Comments on: Caffeine Withdrawal

By: Frances

Frances — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:27:58 +0000

I have been addicted to excedrin migraine for at least four years now. I would pop two every morning like my cup of coffee. I was addicted to the caffeine that is in the pills. They then pulled the pills on a nationwide recall so I then started taking BC powder. After a couple of days of feeling really sick from this new caffeine substitute I decided to quit cold turkey. The very first day I literally thought my head was gonna fall off. I was nauseated, sick to my stomache, my head was throbbing with pain. Day two I ended up in the emergency room from dehydration from the vomiting and also had to be given an injection for neaseau, and a pain injection called dilauded it's stronger than morphine to help the migraine subside. I then went home that evening after lab work, and a ct scan that proved I was normal and it was withdrawals from the caffeine in the meds I had been taking for so long. It's now officially day four and I still have a minor nagging headache but I have been taking ibuprofen to help with that. I do feel eighty percent better. Caffeine addiction is no joke and it's very painful. Be careful with over the counter pain reliever meds because they can harm you, and can make you addicted.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:46:59 +0000

This has been motivating for me. I’m a caffeineaholic. Starbucks plus more coffee in the morning, followed by several diet soda’s and usually at least 1 energy drink each afternoon. I got so sick of needing the stuff and feeling like crap. I actually got sick and slept in bed for a whole day. When I realized that I hadn’t had any caffeine due to my sickness, I decided to go with it and continue to completely detox off of caffeine. I’m on the morning of day 4. This has been painful. Severe headaches, fatigue, feeling like my arms and legs are made of bricks, lack of concentration, motivation and borderline depression. I’ve also been nauseated and having other gut issues, but I’m not sure if that is part of the caffeine or if I have contracted a mild virus. In any case, I”ve come this far and I hope I can stick with it. It’s nice to read stories of others who have gone through the same thing. It is nice knowing that the poisen isn’t in my system anymore. It seems so harmless until you try to stop. Which makes you realize how much it does have an effect on your body.

By: De

De — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:56:57 +0000

I have been on and off caffeine for 15 yrs. In that span of time I had found that caffeine to be a diaretic (sp?)which means you pee a lot and thus you can get dehydrated. Caffeine also destroys the Vit. Bs, C, zinc, potassium and iron. The carbination in the sodas destroys calcium. Most recently I have been better at staying off of the caffeine due to my having Raynaud's syndrome. Caffeine tends to constrict the blood vessels and Raynaud's is an over reaction of the blood vessels in the fingers and toes to cold temperatures. I have found what works for me with the withdrawal symptoms is to somewhat increase foods with iron. Try to drink the recommended amount of water each day. IBprofen, and a cold compress at the back of the neck or something like tiger balm patches at the neck, shoulders and forehead regions. The herbal version of IBprofen is Valerian root which doesn't have the side effect as IBprofen on the liver but it can make a person feel like a zombie in the morning. The Valerian root is best taken in tablet form as the root is a nasty smelling root (think dirty socks smell) If you are hooked of tea or coffee a switch to decaf, note that there are minut traces of caffeine still in them. And finally, Green tea has caffeine.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:23:34 +0000

Was looking up info on weight loss and caffeine and came across this site. I normally drink 5-6 cups of black tea a day and lattes every once and a while. I have been dieting and exercising to lose some weight, but it has been really hard. I have had the feeling that my daily caffeine intake has had an impact on me not losing weight, so I stopped cold turkey 3 days ago and sure enough, I weighed myself this morning and have lost 4 lbs already. The only thing I have done differently is stop drinking caffeine. Yes, I have been lethargic...I can't even keep my eyes open past 9 at night (normally go to bed at 11) and have been a little irritable and have a few minor headaches. Today (4th day) I feel better. I am going to try it out for a few weeks to see if it is easier to lose weight while off the caffeine. I am substituting with mint tea and drinking way more water than I normally do, so maybe that is why I have lost weight this week:-)

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:58:38 +0000

I've quit a caffeine addiction several times before. I've always found ibuprofen (extra strength, 400mg) to cut through the headache very effectively! I'm in the middle of it today and don't intend to go back to coffee this time!

By: Linds

Linds — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:11:16 +0000

This is so great to read. I thought I was getting depressed, then I made the connection to my New Year's resolution of quitting coffee. I completely quit caffeine as of Sunday so I'm on day 3. I go straight home from work and want to sleep, plus I feel sad at times (which is completely out of character for me). These posts helped alot! I'll feel so much better and balanced once I get to the end of the week. Thanks!

By: jackie

jackie — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:45:30 +0000

I used to drink anything between 5-8 cups of coffee (mix of instant, filter & starbucks)as well as 3-4 cups of tea per day. Not good. My adrenals were producing so much of the hormone cortosone that my immune system was shot and I picked up every cold and virus going. I started cutting back about 3 weeks ago and got down to 2 filter coffees at work then went onto dandelion & nettle (Caffeine free of course!). Last mOnday I gave up copmpletely and had one day with a mother of all headaches. I couldn’t speak properly, think straight or walk in a straight line. I drank water and did lots of yoga, drank more water and did more yoga. Now I sleep like a baby, wake up before my alarm goes off and am ALIVE and VITAL as soon as I get up. My energy levels have gone through the roof – I feel AMAZING. People aren’t gasping for their first tea or coffee in the morning, like me they are ADDICTED. Stop, now….the benefits are so worth it. Don’t give up!!!

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:04:09 +0000

i stopped drinking coffee yesterday...uuuugh! i found this article after having suffered for two days with headaches and SEVERE fatigue. i almost fell asleep in the bathroom at work today! all i want to do is sleep away the caffeine withdrawals and go on with my life! i was hoping to find a quick fix or a cure but it looks like (after reading these comments) that i'm going to have to just push through. i was only drinking a cup a day. who knew??

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:24:53 +0000

I was drinking 3 to 4 cups a coffee per day and was having trouble sleeping so I decided to give up caffeine. I reduced my caffeine over a period of two weeks, so when it came to stopping all together, I only had slight headaches which went away in a few days. But I did notice that my moods were quite low for a week and that I really had to have lollies which I usually don't eat much of. The good news is that I'm sleeping like a baby, even falling asleep in the lounge which I never do. so it's all good.

By: Rachek

Rachek — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:29:49 +0000

Wow, i feel like an addict or something. I stopped drinking caffeene 4 days ago and i was a caffeine freak. Starbucks, Energy drinks, coffee, soda, crystal light energy, zipfizz. Anything that had caffeine i would guzzle down. I feel so different, so relaxed, but these headaches are Insane! I only had mine for a day, then i went to cheer practice, drank tons of water, and that headache went down the drain! So i'm excited to see how long this will last!