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Caffeine Withdrawal

Caffeine is an addictive drug and those who consume it are subject to symptoms of withdrawal just like those who consume any other addictive substance. Several recent studies confirmed what millions of people already knew from experience: going too long without your hit of caffeine can ruin your day.

Withdrawal comes about as a result of a sudden reduction of the amount of caffeine ingested. The more caffeine you’re used to taking in and suddenly go without, the worse the effects. Even so, all it takes is one cup of coffee or one caffeinated soft drink every day to build up an addiction and lead to withdrawal. Regular consumption of caffeine creates a lessening in sensitivity to the effects of it. To put it another way, you start building up immunity to it of sorts. Of course, there’s a less pleasant way to view the situation: your body begins to need the caffeine in order to stave off its side effects. Although this is almost a textbook definition of an addiction, most people prefer to refer to it as their “coffee craving” though it certainly isn’t relegated to coffee, of course. Many people find themselves consuming more and more soft drinks in response to the addictive qualities of the caffeine. Once you make the decision, for whatever reason, to begin limiting or decreasing the amount of caffeine that is consumed, the body reacts by becoming oversensitive.

The symptoms of this oversensitivity are many, but among the most common are headaches, nervousness, fatigue, nausea and sleep problems. The headache is probably the most common and is caused by a dramatic drop in blood pressure which leads to a rush of blood flow to the head. In addition to being the most common symptom, the headache is also probably the most infamous because it’s usually a doozy. Not only can it be incredibly painful, but it can also last for several days. Fortunately, many people find relief from analgesics like aspirin.

Caffeine is a stimulant and your body is going to miss it when it’s not there. As a result of the reduction, most people undergoing withdrawal tend to experience severe fatigue or tiredness. A general sluggishness and lethargy throughout the day can lead to further problems in concentration and motivation. Many people experiencing caffeine withdrawal experience difficulty at work. They may either be just too tired to do the work at all, or unable to focus on the task at hand in their usual manner.

Further complicating both work and social engagements is the increase in anxiety levels. Many of those suffering through withdrawal find themselves in states of extreme agitation and irritability. It’s not uncommon for people who are hardly ever argumentative to become overly so as they attempt to reduce their dependence on caffeine. In extreme cases, depression can set in.

Caffeine withdrawal typically begins to set in anywhere between just 12 to 24 hours are significant reduction in consumption, although it has been known to take up to two days. Fortunately, most cases of withdrawal only last between two days and a week. The worst cases involving the most severe symptoms typically come when people suddenly and drastically cut their caffeine intake. In order to make caffeine withdrawal a less traumatic experience it is suggested that any reduction be done slowly and over an extended period of time. In addition, the transition can be made easier by substituting non-caffeinated or decaffeinated products.

It was only a few years ago that caffeine withdrawal was still thought by many to be a psychosomatic problem rather than a real medical disorder. All that changed with a 2004 study at Johns Hopkins which definitively proved otherwise.

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