For the last few years (at least 5 years, maybe up to 10), I've
had a pretty strong caffeine addiction: if I don't have coffee
every day, I get a bad headache about 36 hours after my last
coffee, and it only goes away when I get some caffeine.
I've tried a few times to go without coffee for while, hoping the
headaches would eventually go away, but always broke down within
a day or two. I tried stopping gradually, having a Coke instead
of coffee since it has half the caffeine, but that never seemed
to be enough to make the headache go away.
Last Wed or Thurs I noticed that I hadn't had a coffee since
Monday, and I was still alive! So I've been trying to see how
long I can hold out -- it's been almost a week now. The headaches
have come and gone and seem to be getting milder, but I still
really want a coffee.
Maybe quitting all at once isn't the best way to do it.
The Caffeine FAQ says:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Caffeine+FAQ
->
http://www.cs.unb.ca/~alopez-o/Coffee/caffaq.html
> 1. Caffeine Withdrawal: Procedures and Symptoms.
>
> How to cut caffeine intake?
>
> Most people report a very good success ratio by cutting down
> caffeine intake at the rate of 1/2 cup of coffee a day. This is
> known as Caffeine Fading. Alternatively you might try reducing
> coffee intake in discrete steps of two-five cups of coffee less
> per week (depending on how high is your initial intake). If you
> are drinking more than 10 cups of coffee a day, you should
> seriously consider cutting down.
>
> The best way to proceed is to consume caffeine regularly for a
> week, while keeping a precise log of the times and amounts of
> caffeine intake (remember that chocolate, tea, soda beverages and
> many headache pills contain caffeine as well as coffee). At the
> end of the week proceed to reduce your coffee intake at the rate
> recommended above. Remember to have substitutes available for
> drinking: if you are not going to have a hot cup of coffee at
> your 10 minute break, you might consider having hot chocolate or
> herbal tea, but NOT decaff, since decaff has also been shown to
> be addictive. This should take you through the works without
> much problem.
>
> Some other people quit cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms are quite
> nasty this way (see section below) but they can usually be
> countered with lots of sleep and exercise. Many people report
> being able to stop drinking caffeine almost cold-turkey while on
> holidays on the beach. If quitting cold turkey is proving too
> hard even in the beach, drinking a coke might help.
>
> What are the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal?
>
> Regular caffeine consumption reduces sensitivity to caffeine.
> When caffeine intake is reduced, the body becomes oversensitive
> to adenosine. In response to this oversensitiveness, blood
> pressure drops dramatically, causing an excess of blood in the
> head (though not necessarily on the brain), leading to a
> headache.
>
> This headache, well known among coffee drinkers, usually lasts
> from one to five days, and can be alleviated with analgesics such
> as aspirin. It is also alleviated with caffeine intake (in fact
> several analgesics contain caffeine dosages).
>
> Often, people who are reducing caffeine intake report being
> irritable, unable to work, nervous, restless, and feeling sleepy,
> as well as having a headache. In extreme cases, nausea and
> vomiting has also been reported.
I AM NOT IRRITABLE!!!
Oops.
Hmm... maybe I'll treat myself to a small coffee today or
tomorrow.
I don't really need to quit, since I usually only have 1 or 2 cups
a day which isn't really unhealthy, but I hate getting headaches
whenever I miss a day, so it would be cool if I could lose the
addiction.
--
Gerald Oskoboiny <
[email protected]>
http://impressive.net/people/gerald/