I hope you will come back and update us. Here is your post from August 2015, which is so close to my progress that it could have been written by me!
Long time reader- first post
Hello all! I've been visiting here about a year and a half. This site and the good people who have shared their stories here have helped me keep my sanity over the last almost two years since I've stopped caffeine . Since stopping I've had the most severe and bizzare symptoms. It is still hard to believe that just stopping something as "harmless" as caffeine has led to all of this suffering. But, I quit cold turkey twice. The first time after about three months I couldn't take it anymore so I started back, but because the gastro issues got so bad again ( which is the main reason I stopped to begin with) I stopped cold turkey again. The withdrawal symptoms were even more severe the second time! Now it has been almost two years and though better I still am far from a 100%. I have had problems after quitting caffeine that I NEVER had before I stopped! Some but not all would include: panic attacks, dizziness, tinnitus, eye problems, feeling as if a tight band is wrapped around my head, agoraphobia/social anxiety, feel unsteady when walking like I'm floating, flashes out the corner of my eyes where I think I see a spider, hip and back tightness and pain, arms and legs going numb, catastrophic thinking, etc... One of the most infuriating and frustrating things is that the doctors do not listen! They may say that I was self-medicating with caffeine but they don't answer what I was medicating. Basically they all say there is no way quitting caffeine would cause all the symptoms that I have had and especially for as long as I've had them, even though NONE of them started until I stopped. One doctor said that she didn't know what was wrong but maybe I should just start drinking coffee again or take an SSRI. Now, if one doesn't know what's wrong why prescribe a med?! Sounds like throwing darts in the dark to me. Anyway, thanks for listening to my ramblings. 🙂
Shane
Jackie says
re: Betsy
First, I absolutely know that, when you've been consuming even 1 cup of coffee over a long weaning period, the withdrawal symptoms can still be very extreme. I weaned down to mostly 1 cup of coffee (instant, mostly, so weaker) in the morning and the effects were still awful. But that's the result of decades of drinking it - and I believe that, because I started having Starbucks/Costa coffee in the run-up to trying to quit, the heavier caffeine content made those symptoms worse.
If you've altered your brain chemistry over a long period, it's going to take longer to balance out again. You've already done a lot of work by tapering down. I found I just had to try to keep moving it in the right direction and to be very wary of my triggers.
One thing that helped me was that I tried to focus away from coffee. When I was still heavily into weaning, I still WANTED it so much. I came on here endlessly, read endless articles about weaning, how caffeine affected the brain, posted on other forums, thought about it all the time etc etc. In a way, that kept me in it. Someone said to me on here years ago, "you'll stop when you want to". Looking back to a couple of years ago, I DIDN'T want to. Now I DO want to stop and get my life and health back - and I try to focus away. When I stopped for 40 days (a long time for me), I just wasn't thinking out it. With my lapse, I'm trying to go down that same path. I get in the garden (I'm planting out for winter atm). I have arthritis (I'm 65) but have someone to do the heavy weeding etc and so I get to do the enjoyable part. I love being outside - it makes you feel so much better, even in winter. I eat a very healthy diet and that does help (and I'm never hungry). I used to be VERY overweight but have now lost nearly 6 stones. I look after my family as best I can. Do you have family?
I guess I'm trying to say, there is a life beyond/without coffee - a much better life. Everyone documents how much better they feel when through the awful withdrawal period. Well, I hope this helps. Jackie
User (60 year habit)Viv says
re: Jackie, Rob, and Betsy
Thanks for the encouragement Jackie, I know what you mean about acceptance, but it is so hard… especially coming on top of a 25 year period of hell recovering from prescription drugs.
I have caught up with all your posts now, and it is a great relief to read that Rob is going to stop being so hard on himself and is going to try to taper, I wish I had somebody similar to me in my caffeine wd story, I am sure that you can help each other to taper off and stay off this time. and Betsy, I am caffeine sensitive too, and only drank two cups of tea a day, (unfortunately for at least 60 years of my life), so the length of time I had been drinking it has made my recovery period incredibly long, which makes me hopeful that your recovery will be short as you haven't been on the stuff for very long (comparatively).
Anyway, I wish you all a speedy recovery….
Betsy says
re: Brief History
Jackie, to begin with I have become extremely sensitive to caffeine. I could never drink it for years. Mostly coffee gave me instant reflux and shakiness so I just didn't do it. Except for an ocassional Pepsi or Coke with lunch, caffeine just wasn't part of my life. Now I am nearly 65. I had just taken a promotion that moved me back to the area near my parents where I was born & raised. So my addiction started late in 1999 when I found a coffee shop that had great bagels. One morning I was really tired from no sleep for a few nights so I tried a small cup with my bagel. The way they brew their coffee is different. They flavor their beans overnight and then grind them fresh every morning instead of pouring that liquid flavor junk in a cup before pouring some coffee overtop. That cup of coffee gave me a very slow, mildly alert wake-up that hooked me. I made me feel 'normal' and social. A couple of years later after developing stomach problems, I had to give it up. That withdrawal period was brutal, but at the time I never connected it to addiction. I thought I was just sick and crazy from work stuff! Over the years after that, I have been on again-off again...each time becoming more sensitive so I need less. I rarely drink more than 1 coffee in a day but I might add a Pepsi. So when I said I tapered using tea, I sip 1 bottle of brand name iced tea over the course of the day, then I keep cutting it back over a few days until I quit again. It always seems like I could not possibly have had enough caffeine to produce such withdrawal symptoms, but they are there and the cravings are too. I crave the feeling, not the taste...but I have to admit that this time of year I do love that pumpkin spice coffee and I savor each swallow
Jackie says
re: Betsy
Betsy, my heart went out to you - losing your parents so close together must have been beyond awful. I do understand about the despair, feeling bleak. Despite my bravado in my recent posts, I woke up this morning with that emptiness and desolation that only caffeine will fix - and I know I'll feel it again tomorrow - this, despite having stopped for 40 days, recently. I now understand why alcoholics cannot have even one drink, as it sends them back into the chemical dependence. As Rob has said you have to haul yourself back up from down the rabbit hole.
I'm very glad you posted as I have felt very alone (apart from Rob) in my inability to completely stop. I started weaning four and a half years ago and have been beating myself for most of that time. But I won't do that any more. That's one thing I've learned. I still can't quite believe I'm here again after stopping for 40 days.
I wanted to ask you how much you weaned down to? I, too, am retired but am a full-time carer for my daughter who has a long-term illness so life is demanding. Would it help you to tell us a little more about your life? Anyway, keep us posted. All the best. Jackie
Betsy says
re: Thank you Rob! I thought I
Thank you Rob! I thought I left my name on my post but it seems I didn't...with the "no I'm not a robot approach" to post here I must have overlooked it when I edited my post. Yes the despair is so hard to get past and the beating myself up part never helps! I know I'm not alone but it feels like it and I kept coming back here and no one had posted in a long time so I just re-read some old posts which only soothed my anxiety but gave me no incentive to quit again. I had no caffeine yesterday and tonight I am wide awake. The exhaustion will set in within a day or so and then all I do is sleep (thankfully I am retired now!). The brutal headache doesn't start for 3 days for some weird reason. At least this time my caffeine intake was less than it has been in the past when I tried quitting. I'll see how it goes. I tapered with tea this time...from coffee & coke/pepsi. My longest was 1 year (2011) but then my father got disabled and died less than a year later @ 91, followed by about a 3 year failure and death of my mother right after his death so I gave up trying to quit. After she died I was grieving them both. But now, I have no excuse...
Jackie says
re: Viv
Hi, Viv, I really was sorry to hear you're still struggling - where has all the time gone for us? I can truly understand how discouraged you feel - and I know your life is very demanding so you must feel worn out both physically and mentally. Of all the people who have posted on here, you have had the longest PAWS to deal with. I hope posting was cathartic for you - I don't talk to anyone, either, so I know that it is helpful to be able to be honest here. I think, if you can, take heart by how far you've come but, also, I think that we have to sometimes accept how we feel and try to move through it - and look after ourselves as best we can. There is no magic fix (as I used to think).
You are a very strong person to have kept going, no matter what. If you need something to hang on to, remember that you have improved and are still improving. All the best.Jackie
Jackie says
re: Rob
Well, I think we self-medicate all the time whether it's caffeine, alcohol, food (especially sugar, salt/fat) etc... but I know what you mean. I've been trying to remember and I think it's helpful. I did start to drink (alcohol) when I was 14, in the pubs/dancehalls where I used to go dancing and to see the live bands (this was the 60s). I wasn't drinking that much coffee back then but I was given tea at home from a very early age so my brain chemistry was being messed up even then. Being honest, all through my teens, we all used to get drunk although I never took drugs, as such. I used to smoke until I had my children, as well, but never got addicted to that, at least. I remember feeling that I couldn't enjoy myself unless I was drinking back then - and I used to go out all weekend and 2-3 times through the week, drinking. I remember feeling empty and flat and only looked forward to going out at the weekend - obviously affected by the booze. I hated school and couldn't wait to start work. At 16, I started drinking coffee more at work and the rest is history, as they say.
At a deeper level, the materialistic world in which we live promotes an unsatisfying lifestyle - consumerism rules and we think we'll be happy if we get more money, have more holidays, get a better job, a bigger house etc. With advancing technology, it's all the latest gadgets and media stuff etc. The amount of money you can spend a a bloody phone is ridiculous, when you think about it - just so you can post of fb or twitter lol....... and legal stimulants which stimulate the pleasure seeking chemical just makes us buy even more stuff! But we are never satisfied or comfortable in ourselves (to put it mildly). I saw a video on fb a couple of months ago which struck a chord. It was an actress/model, Amber (can't remember the surname) and she'd come out as being a former drug addict (cocaine etc). She talked about how we are all trying to 'get out of ourselves' and other pertinent observations. Trouble is, you can know all of this with a rational mind but it still doesn't fix your fecked up brain!
Btw, Rob, I wanted to say, very strongly, do not 'loathe' yourself, as you said. Realise that it IS your brain chemistry that is messed up and have some compassion for yourself. God, if it was 'easy' or simple to just stop, we would have done it years ago. No-one would CHOSE to feel as ill,as in despair or as exhausted as this. I used to feel lacking or weak or whatever - and some people's nasty comments used to affect me - but not now. They don't know what they're talking about and just don't affect me in any more. Their comments say more about how they feel about themselves. In some ways, I've grown a lot in the last 4 years and have finally taken responsibility for my current situation. OK, I might have been given caffeine at a young age etc but I can't change that - I can only change what I drink now.
Well, this has been very cathartic and helpful as it HAS made me realise how much I've changed - I was insane on here when I first started posting lol. So.......it's one day at a time and no agonising over the past for me. Good luck and keep us posted. Jackie
User with 60 year habit says
re: Hello Rob and Jackie,
I
Hello Rob and Jackie,
I wondered if it was yo Jackie in the post where you first mentioned the '50 year habit" and I am so glad to hear from you and Rob, especially as you are both in the same boat so that you can encourage each other. I haven't posted under my '60 year habit" label until now because I didn't want to frighten people, but I know that you and Rob can take it…
The fact is that I am still off the caffeine, but feeling very discouraged because although I am definitely slowly improving, at 3and a half years off, although I fully expected it to take at least 5 years (given my history) to recover, the process is wearing me out, I can almost walk with a straight back now, but there is still no pleasure in walking, because after about ten minutes the back ache starts to become unbearable and the fatigue kicks in. These things have all definitely improved,but the pain is still enough to make it impossible to feel comfortable in any position, and when I wake up over and over again the pain seems unbearable.
I am sure that if I could go back to how bad I felt for the first year, I would be amazed at how much i have improved, but it is difficult to remain hopeful some times. I don't talk about it to anyone either, because i know that nobody would believe me. so I have missed your presence here a great deal.
I see a physiotherapist regularly, and have been doing some mobility and strengthening exercises for the last year and they have helped a bit, but the muscle weakness and fatigue will take however long they take, because they are still affected by the caffeine's effects upon my brain, so I try not to expect too much but my patience is wearing very thin!
I wish that I felt less discouraged and I hope that it won't discourage anybody else to read about my discouragement, I am just so worn out by this endless process. You are at least lucky in that it won't take as long for you, my genetic inheritance is the problem here...
Rob says
re: Hi Jackie
Thanks Jackie, good to hear from you and to see that you’re still fighting the good fight.
Another point I didn’t mention is that I am starting to wonder if there is an element of self-medication in my caffeine addiction. My partner’s daughter has been diagnosed as ADD and prescribed a strong stimulant (maybe Ritalin, not sure) to treat it. When they saw the doctor to discuss medication, he apparently talked about caffeine as being in the same class of drugs and felt that if it were discovered today it would be categorised and managed in a similar way.
I wonder if one of the reasons it’s so hard to quit is that (for some of us at least) it’s so much more than “just a cup of coffee”. In other words it’s not just that the caffeine has adjusted our brain chemistry, but that the brain chemistry was never right in the first place. In a sense the caffeine is a medication or treatment and when you take it away, you’re left with the problem ?
There’s probably no way of proving it, but I do wonder….
Jackie says
re: Rob
I completely understand, Rob, same here (mostly). It's nothing at all to do with manning up - it's about altered brain chemistry. The repetition of behaviours, thoughts and feelings create neurological patterns in the brain (that's why we can drive 'on auto') and if they are repeated and repeated, it becomes an active, embedded part of the brain. There are many scientific studies which have identified this, in relation to the use of addictive drugs, including caffeine. The patterns can be changed but it takes time - and you have to be vigilant, even when you think you've beaten it. I had been off it for 40 days (the longest ever) - and I really thought I'd cracked it. A major trigger incident occurred - and I reacted - opening up that pathway/part of my psyche yet again. The voice in your head seems to be your trigger - and you've repeated the pattern again and again (like I have) so the roller coaster ride continues. I remember when I stopped for 40 days, I HAD retrained my brain and just did not want the caffeine any more. Simply that.
But I won't beat myself up - I know how to stop so will do it again. I totally agree with your last statement as it's the attitude we need to foster. And btw, just don't listen to anyone if they try to tell you to 'man up' - they have no idea what they're talking about! All the best. Jackie
Rob says
re: Quitting again
I’ve been on this caffeine roller-coaster for many years. I have learned that (without a shadow of doubt) caffeine is a very powerful drug and it’s a bitch to get off it. I’ve done it a few times, always cold turkey, but after a while (the longest was 4 months) a little voice in my head starts whispering that a coffee would be a good idea and I’m back on it. Pretty much immediately I feel sick – upset stomach, anxiety, generally toxic – and I can’t believe I’ve done it again. Building up to the next quit can take weeks/months and is always painful : headaches, lethargy, depression, muscle spasms and body aches. The whole junkie detox thing.
The hardest part is the despair. Not just the depressive state that comes with withdrawal, but the feeling of powerlessness and hopelessness that comes from repeating the same behaviours despite knowing they’re bad for you. I start to loathe myself for being so weak, for giving in again and for not being “man enough” to just stay stopped. It’s a really bleak place to be.
Anyway, I’m building up to quitting again ! I think I’ll go for it this weekend, but may take a different approach. I’ve recently done some research and all those that have any scientific background seem to suggest tapering off is a more intelligent approach, with a greater chance of success. Cold turkey may appeal to my ego, but it’s not the best approach when you understand what’s happening biologically – my body has adapted to the presence of caffeine, so it makes sense to be kind to it and allow it to adapt slowly to the removal of caffeine rather than shock it and put it into a state of crisis.
User says
re: Despair
Sorry to hear you're still struggling. I've had a long battle and even though I have periods off it, I have slipped back again and again. I was off for a full 40 days and am now back to where I started - or so it seems. I can hardly believe it, myself. I now understand that the only way is to wean and to keep moving in the right direction - and, sometimes, to pass through the feelings and allow the brain to heal. Harder said than done, I know. When I had been off it for over 30 days, I really thought I'd cracked it. But it is so easy to slip back into a 50 year habit and so hard to keep trying to make new ones. But you have to keep trying. The alternative is not pretty.
Good luck to all - and I hope people will come back. Let's ignore any negative comments and support each other, I say.
User says
re: Re pain
After being on and off caffeine for a long time, I realised that caffeine was masking my joint pain. Whenever I managed to stop for a period, I felt it all the time. The good news is that with healthy eating, it did improve. That meant no sugar, wheat and all the things that contribute to inflammation. I also ate/drank lots of anti-inflammatory foods/drinks- redbush tea with almond milk is my comfort drink now - and that really did help, as well. Good luck and hope this helps.
User says
re: have you tried weaning
have you tried weaning ourself off more slowly? I couldn't get past the despair either and went back on and weaned myself off over about 3 months.
User says
re: Hip Pain
I found that I was swelling so much off the coffee (it's a diuretic), causing all sorts of trouble, that I needed to go back on a cup a day. I drank one cup today and my anxiety shot through the roof. Ugh. It's so difficult to figure out what makes things worse. I hope your pain improves. It is so difficult. I guess we need just keep trying to adjust things until we feel better.
User says
re: I agree! There hasn't been a
I agree! There hasn't been a post on here in months until 1 or 2 above a few days ago. And YES, the Facebook Group was a total joke!! I dropped out of that after only a week! I continue to struggle with caffeine and recently I am feeling really sick from it and it is causing me much anxiety. I just can't get past the withdrawals once the despair starts (2 days later). I kept coming back here hoping this would help me, but it seems to have died out 🙁
User says
re: I don't crave it either, but
I don't crave it either, but the pain in my hips is dreadful, especially first thing in the morning. And i have got a chronically swollen ankle. have had it for years, which I think may be linked to my caffeine intolerance which started years ago… time will tell
User says
re: hip pain after quitting coffee
I quit coffee four days ago, but I did go off slowly over a week. I developed a severe back ache that radiated down my legs and through my hips. It is awful. I have been taking Tylenol, but it doesn't help when I want to sleep at night. I haven't had a good night's sleep in days. I can say that it's getting better every day, but it has been so very, very painful. I'm icing and using heat, which is helping.
I didn't develop the usual headache. I think there might be a connection to water retention. I began swelling, which is very uncommon for me. I cut way down on salt and increased my water. All I can say is that it's been absolutely awful. I've had coffee every day for 30 years, so this is a huge challenge. I don't crave it at all, nor do I ever want to go back. Aside from the back/hip pain, I'm seeing other positive stuff.
User says
re: does anybody else have severe
does anybody else have severe pain in the hips after quitting caffeine?
User says
re: this used to be a great forum
this used to be a great forum for anybody going through caffeine withdrawal, but it has died recently.I have heard that the Facebook caffeine group is a waste of time , and I am not a member of facebook and don't want to be, but I do want this forum to work, so please,, if there is anybody out there, please come back.
User says
re: I hope you are doing better;
I hope you are doing better; especially considering the amount of time that has passed. Your story is similar to mine. I became addicted to preworkout powders that I have used for over ten years. I was even drinking them a second time daily because I was craving them.
From only cutting my consumption in half I began to have debilitating anxiety and uncontrollable crying. I was over-sensitive to every event. My son leaving the country nearly killed me. Now, 7 days later, I am starting to feel "almost" normal. The symptoms have improved. I am still taking the 1/2 daily serving and will soon start to wean myself off of it completely.
Thank you so much for sharing. Stories like yours gave me hope and understanding for what I'm going through!
User with 60 year habit says
re: I have answered this question
I have answered this question so many times in the past, I cannot be bothered to answer it again…
I have also posted loads of info about how it can take 5 years for younger people to recover from caffeine on this site.
Sorry, I know you are trying to help.
User says
re: Other reasons ?
60YH, I don't mean to be offensive, but if you've got health issues after 3 years off caffeine, how do you know it's the caffeine that is causing them ? Wouldn't it make sense to look for other reasons ? And (I really don't mean to be offensive here), but if you had a 60 year habit, I presume you're now in your mid-70s, so isn't it possible age could be a factor ?
User with 60 year habit says
re: No, that's not discouraging,
No, that's not discouraging, and thanks again for your encouragement. I am starting to feel better, (after about a month of feeling terrible), so that's good news. I am having physio for the incredible muscle weakness, which will eventually help with the back ache etc. I had expected that time would heal the muscle weakness, but it has been going on for so long now, that it has almost become permanent. anyway, I have only been doing the exercises for a couple of weeks, and I have already noticed some improvement. My sleep which deteriorated for the last month is also improving again - and that makes such a huge difference to how I feel. Please keep in touch, it is so helpful to hear your news….
6 YEAR HABIT says
re: 22 MONTHS CAFFEINE FREE
As far as I can tell, I'm back to my normal self with no more withdrawal symptoms. I have no neuropathy, no more catastrophic thoughts about my health, no fatigue even with me working out 3 hours almost everyday, no back pain, and no more headaches period for any reason. I sleep fine. I do occasionally get a little sleepy at work sitting at a desk all day, but I just get up and move around.
I hope this is encouraging news for you and not discouraging.
I seem to remember that you have been to so many doctors and had many tests done, so it's hard to imagine that you might have something else going on in addition to recovering from having no caffeine. Considering I was on caffeine for 6 years compared to your 60 years, I don't think it's unreasonable to say it will take you longer to totally recover.
The news being good or bad depends on what you focus on. About you, I'm focused on the fact that you felt better for a long period of time before having a set back. To me, that means that there's a good chance that the long stretch will happen again and hopefully be even longer again. Hang in there!
User with 60 year habit says
re: Thanks for coming back, and
Thanks for coming back, and have you noticed any more improvements? Here am I at nearly 3 years off and after having a long period of feeling a whole lot better, I ave almost gone back to square one for the last 3 weeks, it is so frustrating….
6 YEAR HABIT says
re: 22 MONTHS CAFFEINE FREE
I'm just dropping in to update that I'm still off of caffeine after 22 months and still doing fine. No pains in the back. No more catastrophic thoughts of fatal diseases. I do occasionally have a desire for coffee, but then I remember how painful and scary it was breaking the addiction especially the neuropathy and the psychological aspect.
I have many people amazed that I am now off of caffeine and asked how to do it. SMH. I tell them to just stop, but it took me 8 or 9 months to completely recover. Their jaws practically drops and they dismiss the idea of quitting.
I am still very grateful to be off of caffeine and have every intention of remaining off of it!!! I have the feeling if I remained on caffeine for too much longer then my health would have paid the price.
I wish everyone the best at remaining off of caffeine or getting off of caffeine!!
User says
re: Has anyone else developed
Has anyone else developed sensitive teeth after coming off caffeine?
Robert says
re: Caffeine Addiction & Recovery" Facebook group
Come join the Facebook group!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/856127147818485/
Rob says
re: Thanks 60YH
And a happy caffeine free year to you too. I've made a promise to my girlfriend on Christmas Eve that I wouldn't drink caffeine for a year, so I guess I have to do it now ! So far so good....
User with 60 year habit says
re: Happy New Caffeine-free Year
Happy New Caffeine-free Year to everyone.
kikaida says
re: Re: Read all the entries on...
I've read the entries...thank you.
User says
re: Tummy Pain
I'm new to this site. Been drinking caffeinated beverages for about 10 years and I recently quit about a month ago. I had headaches for about a week and then that went away. Now I have this burning like pain in my abdomen for about five weeks. Can that be a withdrawal symptom? How long does it take to go away? I have read a few people's post but haven't seen much replies.
User says
re: Read the entries on the
Read the entries on the forum, or is that asking too much
kikaida says
re: 2 1/2 months still having stomach problems
Its been 2 1/2 months since I quit caffeine again and I am still having stomach problems. Anyone can shed some light on this matter?
Robert says
re: Thanks Viv!
Thank you Viv, that was very nice of you to post the benzo article.
I have actually been to benzobuddies many times so I am aware of the dangers.
I'm thinking that if I get off the caffeine first, then I won't have the constant anxiety that keeps me running back to the benzos. Anxiety and extreme muscle tension that makes me shake has been a lifelong problem for me, but , now that I think about it, it pretty much started when I started drinking coffee all those years ago.
How long were you on the benzos and how long did it take you to get off of them?
Also, thanks Rob, for your welcome and reply. I hope you are doing well with your battle.
I will keep that mantra in my head: "If nothing changes, nothing changes."