Giving up coffee — has anyone managed to do this cold turkey?

[MartyMcFlysPurpleUnderwear]

I used to love coffee (obviously— hence why I started drinking it and became addicted in the first place ) but really I have gone off it recently and am just drinking it now out of habit.

I really want to give it up and just stop drinking it but I am nervous about the withdrawal headaches. Anyone given up coffee cold turkey and been able to avoid the headaches? I would love to know if there is any way to stop them or if not I guess I am going to have to stock up on painkillers to get me through the next few days…

Sort of- I had a lot of aversion to it when I got pregnant. I switched to decaf coffee first. Is there a gentler version of your plan like this you could try? Decaf coffee still has about as much caffeine in it as a regular cup of tea so it will help to decrease your caffeine intake before cold turkey as the next step.

No. It's a myth that this can be done.

Yes, I had a headache for a few days, then was fine but felt no healthier so after a month I decided to enjoy coffee again.

If you've gone off coffee maybe switch to tea and then if you want phase that out?

I did! But replaced it with tea. Just decided I didn’t fancy one one day and never had another. I was fine but my mate got horrific migraines when she stopped

I have dropped it for periods in the past, don’t remember getting headaches.

I switched to decaf cold turkey a few years back. Was going through a very stressful period and started experiencing anxiety symptoms. I had an anxiety attack one morning and decided then and there to only drink decaf. I love hot drinks and used to have several cups a day until stopping cold turkey. No headaches but bear in mind that I was in a bad place with other physical symptoms due to the anxiety so maybe the withdrawal symptoms were overshadowed.

In lockdown I went from two or three strong (machine type) coffees a day to none and I got a pounding headache that was still there on day 4. In the end I caved and had one and immediately felt better.

More recently the GP advised me to cut down though and I have done so. Have cut down rigidly to one a day really easily and now I really enjoy the one I have. I don't want to cut it out completely but I think it's a lot easier to cut down gradually than go cold turkey.

No and I wouldn't suggest it if you're prone to migraines because for me, it never ends.

I switched to de-caff 18 - 20 years ago, 'cold turkey'.
Yes, I had headaches for about 5 days, but paracetamol dealt with that, and it was well worth it.

this is presuming it is the caffeine you want rid of, rather than the pleasure of having a cup of coffee when you fancy one.

I ditched all caffeine and red coloured alcohol when I bleached my teeth. I didn’t get withdrawal headaches but I was miserable to live with.

I get migraines. Without caffeine I'm doomed. I only have one cup a day so not too addicted.

I did this, stopped over night, I used to have about 3 coffees a day.

I was getting anxious and shaky, sweaty palms and my heart would beat so loudly after coffee.

I immediately felt better stopping but took a while to know what to drink.