Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTreatmentLowering IntakeOther SymptomsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Treatment
Lowering Intake
Other Symptoms
Frequently Asked Questions
Acaffeine withdrawalheadache can happen if you miss your usual morning cup of coffee or mid-afternoon cup of tea. However, compared to othertypes of headaches, a caffeine headache can be easy to identify and treat.
This article covers six ways to get rid of a caffeine withdrawal headache. It also discusses the causes of caffeine withdrawal headaches, the other symptoms that can go along with them, and how you might be able to prevent them.
Guido Mieth / Getty Images
Does Caffeine Help Headaches or Make Them Worse?
What Causes Caffeine Withdrawal Headaches?
Caffeine is the most-used drug in the world. In the United States, approximately 90% of adults report drinking caffeinated beverages, likecoffee, tea, and soda, every day.
Although caffeine is considered a drug, experts do not agree on whether it qualifies as an addictive substance.
Research has demonstrated that regular use of caffeine can lead to:
However, caffeine does not fit the commonly accepted definition of an addictive substance. For example, a 2010 study showed that caffeine does not activate the dependence and reward system in the brain.
Does Coffee Lower Your Risk of a Stroke?
Research suggests that about half of people who consume more than 200 mg of caffeine a day will get a withdrawal headache if they abruptly stop.
It’s not clear why other people do not get symptoms when they reduce their caffeine intake, but it might have to do with individual caffeine sensitivity.
That could also explain why a person who is more sensitive to caffeine might get withdrawal symptoms even if they only regularly consume about 100 mg of caffeine a day.
Timing and other lifestyle factors can also influence caffeine withdrawal symptoms. For example, a person who only drinks coffee during the workweek may get caffeine headaches over the weekend when they have paused their intake.
If a person needs to stop eating before a medical test or procedure they might get afasting headache, which is sometimes attributed to caffeine withdrawal.
What Are the Signs of Caffeine Overdose?
Sources of Caffeine
While coffee is one of the most popular caffeine beverages, there are many other sources of caffeine that are natural and manufactured.
Common dietary and supplemental sources of caffeine include:
Why Quitting Caffeine Might Be the Best Decision for Your Health
Researchers also think that OTC and prescription drugs that have caffeine in them, such asExcedrinand the headache medicationsFioricet and Fiorinal, can lead to “rebound headaches” or “medication overuse headaches.”
While research has not concluded that caffeine is to blame, withdrawal might play a role in triggering a headache when someone who regularly takes these medications suddenly stops.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), taking larger doses of these medications might be a key factor, but headaches can also occur in people taking smaller doses every day.
The common ingredients in most OTC headache medications, such asaspirinand other painkillers, may also contribute to the “rebound effect.”
6 Treatment Options for Caffeine Withdrawal Headaches
There are a number of steps you can take to ease a caffeine withdrawal headache, from consuming a cup of coffee to taking medication.
21 Ways to Relieve a Headache Without Medication
Consume Caffeine
The fastest remedy for a caffeine withdrawal headache is to drink a caffeinated beverage. Most people will get relief from a caffeine withdrawal headache within an hour of consuming about 100 mg of caffeine.
In a 2017 study of people with migraines, adding a dose of acetaminophen to the caffeine provided even faster relief.
While the caffeine content ofcoffeevaries based on the blend and how it’sbrewed, an 8-ounce cup of regular brewed coffee typically has between 80m to 150 mg of caffeine, though some brews have closer to 250 mg.
As with coffee, the caffeine content of tea depends on the blend, the temperature of the water that it was brewed in, and how long it steeps.
According to survey data from the USDA, the average 8-ounce cup of hot, brewed, black-leafteahas about 50 mg of caffeine.
Take an OTC Pain Reliever
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen can help ease a headache and other symptoms of caffeine withdrawal.
However, this type of medication can also contribute to rebound headaches, especially if it’s used long-term.
Are Caffeine Naps Helpful?
Drink Water
Focusing on your non-caffeinated fluid intake will also help you adjust to not having coffee, tea, and soda as a regular part of your day. If plain water feels like a boring replacement, experiment with ways to make it more interesting like adding some sliced fruit.
Apply Peppermint Oil
Applying peppermint oil to your head and temples may help relieve pain. You can buy this product online or in drug stores.
While there haven’t been many robust studies on the connection between peppermint oil and headaches, one study found that applying menthol (the main ingredient in peppermint oil) to the head worked better to reduce pain in people with migraines than a placebo.
Perform Acupressure
It’s possible that applying pressure on certain areas of the body—called pressure points or acupoints—can help relieve head pain. The idea behind acupressure is that stimulating these points can relax muscles and improve blood flow.
Rest
It’s possible that resting can reduce your head pain. Resting in a dark room is a go-to treatment option for people with migraines.
However, if napping tends to make your headaches worse or cause a headache, this option may not be best for you.
Why Dehydration Triggers Headaches
How to Lower Your Caffeine Intake (Without Getting a Headache)
If your goal is to cut back or eliminate caffeine from your diet, there are steps you can take to do this while avoiding a caffeine withdrawal headache.
How to Get Through Caffeine Withdrawal
Research has found that the most effective way to prevent caffeine withdrawal symptoms is to slowly and gradually reduce your caffeine intake.
The amount you’ll need to reduce each day and how long it takes you to completely cut caffeine out of your diet will vary. Most recommendations say to gradually lower your caffeine intake over two to six weeks to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Can Caffeine Make Your Blood Pressure Go Up?
Other Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal
Caffeine headaches usually start within 12 to 24 hours of stopping caffeine. Thistype of headacheis usually moderately to severely painful. It tends to be located onboth sides of the headand gets worse with physical activity. The pain will usually peak after one or two days without caffeine and can last for two to nine days.
The amount of caffeine you usually consume might influence when you will start to feel caffeine withdrawal symptoms.It can also influence how long your symptoms will last.
However, research suggests that most people start to feel better from caffeine withdrawal within a week.
Could You Be Allergic to Caffeine?
Summary
Caffeine can be the ultimate paradox for headaches: while it has been shown to help treatmigrainesandtension-type headaches, regular caffeine intake has also been linked to chronic migraines andmedication overuse headaches.
Even if you don’t usually get headaches, you might get one if you reduce or stop your usual daily caffeine intake.
If the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal become hard for you to manage, considercutting it out of your diet, or only having it in moderation.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere are no specific supplements for symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, but you might find using OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen helpful for headache pain.If you want a more natural approach, simply drinking enough water can often get rid of a caffeine headache and may even help prevent one.There are a lot of foods and beverages that contain caffeine, so you might find it challenging to avoid it. One of the simplest swaps for caffeine is water, which is hydrating and can help if you have caffeine withdrawal symptoms.If you’re used to getting energy from caffeine, you might be tempted to switch to sweet beverages and snacks for a quick boost.However, try to avoid making this your replacement, assugar can cause crashesand contribute to health concerns over time.
There are no specific supplements for symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, but you might find using OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen helpful for headache pain.If you want a more natural approach, simply drinking enough water can often get rid of a caffeine headache and may even help prevent one.
There are no specific supplements for symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, but you might find using OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen helpful for headache pain.
If you want a more natural approach, simply drinking enough water can often get rid of a caffeine headache and may even help prevent one.
There are a lot of foods and beverages that contain caffeine, so you might find it challenging to avoid it. One of the simplest swaps for caffeine is water, which is hydrating and can help if you have caffeine withdrawal symptoms.If you’re used to getting energy from caffeine, you might be tempted to switch to sweet beverages and snacks for a quick boost.However, try to avoid making this your replacement, assugar can cause crashesand contribute to health concerns over time.
There are a lot of foods and beverages that contain caffeine, so you might find it challenging to avoid it. One of the simplest swaps for caffeine is water, which is hydrating and can help if you have caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
If you’re used to getting energy from caffeine, you might be tempted to switch to sweet beverages and snacks for a quick boost.
However, try to avoid making this your replacement, assugar can cause crashesand contribute to health concerns over time.
Can I Get a Headache After Eating Sugar or Fasting from Sugar?
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bigal ME, Sheftell FD, Rapoport AM, et al.Chronic daily headache: identification of factors associated with induction and transformation.Headache. 2002;42(7):575-81.
Meredith SE, Juliano LM, Hughes JR, Griffiths RR.Caffeine use disorder: a comprehensive review and research agenda.J Caffeine Res. 2013;3(3):114-130. doi:10.1089/jcr.2013.0016
Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: a review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1(3):186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9
Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Hamilton RJ.Caffeine, Withdrawal. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing.
Diamond S, Franklin MA.The Fasting Headache. National Headache Foundation.
Da Silva AN, Lake AE.Clinical Aspects of Medication Overuse Headaches.Headachexx. 2014;54(1):211-217. doi:10.1111/head.12223
World Health Organization.Atlas of Headache Disorders and Resources in the World.
Lipton RB, Diener HC, Robbins MS, Garas SY, Patel K.Caffeine in the management of patients with headache.J Headache Pain. 2017;18(1):107. doi:10.1186/s10194-017-0806-2
American Migraine Foundation.Caffeine and Migraine.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).Tea, hot, leaf, black. FoodData Central.
American Migraine Foundation.Understanding Caffeine Headaches.
Borhani Haghighi A, Motazedian S, Rezaii R, et al.Cutaneous application of menthol 10% solution as an abortive treatment of migraine without aura: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossed-over study: Menthol solution for the treatment of migraine. International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2010;64(4):451-456.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Acupressure for pain and headaches.
Standford Medicine.Headache treatment and headache relief.
Sweeney MM, Meredith SE, Juliano LM, Evatt DP, Griffiths RR.A randomized controlled trial of a manual-only treatment for reduction and cessation of problematic caffeine use.Drug Alcohol Depend.2019;195:45-51. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.10.034
Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS).The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version).Cephalalgia. 2013 Jul;33(9):629-808. doi: 10.1177/0333102413485658
Pound CM, Blair B; Canadian Paediatric Society, Nutrition and Gastroenterology Committee, Ottawa, Ontario.Energy and sports drinks in children and adolescents.Paediatr Child Health. 2017;22(7):406-410. doi:10.1093/pch/pxx132
Sigmon SC, Herning RI, Better W, et al.Caffeine withdrawal, acute effects, tolerance, and absence of net beneficial effects of chronic administration: cerebral blood flow velocity, quantitative EEG, and subjective effects.Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2009;204(4):573-85. doi: 10.1007/s00213-009-1489-4
James JE.Caffeine and cognitive performance: persistent methodological challenges in caffeine research.Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2014;124:117-22. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2014.05.019
Lee MJ, Choi HA, Choi H, et al.Caffeine discontinuation improves acute migraine treatment: a prospective clinic-based study.J Headache Pain.2016;17:71. doi:10.1186/s10194-016-0662-5
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies SettingsAccept All Cookies
