Anyone addicted to Pepsi?

[NightWalker]

I have been drinking Pepsi every day for a lot of years... at least 10 years.

For the last 12 months my concentration has suffered, I have spent less and less time studying and have tried to change bits of my lifestyle to solve the issues, but never with much success. So the start of this week I decided I had really had enough. I am certain it’s something I am eating causing all the problems, so I planned to give up one thing at a time until I identify the culprit. So everyone knows soft drinks are full of caffeine and sugar, seemed like I should throw myself in at the deep end with the worst thing I consume every day. Last Monday I went and bought fresh orange juice and apple juice (not the ‘from concentrate’ stuff), and no Pepsi. (used to drink at least 4 litres of Pepsi a week).

This week has been hell. I have been googling this evening as I have been getting quite worried. I have had a headache for the last 4 days. I have had trouble thinking clearly (worse than usual) and nearly had to come home from work the last two days as I felt like I was half asleep, couldn’t keep my mind on anything. Felt sick eating lunch, and craved chocolate in the evenings (also loaded with caffeine).

My research this evening has confirmed I am coming down off a 10 year caffeine addiction, and it’s quite nasty...

I am going to head out for a 5 mile run in the morning to help clear my system, and keep drinking water and fruit juice all weekend. Hopefully I will be over the worst of it ready for work Monday. The more I think about it the more I am sure Pepsi is to blame for the last 12 months of tiredness and lack of concentration.

[Arroryn]

I only have a mild caffeine addiction.

I say have, because I tried to go decaff once.

I drink between 5 and 7 cups of coffee per day, plus maybe a pint of Dr Pepper Zero. The energy levels are less, but I haven't honestly researched the levels of caffeine in these.

I switched to decaff coffee about a year ago, and started drinking juices. I didn't see much personal improvement, as I couldn't progress pass the headaches. It was two weeks of pain, I'm sorry, I can't paint it better than that. But I couldn't 'power through' like I did when I quit smoking. I was straight back on the caffeine bandwagon, and showing not many signs of getting off.

What I'd suggest is that, dropping caffeine should be treated the same as dropping any narcotic substance, as you have an addiction, plain as that. You are currently cold turkey, and that's the worst way to put your body through it. Sure, the hard routine might be the way some people find influence, but if it's harming the way you work, it might be a bad idea. If you drink coffee, buy yourself the half-decaff stuff. What I do to break myself off carbonated drinks, I find that it's not the actual drink I like, but the feeling of the fizz when I'm drinking it. So swap your Pepsi's for sparkling water with organic fruit juices.

Hope it improves for you dude x

[NightWalker]

I switched to decaff coffee about 6 months ago. It wasn’t that hard, probably because I was still getting my caffeine from Pepsi. I didn’t really think of that at the time. I have cut down to one glass of Pepsi a day over the last 4 or 5 weeks, before taking the plunge and stopping drinking it completely. Giving up smoking was also hard, but different. Funny really, wasn’t even sure what was happening until I spent time looking it up on the web tonight. Thanks Arroryn.

[twizzle]

i wouldnt call 4 litres of Pepsi a week and addiction, just bad taste!

I tried a while ago to break my Coke habit.. i drink 2 x 330ml cans a day and 2 x 3 litre bottles a week. I managed 2 weeks but felt so sh*te that i went back on the drink....

Now i have short attention span and always feel very tired no matter how much i sleep.

[Mitzs]

I was weine on pepsi. That was my breakfast every morning for years. I sure do miss the days of an Ice cold pepsi in a glass bottle. I was up to a litter a day when I had to quit. It was giving me bladder infections that would put me in the emergency room once a month. I switched to 7 ups. Now I am breaking from that to water. If you like green tea you can try that, it is really good with honey, has some caffinee and is very good for you.

[ffreeloader]

I used to drink at least 1, and sometimes 2, 44 oz. Diet Pepsi Big Gulps a day. When I quit I had major headaches for a week or so. After that I started to drink coffee, but not nearly as much. Guess my body must be inclined to caffeine addiction as when I stopped drinking coffee I went through the same thing again.

It differs from person to person as to how severe the effects of caffeine withdrawal will be, but for those of us for whom it is bad, it's really bad.

[greenbrucelee]

Coke and stella for me.

[Markyboyt]

Originally Posted by greenbrucelee

Coke and stella for me.

together? i find coke goes a lot better with vodka
I have a bit of a coke addiction (yes the soft drink) but its not too bad, i just crave an ice cold can sometimes, i thought my addicition was to vodka but it turns out coke alone puts me right so thats good, i think lol

[Bluerinse]

I didn't realise that Pepsi (caffeine) was so addictive. maybe there should be warning labels on the tins like cigarettes

[ffreeloader]

Originally Posted by Bluerinse

I didn't realise that Pepsi (caffeine) was so addictive. maybe there should be warning labels on the tins like cigarettes

It's probably just as addictive as cigarettes were 40 years ago before the tobacco companies started playing the genetics of the tobacco plant and creating a tobacco that is far more addictive than naturally occurring tobacco.

I had fewer symptoms when I stopped smoking after 7 or 8 years--a 3 pack a day habit--than I did breaking a caffeine addiction that was of a shorter duration.

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by NightWalker

I have been drinking Pepsi every day for a lot of years... at least 10 years.

Ew! That's just wrong!

Want to know how to break an addiction to Pepsi? Start drinking Coke. Mmmmmmm...

In all seriousness, caffeine is a very addictive substance. It shares many of the same mechanisms as another incredibly addictive drug: cocaine. Notice the similar -ine endings? They both have alkaloid structures, consisting of an alkaline and nitrogen, which affect the nervous system. Other alkaloids include codeine, morphine, amphetamine, nicotine... see any other addictive substances here?

Caffeine and cocaine are stimulants. They both stimulate nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, which also increases adrenaline (another -ine) production. Additionally, they both increase dopamine (another -ine) production, which activates the parts of the brain related to pleasure. No wonder they're so addictive!

Fortunately, the headaches dissipate anywhere from one to five days. For most people, it's worst at the 48-hour mark. So if you can get through five days, you've pretty much "broken" yourself of the physical addiction... all that's left is getting rid of your psychological addiction to it... the part of you that thinks you're still addicted to caffeine when your body no longer craves it.

My degree is in Chemistry. I once extracted caffeine from tea leaves in Organic Chem lab... and accidentally spilled the extraction in my lab drawer. It dried to a fine white powder. Thereafter, every time I opened my lab drawer, I was greeted by the pure aroma of my addiction. Ooooohhhhhh, the smell! Only my willpower and the knowledge that who knows WHAT else had been spilled in that lab drawer prevented me from licking my lab drawer clean.

[NightWalker]

Originally Posted by twizzle

Now I have short attention span and always feel very tired no matter how much I sleep.

Sounds like my experience when I was on the Pepsi, along with a groggy mind most days. I never felt bad for years drinking Pepsi, wonder why it all caught up with me now. I hope this is the cause of all the problems I was having, if not milk is the next thing to cut out my diet for a week to see if that helps or not.

Originally Posted by Mitzs

If you like green tea you can try that, it is really good with honey, has some caffinee and is very good for you.

I recently started to drink Red Bush tea. Its naturally caffeine free, and quite refreshing.

Originally Posted by Bluerinse

I didn't realise that Pepsi (caffeine) was so addictive. maybe there should be warning labels on the tins like cigarettes

The bottle looks so nice in the shop... (don’t judge a book by its cover, or a carbonated cola beverage by its packaging...)

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

Caffeine and cocaine are stimulants. They both stimulate nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, which also increases adrenaline (another -ine) production. Additionally, they both increase dopamine (another -ine) production, which activates the parts of the brain related to pleasure. No wonder they're so addictive!

Public opinion on caffeine does not match up with its potential for causing addiction and harm. Ask someone about cocaine, they will generally have a different story to tell... Very good post BM, good information.

[twizzle]

I cant stand Pepsi, i just feel it tastes like its been watered down, its just not strong enough for me. It dosent give me the same "hit" as Coke.

I know, in tha past where i have given up Coke for a few days, i've suffered from shakes and headaches. I'd imagine the feeling is something akin to going cold turkey from Cocaine even if its not anywhere near as bad.
An addiction is an addiction no matter what too, and comming off it is hard, whether it be a soft drink or a hard drug. Its just the results and symptoms that differ.

The other thing with drinking Coke is that the it porbably goes a long way to rotting your teeth and causing ulsers or other internal bodily organ damage.

It be interesting to know which contains the most caffine, Pepsi or Coke-Cola and which is the most addictive.

for me, i have cut down. when i was younger it used to be about 5 cans a day and 3 3litre bottles a week!

[Luddym]

I'm starting to feel like a real addict.

For years I've drunk about 4 2 litre bottles of coke (and about 2-3 cans at work) in the cold weather, and up to 7 2 litre bottles a week when it is warm. (Still with the 2-3 cans at work.) All diet of course, but probably not that much better!

[The_Geek]

Originally Posted by twizzle

Now i have short attention span and always feel very tired no matter how much i sleep.

That comes from using a M$ operating system all day.

(j/k, I just wanted to beat Freddy to the punch)

I usually drink 1-2 cups of coffee in the morning, and then it's green tea or water the rest of the day. Occasionally I'll grab a caffeine free diet coke.