The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Dealing with caffeine withdrawal

    An article in Yoga Journal states, “Some yogis eschew the use of all caffeine, while others adopt a policy of moderate consumption. Caffeine can temporarily enliven the body, but dependence on it could hinder your yoga practice.”

    For those who want to stop using caffeine-containing products, the article recommends adding Yogi tea or specific medicinal herbs to your diet to help ease the transition.

    I have no idea if any of this stuff helps. It is clear however, that caffeine withdrawal is well documented and is included in DSM-IV-TR (the 4th text revision of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), considered the bible of mental disorders.

    Here are details of the caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

    • Headache
    • Fatigue, drowsiness, decreased energy/activeness
    • Decreased alertness, difficulty concentrating, foggy/not clearheaded
    • Decreased contentedness, irritability
    • Depressed mood
    • Flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, muscle pain/stiffness

    How likely are you to experience symptoms of caffeine withdrawal?

    • Headache 50%
    • Distress or functional impairment 13%

    When does withdrawal begin?

    • Onset of symptoms 12-24 hours after abstinence
    • Peak intensity 20-51 hours
    • Duration 2-9 days

    In general, the incidence or severity of symptoms increase with increases in daily dose. Abstinence from doses as low as 100 mg/day produces symptoms.

    The average daily intake of caffeine among caffeine consumers in the United States is about 280 mg (about one to two mugs of coffee or three to five bottles of soft drink). Higher intakes are estimated in some European countries.

    8/23/06 20:39 JR

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