Have you ever quit caffeine? How did it affect you?

maryjaquiss

I occasionally take a few weeks off caffeine just to make sure I'm not addicted and was off it completely while pregnant, except for a couple of cups of tea (British style!). I've never experienced any issues with headaches etc. When I'm not abstaining, I have a double espresso every morning and 1-2 cups of tea throughout the day.

gothchiq

I refuse. I'm hypothyroid. No coffee = not gonna be able to keep my job for long! I've had doctors suggest it and I said well if you want to guarantee my income and clean my house for me then we'll talk about it. Otherwise no.

JetJaguar

I've quit cold turkey once before, and I had a nonstop headache for a week. The first 2-3 days were really bad and nothing (careful, some pain relievers have caffeine in them) would help, then it faded to a dull pain that some ibuprofen could take care of. I was also tired and had no energy for about a month. After that I was pretty much business as usual, minus the afternoon headaches if I didn't get my fix soon enough in the morning. Caffeine didn't really give me a boost anymore, it just brought me back to normal.

My doctor recommended that I give up caffeine to see if that lowers my blood pressure. It can have that effect in some people. This time I'm tapering down. I'm going from about 6-7 cans of Coke per day and this week I'm stepping down to two.

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MikeD0326

Massive headache for two days, then fine.

esteruchan

I quit drinking sodas about 6 years ago and would only have 1 cup of coffee a day. I quit caffeinated coffee about 6 months ago, because it seemed to give me flares (I have fibromyalgia). I weaned myself off the caffeine by first drinking half caff...then quarter caff...then no caff. I now drink decaf coffee every morning (I love the smell and taste of coffee). Funny thing is if I don't have my decaf coffee, I feel that same tiredness I used to have when I would miss my morning caffeinated coffee. I think (for me, at least) the caffeine wake-up was more psychological. I did have a regular caffeinated coffee a couple months ago because the place I was at didn't have decaf, and I was wired as all get out after. Couldn't sleep for hours. The key to quitting caffeine is weaning little by little so you don't get the nasty withdrawal symptoms.

rakeru19

I always thought people who didn't drink coffee were something bizarre

KANGOOJUMPS

yep, I go off it now and then, its good for you, shakes, dizzy and headaches, it affects everyone different., its worth doing tho, do that with sugar..., but booze. nope. I will keep my booze.

lalepepper

I quit caffeine basically cold turkey in college and it was hard - headaches were my main side effect. Now I don't drink as much as I did then, and cutting myself down from my usual intake, which I have these days, to ~1c coffee when I was pregnant was not a problem at all. Now I tend to drink 2-3 cups coffee and some caffeinated soft drinks, and feel tapering down would be just as easy as when I did when I was pregnant.