I had similar effects from adderall, which is similar to coffee for me (jitters, feeling wired, sweating / clammy). I drink decaf a lot more to avoid that, and switching from Adderall to concerta (now I'm on 36mg concerta) which also helped eliminate jittery side effects. If it's not caffeine withdrawal, maybe trying a different add medication is a good path. I would ask your doctor about adjusting dosage or trying a different option, since everyone's a little different and what works for me seems to not be working for you ๐
this post was submitted on 05 May 2026
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I do have to ask, why do ppl drink decaf at all? Like i don't even like the taste of coffee.
I'm sure coffee enthusiasts would accuse me of not liking the taste of coffee either lmao, I drink my espresso in a ratio of ~30% espresso 70% half and half. I do like the taste of coffee but especially so in combination with lots of cream and sugar, or ice cream. I'm very sensitive to caffeine though and even with decaf I can feel the remaining few percent of caffeine which still ruins my sleep if I have it after noon and it still makes me a tad bit jittery. Nowhere near as bad as full caf though.
I like coffee. I also find it comforting. I drink tea for the same reason. It's a drink you can adjust to your tastes (which is much harder with juice).
I drink cuz of bored and cuz I get sick of tea. Juice isn't really a viable regular drink here.
If the simulants give you anxiety, consider something like Wellbutrin, or other non stimulant med. They're out there.
It takes a couple of days to get used to.
Stop drinking caffeine while taking the meds.
But I am worried about caffeine withdrawnls and if that miss with the medication. Maybe I should have sorted my addiction first before starting meds?
I was gonna wait regardless thought and haven't had coffee for 3 days now.
No need to worry. The meds will alleviate your need for caffeine.
It take a little time to figure out what works for you.
After two weeks things are starting to balance out.
Find some other warm tasty drink to replace your coffee.
Good luck.
That'll happen, push through it and you'll adjust. Make sure you speak to your doctor too though.
Ask your doctor to start you on a lower dose. Everyone I know started on 18mg and adjusted up until they got a good effect.
When I went up in dose and had some side effects, I mamaged it by going out for a run in anticipation of the meds kicking in. It's a lot easier to deal with sweating, heart pounding etc if you're exercising and I think it helped to have somewhere to put the extra energy boost.
It's also important to make sure to eat breakfast before or within 20 min of taking the meds, and to get sufficient meals, snacks and water during the day so you don't feel like shit when the meds wear off.
I now split my dose (not split the literal medicine, I don't think they're made to split) to take one part with breakfast and one part a few hours later with a snack or an early lunch. It staggers the onset and outset effects to not be as big.
There are also several other type of meds to try if stimulants aren't your thing.
I can confirm that concerta should not be split. Doing so would be the equivalent of taking the entire dose as an immediate release form.
Counter it with some magnesium citrate. It helps me smooth things out on a regular. Oh and never mix with caffeine. Also, when you feel the come down rolling in: green tea. I am taking ritalin IR for 10 years now as an adult and those two have made taking it much more bearable.