^End Caffeine Use Before Med School Thread^

[Tropicana100]

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I'm trying to end all caffeine use before med school. Anyone want to hop on the bandwagon? We can support one another through this difficult journey. Hopefully we'll be clean before orientation starts! So far, this is my second day without caffeine and my head hurts like a mother. Come on! Let's do this...

 

[DoctorDreamer]

I gave up caffeine 3 years ago, so I've been there. It is possible, though... You can do it!

 

[Aynsl156]

I find that it's easier to do this over a break when you can focus on your daily intakes better. I did it over Christmas, but who knows if I can keep it up? My lab goes out for coffee in the afternoons, and it's weird being the person who doesn't drink coffee.

 

[thoffen]

I was forced to do this because it gives me GERD, but it really isn't that hard. The only thing I miss is chocolate. 🙁

 

[Depakote]

I'm trying to end all caffeine use before med school. Anyone want to hop on the bandwagon? We can support one another through this difficult journey. Hopefully we'll be clean before orientation starts! So far, this is my second day without caffeine and my head hurts like a mother. Come on! Let's do this...

I quit 3 years ago, half way through MS 1 and still going strong.

Advice for quitting, do NOT go cold turkey.

Figure out what your caffeine intake was before and gradually titer it down over a good period of time.

The way I did it was to make a pot of coffee in the morning. Making 10 cups, I did 4 scoops reg 1 scoop decaf, then 3:2, 2:3, 1:4 and eventually I was all decaf. This way kept me essentially free from withdraw side-effects.

Good luck! I do have to say that giving up caffeine was really helpful...

 

[Doublecortin]

I'm trying to end all caffeine use before med school. Anyone want to hop on the bandwagon? We can support one another through this difficult journey. Hopefully we'll be clean before orientation starts! So far, this is my second day without caffeine and my head hurts like a mother. Come on! Let's do this...

why? 😱. Isn't caffeine like required to pass med school? or are you switching to something more potent 😉

 

[Tropicana100]

I quit 3 years ago, half way through MS 1 and still going strong.

Advice for quitting, do NOT go cold turkey.

Figure out what your caffeine intake was before and gradually titer it down over a good period of time.

The way I did it was to make a pot of coffee in the morning. Making 10 cups, I did 4 scoops reg 1 scoop decaf, then 3:2, 2:3, 1:4 and eventually I was all decaf. This way kept me essentially free from withdraw side-effects.

Good luck! I do have to say that giving up caffeine was really helpful...

Thanks! I just went straight to decaf yesterday. I did it because I thought my intake wasn't too bad before (only about 300mg/day via lattes, coke, and occasional redbull). I think my habit is more psychological than anything. On the other hand, I'm feel minor withdrawal symptoms.

 

[lacesoutdan]

I do have to say that giving up caffeine was really helpful...

How so? I'm not sure I will be able to hack it in med school without coffee.

Edit: Nevermind...I just read your blog.

 

[Tropicana100]

why? 😱. Isn't caffeine like required to pass med school? or are you switching to something more potent 😉

haha 🙂 funny thing at VCU interview was that they have mentioned a coffee rehab for med students during orientation. i think all med schools should have this.

 

[Tropicana100]

How so? I'm not sure I will be able to hack it in med school without coffee.

caffeine messes up your sleep. ideally you want to sleep exactly your sleep need (approx 7-8 hours) at the exact same time everyday. that way you maximize the benefits of deep sleep, which is when long term memory is maintained.

 

[lacesoutdan]

caffeine messes up your sleep. ideally you want to sleep exactly your sleep need (approx 7-8 hours) at the exact same time everyday. that way you maximize the benefits of deep sleep, which is when long term memory is maintained.

Hmm...I'm a frequent napper and a coffee freak. 🙂

 

[Corker]

I was forced to do this because it gives me GERD, but it really isn't that hard. The only thing I miss is chocolate. 🙁

WHAT???!!! I was all ready to hop on the bandwagon until I read THIS!!! I'm all for giving up the green tea I LIVE on, but I need a piece of chocolate now and then!!! I mean, I don't sit and eat a whole box, but I like to have a little "sweety" after a meal.

I know chocolate has a little caffeine, but does it have to count?

 

[myKuduSlewaZulu]

I largely stopped drinking soft drinks and coffee for a few years....till I got to med school. There's two starbucks on campus, and I'm a weak man. You WILL be assimilated. As far as sleep, just don't drink it late and you'll be fine. If you do stop, please taper.

 

[beachblonde]

I know chocolate has a little caffeine, but does it have to count?

To people with disorders/diseases affected by caffeine, yes. To most normal people, no.

I wouldn't stress about having a little bit of chocolate every now and then.

According to energyfiend, a Hershey's bar has 9mg of caffeine (dark chocholate is double that amount). A cup of coffee has about 100mg. Unless you're super sensitive to caffiene, 9mg is a pretty small amount.

And I've been told by Dr's that drinking caffiene is ok as long as it's not past noon (if you want to be in bed by midnight). I also cannot imagine getting through med school/residency without coffee. Not that it can't be done, but I don't think I would want to try!

 

[dd128]

I tried stopping the coffee habit one time...the withdrawal nearly resulted in my committing second degree murder for someone looking at me the wrong way...

 

[Drogba]

Why bother? Unless you get GERD or have some other medical condition that caffeine messes with why would you be compelled to quit.

 

[Depakote]

To people with disorders/diseases affected by caffeine, yes. To most normal people, no.

I wouldn't stress about having a little bit of chocolate every now and then.

According to energyfiend, a Hershey's bar has 9mg of caffeine (dark chocholate is double that amount). A cup of coffee has about 100mg. Unless you're super sensitive to caffiene, 9mg is a pretty small amount.

And I've been told by Dr's that drinking caffiene is ok as long as it's not past noon (if you want to be in bed by midnight). I also cannot imagine getting through med school/residency without coffee. Not that it can't be done, but I don't think I would want to try!

Decaf coffee still has a little amount of caffeine in it as well. I figure between that and chocolate I'm not 100% caffeine free but not drinking caffeinated beverages still made a huge difference.

 

[SpartanBlueJay2]

I'm not sure if chocolate causing problems in people with GERD is due to the caffeine. It could also be an acidity issue. I also dealt with GERD for awhile, and there is a whole list of things I wasn't supposed to consume. Much of the list contained foods with caffeine, but most of the rest, like tomatoes and non-caffeinated soda, were a no-go because of their acidity. Thankfully my GERD symptoms have dropped off tremendously since I dramatically reduced my stress load.

 

[digitlnoize]

Best. Thread. Ever.

I think caffeine is a bigger problem for our society than crack. It is one of the most addicitive substances we know of, and has been implicated in a wide variety of health problems (sleep disturbance, heart arrythmias, GI problems, depression, and many others). Just because it is more accepted doesn't mean it's right.

We're all addicts.

 

[ielman]

I used to drink tea in college and started drinking coke because it relieves heartburn...then at work i began to drink a cup of coffee in the morning and a coke in the afternoon...i began to feel jittery, anxious and very uncomfortable throughout...when i realized it was because of caffeine, i started drinking caffeine free soda and decaf coffee...jitters and anxiety gone, will NEVER go back to caffeine again i stopped cold turkey without any problem, rather feel sleepy and tired than anxious as hell any day

 

[whateva07]

How do u get over a sleepy slump then wout caffeine? Tea actually relaxes me and I love having it after a meal.

 

[Drogba]

Best. Thread. Ever.

I think caffeine is a bigger problem for our society than crack. It is one of the most addicitive substances we know of, and has been implicated in a wide variety of health problems (sleep disturbance, heart arrythmias, GI problems, depression, and many others). Just because it is more accepted doesn't mean it's right.

We're all addicts.

How much caffeine is necessary to elicit those responses? If you drink a cup of coffee every hour from the moment you wake till midnight then yes you might encounter many of those. If you drink a few cups a day and stop before the evening I doubt you will ever experience any of that. Caffeine has been implicated in a variety of health (mostly cognitive) benefits as well. Crack on the other hand...

 

[Tropicana100]

I largely stopped drinking soft drinks and coffee for a few years....till I got to med school. There's two starbucks on campus, and I'm a weak man. You WILL be assimilated. As far as sleep, just don't drink it late and you'll be fine. If you do stop, please taper.

yeah the availability of coffee shops really does influence intake. i walk by a starbucks everyday at work and i can't help but walk in. i started today with a tall decaf and a blueberry muffin, which cost $3.10 (a lot cheaper than getting a grande latte which i used to get). one day i will completely boycott starbucks. but one step at a time...

 

[Tropicana100]

How do u get over a sleepy slump then wout caffeine? Tea actually relaxes me and I love having it after a meal.

the idea is to not have any sleepy slump at all by sleeping the full amount every night. it seems like a bizarre concept, but it works. the discipline to pull it off though is another matter 😛

 

[bodonid]

coffee tastes bad.

 

[DoctorDreamer]

WHAT???!!! I was all ready to hop on the bandwagon until I read THIS!!! I'm all for giving up the green tea I LIVE on, but I need a piece of chocolate now and then!!! I mean, I don't sit and eat a whole box, but I like to have a little "sweety" after a meal.

I know chocolate has a little caffeine, but does it have to count?

Nah. I gave up caffeine a long time ago, but hot chocolate has been my favorite things since I was a wee girl. I limit my chocolate intake and no caffeinated sodas, coffee, energy drinks, tea, etc.

My heart-rate dropped 30 beats a minute, I sleep better than ever, and I feel more rested after the drop - but withdrawal was AWFUL.

 

[Tropicana100]

Why bother? Unless you get GERD or have some other medical condition that caffeine messes with why would you be compelled to quit.

Other than health benefits, it does save quite a bit of money for med students on a tight budget.

 

[neuroprotector]

You can switch to tea. It's cheap, much better for you, and has much less caffeine.

 

[lacesoutdan]

Best. Thread. Ever.

I think caffeine is a bigger problem for our society than crack. It is one of the most addicitive substances we know of, and has been implicated in a wide variety of health problems (sleep disturbance, heart arrythmias, GI problems, depression, and many others). Just because it is more accepted doesn't mean it's right.

We're all addicts.

WHOA! Slow down...A lot of people think the benefits balance out the negatives. It increases your ability to concentrate and studies have linked moderate caffeine intake to reduced risk of Parkinson's and heart disease. I usually drink a cup before I workout and it definately helps you lift more weight for more reps.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic, but it's not in the same ballpark as crack much less a bigger problem.

 

[Tropicana100]

ok so i might as well start a list going. maybe some of you will join in 🙂 please add yourself if you've already been clean for a long time... that'll give us noobs hope.


SDN Caffeine Rehab:

Tropicana100 - caffeine free since 1/14/08

 

[Drogba]

Other than health benefits, it does save quite a bit of money for med students on a tight budget.

Again there are plenty of health benefits to drinking coffee and unless you have a particularly bad reaction to it or high sensitivity I can't see any of the "problems" actually affecting you. Also, if you get yourself a coffeemaker (15-50 dollars) and then buy your own coffe its really not that expensive.

 

[DoctorDreamer]

SDN Caffeine Rehab:

Tropicana100 - caffeine free since 1/14/08

DoctorDreamer - caffeine free since summer 2004

 

[el aye]

Wow. Thank god I hate coffee and can't drink a lot of soda.

 

[myKuduSlewaZulu]

Again there are plenty of health benefits to drinking coffee and unless you have a particularly bad reaction to it or high sensitivity I can't see any of the "problems" actually affecting you. Also, if you get yourself a coffeemaker (15-50 dollars) and then buy your own coffe its really not that expensive.

👍. And sorry but tea...well, it ain't coffee.

 

[coldweatherblue]

Again there are plenty of health benefits to drinking coffee and unless you have a particularly bad reaction to it or high sensitivity I can't see any of the "problems" actually affecting you. Also, if you get yourself a coffeemaker (15-50 dollars) and then buy your own coffe its really not that expensive.

X2

I don't drink as much coffee as I used to, mainly because about two years ago I started drinking green tea regularly. I'm curious as to why anyone without sensitivity to caffeine would consider it a "great benefit" to completely avoid moderate caffeine intake? There are benefits to drinking caffeinated beverages; tea in particular.

 

[ArchiMed]

Why bother? Unless you get GERD or have some other medical condition that caffeine messes with why would you be compelled to quit.

I agree...what is the point?

 

[PanicAttack]

👍. And sorry but tea...well, it ain't coffee.

Exactly.

 

[beachblonde]

yeah the availability of coffee shops really does influence intake. i walk by a starbucks everyday at work and i can't help but walk in. i started today with a tall decaf and a blueberry muffin, which cost $3.10 (a lot cheaper than getting a grande latte which i used to get). one day i will completely boycott starbucks. but one step at a time...

I find it ironic that your old grande latte is a whole lot better for you than that blueberry muffin! Those things have nearly 500 calories, 24 grams of fat, and 8 grams of saturated fat. You might as well be eating cake.

But I'm something of a health nut...

 

[Team Zissou]

coffee is love

 

[Bartelby]

Can someone direct those of us who are toying with the idea of giving up caffeine to some reliable articles or webpages about how it is harmful? If it is actually bad for you I should probably join in, because I drink a good eight cups of coffee a day, along with the occasional energy drink. I do feel a little strung out and anxious sometimes, and at one point my sleep seemed a little disturbed, but most of the time I really don't feel like it affects me very much. I just end up drinking so much coffee because I really enjoy the taste, it is extremely cheap, and it is zero calories (making it a great sip-while-you-are-bored drink).

 

[Team Zissou]

i remember seeing an article last year that said coffee drinking could prevent baldness.. the only catch was you'd have to drink like 40 cups a day lol.

 

[Tropicana100]

I find it ironic that your old grande latte is a whole lot better for you than that blueberry muffin! Those things have nearly 500 calories, 24 grams of fat, and 8 grams of saturated fat. You might as well be eating cake.

But I'm something of a health nut...

haha way to ruin it for me 😉

 

[Drogba]

The current folgers blend I'm drinking tastes terrible unfortunately. Thats what I get for being cheap.

 

[Bartelby]

I searched and found a good article against caffeine use: http://www.priory.com/pharmol/caffeine.htm. I probably will cut back on the coffee.

From the article:
"Given the prevalence in everyday life of caffeine consumption and stress, opportunities of caffeine and stress interaction are common and their detrimental effects on health may be widespread"

 

[Team Zissou]

Dunkin Donuts blend is my top choice 👍

 

[Drogba]

I searched and found a good article against caffeine use: http://www.priory.com/pharmol/caffeine.htm. I probably will cut back on the coffee.

From the article:
"Given the prevalence in everyday life of caffeine consumption and stress, opportunities of caffeine and stress interaction are common and their detrimental effects on health may be widespread"

Similarly a small but significant elevation of BP was found in habitual coffee drinkers using regular coffee compared to those who drank decaffeinated coffee

At higher concentrations (>10 mg/kg/day) caffeine produces definite tachycardia54; sensitive individuals may experience other arrhythmias

thats alot of coffee!

On the other hand, the results of a number of studies indicate that coffee drinking is associated with little, if any, increased incidence of coronary heart disease82. Several epidemiologic surveys have failed to confirm, in particular after controlling for cigarette smoking43,44,45, the suggestion by the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program79,80 that an association exists between coffee consumption and coronary heart disease100,81,101.

Lame. If you are extra sensitive to caffeine, quit. If it doesn't send you into a panic attack then you have little to worry about and might have quit a bit to gain. You should know how you react to caffeine by now and given the current research that should really be your only criteria for quitting.

 

[beachblonde]

haha way to ruin it for me 😉

sorry! as a rule of thumb I stay away from baked goods, the nutrition stats on those things are generally horrifying.

but starbucks' lattes are awesome. I'll stick to those.

 

[FutureDoc4]

Don't hate on coffee!! There are a ton of benefits, and has been shown to be effective in destroying cancer cells in vitro...via PCC (premature chromatin condensation)...my cancer bio professor loved to extol the virtues of caffeine! (This also helps me justify my own caffeine addiction)

in the attachment: adenovirus expression construct carrying specific genes. U2OS osteosarcoma cells were in this study.

 

[Tropicana100]

Dunkin Donuts blend is my top choice 👍

whatever you do don't go to krispy kreme. have you ever seen them make donuts?

 

[Team Zissou]

krispy kreme's coffee is disgusting.. i think they put the glazed donut flavor in the blend 👎