Coffee and Caffeine FAQ

Hi all:

Congratulations to all of you who are trying to get out from under the caffeine monkey! I stopped drinking Diet Pepsi to eliminate the aspartame. Didn't even think about the caffeine at first. I quit as of last Tuesday, July 15, around 10pm, and haven't had either a Diet Pepsi or regular soda since then. My main withdrawal symptom has been the headaches. At first I was taking Excedrin, and then I realized it has caffeine in it, too, so for the last two days, I've been trying to muscle through the headaches on my own. I've also noticed the increased sense of thirst, a small bit of GI upset, and increased trips to the bathroom. My Diet Pepsi intake was about 40-60 ounces per day, along with the equivalent of a chocolate bar. At least after reading this forum, I realize that all my symptoms are tied together and are directly related to the caffeine withdrawal. I can say I have not experienced brain fog, leg pains, or other symptoms, and within the first 3-4 days I was noticeably calmer and less tense, without feeling like I'd lost energy. I didn't seem to experience much fatigue either, but the headaches keep recurring. That's been the hardest part.

I've made it nearly two weeks and I'm determined to go the distance. My best to you all and good luck. :)