MAIN Health Caffeine Withdrawal

Typical caffeine amounts: Substance Serving Caffeine Coffee Brewed 6 oz 100 mg Instant 6 oz 70 mg Espresso 1 oz 40 mg Decaffeinated 6 oz 4 mg Tea Brewed 6 oz 40 mg Instant 6 oz 30 mg Canned or Bottled 12 oz 20 mg Soft Drinks   Cola drinks 12 oz 40 mg Hot Chocolate 6 oz 7 mg Chocolate Milk 6 oz 4 mg Chocolate Milk Chocolate 1.5 oz 10 mg Dark Chocolate 1.5 oz 30 mg OTC Products Analgesics 2 tablets 64 - 130 mg Stimulants 1 tablet 100 -200 mg Weight-loss pills 2-3 tablets 80-200 mg

Do you wake up each day and reach for your morning cup of coffee? If you skip your coffee, do you get a headache and find yourself being irritable?

You're probably addicted to caffeine. Caffeine is the most commonly used stimulant and one of the most common addictions. According to some sources, approximately 80% of the world's population consumes coffee on a daily basis.

Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, as well as other products like weight loss pills and analgesics..

People may not consider caffeine addiction a real addiction and therefore seldom take it seriously. That is, until ordered by their doctor to cut down on the stimulant as a result of the ill effects of too much caffeine intake - such as constant headaches, insomnia, anxiety or even panic attacks. High caffeine consumption can also elevate the heart rate and result in high blood pressure.

Caffeine withdrawal symptoms

Consuming too much caffeine can have adverse effects, but lowering your caffeine levels too abruptly can also have the same or similar effects.

Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include headaches, migraines, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, nausea and muscle aches. Other symptoms may also range from severe mood swings to irritability and depression.

How to gradually cut down on caffeine

Cutting back on caffeine can be beneficial to your health but it should be done slowly in order to avoid the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms. Those who consume large amounts of caffeine or have consumed coffee for many years should not totally eliminate caffeine from their diet, but steadily reducing the amount over a period of weeks to avoid the adverse effects of going "cold turkey".

To begin tapering off, kick-start the morning with coffee or tea but then switch to caffeine-reduced or caffeine-free drinks during the day. Similarly, have a piece of chocolate rather than consuming the entire candy bar.

Meanwhile, experts recommend increasing water or other non-caffeinated liquid intake during withdrawal, along with getting proper rest, exercise, and incorporating other lifestyle changes to reduce daily stress to ease the most severe symptoms.


More information about caffeine withdrawal around the Web:

How to Live Through Caffeine Withdrawal - Been-there account describing typical symptoms with tips and remedies for decreasing intake of caffeine over time.

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies - Caffeine Withdrawal - Overview of the ill effects of caffeine especially in women of child-bearing age with a description of the "25 percent solution" to cutting back, and related health tips for reducing stress during caffeine withdrawal.

How to Quit Caffeine - wikiHow guide with step-by-step instructions for beating the caffeine habit with suggested substitutes, herbal remedies, health warnings and related resources.

This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.

also see -> Alchohol withdrawal | Nicotine withdrawal