2 hours ago, Mamgu said:

The swinging between such intense symptoms is so difficult - hope you're still feeling better xx

@Mamgu, thanks for your concern. I woke up with a banging headache today, been trying to take my mind off by pottering in the garden. How are you and how is your dog?

Hi, it's been 14 months since stopping citalopram and I have been in protracted withdrawal. It's been almost 2 months since reducing anadin extra which contains caffeine, to one and a half tablets a day. Since reducing anadin my symptoms have become worse, particularly headaches, dizziness. I don't drink coffee but the other day I had a cup thinking the caffeine might help with symptoms but it only made things worse. Dizziness, weird dreams, brain zaps, head fullness, tinnitus even louder. I do have a lot of stress at home which isn't helping. I cannot find anyone here who has gone through caffeine withdrawal and mentioning their symptoms. I would like to hear anyone's thoughts on this if you can please. Thanks.

I personally wouldn't have thought it was the caffiene probably other ingredients in the anadin ...just my opinion ...

Twice in 2025 I quit caffeine cold turkey. Both times I had nausea  headache and dizziness for about 3 days. I didn't even drink that much, just one Costa cappuccino every morning and an instant coffee at lunchtime. No Coke, nothing else. I remember being shocked by how unwell I was given how "small" my consumption was. These days I have found a middle ground, I drink green and black tea. Still have caffeine but much less. Life without hot beverages during WD isn't worth it to me and I hate floral/herbal infusions.

Edited April 11Apr 11 by Sminismoni

@Beehive, @Sminismoni Thank you both for replying when you are dealing with your own symptoms. I definitely noticed a difference after drinking coffee, maybe my cns was too sensitized to deal with it. There could be other contributing factors, I do have arthritis in my neck and I do knit a lot. I'll probably see my doctor if I see no improvement next week, the one who told me to reduce anadin extra in the first place. Yesterday afternoon I was out walking my dog, today I just feel blah again. Best wishes both.😊

@Sonia2  You may well have a sensitivity to caffeine but I just wasn't sure how much was in an anadin to make a difference.  ..I'm absolutely guilty of this myself but for a lot of us we are always looking for a cause when something happens or changes we obviously don't like uncertainty and are desperate to find an answer as to why ...strange thing is we keep looking and when we feel like we've found an answer it's never good enough . At the end of the day it doesn't matter what caused it as its happening and there is nothing we can do except accept how crappy we feel and just get through the day .sorry just a bit of a rant lol hope you get some stability soon 🙏

@Beehive@Beehive Yes I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I'm just chasing rainbows. Hope you start feeling better soon too.😊

Just now, Sonia2 said:

@Beehive@Beehive Yes I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I'm just chasing rainbows. Hope you start feeling better soon too.😊

Exactly and that path is a very long and winding path and never ending ...we need to stop chasing and focus on the here and now and deal with whatever is going on at this moment . Our brains /minds needs a rest so it can concentrate on getting us the stability we crave 🙏

Hi, I continue to have migraine type headaches and dizziness. I cannot see any end to this, has anyone had dizziness that came and went for this long? I am about fourteen months into protracted withdrawal and about two months into caffeine withdrawal. It's definitely worse since reducing caffeine which I took in the form of analgesics. Stress hasn't helped either. Just trying to make sense of it all. Regards all.

1 hour ago, Sonia2 said:

Hi, I continue to have migraine type headaches and dizziness. I cannot see any end to this, has anyone had dizziness that came and went for this long? I am about fourteen months into protracted withdrawal and about two months into caffeine withdrawal. It's definitely worse since reducing caffeine which I took in the form of analgesics. Stress hasn't helped either. Just trying to make sense of it all. Regards all.

Hey @Sonia2 Not dizziness, but my main symtoms these days is head pressure/burning brain. Just hit 2 years off in March gone. Can take a long time for the system to sort itself, the coffee detox sounds like it has made it worse, and of course stress certainly plays into all this.

@Chippy it's so hard to believe recovery can take so long it's inhumane, no wonder paranoia sets in. I imagine all sorts of insidious diseases and I have to remind myself to take stock of everything. The head pressure is terrible, I have had that too but no burning pain. I'm sorry you have been suffering so long, there doesn't seem to be a remedy other than looking after yourself the best way you can and to try and stop the looping thoughts from driving you to despair. Yes, stress is a major factor for sure.

Appreciate you responding. 🙏😊

10 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

@Chippy it's so hard to believe recovery can take so long it's inhumane, no wonder paranoia sets in. I imagine all sorts of insidious diseases and I have to remind myself to take stock of everything. The head pressure is terrible, I have had that too but no burning pain. I'm sorry you have been suffering so long, there doesn't seem to be a remedy other than looking after yourself the best way you can and to try and stop the looping thoughts from driving you to despair. Yes, stress is a major factor for sure.

Appreciate you responding. 🙏😊

I know! It seems unthinkable doesn’t it! Before all this, I would never had believed it. But I have learned to accept and trust the body to eventually put it all right. We will get there eventually!

Hi, I'm about 16/17 months into PAWS and about 9 weeks into caffeine reduction and having a really uncomfortable few weeks with dizziness, balance, headache, head pressure, nausea etc. I not only feel unwell I look it. Does anyone else notice this, pale skin, dull looking eyes, lifeless looking hair, aging skin. I look ok with make up on but when I take it off I'm afraid to look in the mirror. 🤦

16 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

Hi, I'm about 16/17 months into PAWS and about 9 weeks into caffeine reduction and having a really uncomfortable few weeks with dizziness, balance, headache, head pressure, nausea etc. I not only feel unwell I look it. Does anyone else notice this, pale skin, dull looking eyes, lifeless looking hair, aging skin. I look ok with make up on but when I take it off I'm afraid to look in the mirror. 🤦

Hi @Sonia2 may I ask why you decided to cut back on caffeine? It's still strong psychoactive substance and can hit pretty hard especially with hypersensitive system.

Thanks.

Edited May 16May 16 by Fullhealing

@Fullhealing Hi, I take painkillers that contains caffeine. I have taken them for years for migraines or rather to prevent migraines and to hold down my job. My doctor who does not believe in protracted withdrawal thought it was the cause of my symptoms so she told me to reduce and eventually come off over a period of a few weeks, that was about three months ago. I have reduced my intake but am on the same dose for around 9 weeks, one and a half tablets a day. I do not drink coffee or caffeinated drinks, chocolate etc. My withdrawal symptoms have definitely been worse since reducing them.

How do I send a private message please?

19 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

How do I send a private message please?

@Chippy

4 hours ago, Sonia2 said:

How do I send a private message please?

Hey Sonia. You go to the persons profile and use the link in there. Or can click the messages button and start a new conversation that way.

8 hours ago, Sonia2 said:

@Fullhealing Hi, I take painkillers that contains caffeine. I have taken them for years for migraines or rather to prevent migraines and to hold down my job. My doctor who does not believe in protracted withdrawal thought it was the cause of my symptoms so she told me to reduce and eventually come off over a period of a few weeks, that was about three months ago. I have reduced my intake but am on the same dose for around 9 weeks, one and a half tablets a day. I do not drink coffee or caffeinated drinks, chocolate etc. My withdrawal symptoms have definitely been worse since reducing them.

I see, thanks for answering @Sonia2 maybe it's worth considering stopping it for now until the system is more stable? Just a thought..

Hope you feel better soon.

4 hours ago, Chippy said:

Hey Sonia. You go to the persons profile and use the link in there. Or can click the messages button and start a new conversation that way.

Thanks @Chippy 👍

58 minutes ago, Fullhealing said:

I see, thanks for answering @Sonia2 maybe it's worth considering stopping it for now until the system is more stable? Just a thought..

Hope you feel better soon.

@Fullhealing Thank you for responding. I was thinking of maybe trying to cut down by half a tablet for now to see how it goes. I know there are withdrawal symptoms from caffeine that's why I was doing it slowly but I didn't think it would have this much of an affect on me.

10 minutes ago, Sonia2 said:

@Fullhealing Thank you for responding. I was thinking of maybe trying to cut down by half a tablet for now to see how it goes. I know there are withdrawal symptoms from caffeine that's why I was doing it slowly but I didn't think it would have this much of an affect on me.

@Sonia2 it's great that you have a desire for less addictive substances and a healthy system, but obviously we can't know until after the fact, caffeine is very powerful substance much more than we realize, I remember trying to reduce my coffee to 1 cup instead of 3 in my half way in the process and wow it was a knockout so I went was back to 3 plus another one when I really feel like it lol, it's much more important that you can function and feel reasonable in the process, you can always deal with it later 🙏

Edited May 17May 17 by Fullhealing

8 minutes ago, Fullhealing said:

@Sonia2 it's great that you have a desire for less addictive substances and a healthy system, but obviously we can't know until after the fact, caffeine is very powerful substance much more than we realize, I remember trying to reduce my coffee to 1 cup instead of 3 in my half way in the process and wow it was a knockout so I went was back to 3 plus another one when I really feel like it lol, it's much more important that you can function and feel reasonable in the process, you can always deal with it later 🙏

@Fullhealing Thank you, I will try to reduce by half a tablet for now and see his it goes. What I have noticed is if I cheat and eat the slightest bit of caffeine like a chocolate cereal bar, I feel wired after it. 🙂

5 hours ago, Sonia2 said:

@Fullhealing Thank you for responding. I was thinking of maybe trying to cut down by half a tablet for now to see how it goes. I know there are withdrawal symptoms from caffeine that's why I was doing it slowly but I didn't think it would have this much of an affect on me.

I think you are right to taper the caffeine down rather than just stop it. I’m not surprised you’ve noticed the reduction honestly. It might be worth holding the caffeine levels steady for a little and see if things settle down before continuing. Maybe reduce more gradually than you have been once you decide to.

11 minutes ago, Chippy said:

I think you are right to taper the caffeine down rather than just stop it. I’m not surprised you’ve noticed the reduction honestly. It might be worth holding the caffeine levels steady for a little and see if things settle down before continuing. Maybe reduce more gradually than you have been once you decide to.

@Chippy Thank you, I did try delaying it this morning but I felt so tired I took it later so that I could function. I think my cns must be too sensitive right now to mess around with it. Just like antidepressants, you go on these sites that tell you you can come off in so many weeks but in reality it doesn't always work like that. I've been reading posts on Reddit and many have taken months and even years to finally rid of caffeine withdrawal symptoms. I shouldn't expect it to be easy after all I'm changing a lifetime of usage. Much appreciated.🙂