[bheadmaster]

I've used 200mg caffeine pills back in college, exactly for the purpose of waking up in the morning.

For me, the tolerance made the effect go away after a month or two. I could take a caffeine pill, and go back to sleep. I had to start taking two, then three, until one morning I took so many I was basically shaking from caffeine, yet I was still sleepy.

Maybe it was just me, though. Everyone's metabolism is different.

[markmark]

As I understand it the body pretty quickly gets used to caffeine use, then taking your typical amount just gets you to the same level you'd always be if you never had caffeine. I still drink coffee though.

[vidarh]

I tend to see caffeine as in the long run mostly be useful to let you choose when you're alert rather than increasing total amount of time I'm alert. That can be useful if you get into a good groove of taking caffeine at the right time relative to when you need/want to be alert, but only if you're also disciplined about not taking it all the time.

[lokedhs]

I did something similar when I started working at my first job. I came into the office and had two of those pills out of habit. Then kept the jar sitting at my desk.

Just like you, I realised that perhaps it wasn't the best idea since I was just taking them out of habit, and I stopped. It took me a few weeks to return to normal, during which I had the weirdest sleep and eating patterns.

[jtwaleson]

That sounds very unhealthy :) I try to remind myself that these are slightly dangerous things and I should stick to one per day.