Don't stop smoking, drinking coffee and sugar while going through withdrawals or

[[Ex...]]

the withdrawals symptoms will be more intense! I stopped drinking coffee, eating anything with sugar and smoking recently (all at once) in this last wave and oh boy it's been hell. I couldn't take it anymore so this morning I smoked, drank a little coffee and had a little sugar in my coffee and my body stabilized more. I only drank a small amount of coffee,had two black and mild cigars, and added half a spoon of sugar to my coffee. I don't think one she over indulge, but I do think a small amount of it in your system can help stabilize you until you are at least out of the wave, then you can work on cutting these items.

 

  The withdrawal symptoms from caffeine,sugar and nicotine are the same symptoms we get from withdrawing from the benzos, so when you stop everything at once, you will have more intense symptoms. I don't think this will work for everyone but for some. Just wanted to share just in case it helps someone else in my situation.  Take a look at the withdraw symptoms from

 

Nicotine...

Headache.

Nausea.

Constipation or diarrhea.

Fatigue, drowsiness, and insomnia.

Irritability.

Difficulty concentrating.

Anxiety.

Depressed mood.

 

Caffine...

1. Headaches. Really bad headaches are one of the most common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. It happens because caffeine is able to block receptors in the brain that can dilate blood vessels that cause headaches. Without that happening, headaches are more likely to occur.

2. Irritability. This is another common symptom that will have everyone in your close vicinity scurrying for cover. You best take to the hills until it's over.

3. Sleepiness. Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant. It can help you feel more alert, less tired and keep you awake for longer periods of time. Take it away and the result is often excessive sleepiness and drowsiness.

4. Fatigue. Caffeine usually gives you a burst of energy; lack of it has the opposite effect.

5. Nausea and or vomiting. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps may occur.

6. Muscle and body weakness, aches and pain. Caffeine usually relaxes smooth muscles and improves exercise performance. Without it, muscle pain may occur, mainly in your upper body, including your shoulders and neck.

7. Constipation. Caffeine stimulates the bowel and the movement of fluid and solid wastes from the body is therefore promoted. Without its daily dose of caffeine, constipation may result.

8. An inability to focus and concentrate. Caffeine is famous for its ability to conjure and sustain mental alertness and short term memory recall. Studies have shown that women who drink coffee are less likely to suffer memory loss later in life. However, withdraw the caffeine and you have the opposite result.

9. Depression. The abovementioned study also showed that women who drank coffee were less likely to develop depression. Depression is nonetheless a common coffee withdrawal symptom. Sleep problems, another common withdrawal symptom, tend to worsen the symptoms of depression.

10. Anxiety. Physical symptoms that may accompany the feelings of anxiety include the jitters, insomnia, fear, sweating and shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and or heart palpitations, chest pain and a decreased sex drive.

While the potential benefits of drinking moderate amounts of coffee has been extolled, it is also true that there are some valid concerns about drinking high amounts of coffee, becoming addicted and the very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that may follow when you stop drinking so much coffee. The answer, as with so many other issues in life, seems to be moderation!

 

Sugar...

feeling lightheaded.

having sugar cravings (and possible moments of binge eating)

anxiety.

depression.

headaches.

moodiness, irritable.

tiredness.

muscular aches.

 

 

[[lG...]]

I haven't had sugar since 12/31 for a "new year" try and I have to tell you that I have only improved. To each their own. I cut out all fake sugar btw and still have had cane and coconut sugar.

 

I think they mirror the withdrawal for a little while. Maybe not the nicotine that is harder to quit but I think any brain altering substances you are better off quitting in the long run for benzo withdrawal.

 

My 2 cents.

[[Da...]]

I'm actually a believer in what you are saying. None of those things is good for you obviously but I think quitting benzos is hard enough without quitting all the other things at the same time. I have seen people post they quit everything at once and reinstated and I was like don't quit everything just quit taking benzos. Now when I was in acute I was actually too sick to smoke and honestly did not even have cravings. For two months I did not smoke. Everything made me green. But after acute ended I started thinking about smoking and a lot of people I knew smoked and when they lit up it started smelling good. So one day I thought that I would try one cigarette and before I knew it I was smoking again. My mom was really disappointed but I reminded her I was still off the pills. and I smoke less now but anything is too much. I do want to quit someday soon but once I'm healed from all this BS.

[[Ex...]]

I haven't had sugar since 12/31 for a "new year" try and I have to tell you that I have only improved. To each their own. I cut out all fake sugar btw and still have had cane and coconut sugar.

 

I think they mirror the withdrawal for a little while. Maybe not the nicotine that is harder to quit but I think any brain altering substances you are better off quitting in the long run for benzo withdrawal.

 

My 2 cents.

 

I agree with you, I think in the long run it is something worth quitting, however in the middle of a long wave, I'm not sure if its a good idea, just from my personal experiences. I started suffering a little before Christmas, and it's been horrific. I immediately got scared and cut out everything thinking it would help. I didn't improve, actually the symptoms increased in every way. After doing a little research on the withdrawals from the things I cut out, I was amazed to find that they all shared the same symptoms. I immediately decided that maybe I was suffering more because of the cuts that I made, so this morning after suffering as I usually do in the morning, I decided to have a little coffee, and a smoke just to see what would happen. Minutes later, I started to feel myself relax in a way I hadn't being able too in weeks. And today has been a fairly good day.  Still some anxiety, but nothing like the last few weeks.

 

I will try quitting after I'm out of my current wave. Congrats to you though for being able to cut sugar and only find yourself improving. Can't wait to get there.

[[Ex...]]

I'm actually a believer in what you are saying. None of those things is good for you obviously but I think quitting benzos is hard enough without quitting all the other things at the same time. I have seen people post they quit everything at once and reinstated and I was like don't quit everything just quit taking benzos. Now when I was in acute I was actually too sick to smoke and honestly did not even have cravings. For two months I did not smoke. Everything made me green. But after acute ended I started thinking about smoking and a lot of people I knew smoked and when they lit up it started smelling good. So one day I thought that I would try one cigarette and before I knew it I was smoking again. My mom was really disappointed but I reminded her I was still off the pills. and I smoke less now but anything is too much. I do want to quit someday soon but once I'm healed from all this BS.

 

Davis I'm with you. To be honest I have not had a craving at all for caffeine or nicotine. I guess I've been so focused on my symptoms, I haven't had free brain space to crave anything. Every part of my being has been occupied with this wave. I just thought today, maybe I'm having withdrawals because of all the items I recently cut out, so I looked it up. I was very surprised with caffeine, I was suffering from every symptom listed, so I decided to experiment to see what would happen if I put caffeine back into my body, it was almost immediate,  my muscles released, and my shoulders and neck was no longer as sore as they have been, and my dp\dr seemed to lessen. So I have to agree with you, it's definitely something I want to quit, but waiting till I  heal from the other BS first is a better, less traumatic process. I wouldn't say it's the best way for all, but for many of us.

[[Be...]]

I agree with smoking nicotine cigarettes. I quit smoking 1 week after my last dose and I didn't know what happened after! It was like an out of body experience. I cried wishing for death for 1 week non-stop.

 

Regarding caffeine and sugar, it used to be the opposite for me. I drank one cup of green tea during my taper (containing minimum amount of caffeine) and oh man I hated myself for 2 days in a raw.

 

I don't recommend quitting smoking and benzos altogether.

[[Ex...]]

I agree with smoking nicotine cigarettes. I quit smoking 1 week after my last dose and I didn't know what happened after! It was like an out of body experience. I cried wishing for death for 1 week non-stop.

 

Regarding caffeine and sugar, it used to be the opposite for me. I drank one cup of green tea during my taper (containing minimum amount of caffeine) and oh man I hated myself for 2 days in a raw.

 

I don't recommend quitting smoking and benzos altogether.

 

I agree. I have started smoking again in the morning and one in the afternoon.funny thing is I don't have a taste  for them,  but know I need them. I can say I've been feeling better since adding the 3 things back into my diet. Symptoms are not as intense, and I seem to come out of the fog earlier in the day, and my day continues to be pretty good, not great, but pretty good.

[[ld...]]

Hi buddies

 

    I saw the post and wanted to give some feedback on how it was for me. It was just the opposite. I was able to quit smoking. I switched from regular coffee to decaf. I never was one to over indulge in sweets as I have kept them to a minimum and enjoy a few desserts each week. So far so good, I really never had a noticeable flare up in symptoms. It's been almost a year since I quit smoking. I think with each of us it can be different because some of us are more sensitive than others in the way the benzos have effected us. Wish you all the best!

 

    Regards

 

              ldm27

[[Ra...]]

I also made the same mistake of trying to quit both coffee and seroquel while going thru benzo withdrawl. Instead of getting too stressed about not beeing able to quit everything at the same time I decided to take things slow and quit one thing at a time.