Kicking a redbull addiction

skintandscared_2

Morning everyone.

Does anyone have any tips/experience of kicking an addiction to redbull? I know it sounds strange, but I am seriously struggling now to get through a day without at least 4 cans of the stuff, and it's time to stop! I presumed it would actually be quite easy, until I tried.... I seriously crave the stuff, and the headaches when I just stop drinking it completely are almost migraine intensity. Does cutting down work? Should I just try cold turkey and take painkillers until the headaches subside? How long does that take?! If anyone has any advice it would be gratefully received!!

Thanks

daveyjp

You need advice on caffeine addiction, as this is what causes the symptons you are experiencing when you stop drinking Red Bull.

onlyroz

I'd suggest gradually cutting down. Try a few days at 3 cans, then a few days at two, then a few days at one.

anniemf2508

Don't go cold turkey as you are more likely to give up on it. Try cutting down to 3 cans a day for a few days, then 2, then 1 and then hopefully the side effects shouldn't be as extreme.

mountainofdebt

Have you tried diuting a can with lemonade?

Also (in MSE mode) why not put the money you would have spent on the cans into a jar so that you can visiblably see how much you spent (though that might may the headaches worse!)

skintandscared_2

Yes, the cutting-down approach seems less scary. I'm back to work on Thursday 3 Jan so I think I will take that as Day 1 in the cut-down challenge. It will save me a fortune if I can quit it. I do buy the own-brand versions of the stuff at 35p a can rather than the proper redbull at £1.50-ish a can, but even so it's still over £1 a day :eek:

ktb

If you do resort to taking painkillers, make sure they don't have caffeine in them! Will only make things harder...

Do you drink any tea, coffee, coke or eat much chocolate?

kittiej

The headaches you're getting are due to your brain being used to having these chemicals fed to it - it's a bit like having a mortice lock in your brain and the caffeine is the key, your brain wants you to keep putting the key in because it fits nicely and makes the brain comfy iyswim.

I agree don't go cold turkey, I wouldn't drop down to 3 either just yet. What about each time you have a can you don't quite drink the whole amount/ pour some out? That way you still have the 4 occurrences but start fooling the brain into believing it's had a full can until you are down to 3 cans and then drop one?

This is what I'd do but I'm not you so do whatever suits you best?

Best of luck with this.

skintandscared_2

ktb wrote: »

If you do resort to taking painkillers, make sure they don't have caffeine in them! Will only make things harder...

Do you drink any tea, coffee, coke or eat much chocolate?

I hadn't even thought of that! The "extra" painkillers often have caffeine in don't they. I will check that. I don't drink tea or coffee but have always drunk diet coke at work too. I need to cut that out as well. It really is worrying me how much caffeine and chemicals I'm living on!

kittiej thanks for the suggestion about tipping some out but still feeling like I have the same amount for a while.

I really shouldn't have just worked out how much money I'm wasting on redbull and diet coke. Together, it's £2.50 per day (more at weekends). That's £1k a year!!

leandygandy

Why not try and extend the period of time between cans? i.e. if you usually have one within an hour of finishing the first, try and wait an hour and a half to the next, and so on. Over time then you'll be going longer between cans and you'll then naturally drop a can as you get better at going long periods without them?

OrkneyStar

I used to drink too much of it, fake or real stuff. A dodgy tooth (that has to come out once I get appt with sedation dentist) has stopped me drinking it completely (was one can every day or every other day), and the main side effect- my tummy is less bloated .
Good luck, baby steps, gradually decreasing and as some others said, save the money for another treat .