Poll of the Day > How bad is coffee withdrawal?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Say if you just stopped all at once?

I drink two pots a day, my anxiety has been wicked tense so not sure if I want to go down to a pot tomorrow, or eventually stop soon if that's not good enough.

I have had a lifetime of anxiety, panic, and OCD all on the strong side, but if there's a short period where it isn't as tense I end up getting into the habit of adding another pot of coffee in, like the two. Then when my nerves and thoughts hit the more extreme side of anxiety disorders I feel real nervous that I might be better off without, but its probably for the best despite being hard.

RJP_X posted...

I drink two pots a day

I'm not a doctor, but holy crap. I can't imagine that's helping your other conditions at all.

Caffeine withdrawal typically gives me bad headaches until I adjust.

faramir77 posted...

I'm not a doctor, but holy crap. I can't imagine that's helping your other conditions at all.

Caffeine withdrawal typically gives me bad headaches until I adjust.

Yeah I also suffer from bad depression most of my life as well, but only mentioned the anxiety stuff because I know coffee can escalate it. I mention depression now though as I'm curious if coffee can impact that as well, I've mostly seen anxiety stuff when reading.

It was worse a couple of years ago, use to drink 3 pots for the longest time lol no thank you.

Does taking anything for head aches help with that?

Whenever I stop drinking it for a day I feel irritable and extra sleepy. I haven't tried two days.

Get some water or juice and prepare for a few headaches for a few days.
The thing is, you don't recover your energy when you quit. You get used to the new amount of energy, which isn't much and you can sleep much better once you want to sleep. it feels weird for a week or two not having that rush confirming you're awake, but it makes you realize how it was all a high.

Two pots a day? Jesus Christ.

If you were to cut coffee cold turkey, you will have insane depression, mood swings and a headache of all headaches.

Just keep track of all the cups of coffee you drink a day, and ween off of it little by little.

I never noticed any change in depression when I stopped.

Withdrawals are mild compared to other...things...that cause withdrawals. The worst of it will likely be headaches due to vasoconstriction. Maybe some nausea and interest/appetite with food.

I use to drink like 4 cups a day. 1 cup would just be enough to wake me up then cups 2-3 would get me to be productive at work and a 4th cup would carry me after lunch.

Now that I'm 40 I can tell my cortisol levels are higher and it doesn't take much to get my blood pressure jacked up. I'm down to 1 and a half cups a day. If I tried to drink 4 cups my bp would spike and I'd get dizzy/light headed

Coffee is gross. So is tea and energy drinks.

If I need any sort of 'wake me up' juice I'll just drink a zero sugar coke or something.

It won't actually harm you, so try it and find out. Caffeine isn't one of those drugs where you have to be seriously worried about what will happen to you if you quit too abruptly. Worst case scenario, quitting cold turkey be too unpleasant for you to tolerate, in which case you go back to normal for a few days until you feel better, then start weaning yourself off more gradually.

adjl posted...

It won't actually harm you, so try it and find out. Caffeine isn't one of those drugs where you have to be seriously worried about what will happen to you if you quit too abruptly. Worst case scenario, quitting cold turkey be too unpleasant for you to tolerate, in which case you go back to normal for a few days until you feel better, then start weaning yourself off more gradually.

Yeah I've cold turkey'd alcohol on a few occasions after long bouts. I'm not sure if I had withdrawal, but it was difficult to do each time, not seeming possible. It also takes a freakish long time after too, like a month or two to feel a bit more decent. I go through a different kind of severe depression and thinking on things than I already typically do.

Don't think I ever want to go back again, it's not worth it. May feel good initially, but then you need more to sustain it until getting messed up and paying for it the next day. At least in my case.

I don't want to really get into the alcohol thing as since being on a new med. I've been fixating on those times enough as it is, but its something I've successfully cold turkey'd at least throughout my life time.

Not worse than alcohol so....

I think you would do quite well if you managed eliminating alcohol. It will likely be similar in that you'll notice it and it will be annoying, but not insurmountable. It might be worth doing what you thought of and trying to cut your intake in half first. Just make sure you're also drinking water!

not that bad but it will break your phone :(

I dont drink coffee but Ive gone a few days without Clonzepam. Ive been on it for so long that even a day without it turns me into an anxiety filled mess.

Depends on the person.
I know some get headaches.
I can go from 12 cups a day to zero cold turkey and have no issues at all. I'll crave caffeine still though, might start drinking soda or something. So the addiction is real, but I don't get much for physical effects.
Even now, since my heart decided to afib constantly, I haven't had coffee in 3 days, since it would make it feel even worse.

SinisterSlay posted...

Depends on the person.
I know some get headaches.
I can go from 12 cups a day to zero cold turkey and have no issues at all. I'll crave caffeine still though, might start drinking soda or something. So the addiction is real, but I don't get much for physical effects.
Even now, since my heart decided to afib constantly, I haven't had coffee in 3 days, since it would make it feel even worse.

I can't stand coffee but I can go from multiple sodas/energy drinks a day to nothing and back and not notice at all. Then again I can also chug a soda and immediately fall asleep so I may just not be sensitive to caffeine at all.

Occupy_This posted...

I dont drink coffee but Ive gone a few days without Clonzepam. Ive been on it for so long that even a day without it turns me into an anxiety filled mess.

Generally speaking, psych meds are extremely dangerous to go off of abruptly and/or without medical supervision. If you want to get off of one of those for whatever reason, you should be consulting a doctor to guide you in weaning yourself off slowly.

For some reason I will just chug some really cold water first thing in the morning, no coffee; but Ive withdrawn from other stuff before its no fun

A nice headache and maybe some fatigue for a few days.

I will say, sleep and the time after waking up is better without coffee once you get through the cravings/withdrawals. Coffee is pretty great if you drink "the good stuff" once in a while and you find yourself with a lot to do and need an extra pep in your step.

Its REALLY hard to go cold turkey off coffee.

If youre interested in quitting buy a French press. Prepare coffee every day as normal, but use the exact same measurement. Then after about a week, use 90% coffee and 10% decaf. For like 2 days. Then 80% coffee and 20% decaf for like 2 days. Then 70% coffee and 30% decaf for like 2 days. Then 60% coffee and 40% decaf for like 2 days. Then 50% coffee and 50% decaf for like 2 days. Then 40% coffee and 60% decaf for like 2 days. Then 30% coffee and 70% decaf for like 2 days. Then 20% coffee and 80% decaf for like 2 days. Then 10% coffee and 90% decaf for like 2 days. Then you get off coffee completely and have no side effects. Congratulations. Youre cured.

adjl posted...

Generally speaking, psych meds are extremely dangerous to go off of abruptly and/or without medical supervision. If you want to get off of one of those for whatever reason, you should be consulting a doctor to guide you in weaning yourself off slowly.

Im not trying to go off them abruptly. My doctor keeps trying to lower my dosage which doesnt work for me and I think the pharmacy I go to isnt filling them correctly because I keep running out 2-3 days before it gets refilled.

Occupy_This posted...

Im not trying to go off them abruptly. My doctor keeps trying to lower my dosage which doesnt work for me and I think the pharmacy I go to isnt filling them correctly because I keep running out 2-3 days before it gets refilled.

That's fair. Have you talked to the pharmacy about how you keep running out early? I know they can be really strict about how much they give out of certain drugs, but they still shouldn't be shorting you.

Caffeine withdrawal headaches are bad enough that I don't even want to bother with the trouble of doing other drugs

I would just start replacing some of your consumption with decaf (or half caf) until you can wean yourself off so much caffeine. Drinking lots of water will help too.

A headache, grumpiness, anxiety, nothing too bad honestly.

wwinterj25 posted...

Not worse than alcohol so....

Alcohol withdrawal can kill you. Caffeine withdrawal cannot.

fettster777 posted...

Coffee is gross. So is tea and energy drinks.

If I need any sort of 'wake me up' juice I'll just drink a zero sugar coke or something.

Both tea and energy drinks taste good.

HornedLion posted...

Its REALLY hard to go cold turkey off coffee.

If youre interested in quitting buy a French press. Prepare coffee every day as normal, but use the exact same measurement. Then after about a week, use 90% coffee and 10% decaf. For like 2 days. Then 80% coffee and 20% decaf for like 2 days. Then 70% coffee and 30% decaf for like 2 days. Then 60% coffee and 40% decaf for like 2 days. Then 50% coffee and 50% decaf for like 2 days. Then 40% coffee and 60% decaf for like 2 days. Then 30% coffee and 70% decaf for like 2 days. Then 20% coffee and 80% decaf for like 2 days. Then 10% coffee and 90% decaf for like 2 days. Then you get off coffee completely and have no side effects. Congratulations. Youre cured.

I would rather have the headaches than ever touching decaf.

Revelation34 posted...

I would rather have the headaches than ever touching decaf.

Make decaf taste good challenge: Impossible

FL81 posted...

Make decaf taste good challenge: Impossible

Actually, weirdly the cheap store brand decaf in my French press is actually working out. It's on the edge of being good

I get pretty bad headaches if I don't have caffeine in the morning. Even on the weekends when I'm not waking up as early, I tend to wake up with a headache since I'm later than normal drinking coffee.

not sure what the beef with decaf is. if it's not some ass brand it typically tastes the same.

It's probably different for different people depending on level of addiction, amount of typical consumption and general physiology, but I will say it's awful for me. I got snowed in last week and couldn't leave the house so I didn't have access to caffeine for two days. I actually wanted to kms.

ReturnOfFa posted...

not sure what the beef with decaf is. if it's not some ass brand it typically tastes the same.

It's pointless. Who drinks coffee for the taste? It's like drinking non-alcoholic beer.

Revelation34 posted...

Alcohol withdrawal can kill you. Caffeine withdrawal cannot.

That's my point.

fettster777 posted...

Coffee is gross. So is tea and energy drinks.

If I need any sort of 'wake me up' juice I'll just drink a zero sugar coke or something.

You think coffee is gross, but drink Coke Zero?

ReturnOfFa posted...

not sure what the beef with decaf is. if it's not some ass brand it typically tastes the same.

The only people who drink coffee for the taste are the ones who buy the super gourmet ones like kopi luwak. Also buying both regular and decaf is an extreme waste of money when the worse thing that happens to you on withdrawals are headaches.

KalloFox34 posted...

You think coffee is gross, but drink Coke Zero?

I don't remember Coke Zero being gross.

Revelation34 posted...

The only people who drink coffee for the taste are the ones who buy the super gourmet ones like kopi luwak. Also buying both regular and decaf is an extreme waste of money when the worse thing that happens to you on withdrawals are headaches.

I don't remember Coke Zero being gross.

There's a bit of a middle ground between Folgers and Cat Poo coffee just fyi

Wait...ya'll drink coffee but don't like the taste?
I've enjoyed the taste since i was kid, drinking it black.

wish I could still drink it...

ReturnOfFa posted...

There's a bit of a middle ground between Folgers and Cat Poo coffee just fyi

I've had Costa Rican coffee in Costa Rica. It's all trash.

FL81 posted...

Make decaf taste good challenge: Impossible

I drink Decaf. It's alright.

KalloFox34 posted...

You think coffee is gross, but drink Coke Zero?

Fatality!