Coffee Antidote For Falling Asleep?

May 14, 2008 2:14 AM

I drank some coffee at 9 pm, and at 2 am, I am still wide awake. Anyone have tips for neutralizing caffeine or speeding it out of my system? Or for falling asleep while I'm still wired?

In retrospect, this was a totally dumb thing to do. A couple weeks ago, though, I was almost completely immune. I could fall asleep right after having a cup.

But I've been trying to cut back, which (on the bright side) does seem to have reduced my tolerance.

Even if you read this question tomorrow, advice for others who make the same mistake might be worth posting. My google searches haven't turned up much.

posted by salvia to health & fitness (15 comments total)

By the way, I've been reading all the "how to fall asleep threads," so no need to repeat all the general advice. Though, feel free.
posted by salvia at 2:20 AM on May 14, 2008

If it were me I would go for a late night jog... Run hard enough to be really tired... The running will wake you up more but when you are done you seem to crash harder and quicker which is the goal.
posted by magikker at 2:34 AM on May 14, 2008

A tall, warm glass of milk, with honey for the added sugar crash effect, might help you to sleep.
posted by zippy at 2:35 AM on May 14, 2008

Your name suggests that you may be into this type of thing (or you're just a gardener), so if you meditate, that would be the most obvious way to get more relaxed (which is only part of getting tired, but still).
posted by abcde at 3:11 AM on May 14, 2008

Orgasm. Alone or with friends....
posted by taff at 3:35 AM on May 14, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

i find that for me it's more about my state of mind than my caffine intake.

if my mind is relaxed, i can drink two cups right before bed and still get to sleep. If I'm anxious simply smelling decaf brewing makes me feel like Red Bull has been injected into my veins

when i can't sleep, i find playing a game like solitare for a while gets me to focus on something else and helps clear my mind of whatever it is that's keeping me awake
posted by Mr_Chips at 3:54 AM on May 14, 2008

I can usually counteract a coffee high by taking a Benadryl (diphenhydramine).
posted by amyms at 4:42 AM on May 14, 2008

A shower helps me a lot, but I am also one of those people who uses showers to treat everything. It's a low stimulation, warm enviroment. Just go in, close your eyes, and count backwards from 100.
posted by sweetkid at 5:32 AM on May 14, 2008

Smoking a cigarette cuts caffeine's du7ration of effect by anywhere from 25% to 50% depending on a host of other factors.

The hard jog is a much more healthy/helpful suggestion, though. Get you blood flowing and process those toxins in your blood stream.
posted by wmeredith at 5:35 AM on May 14, 2008

Tylenol PM, recommended dosage.
Followed by several pages of Pynchon's V.
YMMV, but this...cocktail, if you will...works for me.

It may even take the edge of a too long line of speed inhaled at the end of an evening.
posted by squasha at 7:07 AM on May 14, 2008

I've found that even if I can fall asleep on caffeine, I don't stay asleep for very long. On the other hand, the 15 minutes I do sleep is very invigorating. I've heard it referred to as a caffeine nap and that truckers sometimes do it on purpose.
posted by ErWenn at 8:08 AM on May 14, 2008

The benadryl / Tylenol advice is ok if you have the ability to sleep for 6-8 hours after taking it. If not, it may impair your ability to get up at the right time. You might just have to tough it out and plan for an early bedtime the next day.

As an aside- who knew Diet Sunkist had caffeine in it??
posted by gjc at 9:23 AM on May 14, 2008

Sometimes taking just a couple of regular old extra strength Tylenol will do it. Not the PM, just regular Tylenol. I learned this from my mom and now my husband has learned it from me.
posted by HotToddy at 11:05 AM on May 14, 2008

Thanks all! In the end, I fell asleep somewhere around, oh, 3:15, 3:30, by reading advice on how to fall asleep (those other threads got kinda repetitive... repetitive... repetitive....) I'd also had some Tension Tamer and some chamomile tea, and that seemed to help. I'll try some of these suggestions next time. Thanks!
posted by salvia at 6:37 PM on May 14, 2008

I'm surprised no one's mentioned melatonin pills. They're cheap, safe, and work great for me.
posted by wastelands at 1:40 AM on July 17, 2008