Caffeine does not cause addiction in the same way as a potent drug like cocaine or heroin, but it stimulates your nervous system when you drink coffee or tea or ingest it in some other way. Cutting it off abruptly when you are used to a regular caffeine intake does cause physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms.
Use
People widely use caffeine because it comes in good-tasting foods and beverages like chocolate, coffee, tea and certain soft drinks, and because they like its physical effects. Caffeine helps you wake up and keeps you alert throughout the day. The drug fights off fatigue and improves your alertness and mental focus. Caffeine's effects are temporary and most people can take it without long-term problems, although heavy users face withdrawal symptoms when they wish to stop consuming the drug.
Withdrawal Soreness
Caffeine withdrawal happens when you suddenly cut off your body's supply of the drug. Your scalp itself is not sore, but caffeine withdrawal is proven to cause headaches because of changes in blood flow to the brain. Researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the University of Vermont College of Medicine discovered blood flow and brain wave changes directly related to headache pain and fatigue in subjects whose caffeine intake was halted, the online publication Science Daily reported in 2009. Withdrawal also causes flu-like symptoms, which include aches that could extend to the scalp.
Overuse
Overuse of caffeine causes problems that do not typically include physical issues like pain, although you might get an upset stomach, a fast heartbeat or muscle tremors. Overuse symptoms usually include inability to sleep, restlessness, anxiety and irritability. Normally you must consume at least 500 to 600 mg of caffeine to trigger these effects. You are more prone to headaches, general soreness and other withdrawal effects if you use that much caffeine regularly, then cut it off.
Considerations
Moderate caffeine users generally do not have withdrawal symptoms on days they do not take in any of the substance, but they suffer potentially unpleasant effects if they take in too much on certain days. Some people are more sensitive to the drug, and they also experience these effects. You will not experience pain, but you may get irritable and be unable to fall asleep if you occasionally drink too much caffeine or have a sensitivity to the chemical. Men are more prone to this problem than women, as are anxiety disorder sufferers.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine, How Much is Too Much?; March 2011
- Science Daily; Caffeine Withdrawal Headache Explained, Your Brain On and Off Caffeine; May 2009
- CNN Health; Beware the Perils of Caffeine Withdrawal; Judy Fortin; April 2009
- Johns Hopkins Medicine; Caffeine Withdrawal Recognized as a Disorder; September 2004
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