Withdrawal From A Caffeine Addiction

As of 2011, an estimated 80 percent of American adults and 90 percent of the world's population consume some form of caffeine every day, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If you, like so many others, need your daily cup of coffee or tea for an energy boost, you may have developed a physical dependence or addiction that can cause unpleasant symptoms when you try to stop.

Caffeine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies caffeine as a drug as well as a food additive. Coffee, tea, chocolate and soft drinks, as well as other products made from the more than 60 plants that contain caffeine, have varying amounts of the substance. Manufacturers also add synthetic caffeine to some foods, beverages and medications. Although caffeine affects people in different ways, typical reactions include jitteriness, difficulty sleeping, irregular or faster heart rate, headache, dizziness, dehydration and increased blood pressure.

Caffeine Addiction

Regularly consuming caffeine can lead to physical dependence on or addiction to the substance. The average American adult consumes about 200mg of caffeine every day, the equivalent of about two servings of coffee or four sodas, according to the FDA. According to a study published in the April 2011 issue of "PLoS Genetics," your genes affect your caffeine cravings, says Neal Caparoso, M.D. If you have the "high-consumption" version of certain genes, you will consume more caffeine than someone with a "low-consumption" variant.

Withdrawal

If a regular coffee drinker starts to cut down or stops abruptly, withdrawal symptoms generally begin within 12 to 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Typical symptoms include fatigue or drowsiness, headache, depression, anxiety, irritability, lack of concentration or motivation, poor coordination and flu-like symptoms such as muscle pain, nausea or vomiting. Most people feel worse during the first day or two after stopping caffeine but symptoms may last as long as a week.

Coping

Gradually reducing your caffeine intake over a period of several weeks can help prevent withdrawal symptoms. At first, cut out a single cup of coffee a day, then cut out a second cup a few days later or start with half-caffeinated coffee before you switch to decaffeinated. Tea drinkers might try steeping the tea for a shorter period of time to reduce the level of caffeine per cup before switching to decaffeinated tea.