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Ask HN: stopping caffeine

So, I stopped drinking coffee for two days and I'm sleeping 10 hours per night. I used to wake up naturally after about 7 hours of sleep. Anyone else had this when they stopped? (I used to drink more than 1L per day)
( 10 comments | 3 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by Mz on Saturday October 30, 2010 @09:02AM (#1850776)
This may be a short-term thing. When your body recovers, you will likely go back to sleeping more normal amounts. (I haven't quit caffeine per se but have gotten off a long list of medications.)
Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by eof on Saturday October 30, 2010 @09:12AM (#1850786)
You should be getting back to normal soon. That's a lot of coffee, are you not experiencing heavy withdrawal?

I would definitely have a headache after stopping that much caffeine.

Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by pbhjpbhj on Saturday October 30, 2010 @09:33AM (#1850814)
What are you replacing the drink with. Just because you're not drinking coffee don't forget you still need to take in fluids.

For me, when I've quit in the past, I tried variously ginger squash, herbal teas and just water (hot or cold).

I tend to drink more caffeine drinks when I'm bored as a break from work and because they are available.

Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by swah on Saturday October 30, 2010 @12:30PM (#1851178)
Yeah, I'm drinking some tea, I know that has caffeine too, but tea doesn't make me feel like "Ohhh I need some more of this!" like coffee.
Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by Mz on Saturday October 30, 2010 @09:39AM (#1850822)
Like alcohol, caffeine is dehydrating. So you may need less to drink if you give it up.

(My ex was career military. When he was a trainer at NTC, the part-timers would show up and drink soda all day and alcohol at night, which didn't help their bodies adjust to/cope with being 3000 feet above see level in a hot, dry climate. Lots of folks ended up in the ER for dehydration and heat exhaustion.)

Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by grillmaster on Saturday October 30, 2010 @12:19PM (#1851152)
Why stop? well I've went cold turkey when i was in my teens at the time my daily consumption is a bit less than a litter. Didn't remember remember sleeping much more than usual but i when decide to start again coffee repels me though not for long.
Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by swah on Saturday October 30, 2010 @12:28PM (#1851170)
I'm just trying to find out if it coffee makes me more anxious, but right now I'm just sleepier.
Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by rick888 on Saturday October 30, 2010 @04:47PM (#1851774)
"I'm just trying to find out if it coffee makes me more anxious, but right now I'm just sleepier."

I quit caffeine a year ago and I went through the same symptoms. I slept for 10 hours a night for 3 or 4 days and then my sleep cycle went back to normal.

After quitting, I realized that it amplified my anxiety levels in many social situations. It also put me in sort of a strange state-of-mind where my emotions seemed dull (I'm comparing now to then). In a way, it made me more of a compliant person.

I also can remember my dreams almost 3 or 4 times a week when I'm using not caffeine. I still drink it once in a long while, but it doesn't really start up the cycle anymore (I don't keep drinking coffee or pop on a regular basis).

Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by swah on Saturday October 30, 2010 @07:03PM (#1852006)
That's great to hear! I'll continue the experience then.
Re:Ask HN: stopping caffeine by phamilton on Saturday October 30, 2010 @12:51PM (#1851230)
You may need to reset your sleep cycle somehow.

http://projectb14ck.org/how-to-reset-your-sleep-schedule-ser...

This was posted a while back. I found it a very interesting approach.

Good luck.