Caffeine Withdrawal: What to do when you fast.
If you are reading this, you are most likely a coffee addict, which means that when you abstain from coffee, you get a whopper of a headache from caffeine withdrawal. There are several reasons to avoid coffee and caffeine, but the most common are surgery and Yom Kippur (and other religious fasts). Hopefully, you won't have to contend with surgery too many times in your life, but if you are Jewish, "the holidays" come around every fall, ready or not. Yom Kippur is a complete fast day; no water, no food, and no coffee, from sundown Wednesday to sundown Thursday (more or less).
The best way to avoid caffeine withdrawal headaches is to gradually reduce your caffeine intake to zero before the fast. You will still get the headaches as you taper off, but you can take aspirin or ibuprofen and you won't have the discomfort caused by not eating or drinking. Read the label on your pain reliever because many contain caffeine.
Yom Kippur is on Thursday, October 9 this year, so start reducing ahead so that the withdrawal is gradual and relatively painless.
I usually drink about 4 cups coffee per day, so I will start the Monday (tomorrow!) before Yom Kippur getting ready. I will drink 2 cups Monday, 1 cup Tuesday, and no coffee Wednesday. Yom Kippur begins Wednesday evening. I will get headaches during that time, but at least I can still eat and drink and take ibuprofen. By Thursday, I will have almost no headache. Be careful not to ingest caffeine from any other source, such as soft drinks, candy, or pain pills (Excedrin, et al) while you're withdrawing. Read the label to be sure.
Drinking lots of water while you are tapering off caffeine also helps reduce the headaches.
I have been doing this routine for many years and I urge you to try it. Please let me know how it works.
L'Shana Tovah,
Robert
posted by Robert @ 10/05/2008
3 Comments
3 Comments:
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I drink 6 cups of coffee a day..
As Yom Kipper is approaching i wonder what bean i will drink in honor of the day..
No, i do not drink coffee (or anything) on Yom Kipper itself.but
On Wednesday afternoon i will sit down at the festive prefast meal and for desert (after i brush my teeth and rinse out my mouth) will make a wonderfully aromatic fresh cup of coffee.
I must be blessed I doubt i will have a headache..just a wonderul aftertaste during Kol Nidreh.
May the coming year be blessed for all Peoples!
Caffeine Pills -Effects, Withdrawal and Addiction
Caffeine pills are used worldwide as weight loss remedies and as stimulant drugs. Caffeine pills are the latest rage in the health and fitness industry as well, and they are used extensively as they are known to improve alertness and boost energy in human beings.
Caffeine pills also have side effects, just like any other type of medication, such as increased heart palpitations, headaches, restlessness, insomnia, psychomotor agitation, depression, irritability, disorientation, lack of judgement, peptic ulcers, loss of social inhibition, respiratory alkalosis, hallucinations, erosive esophagitis, etc.
If you ignore the headaches, a major symptom of caffeine withdrawal, that will just make you more tempted to return to the full-caffeine routine, so I recommend you to use pain relievers instead. Just be aware that some pain relievers, like Excedrin, contain caffeine, so you must include that when figuring out your daily caffeine intake! Reducing your consumption of caffeine gradually will also minimize the risk of suffering caffeine withdrawal.
Some people don´t even think about the word “addiction” when they refer to caffeine. As a matter of fact, caffeine is an addictive drug and Caffeine Addiction is a reality in our world that must be treated just like any other addiction.
Some other people frequently say they are "addicted" to caffeine in much the same way they say they are "addicted" to shopping, working or television, and the term "addiction" actually refers to a strong dependence on a drug characterised by severe withdrawal symptoms, tolerance to a given dose and the loss of control or the need to consume more and more of the substance at any cost.
You can find more info at: http://yourcaffeineaddiction.com/
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