Quitting / drastically reducing caffeine while on sedating meds.

[Steel Maiden]

Does anyone have any experience with not relying on caffeine while on multiple sedating medications?

Caffeine gives me increased anxiety, severe restlessness and racing thoughts.

I would do better without it mentally, but I am concerned that I won't be able to stay awake.

How do I wean myself off caffeine? I'm studying for exams so I don't want extreme tiredness, but at the same time I can't study when my brain is going at 100 miles per hour.

[not_so_insig]

I would start gradually. If for example you drink 10 cups of coffee (or tea, as that contains caffeine too), then I would aim to drink no more than 9 one day, then 8 the next day (or two days later), until you are drinking zero cups of coffee a day.

If you like the taste of coffee/tea but you want to withdraw from caffeine altogether, then there are caffeine free alternatives available in the supermarkets. I would also swap to them.

Don't forget as well as tea and coffee many soft drinks contain caffeine. Some soft drink's companies (such as coca cola) do caffeine free versions or alternatively switching brands/drinks will also help. Again, aiming to drink less gradually of the soft drinks applies if your intake comes from there rather than coffee/tea.

[Steel Maiden]

Thanks that is helpful. I'll do that.