Are you wondering exactly much caffeine is in your cup of coffee. Trying to cut down a bit, or at least know how much caffeine you are ingesting each day with your morning cup of java or afternoon pick-me-up triple espresso Latte?
A typical cup of coffee contains approximately one hundred and twelve milligrams of caffeine. There is a bit less caffeine in a shot of espresso - a typical espresso shot includes about ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How much caffeine in coffee?This is important to keep in mind when making any espresso drinks.
While these numbers are typical, the amount of caffeine in coffee can vary considerably based upon multiple factors. The primary factors affecting caffeine content of coffee and espresso include the genetics of the coffee bean varietal, the particular roasting given to the coffee beans and how the coffee is brewed.
If the coffee beans being used are Arabica coffee beans then one cup of coffee that is approximately one hundred and twenty milliliters of coffee, if it is drip-brewed, will have about 112 milligrams of caffeine.
A 30 milliliter Espresso shot using Arabica coffee will have an estimated ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How Does Roasting Affect Coffee Caffeine Content?
When coffee is roasted it decreases the overall amount of caffeine in the coffee, but not significantly enough for it to be a serious way to reduce your caffeine intake.
Caffeine did not undergo significant degradation with only 5.4% being lost under severe roasting.
Source
Choose your roast based on your personal preferences, not based on caffeine content.
Roasting does have an effect on chlorogenic acid content - possibly what contributes to many of coffee's purported health effects, but another study also shows that caffeine is relatively unaffected by roast level.
On the other hand the Robusta coffee plant varietal has significantly more caffeine than the Arabica varietal. Robusta coffee beans are used primarily for espresso blends and to make instant coffee.
How Caffeine Metabolizes in the Human Body
Once a person consumes caffeine the body starts to metabolize it and this takes place in the person's liver. The result is three different metabolites. These three metabolites include paraxanthine (84%), theobromine (12%) and theophylline (4%).
In the first 45 minutes after consumption of the caffeine it is likely absorbed by the stomach and small intestine and begins to spread throughout the tissues of the human body.
Caffeine's Classification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Considered safe for human consumption by the FDA, caffeine is classified as a food substance with multiple uses.
All About Caffeine in Coffee - Investigating the Side Effects of Caffeine and the Symptoms of Withdrawal from Caffeine continued:
Caffeine is a stimulant and is known scientifically as a xanthine alkaloid. When it is isolated from its source it is a crystalline white substance and is very bitter.
How does caffeine affect the human body?
Caffeine affects the human body by creating chemical changes in the human brain with a whole variety of effects including an enhanced alertness and energy level.
The way this is enhanced energy and alertness is achieved by the chemical caffeine is that the caffeine pretends, or mimics, another compound which is called adenosine.
The caffeine then binds on to the adenosine receptors in the brain with the effect of halting the true adenosine from doing its job which normally would be to slow down the body's nerve impulses and bring a very sleepy feeling to the person, a natural drowsiness that is warded off by the effects of caffeine.
Yes, some drugs may have an enhanced effectiveness when affected by caffeine. For example, some headache drugs include caffeine in their contents in order to help the effectiveness. This may be related to the vasodilating effects of caffeine.
Caffeine may be used in combination with ergotamine to treat cluster headaches and migraines. Some people prefer to use caffeine to overcome the sleepy qualities they feel when taking antihistamines.
Caffeine doesn't specifically, but coffee does.
However, some people who have shown to be at high risk for liver disease have been shown to have less severe liver injury associated with increasing caffeine consumption. This may include people with obesity, hemochromatosis and alcoholisms. [source]
Because of this, people who drink coffee but want to quit caffeine may want to look into decaf coffee instead of cutting out coffee entirely, so that they can continue to benefit from its health protecting properties.
Yes, some studies completed on ex vivo hair follicles have shown that caffeine may decrease hair growth suppression in vitro due to testosterone. In this regard caffeine may be a potential therapeutic agent in Androgenic alopecia, and caffeine has been added by some companies to their soap and shampoos.
Caffeine is found in nature in a wide array of plants, and it is found in plant fruits as well as plant leaves. This includes: cocoa beans, tea leaves, coffee beans and kola nuts. Less common sources are yaupon holly, guaryusa, yerba mate and guarana berries.
Caffeine often serves to help the plant by working as a natural pesticide against harmful predators on the plant such as insects.
What Products Contain Caffeine, and How Much?
A tablet of Excedrin contains about sixty-five milligrams of caffeine while a regular strength caffeine tablet has about one hundred milligrams of caffeine. There are two hundred milligrams of caffeine in an extra-strength caffeine tablet.
Another example of a common product with plenty of caffeine in it is chocolate. There are about ten milligrams of caffeine in an average milk chocolate bar. Dark chocolate, by comparison, may have about 30 milligrams of caffeine.
There are some dark chocolate bars that have as much as 160 milligrams of caffeine so it can vary considerably by the type and the quality of the chocolate.
Six ounces of a typical green tea will contain about thirty milligrams of caffeine while the very same amount of black tea will have about fifty milligrams of caffeine.
Amount of Caffeine in Coffee continued: You will get about thirty-four milligrams of caffeine from 12 ounces of Coke while a Mountain Dew will give you a whopping 54 milligrams of caffeine. A Red Bull energy drink has about eighty milligrams of caffeine while a Monster energy drink has about 160 milligrams of caffeine.
Withdrawal from Caffeine and Human Tolerance To Caffeine
People who consistently consume caffeine will gradually adapt to the continuous presence of the chemical in their body by increasing their overall number of adenosine receptors in their central nervous system. This occurs since caffeine functions as an antagonist to the receptors in the central nervous system for the neurotransmitter adenosine.
Tolerance adaptation to caffeine has the effect over time of reducing the chemical's stimulatory effects. These adaptive responses to caffeine also have the effect of making the person more sensitive to adenosine, and thus when the intake of caffeine is reduced then the adenosine's natural physiological effects will create withdrawal symptoms.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. In general, the incidence or severity of symptoms increased with increases in daily dose; abstinence from doses as low as 100 mg/day produced symptoms.
Research is reviewed indicating that expectancies are not a prime determinant of caffeine withdrawal and that avoidance of withdrawal symptoms plays a central role in habitual caffeine consumption.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
Debate Over Adenosine Receptors, Tolerance and Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
There is some debate in scientific circles about the increase in adenosine receptors being the main cause of building up tolerance to caffeine's stimulating effects, with some evidence pointing toward a conclusion that there are also other causes at work which help to explain people developing a tolerance to large doses of caffeine.
The Discoverer of Caffeine
The evidence is a bit fuzzy but some say that the stimulating effects of caffeine are mentioned in Chinese legends dating to about 3,000 years ago.
Firmer evidence comes from 600 BCE as a Mayan pot dating to this time contains the first clear evidence of a cocoa bean, so we know caffeine was around by this time for sure.
Who First Isolated Caffeine from Coffee?
In 1819 the German chemist Friedlieb Runge became the first scientist to successfully isolate the chemical caffeine from coffee beans. Less than one year later the French chemist Pelletier and another scientist named Caventou also isolated the chemical caffeine, and Pelletier was the one to coin the word "cafeine" which he derived from the word "cafe" meaning coffee.
Who Opened the First Coffee House?
As early as 1530 there were coffeehouses in Damascus, Syria and Istanbul.
What began the spread of coffee all around the world?
In the 1600s the Dutch became the first people to carry coffee from the ancient port of Mocha. This movement of coffee by the Dutch began the rapid spread of coffee beans around the globe and it is still spreading, most recently growing rapidly in consumption in China and other emerging markets.
The Dutch were also industrious in cultivating coffee in other locations, first in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1658.
Caffeine withdrawal
Regular caffeine consumption reduces sensitivity to caffeine. When caffeine intake is reduced, the body becomes oversensitive to adenosine. In response to this oversensitiveness, blood pressure drops dramatically, causing an excess of blood in the head (though not necessarily on the brain), leading to a caffeine withdrawal headache.
This headache, well known among coffee drinkers, usually lasts from one to five days, and can be alleviated with analgesics such as aspirin. It is also alleviated with caffeine intake (in fact several analgesics contain caffeine dosages).
Even small amounts of caffeine (such as a green tea, compared to a full coffee) can do wonders to alleviate a withdrawal-induced headache.
The source of caffeine is important to consider as well. Coffee is generally considered to be healthy, due in part to its anti-oxidant properties. However, energy drinks and unregulated supplements may contain any number of other compounds that can have a negative impact, often working synergistically with caffeine.
Caffeine on its own, particularly coffee, is associated with an overall decrease in all-cause-mortality [4]. Simply put, this means that people who drink coffee are less likely to die from all causes.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms
Often, people who are reducing caffeine intake report being irritable, unable to work, nervous, restless, and feeling sleepy, as well as having a headache. Many of these symptoms mirror having the cold or flu.
- Headache
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Fatigue, lethargy
- Constipation
- Depression
- Muscle stiffness, cramping
- Brain fog, Inability to focus
- Cold-like symptoms
- Anxiety
In extreme cases, nausea and vomiting has also been reported. These are very real experiences [1], and despite recurring jokes, can cause problems with normal functioning. If you experience severe symptoms, seek medical advice.
Is Caffeine Withdrawal Real?
In short: Yes. Negative effects from quitting caffeine have been scientifically documented in clinical studies.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories. [1]
Additionally, caffeine withdrawal is recognized by psychiatrists as a real disorder.
Caffeine withdrawal is a recognized disorder and is listed in the DSM-5. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
How Long Does Caffeine Withdrawal Last?
The answer to this will depend on your level of consumption and the level you reduce your caffeine consumption to.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. [1]
That means you'll probably notice the start within 12-24 hours with the worst being the second day you after you quit. From there, it gradually gets better over the course of a week to a week and a half.
Your brain is miraculously resilient and adapts to life without caffeine in just 2 short weeks. The psychological habit of drinking caffeine can take 3 to 4 weeks to break, but can also be replaced with decaf coffee or another low-caffeine drink (eg. tea).
Reports of people having withdrawal symptoms months or years after quitting coffee or caffeine are more typically confused with general health maladies or other more drugs.
Unrelated Symptoms
Caffeine cessation is often associated with major lifestyle changes, and as such, it can be difficult to associated symptoms directly with caffeine withdrawal. As a best practice, you should isolate factors by making changes slowly, over time, unless under the advice and guidance of a medical professional.
Compounding factors such as other medications, and major health events that lead to discontinuing caffeine, can have a misleading association with caffeine withdrawals.
If symptoms such as kidney pain appears, seek immediate medical attention.
Tingling
There are no known mechanisms through which caffeine withdrawal may cause tingling. On the other hand, caffeine consumption can sometimes cause tingling due to restriction of blood flow to extremities.
Back pain
While back pain is not a symptom of caffeine withdrawal, symptoms may (re)appear when caffeine use is discontinued.
This may be due to caffeine's reported analgesic affect on pain [3] - in english, caffeine might help alleviate (back) pain by amplifying the effect of pain killers. The re-ocurring presence of back pain may be due to synergistic effect being lost, but is unrelated to the temporary effects of withdrawal itself.
Dealing with Caffeine Withdrawal
The severity of caffeine withdrawal symptoms vary with how extreme the restriction, and a gradual reduction can do wonders in avoiding symptoms. Simply starting by replacing one cup of coffee with a decaf coffee or tea will provide a much smaller dose of caffeine, allowing your receptors to re-acclimate to lower levels. Drinking coffee (decaf) or other warm beverage (tea) instead of regular coffee helps psychologically with the well established habit.
Timing large reductions in caffeine consumption is also a useful tool. Picking a time of rest and relaxation such as a weekend or vacation can lessen the burden of symptoms like brain fog and a lack of motivation.
Hydration is also key - while coffee is a diuretic it's also mostly water, and cutting back on coffee may also inadvertently cut back on your fluid intake. Many symptoms of dehydration overlap with caffeine withdrawal including headaches, muscle soreness and leg cramping, irritability and lethargy.
Without caffeine blocking your adenoseine receptors, your body's built up levels of adenosine will lead to a lot of sleepiness. Get lots of rest! Scientists are still puzzled by why humans need sleep, aside from getting tired. According to some research from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) has indicated that sleep enables your brain to drain built-up chemical by products of working so hard (you little genius), which is good for you!
Advil or Tylenol can be an effective method of dealing with the coffee withdrawal headache and muscle pain. Other natural pain relievers such as running / exercise and even an orgasm can provide temporary relief by dilating blood vessels in the brain.
The best solution may not be totally ceasing caffeine consumption though. Coffee does have health benefits, as it contains over 1000 known compounds, with many associated with lowering blood pressure and improving cardiac function, as well as liver protection [2]. Generally, the best coffees are grown at higher elevations will develop more healthy chlorogenic acids that are present in higher concentrations in light roasts than dark roasts. If you're a dark roast lover however, darker roasts cause less stomach acid production. A decaffeinated coffee with just 5-25 mg of caffeine will still retain a lot of its healthy chemicals and will provide health benefits in medium and dark roasts.
With these tips you can reduce the caffeine in your body and avoid the rebound of a caffeine withdrawal.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
[2] Coffee Consumption Decreases Risks for Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0142457
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419343
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28697850
Caffeine and Health. J. E. James, Academic Press, 1991. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research Volume 158. G. A. Spiller, Ed. Alan R. Liss Inc, 1984.
Xie et al "Sleep initiated fluid flux drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain." Science, October 18, 2013. DOI: 10.1126/science.1241224
User says
re: Glad to see your post on how
Glad to see your post on how long it took for the symptoms to pass. I've been off caffeine for a couple of weeks and am still nervous, unmotivated and tired. I sure will be glad when this whole process is done. Thanks for the post...it's encouraging.
Frank says
re: Caffeine (backache)
I decided to quit coffee this past Monday. I thought the lethargic feeling was the worst of it until Wednesday when I got a terrible backache in the small of my back. I couldn't sleep, the only partial relief I got was when I was standing up. I didn't put the 2 together (quitting caffeine/backache) until Thursday when the backache was unbearable, then it hit me what the cause might be. I made myself a cup of coffee and by the 3rd. sip my pain was letting up, when I finished the coffee 20 minutes later my pain was completely gone, no trace whatsoever. So I continued with my quest to ween myself off of caffeine. On Friday evening I was back in pain with the same backache this time running down my right leg as well. I again had a cup of coffee and like magic the pain was gone. It's now 10 hours later, 6:00 am on Saturday morning and I have been up since 5:00 with the same agonizing pain. I decided to read about caffeine on the web and was so glad to hear of someone else with a backache being caused by caffeine withdrawal. This reasures me that I am not a looney. I am going to read further to see the correct way to ween myself off of caffeine with the least side affects. Right now I have to brew some coffee. Thank you for sharing your story with us addictees....Frank.
that_fiend says
re: Awesome! I REALLY needed to
Awesome! I REALLY needed to hear this as I'd like to give it another go very soon. Thanks a bunch!
Jem says
re: Diuretic effect of NOT having caffeine?
I'd be really interested if anyone else has experienced what I am getting at the moment. I stopped caffeine altogether about 6 weeks ago. I got the usual headaches and they passed (they do, folks) and several bad aches and pains which also go eventually (they do too). Now, though, I'm peeing a lot! I know caffeine is a diuretic and increases urine production but can stopping the stuff also do that? Since stopping caffeine, my blood pressure has dropped (good, eh?) and it may be that my blood sugar levels are all to pot because my pancreas doesn't know what it's doing now there's no caffeine for it to think about. I'd like to know. Off to the loo now…
Jem says
re: Yes!
It's coming up to six
Yes!
It's coming up to six weeks since I stopped and it's all finally settling down. The tiredness seems to have gone and if I'm tired now, it's at the end of the day when you're supposed to be tired. Keep going.
D'Angelo says
re: I too have just recently
I too have just recently quit caffeine as suggested by my attacking anxiety program. I too am experiencing the withdrawal symptoms. Feeling tired,depressed,like i'm living in a fog,headaches,etc... I have also noticed some dizzy spells and I was wondering if anyone else has had these? I suppose it could be due to the "extra blood in my head" that is also causing the headaches. Who knew caffeine was so powerful. Had I known I never would have started in the first place.
Exhausted says
re: Is it all worth it? I`d
Is it all worth it? I`d like to hear about people who are already in the clear; these horror stories aren`t really helping me in my conviction. I mean I want to get "clean", I know that (thats how I ended up here) but can`t really see a light in the end of the tunnel, so it`s hard for me even to really commit to detoxing and I haven`t been off caffeine for many years although I have had several try`s. Post some survival stories and explain how your life has changed (for the better I`m guessing, that`s why I´m still trying). PS. Sorry for rambling on, caffeine tends to have that effect on me.
SAM says
re: caffeine
I was prescribed a homeopathic remedy for a rash on my face the doctor could'nt cure, but it meant i had to give up coffee or the psorinum would not work. I had the headache the first day but now Ive got the mother of all backaches! Its very similar to the early labour pains {i kid u not} & ibuprofen only takes the edge off it. It starts in the small of my back, into my hips & radiates into my outer thighs. I know its the caffeine because a few years ago i switched to decaf coffee, had a couple of days of headaches & about a week later my back started aching. I didnt connect it with the caffeine until i was watching my daughter play football & i just could not stand & watch her as i was in agony, so i went to sit down & my friend brought me a cup of coffee & after just a couple of mouthfuls it just disappeared & from that moment on i went back to coffee. But now im prepared to put up with the pain for the sake of my face not looking like ive been sanded as im to be married in 18 months. I just hope this pain does not go on too long.
Rick says
re: Caffeine
Its so nice to read this. No one around me understands what is going on, they think I am too stressed and it is causing panic attacks (to an extent, it is) but this sounds just like me. I kept on thinking what these symptoms were from, I thought I was going crazy! I feel tired, like I am going to puke, and my leg cramped on me really bad this morning, which it has never done before. I was drinking up if not more than 4 or 5 sodas a day and occassionally a coffee in the morning or a Monster Engergy drink, and now I quit cold turkey about 4 days ago, when all this mess and haze started. I also had no idea how strong caffeine was. I am around my 5th day and am starting to feel better now, I was exremely anxious and then depressed the last couple days and it seems to be getting better today. Lets hope tomorrow is even better. Good luck everyone, and if you are thinking of quitting caffeine, then take it easy, slow your intake day by day, try and not just quit.
User says
re: Panic attacks are
Panic attacks are psychological but it is definitely related to your former caffeine intake. Once the initial detox is over, you body and brain have to adjust to being without the stimulant. Stress hormones are normalizing and brain chemistry is being changed back to normal. It's easy to see why this could trigger a fight or flight response. You obviously feel a lot different than you did for most of your life. It's a slow process which should take about 2 to 6 months depending on how long you were using caffeine. Panic attacks shouldn't last that long though. You're already fighting them off which is good.
User says
re: Positive Quitting..some quitting ideas... Caffeine is a bad DRUG
I've been drinking coffee since i was about 14 years old, because my mother had such a terrible time getting me out of bed in the morning. So i would drink a cup before school. Since i was so naive, i would have never thought at the time that there would be HORRIBLE repercussions from drinking it. Drinking coffee has caused me so many problems its amazing. The list could take up a whole page.
Dont believe anything you hear from teh coffee and caffeine suppliers about coffee being good for you. They are just trying to keep raping your wallet. It hypes up the "flight or flight response, switches on your Sympathetic nervous system, depletes your adrenal glands, lowers your immunity, causes bad digestion etc etc. I've quit before and unfortunately have started a few cups recently that caused me to relapse, but have quit again. Lol i know, relapsing on coffee sounds weird, but its just our culture. But i'm getting through, and have decided to never drink it again if i can.
I would advise anyone to use Teeccino and cut down the caffeine consumption gradually, because its just as much of a shock to your body as coming off of a prescription drug cold turkey(depending)
Another thing that helps allot is getting to bed early the first week, cold turkey or not. You'll heal 10x faster if your getting sleep from 10pm to 2pm, which is when your body releases "healing harmones" naturally, and repairs itself. It speeds up the headaches and tiredness.
I took lots of naps when i first quit, which is fine, and you should expect it. Your body is just trying to re-learn how to produce its own energy again, and keep you off of Sympathetic nervous system adrenalin rushs'.
When you finally are feeling a bit better (however long) you'll start thinking clearly, and i mean allot clearer! Its an amazing calm feeling that you might have forgotten about, where you dont feel on edge or hyped up.
Just keep going at it .. if you want it bad enough, you can do it.
that_fiend says
re: I don't know...last year I
I don't know...last year I went 31 days with no caffeine and felt really dead the whole time...every morning was a chore to get out of bed and it took several hours just to be able to half-way function...my sleep never did normalize, however I have lost some weight since then and sleep through most of the night so I am thinking seriously of trying again soon...but man oh man it sucks to have to go through that "just to see"....but then I think to myself, if caffeine is the solution then it must be the problem right?
Rob says
re: I have a kidney infection
I have a kidney infection and am not supposed to drink any caffeine for a few more days. Besides having pain from the kidney infection, I felt HORRIBLE this afternoon. I was tired, had lots of nauseau and my head was POUNDING by 3pm. I had a fever and was hallucinating by 5pm. This is some scary stuff. I felt worse from this than I have ever felt while trying to quit smoking. I just can not live without coffee.
User says
re: I have been off of caffeine
I have been off of caffeine now for 7 days. The headaches only lasted about two days but the anxiety and nervousness have lasted much longer. I notice it getting better each day but it is still there. I am still VERY tired and still seem to be in a brain fog most of the time. I think the reason that I have not have the muscle spasms(at least not yet) is that I have been drinking MUCH more water than I used to(between 96-128 ounces a day). I still feel somewhat depressed but that too seems to be getting just a tad better each day. Lately, even though I have not had muscle cramping, by late evening my legs, and even my arms to some extent, feel like I have weights tied to them. They are so heavy and I am so exhausted. Boy, I had NO idea how strong of an addiction I had to caffeine. If you are just beginning your journey to being caffeine free don't feel you are going insane, it is the caffeine...no one else around you will understand unless they have been through it themselves...it seems silly to them. Just know that we here on this message board understand and know that you will survive it.
Jem says
re: "Recovery" period: how long?
I quit the stuff nearly 5 weeks ago. I realised, thanks to this forum and others, that the cause of what appeared to be chronic fatigue syndrome may have been caffeine induced. My GP told me to go away and come back in a few months if I was no better. That helped, not. After stopping, I got some of the usual (bad) headaches but the tiredness is still there, although it's “different†in a way and is now helped by having a kip. The former caffeine-induced fatigue is particularly unusual and seemed to start with an odd tightening at the back of my head. Has anyone any idea if this length of recovery time is normal and how long will it take to get my flippin' life back? Or am I just a loon?
tan says
re: caffeine shoud come with a label like cigarettes!!!!
hi, l would definately agree will you, l had a pre existing panic disorder that l had sucessfully treated with medication. 3 months ago l had a panic attack after 3 years of not having any and decided to go cold turkey off coffee(around 8 cups of espresso and lots of coke) a day. Thats when l went completely downhill without changing my medication at all, so l went to see GPs, psycologists the whole rounds and they all said the same thing COFFEE IS VERY HARD TO GO COLD TURKEY ON! l have had all the symptoms that you have mentioned the tingling in the limbs and the worst was the nausea, l dropped 14 kgs since stopping the coffee which starts a new round of other symptoms such as fatigue and so on. The doctors have said that my excessive intake of coffee was likely to have triggered my anxiety attack and since giving it up l have had bouts of depression that l had never had before. So DONT EVER UNDER ESTIMATE THE POWER OF CAFFEINE WITHDRAWAL, IT'S A DRUG AND STIMULANT THAT YOUR COMING OFF!!! GOOD LUCK!!
John says
re: Over a week
I quit cold turkey a little over a week ago. I was drinking about 4-5 energy drinks and several colas a day, for about 4 years. I had bad headaches and nausea that lasted a few days and now they are back. I have been very tired, unmotivated, mood swings, anxiety and panic attacks, and feel depressed. How long will this withdrawal last?
User says
re: I gave up Diet Coke (and all
I gave up Diet Coke (and all cola) in 1999, replacing it with lemonaid. I replaced lemonaid with water a few years ago. I do, however, still drink coffee and tea.
scott says
re: well I don't know the proper
well I don't know the proper answer...but I will say that about 10 or 12 years ago I gave up caffeine for a brief period and felt fabulous after about 4 days(stupidly I got hooked again in less than a week when offered coffee at my parents house)...refreshed, clear headed, just a new man(I was really amazed at the difference)....however I have not been able to duplicate those results in recent tries...I went 22 and 31 days without in the past couple of years but never could get refreshing sleep...however, I have lost a considerable amount of weight lately(I believe I might of had sleep apnea) and now sleep through most of the night despite the caffeine...I will be giving it another *go* very soon to see If I get more positive results this time....
User says
re: Ready to try.....
I quit drinking alcohol 4 years ago and replaced it with Diet Coke. I am not sure which is worse...I am in sales and drink fountain 44 ounce sized Diet Coke (or Diet Pepsi) - somewhere between 300 & 400 ounces a day. If my math is correct, that is about 500-600 MG of caffeine daily. I have an upcoming surgery and was considering "cold turkey" as I have been experiencing siginifcant difficulty getting a good nights sleep for the past several years. I also started smoking when I quit drinking alcohol and really need to stop that as well as I am noticing shortness of breath when trying to play any sports.......Has any one done this and do you have any suggestions as to what you replaced the habits of Diet Cola and smoking successfully?
User says
re: 1 week and I feel worse!
I'm on day 7 and agree that the withdrawal gets worse as time goes on. I decided to give up as I have been having anxiety and mood swings. The first few days were fine, apart from feeling a bit sleepy, and I had no headaches or any other symptoms. However, yesterday (day 6) I was so tired I had to keep sleeping in the toilet at work, felt like crying all day and got home and went straight to bed. Today it took me 4 hours to crawl out of bed in spite of about 15 hours sleep last night, and I am extremely tired and feeling miserable. I managed to give up for 3 months last year but was tired, unmotivated and slightly depressed the whole time, so I eventually went back to one coffee a day to avoid losing my job and it was fine after that. I have heard it can take 6-12 months to get over it completely if you are particularly sensitive to caffeine, but unfortunately it is impossible to get a proper answer as nobody seems to know!!
User says
re: Coffee Withdrawl - Leg Pain
The headaches were all I thought I would have to put up with, but the leg pain from my hips to my ancles over the last few days have been horrendous. I never thought I would be addicted to anything - but coffee!!! I need to tell myself to get a grip as it must get better soon as I am on day 5 of my Detox.
Gordon says
re: Leg Cramps & Running
I did go cold turkey with my withdrawal from caffeine and I have been getting some really bad cramps in my calf muscles when I run. However, I have persevered and they are abating. I think if you are going to drop the caffeine, then you have to go cold turkey and flush it out of your system. I have so much energy now. My next step is to wean myself off fizzy drinks altogether, but one step at a time...
Jason says
re: Withdrawal symptoms from sporadic drinking?
I started noticing that several years ago I started having brain fog, difficulty concentrating etc. This happened to coincide about when I started drinking coffee. I would drink 3 one day none the next, 2 the next day a couple of days without etc. Also I was drinking at completely different times every day at pretty much all hours of the clock.
My question is could the brain fog and other symptoms be from constantly going off and on coffee as well as varying the amount dramatically all of the time? Maybe constantly going through withdrawal and back on again.
Has anyone else experienced this. Ive been seeing docs for a couple of months having been tested for everything from syphilis to MS and finally a doctor mentioned possible caffeine issues.
Anyway any help would be appreciated
Jason
User says
re: Caffeine Withdrawal
Hey everyone. I'm on the 18th day of my caffeine detox. I'm 31 year old male and have been drinking cola since I was a little kid. I got past the headaches pretty easily, but in the past 2 weeks I've had 3 panic attacks. The first two times I woke up in the middle of the night -- my heart racing, feeling like I couldn't get a full breath, nauseous, and my hands tingling. It was pretty awful. The third time was last night. However, knowing it was a panic attack, I defeated the other symptoms before they could consume me completely like the two episodes prior. Has anyone else experienced these symptoms? Could the panic attacks be a result of caffeine withdrawal and a sudden lower sugar intake?
John
User says
re: I just wanted to say that I
I just wanted to say that I have been reading Caffeine Blues by Stephen Cherniske and boy is it an eye opener. I have now been off caffeine for 1 week with a few hits of it here and there. My teeth hurt so bad I can hardly stand it. Between engery drinks x 3 to 4 a day and then 3 to 4 cups of coffee and diet soda mixed with Prozac. It is a must to stop all of this.
Good Luck to all and Try reading this book.
Bill says
re: Joint aches & caffeine
Yes! In fact, I'm quitting coffee because I have this feeling that that's what's causing my intense joint aches. I have this suspicion that's it's a build-up of uric acid. I'm so glad to hear someone else having the same symptoms. So, they did go away after quitting coffee? If so, how long did it take?
User says
re: CURED leg cramps
I thought I pulled something jogging on Sunday. I was researching sciatica and things, because the pain in my legs was UNBELIEVABLE. I survived the blinding headaches last week when I quit caffeine on Tuesday. (So today is day 8). I never would have beleived that my leg pain was related to my caffeine withdrawal, until I read this board.
This morning I had one small cup of coffee. An hour later, my legs were FINE, after 3 days of pain.
I WILL quit caffeine, but cold turkey is NOT the plan.
Angelynn says
re: Just starting out... AGAIN
I'm hoping this site and comments will be my lifeline the next few weeks. I recently had a heart attack at the age of 40. With all the lifestyle changes I need to now go thru this scares me the most. I have tried to 'quit' caffeine so many times before but always go back to my dear Pepsi. Forget diet or anything else it's just not for me. I have to switch to plain old water for this to work. I am so afraid I will fail once again and the detox symptoms seem so unbearable at times. Will the side effects affect my heart in a negative way? Do I need to worry that I will have another heart attack? The shock to our systems when we quit an addiction is very difficult. Anybody have any ideas? I don't want to set myself up to fail when so much is riding on this.
User says
re: I have drank probably an
I have drank probably an average of 3-4 cups of coffee a day for around 10 years. I cut down to one cup in the morning for a few weeks then switched to one cup of tea for two weeks. I didn't find any great problems with reducing the dose like this, I felt a bit tired in the afternoons sometimes but I slept a lot better at night and I'd say overall I had more energy than when I had been drinking a lot of coffee. I have now substituted my tea with a herbal version so have had no caffiene at all for 3 days, the first 2 days were fine but now I have a bit of a headache, it seems managable though. I think gradually reducing the dose is much better than trying to go "cold turkey".
User says
re: Day 4? continued...
Today
Day 4? continued...
Today I've had no caffeine whatsoever.
User says
re: Day 4?
I drank a very low amount of caffeine--approximately 45 mgs (1 cup of black tea) per day. My head started feeling like there was a vice on it, and I haven't been sleeping as well. It is a very odd feeling, like I'm awake and not awake. Before that I was drinking decaf coffee almost every day and that would make me feel wired. I think I'm hypersensitive to it. I have been experiencing flu symptoms as well. When will it end?
Greybow says
re: Caffeine withdrawl
I've gone through that as well, but the twitches were in my arms and wrists.
Trust me when it gets to that point, you need to slow/stop your caffeine consumption. I was a 3-pot a day guy for coffee because I worked 80+ hours working in restaurants. Because I had a high concentration of caffeine in my bloodstream, I blacked out because my heart rate and blood pressure went through the roof.
Its very addictive and when you stop, you need additional help to make sure you stay that way! Keep lots of water around you (I got a 64 oz water bottle next to me), stay away from the caffeine free sodas *because the body still craves that taste that goes with the caffeine feelings *Mentally you'll still want the caffeiene and before you know it you'll grab the caffeiene drinks and you'll become even more quickly resistant to it than ever*.
If you need some go-go juice in the morning, grab an apple! It actually does wake ya up and your body burns more calories digesting it than what it actually has. I forgot what chemical apples have, but it gives a similar boost like caffeine does
User says
re: i myself had just become a
i myself had just become a big energy drink drinker and i decided that i should probably stop before i get in too deep however i was in deeper then i thought im a sophomore in high school and i have stayed home 2 days from school because i had aches and pains so bad that i couldnt even move its day three and i dont have a fever but i have had chills a headache non stop and my throat is killing me im just hoping that stopping will be worth all of the pain
User says
re: Caffeine Twitches
Glad to know I am not the only one. I drink a lot of coffee and experience fasciculations all over my body everyday (especially in my calves and feet too). I think it has something to do with my caffeine intake so I've decided to give up coffee (it's been three days now...not easy!) 🙂 I'll let you know if this has any affect on the fasciculations.
cooprman says
re: Muscle twitches - caffeine overdose?
I have been getting twitches (fasciculations) all over my body but especially in my calves and feet. I drink lots of coffee and my doctor thinks it could be related to my caffeine intake. Has anyone else experienced this?
User says
re: some positivity please!
on day one of caffeine withdrawal and already i feel like c**p- headache and brain fog well and truly kicked in! I need to hear some inspirational,positive comments on how i am going to feel when my body is free from this evil drug!!!! Anyone there yet?
User says
re: Only day 5 and Im aching!!!
OK, so I thought I was going crazy or seriously sick. I had to cut out all caffeine due to 10 ulcers which formed in my stomach and esophagus. After being hospitalized for this, I knew letting go of coffee would be one of the most difficult things to do, besides cigarettes, which may I add was easier. The aches and pains in my neck, lower back radiating through my behind and down my legs is like something I've never experienced before, enough to bring me to tears. After reading these stories, it's "unfortunately nice" to hear that I'm not alone, nor am I being a baby. UGH!!!!
User says
re: Never had these aches and pains before ...
I'm a coffee drinker who usually has two cups in the morning, maybe three if I head out to Starbucks with a coworker. I'm not a big soda drinker. I decided to stop drinking coffee because I've been having stomach problems and I thought this would be a good start. I've quit coffee before, but have never experienced the aches and pains that I am experiencing now. I am in day four of my caffeine detox. Day one I had the splitting headache, which I expected, but I was pretty much on the sofa all day. Day two was better, but still had the headache. Day three the headache was back and I had to leave my office to run out for some Excedrin (which I was trying to avoid because of the caffeine in it). Today my headache is better, but my body aches like I have the flu. I've been hitting the gym thinking that will help, but like the others, am having difficulty getting into my workouts. A coworker just came by and said her husband suffered withdrawal for two weeks. I am hoping my detox won't last that long, but I will push through it. Also like the others, I think there are way worse addictions than caffeine, but after experiencing the detox effects and thinking about what it's doing to my body, I will be hard pressed to take up coffee drinking again. Good luck to everyone!
Alan Jarrett says
re: Feeling better!
My experience with detox of caffeine was not quite as drastic. It may have been due to not going to the extreme of cutting out sugar in my diet at the same time, and alcohol is not an issue.
It took about 2 days before feeling the aches and pains associated with the detoxing, and I remember calling "Ask a Nurse" to see if the symptoms were related. The first question she asked was if I had stopped drinking coffee?
The aches in my legs stopped after about two days. I used caffeine free aspirin for the headache, which also helped with the aches. I remember feeling very similar to the old days from a hangover, just before the aches started.
Having just detoxed again last week, it was totally weird, because I got none of the customary aches and discomfort of the past. I don't know if that was due to being in very good physical shape through exercise, or that I may not be drinking as much coffee as in the past.
One thing is for sure. I now buy strictly freshly roasted Arabica beans and grind my own. So I'm not getting any of the Robusta that would have been present in the Food Service coffee consumed in the past, which may account for less caffeine.
But in answer to your question, the whole process for me in the past was about 5 days to feel like I was getting back to normal. The very reason I detox is for the reason you mention, which is the reaction my body gets from the caffeine. It's hard to believe that it could have the affect it does.
However, I choose to detox just because, and not because I consider coffee or caffeine a health risk, or that I intend to give up coffee. I have yet to find any credible research that contributes any health risk to caffeine. There is evidence that people have a variance in their tolerance to caffeine, which of course is not the fault of caffeine.
I have found numerous studies done within the last two years that attribute many health benefits to caffeine, from increased absorption of insulin in diabetics to decreased risk to various types of cancer. Hope this is helpful.
lindadi125 says
re: withdrawal
Normally I have a couple of cups of coffee in the morning, a couple during the morning hours and then about four or five in the evening. Of course, I also have insomnia (no surprises there!) and decided that I would try and cut out my coffee at night. There have been times in the past that I wouldn't have coffee at night for whatever reason and I would wake up the next morning with awful headaches. I didn't put the two together until a couple of months ago, and the headache was so bad I thought that it was better to just drink the coffee and not have them. I have also suffered with blinding migraines and RLS for years so anything I can do to avoid either is a good thing for me. I start a new job today, and so last night, I wanted to get a good nights sleep so I would be fresh. Well, I am up at 4 am with the worst headache I have ever had. I took two Excedrin/Migraine caplets and have just finished my second cup of coffee and it is finally starting to abate. Is it easier to slowly cut back on the coffee rather than go cold turkey? I never would have believed that something so innocous as coffee could make me feel so lousy. I have been making some dietary changes over the last few months in order to lose weight, and I know that I will feel better in the long run without the coffee. I need to quit smoking as well, but I know I cannot do it all at once. I too took Effexor for depression and quit that cold turkey and would never do that again ever....Any help with the caffeine issue would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to feel this bad for the rest of my life.....
nina says
re: 7 days without coffee and feeling horible
after twenty years of having coffee every day, finally i wanted to try to quit. i put myself on detox diet- no coffee, no alcohol, no sweets. first day was very hard; somehow i manage to start my day,go to work, came back. and than i started having the most painful headache ever.vomited a few times. but the night was very hard to; strong pain in my legs,back,calves. i couldn't warm myself up. i was saying what is wrong with me? survived somehow. on the second day headache got better, but a constant pain in my hips,back,legs. i would need to get up and move around. just to mention i never drink any kind of sodas, or energy drings. only caffein that i would have was with the two or three cups of coffee. it really schocks me how powerfull chemical caffein is, and how long our body is taking to balance everything. i was very happy reading this site, the only thing i am still looking is that none of the people that posted the comments didn't say how long it took to feel normal again. thanks. nina
Marc says
re: Is this for real???
I was feeling awful and didn't realize what was going on with my body. Then I realized I ran out of supplements - hydroxycut AND green tea every single day for just a few months. I started having sharp stabbing chest pains, feeling like my lungs and my head was pressure filled. Then I thought what could be causing this? Loss of caffeine???!!! Yes! Now it's about 2 weeks later and the lung pain has gotten less but my head and my neck are so swollen and tense I can't even think. I keep having major anxiety attacks which are not helping my swollen neck and head. I hope this is all caffeine related and not something else being wrong with me and I'm overlooking. AAAAHHHHH!!! This really is one of the worse things I've ever experienced. I feel pretty worthless and lame.
User says
re: 2 weeks and I feel worse
I'm on day 12 now and feel much worse than I did a week ago. I decided to quit after months of extreme anxiety that followed years of depression. I attempted to quit caffeine three times in the past two years and never made it past the two week mark. I wonder if withdrawal can be delayed a week because the first week of my quits are never intense. I just feel hazy and kind of relaxed. No headaches at all (though I did get leg cramps this time). It's after the first week has passed when I start feeling horrible. Worse than I ever felt while on the drug. It makes me worry that the withdrawal is over and this is how I will normally feel from now on. I heard that it actually takes two months for this to pass and then I will feel like a new person. I really hope that's true.
User says
re: caffeine and breathing
I cut way down on my caffeine intake this week and besides the other symptoms, I also have had trouble breathing. It's to the point where I feel like my asthma, which has been gone since I've been a child, has returned.
Gordon says
re: Caffeine Intake Effects
Visiting my parents today and my mother had recently bought some diet coke as she knew I was coming - obviously unaware that I had changed over to the caffeine free diet coke. As there was nothing else to drink, I had three cans during my visit. All I can say is I am stunned at the effect it had. I felt lightheaded - almost like the early effects of alcohol when one feels tipsy. I also have a hot flush. Now I am sitting here unable to sleep. All on three cans..... madness!
narconon says
re: i hear you, i don't feel any
i hear you, i don't feel any 'drastic' symptoms if i don't drink my coffee. i have a very busy schedule and many times i don't have the time to have the coffee and smoke in the morning. and so, the day passes without me even getting close to a cup (any cup) feeling a mild headache...
User says
re: withdrawls
Yes, I can definately relate to what your going through, I was to the doctor last week for another problem and I was scheduled for a biopsy this week and in the mean time I was not to have any asprin or caffiene ( I was taken an OTC pill form) I took 300 mg everyday for 18 years, I had to just stop and I had a headache and achyness from my hips all down my legs and it definatly kept me up at night. But now a week later I feel fine. I never knew it would affect me like that and I actually feel better now without it.
danserchic says
re: Addiction
I am only 16, but when I was 13, in 8th grade, I started going through withdrawal. I'd had all of those symptoms plus more, and I skipped class a few times, before I'd gone to my doctors to see what was wrong. Back then, I couldn't wake up with tea by my bed and I couldn't function without it.
I am also a chocolate fanatic, and I import teas and chocolates from all over the world. The reason my withdrawal started was because this earl grey tea company stopped making tea, and i thought my local supermarkets just stopped stocking them, so i boycotted tea until i could find it. It was a hard week before i found out the company had gone out.
Now, out of habit, I still drink tea first thing in the morning, but I take these medicinal pills to counter-act the intake of caffeine, because my addiction was so bad.
User says
re: Good luck in your efforts to
Good luck in your efforts to kick the caffeine habit! I would like to make a suggestion about the problem with your legs. Soak in a hot bath with about 5-7 chamomile tea bags in the water. When the water starts to be too cool, drain the water while still sitting in the tub. It will feel like the water is pulling the tension out of your legs. I hope this helps.