Do you think it impacts our brains in such a way that it will change how our meds work? Are there any studies on that? I drink a lot of coffee, was just curious if it’s a bad thing since I take meds.
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I drink quite a bit of coffee - I do want to know how caffeine is impacting the effectiveness of my medications - I did not get a chance to research it yet
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Caffeine is a stimulant, so, since most of us have problems with overstimulation, I would think it would be better to avoid it. I’ll tell you that I will not be giving it up.
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I’m not giving up my coffee either, without the added caffeine I would be a zombie
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I wouldn’t be a zombie, I would be mean! I get very irritable without it. My 4 year old says “Mama relax, want some coffee.” Because my husband says it.
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lol yeah Im a grouch without my much needed cup of joe
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I thought I would have to give up coffee with the diet I’m on now. I’m only supposed to have a tablespoon of fat free creamer, and I like a little more than that in my coffee. For the first week I didn’t drink it, and I felt so drained, and zombie-like, like you said @Wave. So I just caved and I cheat on my diet with the creamer in my coffee, but it’s not a big deal so far, I’ve still been losing weight. I don’t think an extra tablespoon of fat free creamer will hurt my weight loss.
I found this article: http://www.livestrong.com/article/460309-schizophrenia-caffeine/
It says that caffeine might agitate us, or worsen some symptoms. I wonder if that’s in any way related to why some of my meds work sometimes, and not other times. If it’s dependent on when I drink coffee/how much coffee I drink.
Wow, that was a pretty interesting read. When I asked my pdoc about coffee he said go for it as my meds were causing excessive sleepiness.
Caffeine helps me get through my days. I would never give it up. I don’t think it plays any direct role in the hallucinations.
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I was finally able to give up diet soda, but I don’t think I will ever be able to stop caffeine completely. I find it very soothing. I do however tend to dink it until I am overstimulated.
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I’ve drank ten cups of coffee a day for forty years. Finally, I decided it would be easier and cheaper to take caffeine pills. I take two 200 mg pills a day. Health professionals say that 400 mg a day is about the maximum amount of caffeine you can safely consume.
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When I was going to partial hospitalization day programs they served coffee. It helped keep people awake. It was lite because some would drink cup after cup all day long.
When I was inpatient at the LTSR, we had regular coffee before noon and decaf afterwards.
I see nothing wrong with caffeine in moderation.
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That reminds me, in the hospitals I was in they only served decaf. Except for my first hospitalization, they would allow us one cup of regular coffee with breakfast, and strictly no caffeine after noon.
My pdocs have never really asked me about coffee. Even when I was asking for sleeping medication, they never asked if I had caffeine before I went to bed (not that I do). That’s something they should be more considerate about.
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I cannot drink coffee. I am sensitive, as well as it messes with meds.
I have been trying to do this too lately, but it doesn’t seem to make me feel as good as coffee.
I like the taste of coffee, so I don’t think I’d opt for caffeine pills. I wonder how much caffeine is in one regular cup of coffee…I should look that up.
I can drink coffee only if I eat consistently. I drink 2-3 cups a day. I need the mental push, but at the same time I HAVE to eat or it goes in total reverse
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I drink one cup of coffee in the morning, and maybe some unsweetened tea if I go out to eat, but overall I don’t get TOO much caffeine in my system. I used to, though, staying up until the sun came up drinking coffee after coffee at the local diner. I’m glad I don’t do that any more, it wasn’t very healthy.
i drink a lot of tea. when i’ve been in the hospital the tea is always herbal or decaf and i think it makes me feel better to drink caffeinated. it’s possible that the reason it’s decaf/herbal inpatient is that it’s easier to have no caffeine than to dictate which patients get to have it and which don’t, but then they don’t give us all the same meds… but having access is different, i think.
i haven’t read any studies that say one way or the other, but i haven’t noticed medication being less effective from drinking it. if anything it might help me sort my head better and places where they serve caffeinated beverages are easier minor socialisation than other options, so that’s positive.
http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=1864616
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See first page preview. Personally I’ve not noticed any difference since going off decaf coffee. However it’s been a while.