# How do you decaffeinate yourself? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755 "2004-09-23T21:14:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/21 "2004-09-24T14:52:55Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Hah…an 8-ounce cup of coffee. Wusses. I start the day out with 16 ounces. I follow it up with about another 40-50 ounces of diet soda through the day… . You’re bragging about that meager amount? I have that much coffee a day. Sodas and tea don’t have enough caffeine for me to even count those. Now if only I could find a source for my methamphetibeans (chocolate covered espresso beans). ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/22 "2004-09-24T14:54:19Z")
> [@Engineer Dude](#): > > I read post #15 as 8-_cups_ of coffee, not 8 ounces, although I don’t know. Now I’m confused :dubious: Yup, that’s right. An 8 _cup_ pot of coffee. My favorite mug holds about 16 ounces. A pot of coffee (I have a thermal carafe coffee maker, so it doesn’t get cold) fills my mug about 3 times. I drink one mug first thing in the morning, as I am doing my morning chores, a second mug with breakfast; I save the third one for after I drop my 4-year-old off at her afternoon Pre-K, and I’m sufficiently caffeinated for the rest of the day, winding down just about dinnertime. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/23 "2004-09-24T15:03:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Is caffeine ‘bad’ for you? I thought that it was something to watch out for if you had a particular sensitivity or medical condition? According to this [FAQ](http://www.faqs.org/faqs/caffeine-faq/), **Philster** , caffiene has benefits for athletes. It’s a stimulant. It’s a drug. It makes my heart race. It makes me nervous. It keeps me awake when I don’t want to be awake, leading to exhaustion. Some people have bodies that can cope with stimulus better than others. Some people can drink coffee all day long and not feel any effect. I just happen to feel worse when I’m on the drug than when I’m free of it, so I gave it up. I don’t have the same reaction to alcohol, even in larger doses, so it must just be a caffiene sensitivity thing. It does help me, in very small doses, when I have certain types of headaches. **MissTake** , I’m sorry to hear about your condition. That sounds incredibly painful. Living without caffiene will be easier than you imagine. Just think of how pretentious you can be! “Why, _I_ roll out of bed every morning without an alarm and without a stimulant, and I’m far more chipper than you and… you want to kill me, don’t you…” ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/24 "2004-09-24T16:23:14Z")
8 cups o’ Joe to start the day! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/25 "2004-09-24T17:35:04Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > 8 cups o’ Joe to start the day! :eek: Yeah, but it’s eight “cups” by coffee pot standards, which, as I said before, is about three good-sized mugs worth. Also, I do drink it over a span of about six hours. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/26 "2004-09-24T19:23:32Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Everyone knows that the ideal way to get caffeine is through an 8-cup pot of coffee every morning! Pouring boiling black tar down your throat is not my idea of a good way to start the day. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/27 "2004-09-24T19:51:05Z")
> [@OP](#): > > How do you decaffeinate yourself? HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW cold turkey baby, once a year for a week, in solitary confinement with a bottle of analgesics and much much water, then I’m back on the bean! HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/28 "2004-09-24T19:58:59Z")
6-10 Cans a day?? Holy Jeebus! :eek: I have historically limited myself to two imbibations of caffeine-loaded soft drink per day. One with lunch, one with dinner. Occasionally a third, if I’m thirsty and don’t have access to ice-water, but I have never used caffeine to “Wake up”. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/29 "2004-09-24T21:22:01Z")
Since 7am this morning I am now on total can 6- 4 leaded, 2 unleaded. And two extra strength Bayer And chocolate I’ve also downed a HUGE glass of orange juice. ~sigh~ Not cranky yet. Yet being the operative word. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/30 "2004-09-24T22:23:24Z")
Hello, my name is Photopat, and it’s been 2 years since I got off the 'feine. I did it cold turkey and really hurt for about a week, but after that I had no problems. Full disclosure: I do have a Thai iced tea, maybe once every 3 months or so and haven’t given up chocolate, but I don’t eat that much so it’s negligible in the overall scheme, compared to the 3-5 _bottles_ of Pepsi and Coke I was drinking every day for a few years there. I’ve always been a Root Beer fan and since I stopped drinking cola (and Barq’s for that matter) I’ve found a renewed pleasure in trying different brands. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/31 "2004-09-25T00:57:39Z")
Slowly. I would also switch to something other than cola on your way to freedom. They ain’t doin you any favors either. I am of the opinion that an occasional drink is OK but you have a huge monkey on your back. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/32 "2004-09-25T04:28:53Z")
My husband has just given up Coca-Cola. Again. I may retreat to a bomb shelter. Really, he drinks about 2 litres a day, and when he stops, he has migraines for about two weeks. Easing off doesn’t seem to work, though. The problem is that he really _likes_ the taste of Coke, and that he drinks enormous quantities of liquid every day. Actually, drinking a lot would be fine if it were only water and fruit juice- not really a problem. So at least once a year, he gives up Coke, and it doesn’t work for more than a month or so, because he likes it so much. Like if I tried to give up french fries, I guess. He doesn’t have a compelling medical reason to stop drinking it, and that’s the only thing that would permanently get him to stop. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/33 "2004-09-25T13:04:40Z")
**Lissla Lissar** , I know this is gonna sound stupid because it’s so obvious, but, has he tried the caffeine-free Coke? I drank it when I was pregnant, and I personally couldn’t taste any difference. I switched to all caffeine-free sodas so that I could still have three huge mugs of coffee every morning (except that those pots of coffee were made with three scoops of decaf and one scoop of “Lite” coffee, so it was a tiny fraction of the caffeine, but I didn’t have to feel like I was giving up my coffee). Oh, gee, run-on sentence, anyone? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/34 "2004-09-25T22:13:22Z")
Another problem with too much caffeine is that it can leech the calcium from your bones. For women, this is not a good thing. Sorry, no cite. This is from memory. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/35 "2004-09-26T02:14:29Z")
You are right, **Shirley Ujest** , it does. So does too much orange juice, oddly enough. Well, it’s Saturday night. Since 8am this morning I’ve had 4 cans of leaded, 3 cans of decaf, and 72oz of water. I also spent 2 hours in emergent care after my kidneys decided to _really_ rebel. Damn body. Luckily, I’m now on vicodan, so lack of caffeine is not a big deal. I am not feeling much of anything. 😃😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/36 "2004-09-26T03:25:47Z")
The first time I quit caffeine, I learned my lesson. The trick is to go to your doctor, explain to him or her that you are going to be cutting out caffeine from your diet, and ask for painkillers to help facilitate this (or, if that sounds too much like you’re looking for a fix, ask for advice about which painkillers to take). Since then, when I’ve broken my caffeine habit, I’ve gotten painkillers to help me deal with the pain (usually Fiorinal, which does have caffeine in it but less than I was drinking). Other than possible caffeine in the painkillers, which I take only when something requires me to function, I quit cold turkey. – Dragonblink, who once stayed caffeine-free for over two months while working at Starbucks ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755/37 "2004-09-26T04:52:36Z")
Lordy! I jumped in this thread thinking it said: **"How often do you DEFECATE yourself?"** What’s even worse is I actually clicked on the thread!! As to the REAL op. I don’t know I must have a high tolerance towards caffine because I can down a can of Mountain Dew right before I go to bed with no problems. So I’ve never really felt the need myself… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decaffeinate-yourself/265755.md?page=1)