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I quit caffeine

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Re: I quit caffeine

#41

Post by mirekrusin »

alexose wrote: post #21

I've definitely noticed a change in how my body handles caffeine now that I'm in my mid 30s. Less euphoria, more heart-pounding-through-my-chest. I still love the taste, though, and the routine of making pourovers/aeropresses/etc. One thing that's really helped me is to always have decaf as easily accessible as regular. It helps me separate the caffeine dosage from all of the other things I love about coffee.

You can get bean-to-cup machine and mix 50/50 or even 70/30 decaf and normal beans - it works very well (look at quality of decaf, make sure it's water or co2-decafinated not chemically-decafinated). Also as I said above L-Theanin works very, very well with coffee to relieve unwanted symptoms.

Re: I quit caffeine

#43

Post by anonymousiam »

I gave up all forms of caffeine about 35 years ago. My experiences were similar to the author, but worse. I had been drinking coffee from about age 12. The first time I quit (at age 24) I had bad headaches. I "fell off the wagon" after a week or so. A month later I quit again and then felt so bad that I missed two days of work. I lapsed again after about a month. The third and final time I quit (maybe a month later), the withdrawal symptoms were so bad that it made me never want to go through it again. I am talking about cold sweats, shakes, and vomiting.

It's easy to get caffeine, and somewhat difficult to avoid it. Caffeine is so common that it's easy to justify using it. ("Everyone else does, so it can't be that bad. Right?")

My wife is still a user, and I often make coffee for her in the morning. It still smells delicious to me, but I haven't (and wont) go back to it. She is like a zombie before she has her morning coffee, and she often has trouble getting to sleep at night. I am awake and alert in the morning, and sleep soundly.

Re: I quit caffeine

#44

Post by techwizrd »

patwolf wrote: post #20
llimllib wrote: post #2

I didn't quit caffeine, but I cut down massively by keeping it in a Zojirushi mug that keeps it hot all morning instead of drinking from a regular mug. Because it stays hot, I just sip it, and that way I only drink one mug in the morning and occasionally one in the afternoon, instead of the 3 or 4 mugs I would drink previously.

+1 for Zojirushi. I do wish they made something shaped more like a traditional mug than a travel mug. I've tried various brands of insulated mugs, and at most they let me stretch out my cup of coffee to 45 minutes. With a Zojirushi I can make a cup last hours.

I used to think the concept of a mug warmer or a heated mug was quite silly. My wife and I received Ember mugs a few months ago, and they're a lot less silly than I thought--they just keep your cup warm to exactly the temperature you prefer. If anyone is still on the fence, I highly recommend some kind of mug warmer or heated mug. There is something quite freeing about not worrying if you're drinking your coffee/tea/etc fast enough to avoid it getting cold.

Re: I quit caffeine

#45

Post by spacemadness »

hunterb123 wrote: post #39
spacemadness wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know you were just exaggerating for effect, but obviously a lot of illicit drugs (and not so illicit depending on the person: alcohol) are a lot harder to quit for various reasons.

Not really, I've done a lot of hard drugs, except heroin/opioids/benzos, and I'd say caffeine is the hardest to quit. Literally been on a 3 day binger awake and couldn't figure out why my head hurt, thought it was food, water, oh no whoops it was a caffeine withdrawal. Everything else I can do on and off, some things it's been years, caffeine I've only quit once. Lapsed and haven't been able to again.

I was specifically thinking of heroin and friends which can have massive withdrawal symptoms and need plenty of external support to overcome. “all illicit” is too big an umbrella I agree. Change that to “some” instead “a lot”.

Re: I quit caffeine

#47

Post by shmel »

hunterb123 wrote: post #22
shmel wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually ibuprofen is a vasodilator unlike caffeine.

They're a very common combo used for pain and migraines though. Cannabis can be used for instant relief, but it opens your veins, causing headaches or worsening your migraine. Caffeine for extended headache relief. Sometimes you need an Advil and/or Aspirin depending on the pain. IANAD. Aspirin Acetaminophen and Caffeine or AAC is very effective.

I can totally see ibuprofen helping against headaches as it is a very common painkiller. I just pointed out that it works differently than caffeine.

Re: I quit caffeine

#48

Post by ruined »

shmel wrote: post #12
frankus wrote: post #5

I've heard (but not verified) that ibuprofen is a vasoconstrictor like caffeine, and can be more helpful in easing withdrawal symptoms than other OTC pain meds. That said, it's likely also tolerance-inducing ( https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stopping-the-vicious-cyc... ), so don't overdo it.

Actually ibuprofen is a vasodilator unlike caffeine.

caffeine is both a vasoconstrictor and a vasodilator, over the course of a dose. dilation is the second and longer-acting effect, and acclimation to that is what causes the withdrawal headaches. other vasodilators should help if the mechanism is different, to prevent continuing dependency.

Re: I quit caffeine

#49

Post by fallat »

Another anecdote here. Going on decaf was one of the best choices I could do. I've gotten back on caffeine and the palpitations are back for me also.

It makes me wonder: do people in the older generations have the same symptoms but just don't say anything?... Kind of concerning.

Edit: This thread inspired me to get on hot water asap again. Thanks everyone :) Just poured myself some.

Re: I quit caffeine

#50

Post by hunterb123 »

spacemadness wrote: post #45
hunterb123 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really, I've done a lot of hard drugs, except heroin/opioids/benzos, and I'd say caffeine is the hardest to quit. Literally been on a 3 day binger awake and couldn't figure out why my head hurt, thought it was food, water, oh no whoops it was a caffeine withdrawal. Everything else I can do on and off, some things it's been years, caffeine I've only quit once. Lapsed and haven't been able to again.

I was specifically thinking of heroin and friends which can have massive withdrawal symptoms and need plenty of external support to overcome. “all illicit” is too big an umbrella I agree. Change that to “some” instead “a lot”.

Certainly, benzos and opioids are very addictive and the feedback cycle isn't your friend so you don't fuck with em.

That's not saying much about caffeine though, being slightly less addictive than heroin is not a high bar.

Compared to any other stimulants though, caffeine is the most addictive, with the worst withdraw, in my experience.

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