Brain & Nervous System Headaches Causes & Risk Factors What is a Caffeine Withdrawal Headache? By Colleen Doherty, MD Colleen Doherty, MD Colleen Doherty, MD, is a board-certified internist living with multiple sclerosis. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 26, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Diana Apetauerova, MD Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD LinkedIn Diana Apetauerova, MD, is board-certified in neurology with a subspecialty in movement disorders. She is an associate clinical professor of neurology at Tufts University. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Treatment Many people routinely drink a morning cup of coffee or tea. Missing that morning cup of coffee, however, can lead to headache and other symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. This article discusses the symptoms and causes of caffeine withdrawal. It also discusses some ways you can treat your caffeine withdrawal symptoms. Guido Mieth / Getty Images Symptoms You might get a caffeine withdrawal headache if you regularly drink two or more 6-ounce cups of coffee per day and then skip or delay a cup. A headache can happen even after a delay of just a few hours. This type of headache is usually moderately to severely painful. It tends to be located on both sides of the head and may worsen with physical activity. The pain will usually peak after one or two days without caffeine. It can last for between two and nine days. The amount of caffeine you consume doesn't necessarily affect whether or not you'll get a withdrawal headache. Other factors may play a role, such as how your body metabolizes caffeine. Could You Be Allergic to Caffeine? Some people get caffeine withdrawal headaches even though they only consume small amounts of caffeine. Others who regularly drink more caffeine may not get caffeine headaches at all, even if they drink less than usual. Caffeine headaches typically start within 12 to 24 hours of stopping caffeine. They may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as: DrowsinessPoor concentrationDepressionAnxietyIrritabilityNausea and vomitingMuscle aches and stiffness The amount of caffeine you usually consume might influence when you will start to feel withdrawal symptoms. It may also have an impact on how long your symptoms will last. Research, however, suggests most people start to feel better after about a week. Causes Caffeine is the most-used drug in the world. In the U.S., approximately 90% of adults report drinking caffeinated beverages every day. Although caffeine is considered a drug, experts don't agree on whether it qualifies as an addictive substance. Research has demonstrated that regular use of caffeine can lead to: DependenceIncreased toleranceWithdrawal symptoms Still, research suggests it doesn't fit the commonly accepted definition of an addictive substance. A 2010 study, for example, found that caffeine doesn't activate the dependence and reward system in the brain. However, caffeine use disorder is recognized by the medical and psychiatric community. In 2013, caffeine use disorder was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition under the broader category of substance use disorders. If you regularly drink coffee, tea, or soda and you stop or substantially reduce your intake, you may experience symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, including headache. Research indicates that about half of people who consume more than 200 mg of caffeine a day will develop withdrawal headaches if they abruptly stop. It's not clear why the other half do not have symptoms if they reduce their caffeine intake, but it may have to do with individual caffeine sensitivity. Likewise, a person who is more sensitive to caffeine might experience withdrawal symptoms even if they only regularly consume 100 mg a day. Timing and other lifestyle factors can also drive caffeine withdrawal symptoms. For example, someone who only drinks coffee during the workweek may tend to get headaches over the weekend due to pausing their caffeine intake. If a person needs to fast (such as before a medical test or procedure) they might get a fasting headache, which is sometimes attributed to caffeine withdrawal. Sources While coffee is one of the most popular, there are other sources of caffeine (both natural and manufactured). Common dietary and supplemental sources of caffeine include: Tea (including black, green, chai, matcha, and oolong)SodaEnergy drinks or "shots"Coffee-flavored ice cream or yogurtChocolate (especially dark and bittersweet)Other-the-counter/prescription medications and nutritional supplements Researchers have theorized that over-the-counter and prescription drugs that contain caffeine, such as Excedrin and the headache medications Fioricet and Fiorinal, can lead to "rebound headaches" or "medication overuse headaches." While research has not definitively concluded that caffeine is to blame, withdrawal might play a role in triggering a headache when someone who regularly takes the medication suddenly stops. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), taking larger doses of these medications may contribute, but the headaches can also occur in people taking smaller doses every day. The common ingredients in most OTC headache medications, such as aspirin and other painkillers, may also contribute to the "rebound effect." How Much Caffeine Is In... Starbucks Tall Latte 12 oz 75 mg Starbucks Grande Latte 16 oz 150 mg Starbucks Coffee Short 8 oz 130 mg to 190 mg McCafe Coffee 12 oz 110 mg Black Tea 8 oz 40 mg Green Tea 8 oz 25 mg Mountain Dew 12 oz 54 mg Cola 12 oz up to 71 mg Red Bull 8 oz 80 mg Hershey's Chocolate Bar 1.55 oz 9 mg Starbucks Hot Chocolate, grande 16 oz 25 mg Excedrine Migraine 2 pills 130 mg Treatment The simplest "treatment" for caffeine withdrawal headache is to have a caffeinated beverage: most people will get relief within an hour of consuming around 100 mg of caffeine. In a 2017 study of people with migraines, adding a dose of acetaminophen to the caffeine provided even more rapid relief. While the caffeine content of coffee varies widely based on the blend and how it's brewed, an 8-ounce cup of regular brewed coffee typically has between 80-150 mg of caffeine, though some brews have closer to 250 mg. As with coffee, the caffeine content of tea depends on several factors, including the blend, the temperature of the water it's brewed in, and how long it steeps. According to survey data from the USDA, the average 8-ounce cup of hot, brewed, black leaf tea has about 50 mg of caffeine. If your goal is to cut back or eliminate caffeine from your diet, there are other steps you can take to avoid the headache of caffeine withdrawal. Don't Stop Abruptly Research has found that the most effective way to prevent withdrawal symptoms is to slowly and gradually reduce your caffeine intake. The amount you eliminate each day and how long it takes you to completely cut caffeine out of your diet will vary, but most recommendations advise gradually reducing over a period of two to six weeks to avoid withdrawal symptoms. OTC Pain Relievers Over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen can help ease symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. Excedrin, a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine, can be effective for headaches experienced during caffeine withdrawal. However, as noted above, this type of medication may also contribute to rebound headaches—especially if used for a long period of time. Drink Water Staying hydrated can help prevent caffeine withdrawal headaches, especially for people who get migraines (which can be triggered by dehydration). Is Your Headache Caused by Dehydration? A Word From Verywell For headaches, caffeine can be the ultimate paradox: while it has been shown to help treat migraines and tension-type headaches, regular caffeine intake has also been linked to chronic migraines and medication overuse headaches. Even if you're not prone to headaches, decreasing or stopping your daily coffee or tea habit could cause withdrawal headaches. If the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal become difficult to manage, you might want to consider cutting caffeine out of your diet—or at least have it in moderation. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 15 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Hamilton RJ. Caffeine, Withdrawal. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Juliano LM, Huntley ED, Harrell PT, Westerman AT. Development of the Caffeine Withdrawal Symptom Questionnaire: Caffeine withdrawal symptoms cluster into 7 factors. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012;124(3):229-234. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.01.009 Juliano LM, Griffiths RR. A critical review of caffeine withdrawal: empirical validation of symptoms and signs, incidence, severity, and associated features. Psychopharmacology. 2004;176(1):1-29. doi:10.1007/s00213-004-2000-x 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 Nehlig A, Armspach JP, Namer IJ. SPECT assessment of brain activation induced by caffeine: no effect on areas involved in dependence. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2010;12(2):255-263. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2010.12.2/anehlig 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 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. 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 American Migraine Foundation. Understanding Caffeine Headaches. 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 Additional Reading 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. 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. 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. 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 Settings Accept All Cookies