Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal

Caffeine is a stimulant that works to improve alertness, wakefulness, and mood. People who regularly consume caffeine may experience withdrawal symptoms after they suddenly stop drinking it.

Natural sources of caffeine include coffee, tea, and cocoa beans. Manufacturers also add synthetic caffeine to many foods, drinks, medicines, and supplements.

People who regularly consume caffeine may experience withdrawal symptoms after suddenly quitting caffeine.

This article describes the main symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. It also discusses what caffeine withdrawal is and some tips on how to cope when reducing caffeine intake or quitting altogether.

Headache

People have long used caffeine to treat migraine and general pain due to its ability to reduce blood flow, especially in the brain. However, consuming too much caffeine can also trigger headaches.

Reducing or quitting caffeine after regular consumption can cause intense, migraine-like headaches in some people.

As a fat- and water-soluble molecule, caffeine readily crosses the blood-brain barrier where it constricts, or narrows, the blood vessels. Constricting the blood vessels causes a reduction in blood flow, which can help reduce migraine pain.

Reducing or quitting caffeine suddenly will allow the blood vessels to suddenly grow, increasing blood flow. This dramatic increase in blood flow can cause painful, throbbing headaches similar to those of migraine.

Headaches due to caffeine withdrawal can vary in length and severity. People can use caffeine to treat these headaches, but they should be careful not to consume more caffeine than they were previously.

Headaches should subside once the brain adapts to the change in blood flow.

Fatigue

Many people consume caffeine in the morning to boost their alertness levels. Caffeine prevents fatigue and increases alertness by blocking adenosine receptors in the brain.

Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that slows the central nervous system when the body prepares to sleep.

However, when a person suddenly stops or reduces their caffeine intake, it can briefly have the opposite effect and make a person feel more tired during the day.

People can avoid feeling overly tired during the day by getting enough sleep during the night.

 Source: Medical News Today