[Misc] Cold Turkey on Caffeine

[nwgull]

Anyone ever done this? I recently decided that I drink too much (probably 300-400mg or more 7 days a week) and could do wih cutting back for long-term benefits and also better sleep. I don't intend to give up completely, but did a bit of an experiment (and personal challenge) to see what would happen if I cut my daily intake to as close to 0mg as possible. I'm currently on Day 6 and although I knew I'd miss the routine part, eg brewing and enjoying the aroma of my morning doppio, I am genuinely surprised at the physiological effects and it really made me appreciate how much caffeine intake affects the body.

Obviously felt a bit more tired in the afternoon of day 1, but I expected this. What I was less prepared for was the blinding headache in the first couple of evenings, and what surprised me most was that after about 48 hours I started experiencing stiffness in my legs and joints and what I'd describe as sciatic pain in my lower back running down my legs. This was so painful that it was causing me to wake up in the middle of the night and having to take a couple of paracetamol. I Googled this and discovered that it's not an uncommon effect of caffeine withdrawal. Having experienced it myself I have to say that it has really changed my perspective in recognising caffeine as a drug that we're generally a bit blaze about.

Be interested to see if any others have had similar experiences? It certainly gave me a new level of respect for people that have been able to overcome the physiological effects of giving up more addictive drugs such as nicotine or smack.

 

[stewart12]

yes and I had very similar experiences to you

 

[RandyWanger]

Good luck. I did on Drs orders about 6 years ago while doing a FODMAP. I recall it was 1 month cold turkey on almost everything other than rice and chicken and it was miserable. I think the sugar withdrawal was worse than caffeine (I was a 2 or 3 sugars in my coffee type person) but also experienced similar withdrawals as you've mentioned.

Anyway, once the FODMAP was done and the issue identified, I re introduced coffee but was over the sugar addiction.

Like many things, moderation is key. I do about 520 mg a day (2 double espresso shots as an Americano) but I won't drink a coffee past midday and I have no issues sleeping. I exercise each day and have a job where I am mentally busy which I think pays a part of it but also have a generally healthy diet and lifestyle.

Coffee is 1 of your 5 a day due to the fibre content if its decent coffee beans not over roaster instant shite (but it sounds like you get decent beans) and caffeine has many health benefits. But it is an addictive drug.

Might be worth a watch:

 

[Boys 9d]

In the past, my then wife and I changed to decaffeinated coffee and suffered some of the effects detailed above not realising the cause. Having run out of decaffeinated coffee and not being able to shop, we drank some normal coffee which we still had in our cupboard. Our physical problems disappeared as if by magic. An experiment never repeated.

 

[Weststander]

I knew someone at a client’s who successfully achieved this and he kept it up. Almost overnight it solved chronic insomnia, the reason he tried it.

I prefer the compromise of a nice coffee, then a tea, to get the day going.

 

[raymondo]

Anyone ever done this? I recently decided that I drink too much (probably 300-400mg or more 7 days a week) and could do wih cutting back for long-term benefits and also better sleep. I don't intend to give up completely, but did a bit of an experiment (and personal challenge) to see what would happen if I cut my daily intake to as close to 0mg as possible. I'm currently on Day 6 and although I knew I'd miss the routine part, eg brewing and enjoying the aroma of my morning doppio, I am genuinely surprised at the physiological effects and it really made me appreciate how much caffeine intake affects the body.

Obviously felt a bit more tired in the afternoon of day 1, but I expected this. What I was less prepared for was the blinding headache in the first couple of evenings, and what surprised me most was that after about 48 hours I started experiencing stiffness in my legs and joints and what I'd describe as sciatic pain in my lower back running down my legs. This was so painful that it was causing me to wake up in the middle of the night and having to take a couple of paracetamol. I Googled this and discovered that it's not an uncommon effect of caffeine withdrawal. Having experienced it myself I have to say that it has really changed my perspective in recognising caffeine as a drug that we're generally a bit blaze about.

Be interested to see if any others have had similar experiences? It certainly gave me a new level of respect for people that have been able to overcome the physiological effects of giving up more addictive drugs such as nicotine or smack.

Many years ago I decided to give up coffee from the free machine at work... basically crap coffee, about 8 cups a day. I just stopped. Had bad headaches and the shakes for a week at least.
I now have three cups of tea a day plus/or one decent coffee on occasion. This seems to suit my system ok.

 

[nwgull]

In the past, my then wife and I changed to decaffeinated coffee and suffered some of the effects detailed above not realising the cause. Having run out of decaffeinated coffee and not being able to shop, we drank some normal coffee which we still had in our cupboard. Our physical problems disappeared as if by magic. An experiment never repeated.

It seems to be really common, yet I'd certainly never heard of it. I wanted to confirm to myself that it was indeed the cause of the back/leg pain and not just a coincidental chronic running injury that I'd need to sort with rest and physio, so when I started to experience the pain again (day 5) I made myself a single esperesso and the pain dissapeared within about 5 minutes. It was quicker and more effective than the 2 paracetamols!

 

[schmunk]

It seems to be really common, yet I'd certainly never heard of it. I wanted to confirm to myself that it was indeed the cause of the back/leg pain and not just a coincidental chronic running injury that I'd need to sort with rest and physio, so when I started to experience the pain again (day 5) I made myself a single esperesso and the pain dissapeared within about 5 minutes. It was quicker and more effective than the 2 paracetamols!

This is why Anadin Extra* contains 300mg Aspirin, 200mg Paracetomol and 45mg Caffeine.

The drug companies know (but won't acknowledge) that Caffeine withdrawal is a significant contributor to many people feeling a bit ill.


*other products are available, and indeed a generic paracetomol, generic aspirin and small cup of coffee will give exactly the same effect, for a fraction of the price.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I’m down to two coffees a day and never after midday. When I worked in an office with a team “tea round” it was four or five.

Sleep is WAY better but I’ve no intention of giving up my two in the morning unless I have to medically.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

I have a very strong (caffeinated) coffee when I first get up - really rely on it - but after that it's all (probably only two more) de-caffeinated and nothing past noon.

When I reduced (from 5 or six caffeinated cups a day) I did suffer from headaches.

 

[nwgull]

I’m down to two coffees a day and never after midday. When I worked in an office with a team “tea round” it was four or five.

Sleep is WAY better but I’ve no intention of giving up my two in the morning unless I have to medically.

This is approximately what I intend to drink once I've finished my cold turkey experiment, which I'm planning on doing for another week. One single in the morning, the whole process of which is the best coffee of the day, and one at some other point sometime before 1pm. I'm also giving up diet Coke!

 

[Justice]

I knew someone at a client’s who successfully achieved this and he kept it up. Almost overnight it solved chronic insomnia, the reason he tried it.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

When I was living in the States I was drinking way too much coffee at work and at home. This was mainly because the coffee at work was topped up regularly so was always fresh and, at that time, the choice of coffee beans you could buy was much better than was available in the UK so I ended up drinking more at home than I would have in the UK. As a result I became very jittery and irritable so knew I had to cut back which I did gradually rather than overnight. I definitely felt better. I also remember at the time that in the State of California packets of coffee beans carried a cancer warning stating that as a result of the roasting process cancerous chemicals could be created.

 

[chip]

I've only been having two coffees a day for a few years, sleep seems to have improved from having many more per day.

In some of my work on microvascular health, we have to advise volunteers not to drink coffee beforehand in case it confounds the study. A couple of cups of coffee seems to improve microvascular function, the range of dilation is increased, which appears to make the smallest vessels more flexible. A good thing as haemoglobin have a greater diameter than that of average capillaries. Not useful if you are investigating a statin and you are seeing the affects of coffee. But, maybe part of the physiological symptoms on cold turkey....

 

[RandyWanger]

the whole process of which is the best coffee of the day, and one at some other point sometime before 1pm. I'm also giving up diet Coke!

I love the process, grind my own beans and pull my own shots. It's a good way to start the day.

You'll probably find the Diet Coke is far worse for you than the coffee.

 

[emphyrian]

I've suffered migraines all my life and my DR told me to stop caffeine, chocolate, cheese and alcohol. After a month I could reintroduce one thing to see if migraines kicked in. I had terrible headaches for about a week but reintroduced chocolate then next month alcohol then cheese. I then took my first caffeine hit and was in so much pain that I instantly gave up caffeine full time. No coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper. Some over-counter drugs for headaches and the migraine medication I was on. Now only drink decaf tea or coffee, only have sprite or lemonade as my fizzy and although I still get migraines I am down to 1 every 2 months instead of 4 a week.

I've also found that my energy levels are pretty decent as I'm not giving myself false energy highs with coffee or energy drinks.

 

[Midget]

I do like a proper (not instant) coffee but very rarely have one, I'm sensitive to it and sometimes feel a bit "not quite grounded" if it's strong, so I usually avoid it.

But weirdly, I also get horrendous migraines and if I can't take medication for some reason, I find a very strong, proper, black coffee is often the only thing that does help. But I don't have any withdrawal afterwards, maybe because it's a one-off. It's the same with that nasty headache you sometimes get after a lumbar puncture, only a strong coffee seems to sort me out.

Probably something microvascular, I'm sure @chip could explain!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Doesn't bode well for all those kiddies necking cans of Monster at 160mg of caffeine per can

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Tea also has caffeine in it. About 15 years ago I found I couldn’t get off to sleep so cut back on coffee keeping it to morning only.
Now I don’t drink tea after 5pm, sticking to a herbal caffeine free tea In the evening, if I want a hot drink.

 

[Notters]

Coffee is 1 of your 5 a day due to the fibre content if its decent coffee beans not over roaster instant shite (but it sounds like you get decent beans) and caffeine has many health benefits.

Good to hear you say this! I just had a little over a month in hospital and my insides were a right mess after that.

Without going into graphic detail, I'm pretty sure it was the proper coffee that sorted me out after two days back at home.