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Strauss's avatar

What's a good way to kick caffeine?

Asked by Strauss (23835points) July 16th, 2009

I will be involved in a medical study and will be expected to forgo caffeine for a couple weeks. I know I can do it cold turkey, but I don’t want to put up with the headaches. Also, another family member is withdrawing cold turkey from nicotine.

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16 Answers

eponymoushipster's avatar

put the coffee on the ground first. drop kicking some hot joe could burn.~

slowly drink smaller amounts.

bpeoples's avatar

I’ll say that cold turkey is the only way I’ve sucessfully done it (as I sip a large coffee)—just took a weekend of laying on the couch while my wife was out of town =)

Switching to half-caf coffee, and then continuing to decrease the amount until you’re drinking decaf (about 2% the amount in regular coffee), and then stop drinking coffee (and you should avoid the headaches).

eponymoushipster's avatar

yeah, i should add: i’ve had something like 50oz of coffee today. i’m actually in a starbucks as i write this. the sheer concept is beyound my grasp.

cak's avatar

Yikes, cold turkey…yeah, that’s a form of hell on earth.

My neurologist suggested a stepping down the use, and it will ease the headaches. It worked for me, and I no longer drink anything with caffeine. For me to go cold turkey, it would have triggered very serious migraines. Not something I wanted to deal with. The schedule can be adjusted, as needed. Keep in mind, caffeine was just about my only vice. I loved caffeine. I also wasn’t on a deadline to start a medical study, so adjust the time schedule to fit your needs.

I drank a lot of tea, and started to make decaff tea, (iced tea), as well. I started with a ¾ mix of caffeinated tea to ¼ decaf and slowly (over about two – three weeks) reduced the portion of caffeinated to decaffeinated tea. Now, I can’t stand the bitterness of caffeinated tea and really don’t drink that much of the decaff stuff, either.

As far as coffee – my sister did the same, made both, but slowly reduced the amount of caffeinated to decaffeinated coffee, until it was all decaff.

Soda – Limit your daily intake to sodas – if you drink two a day – go to one. Do that for 3 or 4 days, then reduce to the smaller cans. Start skipping a day, then two days in-between – spacing out the days between sodas, and finally just stop.

Increase your water, as you do this – it also helps with the headaches. Only order water when you are out.

Strauss's avatar

Maybe if I just cut my Coca-Cola intake from 4 20-ouncers a day…

Strauss's avatar

And then cut back on my coffee to only two cups in the morning…

Strauss's avatar

I might be on my way.

Actually, I had to quit about 15 years ago for a while, had to do with an ulcer. I found out that many fruit-flavored sodas contain caffeine as well.

cak's avatar

Holy Moley. You’re a caffeine junkie! ;~) Been there, done that. Best of luck to you!

aprilsimnel's avatar

@eponymoushipster50 oz???!! Your real name is Dave Foley, isn’t it?

Drink plenty of cool water, or even tepid, if need be. Caffeine is a diuretic.

eponymoushipster's avatar

@aprilsimnel yeah, i’ve had more.

ubersiren's avatar

Switch out one bottle of soda for caffeine free. Then a week later, switch another one. They taste the same. Don’t limit yourself from soda altogether, just the caffeine in it. Eventually, maybe you’ll drink some water! :o) I completely switched to caffeine free tea a couple months ago, but I wasn’t really addicted, I don’t think, so I didn’t have any problems. Good luck to you.

marinelife's avatar

We started with half caff coffee, then one quarter, and then all decaf.

bcstrummer's avatar

Bear tranquilizers

Noel_S_Leitmotiv's avatar

May i try the bear tranquilizers.. with vodka?..

Cardinal's avatar

I feel for you, myself, never smoked and have never had a cup (sip) of coffee. And I live in Starbuck’s country. The java smells good, but no interest in tasting it. Good luck.

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