The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, states that 90 percent of people in the world use caffeine in some form. In the United States, 80 percent of adults consume an average of 200 milligrams of caffeine daily, which is equivalent to two 5-ounce cups of coffee or four sodas. Consuming large amounts of caffeine may cause you to become addicted to its effects. If you then suddenly stop drinking caffeinated beverages such as coffee or tea you may experience caffeine withdrawal in the form of a headache. You can take some steps to relieve caffeine headache and prevent future episodes of caffeine withdrawal.
Step 1
Drink coffee. The Cleveland Clinic reports that caffeine withdrawal may occur from excessive use of caffeine, which is about 500 milligrams or more a day or the equivalent of five cups of coffee. Caffeine withdrawal headaches often resolve after drinking more coffee. You may be able to relieve a caffeine headache within one hour by taking 100 milligrams of caffeine, which is about the amount of caffeine in one cup of coffee. However, by taking more caffeine, you maintain the cycle of needing more caffeine to prevent headaches and risk developing a rebound headache if you don't maintain consistent caffeine intake.
Step 2
Take pain relievers. If your headache is not relieved by drinking a cup of coffee, you may take a pain reliever that contains caffeine. According to the Cleveland Clinic, caffeine is an ingredient in most headache pain medicines because it makes them about 40 percent more effective. Caffeine also helps your body to better absorb the painkillers, so you feel relief sooner. Excedrin Extra Strength, for example, contains 65 milligrams of caffeine per tablet.
Step 3
Apply peppermint oil. You can use this herbal oil to help relieve your headache. The National Institutes of Health, or NIH, states that peppermint oil may be useful for treating headache when applied to the skin in the location of the headache pain. A 10 percent peppermint oil-in-ethanol solution applied across the forehead and temples has been used to treat headache, says the NIH. You can repeat the application of the peppermint oil after 15 minutes and 30 minutes.
Step 4
Limit caffeine intake. You can avoid caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as headaches by gradually limiting your daily consumption of caffeine. You should not stop caffeine use abruptly. MayoClinic.com suggests that you can start reducing your caffeine intake by drinking one less can of soda or cup of coffee each day. Another approach suggested by Kidshealth.org is to replace one of your daily drinks with a caffeine-free substitute each day for a week, and by two drinks the next week, until your daily caffeine intake is below 100 milligrams. If you drink tea, you can shorten the brewing time or drink herbal tea. Read food and drink labels to avoid products that contain caffeine. These changes will help your body get used to the lower levels of caffeine and lessen the potential for caffeine withdrawal headaches.
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