I hadn't thought of it as medicating either, but I know it's very difficult for me to wake up without coffee (or sleeping in!). I do drink a LOT of coffee at times, and I know that's not good either. As with all things, moderation would be the best path I know... My wife is on a support list for spouses of BP, a few months back they had a big thing on there about BP and caffeine and how it messes up your sleep cycle and causes problems, well you don't have to be BP to have problems from lack of sleep, and my reply was don't drink any caffeine after noon, which I usually do. Anyway, she up and switched me out to decaf without me knowing it. I asked about the funny taste and commented it almost seemed like decaf, she admitted to it, and has left my coffee alone since. I am not making any at home though, I am in a club at work and only have to pay 5 bucks a month for all I can drink... I am still trying to shy off cigarettes, I do good until I am around someone smoking...

That's like my sister with the smoking thing. She's trying to quit and she does well, until she's around someone else that smokes. That must be the hardest thing to quit. I really sympathize with anyone who is trying to quit smoking.

I tried to get off caffeine at my pdoc's request and found that even after the withdrawals were over, I COULD NOT FUNCTION. Probably because of meds. That lasted about 2 weeks before I said f*** it. Even though I was(/am) pregnant, I started making a weaker brew and only have about 2 cups in the morning. Of course, I have to reload with a soda in the afternoon, but that's still not an excessive daily intake.

As for cigarettes, I got addicted at age 16 (thanks to my dear older sister!), and have been unable to quit completely for any of my 3 pregnancies. Honestly, it's one of those things that an OB will say "don't quit if you can't -- the stress will be too hard on the fetus. Just try to cut down". So I took that advice and ran with it. I am very ashamed to be a pregnant smoker, and I do NOT smoke in public. I am only admitting it here because I figure fellow BPers would be the most likely to understand this decision. And, truth be told, it's one of the LEAST harmful things I COULD be doing while pregnant. I'm not even taking any meds except Zoloft. I want to quit smoking for all the right reasons, but the thought of it terrifies me... nicotine helps keep me stable.

Anyone else smoke while pregnant? Now that I've confessed, I'm feeling a bit vulnerable about it. :(

I love coffee... I love the taste of it, the break it gives me during the day,with a smoke of course, and yes, the little pick-me-up feeling the caffeine gives me!

Does diet dew have caffeine?

my dr. told me that caffeine has negative side effects for ppl w/ bp, so i never drank it. recently however i have had a "starbucks addiction" (like the taste). i slowly stopped getting deaf. now i drink coffee every morning and it helps me wake up / concentrate a little bit. so i drink 2 - 3 LARGE cups of coffee a day. i can still sleep a full night, am not anxious, etc. so i only see positive side effects, but continue to hear that caffeine is bad for ppl with bp. any thoughts?

deaf** meant decaf.

i can hear just fine..

I could not drink coffee when I drank alcohol, I would get a panick attack immediately. Then drink to get rid of it. Now not drinking I can enjoy some coffee and know when to stop. I believe the alcohol must have destroyed my nervous system. Oh well it also helped the head racing. Oh what a tangled web we weave:)

When I was on seroquel at night 100 mg i would have an expresso at 6AM on my way to work, and then another expresso over the bridge and then a big cup of coffee at work and fnally wake up about 10.

Caffiene definately adds to the up feeling I get from Lamictal. I have read that should not go cold-turkey from caffiene as can do more harm than good with psych meds and as with any other "drug" it needs to be tapered down. I love the taste too much and hate the withdrawal.

Let's see, I drink probably a pot of coffee in the morning. Doc told me that is contributing to the butterflies from hell anxiety I feel on a daily basis and sometimes when I'm lying in bed. Smoke too. On my way to first AA meeting. Guess I have what they call a dual disorder. Working on that. Feeling better staying off the stuff but still need support. Don't get alot of that at home.

I try to stay away from both, I drink decaf tea, coffee, and coke products when I can.

I smoke a lot when I get up. and I have coffee.

Well me in caffeine don't mix it will make me manic in seconds.

Darkest dark roast coffee I can find, and several camels is how I usually start my day.