Thread: Caffeine Withdrawals?

Hello all,

I recently began drinking tea in exchange for all the coffee I was drinking. I still drink some coffee, but not much. I've noticed a difference in the way I feel, somewhat sharper of mind. Sometimes I feel too sharp and my head feels like exploding along with what seems like anxiety attacks. Could this be a result of caffeine withdrawals? Any help would be appreciated. Here I am drinking tea thinking it will be a healthy change for me and I'm ready to go bananas.

John

Sometimes if I don't have any caffeine, I get a bad headache. If you drink enough black tea, I would think it should cover a good part of your "fix", no? Then maybe you could wean yourself down.

Jordan

As long as I drink the same amount every day, my body doesn't mind. if I keep drinking coffee in the afternoon, I am more tired in the evening.
If I suddenly increase my caffeine intake, I have troubles sleeping.I do know that

But I get that from most teas as well.
If I drink a large mug of earl grey in the morning, I don't sleep at night.
With lady gray I have no such problem.

If I drink tea, then it is Lady Gray with milk and sugar.
If I have coffee it is with a bit of milk.

What types of tea do you drink?

Well, I'm in the experimental stage right now so I'm sampling all types
of loose leaf teas. I've been drinking a blend such as Irish
Breakfast in the morning then move to the Chinese greens after. I understand there is caffeine in tea, but I'm not drinking nearly as
much tea as I was coffee.

John

I was never a huge coffee drinker, but I used to put away three or four cups before lunch.

Now, I usually have 2-3 cups of black tea like earl grey then 2-3 cups of green tea. Then its either decaf green or rooibos in the PM.

I didn't have too much trouble with the transition.

Jordan

Originally Posted by kerryman71

Well, I'm in the experimental stage right now so I'm sampling all types
of loose leaf teas. I've been drinking a blend such as Irish
Breakfast in the morning then move to the Chinese greens after. I understand there is caffeine in tea, but I'm not drinking nearly as
much tea as I was coffee.

John

There is much more caffeine in green tea than there is in coffee! the more the tea is roasted the less caffeine per cup! Same with coffee, the darker the roast, the less the caffeine! Black teas on the other hand are fermented and oolong teas only slightly fermented. I am not certain of the effect of fermentation on the amount of caffeine though.
I asked the question because what you described sounded more like too much caffeine as opposed to caffeine withdrawals, which typically give you a headache!

I was wondering that, if it was too much caffeine. I don't drink the
green everyday, as I said I'm experimenting with each one. The
reason I thought it was withdrawals is because I have the feeling all
day long, even from when I get up in the morning and I know I'm taking
in less caffeine.

As for the green tea, that's good to know about the caffeine amount. I plan on ordering some of the decaf soon. Thanks.

John

+1 on the too much caffeine thought. What you describe is pretty classic description of too much of the sacred chemical where as a caffeine withdrawal (at least in my experience) presents as a feeling of lethargy, fuzzy mindedness, and thumping headaches.

I drink approx. 4 pots of coffee a day. My wife, who is a health freak and absolutely mortified at my obsessive coffee consumption, wanted me to "detox" or some such crap. She set me to drinking green tea and I was ricocheting off the walls from all the caffeine. I don't think that was what she had in mind... it was supposed to clean my gizzard or something.

Originally Posted by JMS

There is much more caffeine in green tea than there is in coffee! the more the tea is roasted the less caffeine per cup! Same with coffee, the darker the roast, the less the caffeine! Black teas on the other hand are fermented and oolong teas only slightly fermented. I am not certain of the effect of fermentation on the amount of caffeine though.
I asked the question because what you described sounded more like too much caffeine as opposed to caffeine withdrawals, which typically give you a headache!

Hmmm, I always thought black tea had more....

Jordan