Over the decades, I keep switching between caffeine times and caffeine-free times.
It’s like this:
- need an extra boost for morning or afternoon, and it is really important
- it becomes a regular thing again, at least 1xmorning, 1xafternoon
- ups and downs are too strong, switching to guarana
- it works, even boost now
- It turns into madness, e. g. not enough sleep, and it prevents me from napping, or even night sleep is not good anymore. Also, completely dysfunctional in the morning.
- optionally increase up to double dose
- unpleasant withdrawal
- back to start after a month, year or two years
Right now, I’m on day 3 or 4 of a very unpleasant withdrawal again. Headaches, poor sleep quality, muscle and joint pain. Also, the Elvanse boost is really diminished, a lot. Tragically, in terms of productivity and mood, it worked really well with caffeine, just too much madness.
Do you think just staying off for good is the way to go?
It works better, as it is more evenly distributed. But eventually the same problem, and guarana does the same job better.
I personally feel like tea the way I make it (not too dark, no sugar but some stevia) is too much liquid to drink too much of, and it keeps me hydrated (if the pee ain’t clear, death is near!)
I’ve never heard of guarana before, sounds cool, I wonder how it tastes and whether it’s available near the price of the cheap store tea bags I’m using now.
Taste is horrible, better take the powder in a capsule, or mix it with a protein shake. But the effect is very even over several hours.