Has anyone managed to completely quit caffeine?

[qwerty232]

I would like to be able to cut out caffeine, because I'm sure it's contributing to my headaches, fatigue and anxiety.

Has anyone managed to completely quit? If so, how long did its take to get through the withdrawal, and did you experience any benefits in the end?

[troubleatmill2011]

I have OP! Took me two weeks to get over the withdrawal stage and the biggest benefit i have is being able to sleep well. How are you getting on?

[Zampa]

I had 4 days of awful headaches but it cleared up after that and I felt pretty great afterwards. Much more energy.

I drink now Clipper decaf tea, Pukka herbal infusions and a great whole bean decaf from Booths.

[chutneypig]

I completely cut caffeine out for a year, several years back. I think it took three days or so to get over the headaches etc but I didn't feel any benefits at all, which was really disappointing.

I now don't drink any coffee after lunchtime and aim to drink plenty of water, both of which seem to be helping on the sleep front.

[picklemepopcorn]

Easiest way is to do it gradually. I made my coffee half and half for a few days, and then weaker again. You can mix it in a tub ready to use. I didn't have any withdrawal discomfort at all. I did it that way because in the past I felt really yuck when I was caffeine free for a long weekend (accidentally).

[Academicshmacerdemic]

I have
It's been 4 years now

I can't remember the come down at all -it wasn't that bad

I drink red USB tea like its normal tea and have a coffee substitute and it's so long that I've had a real coffee that it tastes fine
I'm very aware that it is closer to soil than coffee tbh

[RhubarbRocks]

I totally cut it out when I was doing ivf (as in none at all, not even decaf coffee, which does have some caffeine in it, or chocolate). I cut down first over the course of a week then totally stopped. I had horrible headaches and felt tired for about a week then was fine and didn't miss it. I drank lots of rooibosh tea. The benefits were feeling much calmer and more awake (although that could also be because I cut out booze at the same time!) Good luck!

[aliceinwanderland]

Yeah. Cut completely for about 10 years. Not including chocolate. I do now have an occasional diet coke.

I went cold turkey when I gave up. I felt dreadful for about a week with headaches and cravings but after that it was a massive improvement. I can tell now if I have caffeine because I get the shakes and anxious.b

[StiginaGrump]

I cut it out frequently;) headaches for two days then fine ever time. Then I have the odd coffee and suddenly I am back to where I started

[tigerdog]

I gave up caffeine almost 4 years ago. Tapered it after getting terrible headaches from stopping suddenly. I had one normal cup of tea in the morning and then after two weeks stopped that completely and was find. I drink hot water and lemon in the morning, lots of herbal tea, and clipper decaffeinated tea as a substitute. I also have the occasional decaf coffee on the go. I do eat chocolate, so I still get some that way.

I feel much better for it. Don't really get headaches, sleep better and don't get the crash I used to get when the morning coffee wore off. Don't miss it now.

I had an espresso martini a while back (didn't really think, everyone at the table was having one!) and ended up lying in bed wide awake until 6am with my heart racing, so I'm definitely much more sensitive to it now!

[Almostfifty]

I cut it out about two years ago. I feel so much better for not having any.

Just drink decaf tea now.

[mrsBeverleygoldberg]

Migraines made me give up caffeine and chocolate. 17 years this year. I thought I would be okay so I tasted a tiny bit of chocolate fudge icing and got a migraine.😭

[Tokelau]

I gave up caffeine completely for a few years, and now have a small amount now and then.

I was having a lot of migraines and the doctor suggested I cut out caffeine. I don't drink tea or coffee but I do drink a lot of Diet Coke, and I changed to the caffeine free version. I didn't have any problems or headaches when I cut it out, I just felt the same as before. The migraines did slow down, but I also started new medication so it was probably because of that.

I now drink caffeine free Diet Coke at home and Diet Coke with caffeine if we go to a pub or restaurant. The caffeine doesn't seem to affect me.

[CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger]

Yep, gave it up about 6 years ago after realising it wasn't helping my anxiety/panic attacks or migraines. Withdrawals only lasted a couple of weeks and even then weren't much to write home about.

Has helped significantly and I don't really miss it (except for the occasional craving for a can of proper coke).

[PollyPerky]

yes about 30 years ago. Hated it when became pregnant and then had an illness which was affected by tea and coffee, so gave both up.

[dollybird]

yes , nearly three years ago. I was suffering from a lot of bloating and the GP suggested cutting down on caffeine (tea and diet coke for me) so I just stopped. Felt tired for a week but haven't looked back. I drink fruit tea now, and not generally bothered about fizzy drinks, but will have a lime and soda if I fancy it in a pub and I'm not drinking. Bloating has significantly reduced.

[Fruitboxjury]

Yes, I gave it up about 3 months ago. It really triggers anxiety symptoms for me (I've tested it by having the odd coffee, immediate return). I replace it with energy boosting smoothies in the morning then pukka tea through the day. I have a decaf a couple of times a week as it doesn't seem to bother me.

I didn't drink much before, maybe 2-3 Nespressos a day, but I feel much more energised and sleep better. I don't miss it at all. Good luck

[Helbelle75]

I cut it out about 4 years ago when I realised it was not helping my anxiety. I drank decaf and pretty much cut it out straight away. My anxiety is much better now, nearly non-existent.
It's great now I'm pregnant as I've already cut it out. I can't even drink decaf now though.
Good luck!

[NickyEds]

I cut back a lot when I became pregnant with ds and found U had a few headaches for a day or two. After I finished bf I went back to having full caffeine tea and coffee only to find that of made me feel really ill- dizzy, hot and sick. If feels a bit like travel sickness. I did suffer from insomnia when I was younger and wonder if it had something to do with the caffeine(I used to have quite a lot of it). It's hard for me to tell as for me giving up coincided with having children so my sleep was wrecked anyway. Ds is 3 now and I've got so used to De caff I honesty can't tell the difference any more.

[Gooseygoosey12345]

Yes. The first 2 days were awful. I had such a headache but I feel much better in the long run. Sleep better, have lost a little weight (while being pregnant!) skin is clearer. I had full caffeine tea the other day (ran out of decaf) and it perked me up so much, before it really would have had no effect. Good luck!

[picklemepopcorn]

I have found that after a few months of being completely caffeine free, I can tolerate it a little now. I love good coffee. I have good decaff at home. When I am out, I can manage the occasional caff coffee where I think the decaff will be no good, without ill effects.

[Kr1stina]

Yes I cut it out completely in drinks about 5 years ago, although I still eat chocolate.

I have about one decaf tea /coffee a week and drink mostly redbush tea And never any soft drinks at all.

As others have said, your u neee to do it gradually over a few weeks, to minimise withdrawal. Once you are off it you will get very unpleasant effects from just one cup.

[MyVisionsComeFromSoup]

gave up caffeine when I was pregnant with DD1 24 years ago, have hardly touched real coffee or tea since. I do have decaff coffee if I'm out somewhere, otherwise it's a particular flavour of fruit tea or water. Still have far too much chocolate though. I really notice if I've accidentally had caffeine - shakes, wired feeling, can't sleep, catastrophising thoughts, it's awful.

[EineKleineVilly]

My DH did

He went cold turkey. He was really ill initially, massive migraine for about four days which stopped him sleeping, which got him all run down, which meant he got a cold.

So pretty crap first week.

Then after this initial hump he started to feel loads better. His skin cleared up massively, he lost some weight (not actual weight but like bloatedness), had lots more energy and started to sleep much better.

He's never looked back since but the first week was hell. He was a real miserable bastard as well.

[Sleepybeanbump]

Yes. I had a sudden onset of crippling anxiety and panic attacks years ago and quit caffeine to try to minimise synotoms. I went cold turkey from 10 cups of black coffee a day to nothing.
I was really lucky. I barely noticed. I was a student and bought the most awful cheap coffee- my theory is it wasn't really coffee anyway!!!!

[Sleepybeanbump]

Yes. I had a sudden onset of crippling anxiety and panic attacks years ago and quit caffeine to try to minimise synotoms. I went cold turkey from 10 cups of black coffee a day to nothing.
I was really lucky. I barely noticed. I was a student and bought the most awful cheap coffee- my theory is it wasn't really coffee anyway!!!!