Caffeine - why exactly is it bad, and is a little OK?
 

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone (i.e. Mark) has any insight into why exactly caffeine is bad for PCS. I've cut it out (had started drinking coffee again about 4 months after for a few weeks, didn't seem to bug me, then cut it out again after a relapse due to a backpacking trip). Essentially, I just really miss coffee, and was wondering if decaf would be OK to enjoy, even though there's some caffeine in it.

The caffeine in decaf should be fine. The research suggest a single serving of caffeine a day is OK.

I occasionally take an 80 mg caffeine pill. It can lift me out of the doldrums when I need to be more functional.

Do not use caffeine to overcome the sedating effects of other meds, especially benzos (Xanax, Klonopin, Valium etc)

Ah coffee
 

Hello!

I quit caffeine for about a year. Then, in the winter I let myself have one or maybe 2 cups of decaf and that was OK.

I tried a little bit of caffeine coffee in my decaf in April and whoooooooo I got a big old caffeine high. And I put in maybe 1.5 inches of real java, but I could not handle it. I had to walk it off.

Decaf has been a good middle ground for me and it has that wee trace which I like. So, maybe decaf can help you too.

I am not going to get back on the caffeine train I was on pre injury though and I know I don't handle it well either.

Take care

poetrymom

I've cut out caffeine too but have been having a single cup of black tea when I get up, can't say I've noticed any bad effect from it. Decaf coffee does contain a little caffeine I notice it in a cafe in town I go in I get a very slight buzz after being caffeine free for 5 months lol. I think the reason caffeine is bad is that it can heighten anxiety by stimulating the brain. I would ease your self back onto caffeine over time.

Thanks for the replies, looking forward to the enjoying the taste of coffee again! I guess it'll be a while before I return (if I even do) to my normal 25-30 oz of strong black coffee a day, but even a small cup of decaf will make me feel more normal.

I had to abstain for a while.

But I typically drink 1-2 cups every morning.

I can tell when I've over drunk it - it makes me crash; like it makes my brain stop functioning well.

But the 1-2 cups in the morning often helps get me going.

It can be a fine line that can change - you just have to watch it for yourself as everyone's tolerance can be very different.

Take it easy with baby steps at first.