While you may not think of it in quite that way, caffeine -- that friendly stimulant found in your morning coffee, afternoon tea or chocolate mousse dessert -- is a stimulant. Moreover, caffeine is addictive; taken on a daily basis, people become habituated to its effects. When caffeine intake stops for any reason, it may precipitate withdrawal.
Caffeine Withdrawal
The symptoms of caffeine withdrawal vary. Some people feel like they've caught the flu, others may experience fatigue. But many people in caffeine withdrawal suffer from headache. Roland Griffiths, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins, and his colleague Laura Juliano, Ph. D., of American University, have studied the effects of caffeine and caffeine withdrawal. They reported in the October 2004 issue of the journal "Psychopharmacology", that over half of all people in caffeine withdrawal complained of headache, and 13 percent of those in withdrawal had such severe pain they were unable to work. The higher the usual caffeine intake, the more likely symptoms were to be severe. Headaches could last as long as nine days.
Withdrawal and the Brain
In the May 1997 issue of "Cephalgia" E.G. Couturier, D.M. Laman, M.A. van Duijn, and H. van Duijn reported that volunteers who regularly ingested caffeine were deliberately put into withdrawal. Brain scans showed blood flow in several of the arteries in the head increased markedly at twenty-four hours after withdrawal began. The researchers concluded the increased blood flow was the most likely cause of the headaches. Study participants were then given a dose of caffeine and reported the headaches had been relieved, suggesting cause and effect.
Caffeine and Pain Medications
Caffeine is sometimes added to pain medications commonly used for headache relief. In the September 2000 issue of "Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics", researchers reported that when caffeine was added to ibuprophen, it helped to relieve tension-type headaches. When the caffeine and ibuprophen were tested separately, they were not as effective.
Preventing or Dealing with Withdrawal
If you do ingest caffeine in some form on a regular basis, Griffiths recommends you gradually substitute a decaffeinated version of your favorite drink or food rather than stopping abruptly. Although the Cleveland Clinic states that withdrawal is more likely to occur with caffeine use of more than 500 mg a day, Griffiths warns that even one cup of coffee a day can cause withdrawal if you are used to it and stop suddenly. A small amount of caffeine in something like coffee or tea may help to relieve a withdrawal headache, or you could try one of the over the counter medications that contain caffeine.
References
- Johns Hopkins Medicine News and information Services; Caffeine Withdrawal Recognized as A Disorder; Trent Stockton; September 2004
- "Cephalgia"; Influence of Caffeine and Caffeine Withdrawal on Headache and Cerebral Blood Flow Velocities; E.G. Couturier, et. al.; May 1997
- Cleveland Clinic; Diseases and Conditions; Caffeine and Headaches; Cleveland Clinic Staff; April 2011
- "Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics"; Ibuprofen Plus Caffeine in the Treatment of Tension-Type Headache; S. Diamond, et. al.; September 2000
Member Comments