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How can I Deal with Caffeine Withdrawal Headaches?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Withdrawal symptoms can make it hard to wean yourself off caffeine or even just get through a single day without coffee or other caffeinated beverages. Fortunately, there are things you can do to handle caffeine withdrawal headaches. Among them are drinking peppermint tea, which serves as a natural headache reliever, or taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Some people also find that taking a nap helps them to get through the worst of caffeine withdrawal headaches, and drinking water may prove helpful for treating a headache or preventing it from getting worse. Additionally, treatments that aid relaxation, such as massage and acupuncture, may help as well.

When you’re trying to deal with caffeine withdrawal headaches, you may not always want to turn to traditional medicines. Fortunately, some people have success with natural remedies, such as peppermint. If you drink a cup or two of peppermint tea, you may experience relief from your caffeine headache. At the very least, your symptoms may become more bearable.

Drinking water might help deal with caffeine withdrawal headaches.
Drinking water might help deal with caffeine withdrawal headaches.

If you don’t mind taking medication, you may also find OTC pain relievers helpful for dealing with caffeine withdrawal headaches. For example, ibuprofen and acetaminophen may work for beating a caffeine headache. Additionally, you may find medications that have a small amount of caffeine in them helpful for relieving a caffeine headache. Often, the amount of caffeine included is low enough that it won’t interfere with efforts to wean yourself off caffeine.

Drinking too much of a beverage with caffeine, like sweet tea, can cause withdrawal headaches.
Drinking too much of a beverage with caffeine, like sweet tea, can cause withdrawal headaches.

Sometimes something as simple as a nap can help when you are trying to deal with a caffeine headache. You may be able to sleep through the worst of the pain in some cases. Often, people find this remedy particularly helpful when combined with natural or OTC pain relievers.

Water may also prove helpful for relieving a caffeine headache. Often, a caffeine withdrawal headache is worsened by slight levels of dehydration. Staying hydrated may help to relieve your headache and protect your overall health.

Taking a nap can sometimes help a person who is dealing with a caffeine headache.
Taking a nap can sometimes help a person who is dealing with a caffeine headache.

When home remedies fail to help you deal with a caffeine headache, you may consider seeking alternative methods for pain relief. For example, some people find massages helpful for relaxing and relieving headache pain. You may also find acupuncture helpful for this purpose.

If you are having great difficulty giving up caffeine, you may also consider cutting back on your caffeine intake rather than giving it up altogether. For example, you may add half a cup of caffeinated coffee to your cup and make the rest decaffeinated coffee. In time, you may be able to reduce the amount of caffeinated coffee in your cup by more and more.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

discographer

@ZipLine-- Headaches are the worst of coffee withdrawal symptoms. Try putting hot or cold compresses on your forehead to relieve headaches. This always works for me.

ysmina

@ZipLine-- Actually chamomile will help because it's relaxing. You can also try lemon balm tea which has a sedative effect and relieves tension headaches.

When I was going through caffeine withdrawal, I had headaches everyday for about a week. I drank a lot of caffeine-free teas and beverages. I also took a walk everyday. Taking a walk in fresh air is great for withdrawal headaches. Taking a shower or a bath is also a good idea. Sometimes staying occupied with something and trying not to think about withdrawal can help. I usually watch a movie and take a nap when I have a headache.

If the headache is very bad, you could also take a pain-reliever if your stomach is well.

ZipLine

I drink three cups of coffee a day and I have to reduce it to one cup a day or less. I have a heart condition and my doctor doesn't want my caffeine intake to make it worse.

I had only one cup of coffee today and have started experiencing symptoms of caffeine withdrawal already. I have a terrible, pulsating headache. I think tomorrow is going to be even more difficult.

Has anyone here been through this before? What did you do to get through caffeine withdrawal?

I'm trying to drink chamomile tea right now but I don't think it's helping.

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    • Drinking water might help deal with caffeine withdrawal headaches.
      By: Andrey Kuzmin
      Drinking water might help deal with caffeine withdrawal headaches.
    • Drinking too much of a beverage with caffeine, like sweet tea, can cause withdrawal headaches.
      By: karandaev
      Drinking too much of a beverage with caffeine, like sweet tea, can cause withdrawal headaches.
    • Taking a nap can sometimes help a person who is dealing with a caffeine headache.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Taking a nap can sometimes help a person who is dealing with a caffeine headache.
    • Caffeine withdrawal can occur while trying to cut back on energy drinks.
      By: Oleksiy Mark
      Caffeine withdrawal can occur while trying to cut back on energy drinks.
    • People who are addicted to caffeine should try to gradually cut back to avoid withdrawals.
      By: armina
      People who are addicted to caffeine should try to gradually cut back to avoid withdrawals.
    • A caffeine withdrawal headache can be be curbed by ingesting some caffeine.
      By: tiverylucky
      A caffeine withdrawal headache can be be curbed by ingesting some caffeine.
    • Some people choose acupuncture to provide relief from the headaches that accompany caffeine withdrawal.
      By: Yanik Chauvin
      Some people choose acupuncture to provide relief from the headaches that accompany caffeine withdrawal.
    • Bed rest can help a person deal with withdrawal headaches.
      By: Innovated Captures
      Bed rest can help a person deal with withdrawal headaches.