Leigh8 Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 So I am thinking of cutting out caffeine in order to see whether it will help my constant lightheadedness. I currently drink about 3 cups of coffee a day. When I don't drink it for a day, I get awful headaches so I am a bit worried about cutting it out!Does anyone else have any experience on cutting out caffeine? Did you stop cold turkey, or gradually decrease your intake?Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeattleRain Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Caffeine withdrawal will do that to you! It definitely isn't very fun and gradually decreasing your intake may be the only realistic route for some people. My Dad had to switch to green tea, then slowly stopped drinking that.I quit cold turkey a little over a year ago and did not have any negative side effects. I made it a point to drink a ton of water (around 4/5th's of a gallon (spring water) per day). If you struggle with that, you could try drinking a tall glass each hour after waking up (2 tall glasses the first hour) and that should amount to enough. I've never had a single headache while drinking this much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellgirl Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Wean off gradually. I only drank one mug, anyway, but I drank iced tea, too, so I started with half caffeinated and half decaf; I just bought some wonderful flavored decaf coffee at Fresh Market, Pumpkin Spice, but it was expensive. Even decaf coffee has some caffeine, according to my ANS doctor, but you are messing with your nervous system by still drinking all that caffeine. It's kind of like going against what your meds are helping to calm you...Try the flavored decaf coffee, herbal tea or Constant Comment decaf...it's good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh8 Posted December 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Thanks for the advice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinner Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Theres caffeine in decaf so that might help wean off.Id say it takes about a month before the cravings leave.After that its the jolt of energy you miss in the afternoons.I occasionally take a couple gulps of my wifes coffee in the am, but i limit it to that.The added benefit is eliminating stomach problems, acid, dingy teeth, and for some the hotsubtance going into a body that wants to stay cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klgpdx Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 The only way I can go off of coffee is cold turkey. I must have an addictive personality, because it's all or nothing. This last time, I was on a new medication that was giving me terrible headaches, so I figured if I already had headaches, I might as well take that time to give up caffeine! Totally worked. Not saying this will work for you. But you never know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elenapap11 Posted December 13, 2012 Report Share Posted December 13, 2012 I bought a coffee substitute from a health store.It's made from Guarana and at first i thought it was awful but now i am used to it.I also had to stop it cold turkey and the first few days i was sleepy and also suffered from headaches and constipation.Taking vitamins and magnesium helped me reduce the withdrawal symptoms.After 10 days i was fine.Now i drink one day skimmed milk with a teaspoon of honey and the other the guarana coffee alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.