What Are Some Tips For Quitting Caffeine
Cut down slowly on the amount of caffeine in your diet. Dont make the mistake of stopping totally. Youll likely experience withdrawal symptoms and go back to drinking coffee or soda or taking a headache medication with caffeine in it to make the symptoms disappear. This starts the dependency cycle all over again. Avoiding the withdrawal symptoms is one of the most common reasons why people continue their caffeine habit.
To successfully reduce your caffeine intake, gradually reduce the amount of coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks you have each day. Begin to substitute cold caffeinated beverages with water. Water is a healthy choice and satisfies the need for drinking a liquid. Water also naturally flushes caffeine from your body and keeps you hydrated.
If you are a coffee drinker, gradually switch from regular coffee to decaf. First alternate between decaf and regular, then slowly change to more decaf and taper off regular coffee. Gradually reducing your caffeine consumption over a period of two to three weeks will help you successfully change your habit without causing withdrawal symptoms.
Top 15 Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
Need help reducing caffeine ?
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How Exactly Does Caffeine Improve Headache Treatments
Blood vessels tend to dilate before a headache. Caffeine has vasoconstrictive properties, meaning it narrows blood vessels, restricting blood flow. Since caffeine prevents the dilation of blood vessels, it tends to prevent headaches. There are likely many more ways that caffeine works to reduce headache pain that arent fully understood.
Many OTC headache treatments, such as Excedrin, and some prescription headache medications actually contain caffeine, according to Cleveland Clinic. Because of this, some people might find that a simple cup of coffee relieves their headaches. If youre not a fan of coffee but you want to use caffeine to soothe your headache, consider trying green or black tea both contain caffeine.
However, you should be careful when treating a headache with caffeine, as you can overdose and there are some potential side effects.
On the other hand, caffeine can cause headaches.
Caffeine can make you urinate more, potentially dehydrating you. In turn, dehydration can cause headaches.
Headaches can also be caused by a caffeine overdose. According to Mayo Clinic, overdosing on caffeine can cause headaches as well as a range of other side effects. Daily maximum should be 400 milligrams of caffeine, although some people might only be able to tolerate less. This is the equivalent of about four cups of brewed coffee a day. This can vary depending on the strength of the coffee.
- chocolate
- energy drinks
- some soft drinks
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Why Coffee Gives You A Headache
Blame it on the caffeine
Theres nothing like a fresh cup of coffee to start the day on a high note. However, as shown in a 2009 study at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, its possible to experience headaches from drinking coffee, leading you to wonder why does coffee give you a headache, and does caffeine cause headaches? The study noted that some people who consume even low doses of caffeine can encounter chronic headaches, and headaches and other consequences can mess with productivity and energy levels. Between the rich, empowering aromas and the much needed caffeine boost, coffee has truly become breakfasts trusty sidekick for many Americans today yet, if you notice that your body responds to the jolt in compromising ways, such as headaches, impaired mental awareness, and jitteriness, it might be worth switching to decaf, tea, or plain waterbeverages other than coffee. Feel free to experiment with different drinks to see what works for you!
Having too heavy of a pour can lead to caffeine overdose or intoxication, and signs and symptoms of caffeine intoxication include restlessness, increased diuresis, and muscle twitching, Galanis and Dorfman reveal.
The best advice is to drink coffee in moderate dosages, as there are many benefits to drinking coffee, and be especially cautious if you suffer from headachesyou are your greatest expert with regards to your bodys response.
Caffeine: What You Need To Know
Robert E. Shapiro, MD, PhDProfessor of NeurologyUniversity of Vermont College of MedicineBurlington, VT
Keeler Center for the Study of HeadachesOjai, CA
Migraine patients often report that some attacks can be halted by a strong cup of coffee. This is not surprising to hear. Caffeine is a key active ingredient in many headache medications including ExcedrinTM, AnacinTM, MidolTM, Darvon CompoundTM, FioricetTM, and MigranalTM. Caffeine may aid in the absorption of these medicines, but can caffeine itself relieve headaches? Few research studies have examined this question, but the answer appears to be yes caffeine can provide some headache relief. For example, one small controlled study found that caffeine was more effective than placebo, and as effective as acetaminophen, in relieving tension-type headaches.
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Where Is A Caffeine Withdrawal Headache Located
A caffeine withdrawal headache can present as a feeling of pain and pressure that pushes outwards from the brain. Starting behind the eyes, it can move up to the front of the head. Caffeine withdrawal headaches can also present with migraine-like symptoms and as a widespread feeling of throbbing pain.
Key Points About Caffeine And Migraines
- Caffeine affects pain.
- Acute treatment of headaches with caffeine is sometimes effective but should be limited to not more than two days per week.
- For people who experience migraine, caffeine taken three or more days per week, for whatever reason, may lead to dependency and increased migraine frequency.
- For those who have frequent headaches, avoidance of all caffeine is ideal, and at least until improvement in headache frequency is seen.
Migraine patients often report that a strong cup of coffee can stop some attacks. This is not surprising to hear. Caffeine is a key active ingredient in many headache medications including ExcedrinTM, AnacinTM, MidolTM, Darvon CompoundTM, FioricetTM, and MigranalTM. Caffeine may aid in the bodys absorption of these medicines, but can caffeine itself relieve headaches? Few research studies have examined this question, but the answer appears to be yes. Caffeine can provide some headache relief. For example, one small controlled study found that caffeine was better than placebo, and as good as acetaminophen, in relieving tension-type headaches.
We dont fully understand the mechanisms underlying the different effects of caffeine on the brain. However, the specific targets of action of caffeine in the brain and nerves outside the brain are known.
Robert E. Shapiro, MD, Ph.D., Professor of Neurology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT.
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How To Minimize Caffeine Withdrawal Headaches
If youre trying to reduce your caffeine dependency by dialing back on your intake, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can put a damper on your efforts. Minimize caffeine withdrawal headaches using the following techniques:
- Wean off your caffeine intake gradually by reducing your intake by 25% each week. You can also try swapping out some of your regular coffee with decaf if you crave the taste of a steaming cup of coffee.
- Read food labels to ensure that youre not consuming extra caffeine you arent aware of.
- Use peppermint oil topically to help relieve inflammation and tighten muscles associated with headaches.
- Drink plenty of water since dehydration can cause the brain to shrink in volume and cause a headache.
- Apply an ice pack to your head to alter the blood flow or numb the area.
- Stimulate pressure points to relieve muscle tension, which can cause headaches.
- Get enough rest by taking naps or going to bed earlier than usual.
Caffeine headaches can be caused by a variety of triggers and withdrawal is one of the most common reasons. You can track your caffeine intake and notice how your body reacts so you can adjust your consumption and find the best way to wean your body from caffeine dependency while minimizing the withdrawal symptoms.
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How To Reduce Caffeine Dependence
The best way to reduce caffeine dependency is gradually, ideally, by cutting down on caffeine intake by around 25% each week.
Coffee, tea, or soda drinkers may find it easier to transition to decaffeinated versions of their favorite beverages. People could also try mixing decaf with caffeinated drinks and gradually increasing the proportion of decaf to caffeinated.
Several other tricks and lifestyle habits can also help people reduce their caffeine dependence, such as:
- replacing caffeinated foods and drinks with caffeine free alternatives
- staying hydrated
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How Caffeine Helps Headaches
According to the National Headache Foundation, caffeine can make headache pain relievers like aspirin and acetaminophen up to 40 percent more effective. In fact, caffeine is an ingredient in Goodys® Extra Strength Headache Powder and Goodys® Headache Relief Shot® liquid pain reliever. With many headaches or migraines, the blood vessels in the brain expand and increase blood flow, which can cause throbbing pain. The reason caffeine helps is that it reduces inflammation by narrowing the blood vessels surrounding your brain, and it helps the body absorb aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen more quickly.
Caffeine is often recommended to relieve post-lumbar puncture headaches and is especially effective to relieve or prevent hypnic headaches. Hypnic headaches are rare but occur mostly in elderly adults and come on usually right after they fall asleep. Doctors recommend that people who experience hypnic headaches drink a small serving of coffee before they go to sleep.
Does Putting A Glass Of Water On Your Head Help Headaches
Hydration. Dehydration can contribute to a headache, but it can be easily avoided. Grabbing a good old-fashioned glass of water can help as much as an electrolyte-containing beverage such as Pedialyte, Gatorade, or Powerade. But just as there are drinks that can reduce headaches, there are those that can trigger them.
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Caffeine Withdrawal Headaches Are Most Likely Your Issue Here
These can happen when your brain becomes used to that regular hit of caffeine over time. But lets back up a bit so you know exactly which processes to blame for your head pain.
Caffeine peps you up by affecting a chemical in your brain called adenosine. Adenosine typically accumulates in your brain over the course of the day, making you sleepy, Lauren Green, D.O., R.D., a board-certified neurologist at the USC Headache and Neuralgia Center and assistant clinical professor of neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, tells SELF. As an adenosine antagonist, caffeine is an opposing force that helps wake you up by binding to your adenosine receptors. This blocks your brains absorption of adenosine, preventing the level of drowsiness you would otherwise experience, Dr. Green explains.
All of this can happen with even one cup of coffee. But when you regularly consume significant amounts of caffeine, you can develop additional adenosine receptors, Dr. Green explains. And, in general, your adenosine receptors will become less sensitive to the effects of any caffeine you do consume. This means that over time you need to ingest more caffeine in order to block adenosines fatigue-inducing effects, so you form a dependence of sorts.
Can Drinking Caffeine Give You A Headache
Caffeine can trigger a headache. And because caffeine narrows the blood vessels that surround the brain, when consumption is stopped, the blood vessels enlarge. This causes an increase in blood flow around the brain and pressures surrounding nerves. This can then trigger what is known as a caffeine withdrawal headache.
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Bad News For Coffee Drinkers Who Get Headaches
- Date:
- The Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Summary:
- People who consume high amounts of caffeine each day are more likely to suffer occasional headaches than those with low caffeine consumption, researchers in Norway have found. But, oddly enough, low caffeine consumption was associated with a greater likelihood of chronic headaches.
People who consume high amounts of caffeine each day are more likely to suffer occasional headaches than those with low caffeine consumption, a team of researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology reports in a study recently published in the Journal of Headache Pain.
But in findings that had no obvious reason, the researchers, led by Knut Hagen from NTNUs Faculty of Medicine, also reported that low caffeine consumption was associated with a greater likelihood of chronic headaches, defined as headaches for 14 or more days each month.
The results are drawn from a large cross-sectional study of 50,483 people who answered a questionnaire about caffeine consumption and headache prevalence as a part of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey , a county-wide health survey conducted in 1995-1997 on a wide range of health topics.
To drink or not to drink
Caffeine is the worlds most commonly consumed stimulant, and has long been known to have both positive and negative effects on headaches. For example, caffeine is a common ingredient in headache analgesics because it can help relieve headaches.
Cutting back may help
Caffeine Withdrawal May Cause Headache Nausea Depression
Medical practitioners are advised to question patients presenting with possible symptoms of caffeine overdose about their ingestion of caffeine from the less obvious sources such as guarana preparations, dietary supplements used for fitness and energy drinks, as well as from coffee, tea and chocolate.
An individual withdrawing from caffeine because of a chronic toxic overdose may experience symptoms of withdrawal including headache, nausea, nervousness, reduced alertness and depressed mood. These symptoms are most acute during the first 20-48 hours, but they may persist for as long as 7 days2. Discontinuation of caffeine at even a moderate intake can lead to these symptoms. There is also a danger of developing dependence by having that cup of coffee for the headache caused by caffeine withdrawal.
References
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How To Reduce Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal should only last between two and nine days, with peak intensity of symptoms occurring 2451 hours after caffeine is cut out (
While these symptoms are usually short-lived, they can be uncomfortable and make life difficult.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the chances of experiencing these unpleasant side effects.
Try the following tips to reduce or completely avoid symptoms of caffeine withdrawal.
- Cut back slowly: Quitting cold turkey can shock the body and make withdrawal symptoms worse. Gradually weaning off caffeine can reduce the chances of experiencing unpleasant side effects.
- Reduce caffeinated beverages: If youre used to drinking full-strength coffee, start drinking half-decaf, half-regular coffee to slowly reduce your dependence. Even better, swap one of your coffees for a decaf herbal tea. Shop for herbal tea online.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water is crucial when cutting out caffeine. Dehydration can worsen symptoms of withdrawal, such as headache and fatigue (
- 21 ).
- Boost energy naturally: If your energy levels have taken a hit after giving up caffeine, try incorporating natural sources of energy like exercise, nutrient-dense foods and stress reduction techniques into your routine.
Summary Slowly cutting back on caffeine, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep and finding alternative sources of energy are ways to decrease caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
Take A Magnesium Supplement
One of the main reasons that people experience significant caffeine withdrawals is because they have several deficiencies caused by their extended caffeine use.
One of the main areas where caffeine-lovers fall short is in their magnesium absorption. In fact, the majority of people who have been using caffeine long-term have a magnesium deficiency which can be a significant source of headaches.
Luckily, the solution is quite simple. Just take some magnesium. Once youve stopped using caffeine your body can absorb all the caffeine you need so nearly any supplement with highly bioavailable magnesium will do the trick.
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What To Do After Relating Coffee As The Origin Of My Headaches
After you have established the headache-coffee consumption relationship, do not consume coffee: we know that this headache has a variable duration, from a few hours to several days, but the result is worth it.
Continue the non-consumption of coffee, and you will realize that the headaches will be less and less until they disappear after this process.
You will even be able to increase the levels of tolerance and the ability to withstand the stress of your daily life.
Paradoxically, you will notice in a few days that you have higher energy levels and that you no longer need to drink coffee to stay awake.
You will be full of vitality .