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Caffeine Withdrawal

pford03
pford03 Posts: 27
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, before I started last week I was a Coca-Cola addict. The first thing I had in the morning was a glass of Coke. I switched to Coke Zero to lose the calories and then decided to cut down to 1 a day to cut out the caffeine. The problem I'm having is that without the caffeine, I'm having terrible headaches. I can drink a Coke and within 15 minutes my headache is gone or lessened enough that I can function. Any suggestions on how to deal with the withdrawals? I know that I need to cut out caffeine as much as possible, but I can't deal with these headaches that are to the point of migraines!

Replies

  • pford03
    pford03 Posts: 27
    Ok, before I started last week I was a Coca-Cola addict. The first thing I had in the morning was a glass of Coke. I switched to Coke Zero to lose the calories and then decided to cut down to 1 a day to cut out the caffeine. The problem I'm having is that without the caffeine, I'm having terrible headaches. I can drink a Coke and within 15 minutes my headache is gone or lessened enough that I can function. Any suggestions on how to deal with the withdrawals? I know that I need to cut out caffeine as much as possible, but I can't deal with these headaches that are to the point of migraines!
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    well first I guess I want to know why you think you need to cut out caffiene totally? Some caffiene (unless you are pregnant or breastfeeding or hyper tensive) is a good thing.

    What you really need to cut out is the enemy SODA. SODA, whether it is diet or caffiene free or whatever has CRAP in it. Straight coffee is a good thing in my book.

    Dave
  • sacman_old
    sacman_old Posts: 15
    I couldn't agree more with your comments. It's the sugar, carbonation, and Asparteme (if it applies) that is not good. I have to have my 6 cups of coffee every day.
  • jhacker
    jhacker Posts: 301 Member
    I also recently cut caffeine from my diet. I was a diet coke and coffee addict! I did get headaches for a few days but drank lots of water. If you can force yourself through the headaches for a few days, you will feel a lot better! I actually now have more energy and don't feel as tired as I used to while drinking caffeine! Good luck though because I felt your pain. But know that it is worth it!!!!:happy:
    You also might want to decrease it more gradually to get better results. I went cold turkey.:laugh:
  • kerrilucko
    kerrilucko Posts: 3,852 Member
    well.. too much caffeine isn't a good thing. Could you switch to tea? maybe 2 cups a day, you'd still get caffeine and you could stagger it more than you could with 1 soda. Cut back slowly?
  • lessertess
    lessertess Posts: 855 Member
    My opinion:

    Diet Soda's in moderation are not the enemy. Many brands now are caffiene, sugar, and sodium free or have very reduced levels. You don't want to drink 64 oz a day, but one won't hurt you unless your allergic or have a sensitiviy to artificial sweeteners.

    Caffiene in moderation is also ok and, in fact, is beleived to aid in weight loss efforts at least to a really really small degree.

    Caffiene withdrawel is wicked. It's really hard. I tried it a while back. My advice is to wean yourself gradually to avoid the headaches. You can do it all at once but I'd advice taking at least a 3 day weekend because it becomes really difficult to concentrate at work. I tried it cold turkey once and literally ended up home in bed. After that I took the gradual reduction approach and had no problem. I didn't cut it out completely but I did reduce it pretty drastically.
  • pford03
    pford03 Posts: 27
    Thanks for the input. I'm not trying to eliminate it completely, just cut way back. I was drinking 6 to 8, 20 ounce Cokes a day. By cutting down like I have, I'm already seeing an improvement in my sleeping, greatly reduced indigestion, and bloating. I guess I had never taken a hard look at the damage that I was doing to myself. Thanks, for the encouragement!
  • keiko
    keiko Posts: 2,919 Member
    I gave up coffee to get away from the caffeine. I drink a few cups of green tea durning the day but it is way less caffeine.
    After the headaches went away (a few days of those) I now have way more energy and sleep better.
    Good luck
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