Home Caffeine Addiction Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms: Top Ten

Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms: Top Ten

Caffeine Withdrawal

If you are an avid coffee or energy drink consumer then you are aware of how addicting caffeinated beverages can be.

A few hours after missing your scheduled dose the caffeine withdrawal symptoms start to set in. Last year I did a caffeine detox and it wasn’t pretty for me nor the people I live with and it seems like the more caffeine a person consumes, the greater the intensity and duration of the withdrawal.

We decided to put together a list of the most common caffeine withdrawal symptoms so when you’re experiencing them, you’ll be comforted to know that you aren’t really dying but just detoxing from the caffeine.

Also, for those who aren’t normally caffeine drinkers, these symptoms can be noticed after quitting caffeine even if it was only consumed for a few days in a row.

Top 10 Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms

  1. Headache
    A caffeine headache usually starts behind the eyes and then moves up the front of the head.
  2. Sleepiness
    This just isn’t your normal tiredness, this is sitting up straight but still can’t keep your eyes open tiredness.
  3. Irritability
    Everyone and everything gets on your last nerve. It’s best just to lock yourself in your room during this stage.
  4. Lethargy
    Forget about productivity at this stage because you’ll be unmotivated to do anything.
  5. Constipation
    Caffeine stimulates the bowel, so without its daily does the colon gets a little cranky too.
  6. Depression
    Caffeine withdrawal can take away all hope for living. Temporary blues are one thing, but if you already struggle with depression this could be a big issue.
  7. Muscle Pain/Stiffness
    If you normally have some caffeine prior to exercise then during caffeine withdrawal you could feel as though your muscles have weights strapped to them.
  8. Lack of Concentration
    Forget school, studying, brain surgery, or jet engine repair during this stage of withdrawal.
  9. Flu-like symptoms
    Stuffy nose, blocked sinuses and even vomiting have been reported by people withdrawing from caffeine.
  10. Insomnia
    Some people are strange and actually can’t sleep when going through caffeine withdrawal.

Detoxing is No Laughing Matter

Learn More

Caffeine Addiction Diagnosis

My Caffeine Detox

Caffeine Overdose

Some scientists believe that caffeine can hinder vitamin absorption.

Wrong! Some scientists believe that caffeine may actually hinder vitamin absorption.

Caffeine withdrawal isn’t a laughing matter and it, for sure, is a very unpleasant experience. Luckily these symptoms only last a few days to a week so there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

However, even after the withdrawal period is over, I personally still never feel quite as good as I do when I’m drinking caffeine all of the time. This is most likely due to the changes that occur with the dopamine receptors in the brain because of caffeine. I guess mine might be forever altered.

Giving up caffeine isn’t easy and the withdrawal symptoms aren’t pretty, but unless you’re giving up caffeine for medical reasons why would you ever want to?

Caffeine CAN be Addictive

How addicted to caffeine are/were you? You can take our Caffeine Addiction Diagnosis Quiz to see where you clocked in at. This may explain why the caffeine withdrawal has been so rough.

Human beings can be addicted to anything – including caffeine. While we can argue about the semantics of dependency versus addiction, the reality is that for many, stopping caffeine consumption is very difficult.

Whether you should or not depends on how your habits are affecting your own health, your relationships, or the people around you. For most people, their regular coffee habit may not affect any of these things.

Have you experienced caffeine withdrawal symptoms that aren’t on the list above? Share them in the comments below.

TOPICS: Caffeine Addiction, Caffeine Negatives
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  • Delphi

    I love what you say here… It’s so true! I find I’ve been doing the same thing for 20 years, but after having finally quit coffee, I’m now better in touch with my feelings , I sleep better, my mood has improved overall and stabilized, I don’t get irritable anymore or impatient, and strangely enough I accomplish more in life. I have my “own” energy and I’m not distracted by things. I don’t race through tasks, rather , I move logically and steadily towards my goals. This whole country is under the “influence”. – but it’s amazing how life changes when you’re free of caffeine and can live on your own terms.

  • George Flowers

    Primary research all over these comments. Collect and analyze them.

  • George Flowers

    I stopped 3 days ago and my symptoms are not quite as severe as I’ve read on here. I was drinking about 1-2 energy drinks and about 3 cups of coffee a day. I would say about 400-500 mg per day. I have had a lingering headache since I quit and the lethargy has been my main symptom. I don’t feel like doing anything haha. I also have been having MEAN bouts of tiredness where I just cant keep my eyes open. These last for about 20-30 mins at a time before I can “force” myself out of them. I have somewhat negated the constipation and energy loss with chia seeds and apple cider vinegar and TONS of water throughout the day. I feel pretty good other than the constant droning headache (though that is not so bad either). I highly recommend the three things I just mentioned as they will help you GREATLY!

  • IAmQuittingCaffeineToday69

    Quitting caffeine today. I’ve been having really annoying mood swings in the last week, and i also procrastinated for 5 hours because of caffeine instead of studying. So ByeBye caffeine, you won’t be missed…. i just hope i can servive the withdrawal.

  • Spiran Spiron

    Same symptoms like me my friend. Espesialy the adams apple,I feel like I m getting choked.

  • Tez

    Great blog – very helpful. thanks!

  • Emily

    I am so thankful for this site! I started a week long cleanse on Wednesday which is a very restrictive eating plan. I quit coffee cold turkey and day 1, I had a throbbing horrific headache for 12 straight hours. Had the chills and felt just plain awful! So days 2-4 of the cleanse I had a quarter cup of coffee in the AM and that has helped tremendously. I think slowly dwindling the amount I drink will be the way to go. Good luck to everyone!

  • nil

    coffe sucks. . .
    Plz have a healthy diet . .
    Full of fruits. . . That will give u enough energy. . .

  • David

    I love caffeine and energy drinks. Why would i ever want to quit? It makes me feel energized and up for anything the day can throw at me. Why would anyone want to stop consuming caffeine completely? Especially with the terrible side effects. I normally consume 300 – 400mg of caffeine a day and don’t intend to stop!.

  • Julie

    I’ve been told to give up coffee/tea, carbonated drinks, citrus and chocolate – three out of four contain caffeine, for 6 months to see if this has an affect on an irritable bladder. I found some fab decaf pods for my coffee machine and some decent decaf t-bags so just need to enjoy the drink rather than miss the hit. However today I have a horrendous headache and slept for three hours this afternoon. I still feel awful and can only hope that the symptoms will gradually tail off. I haven’t gone cold turkey as I was advised to have one caffeine drink a week for a month then cut it out completely.If I manage this abstention for the said 6 months and my symptoms disappear then I have my answer. Drink caffeine and my problems will return.

  • terry

    i suffered from regular bouts of depression, since cutting coffee out of my diet completely and replacing it with tea and eating foods high in omega 3 i no longer have depression.
    it really works… try it

  • Amanda

    I stopped caffeine unintentionally and now experience dizziness, head aches, constant tiredness, and i get angry at little things a lot now.

  • susan

    I am unintentionally detoxing from caffeine (I’m too poor right now lol) and it’s only been 2 days a oh sweet baby Jesus does my head hurt. I accidentally fell asleep on the couch. I feel sick. I’m going to have to go get some coffee tomorrow cause I can’t handle this.

  • Megan

    I stopped drinking coke and coffee three days ago and have one massive headache, feel like I have the flu and have slept so much. Thank god this doesn’t last too long but I know I will feel a lot better by not having it in my diet! :)

  • Jason

    I have just found this and I am getting many of the problems Tina quoted in the post below. I am getting all those things Tina. I will not let it beat me I want this c**p out of my system, thank goodness for Yogi Tea :o ). I feel awful it is day 4 but I am going to keep going. I am in one way glad to read the comments above and below. Thnak you.

  • Tina

    I am so thankful I found everyone’s comments. I stopped drinking caffeine 3 days ago. I have such a bad headache today, that I was thinking of seeing my doctor for a migraine. I did not realize caffeine withdrawl could last this long. Pain in shoulder, back, ear, left side of head and eye. Never been so tired. I feel like I’m carrying weights on my back. Hopefully this will be over soon.

  • Joe

    I had to quit with the caffeine due to my anxiety. I’ve been drinking between 5 and 8 cups a day for about 3 years, I’m a student so I’ve tried to be as alert as possible, but recently ie started to be get panicky and shaky when I drank caffeine. I had to kick the caffeine and no word of a lie I feel like my skull has nails being pushed into it, I’m vomiting, and aching all over my body. Still better than panic attacks ;)

  • Jay

    By reading some comments I realized people substituted caffeine with sugar. In my opinion caffeine is a way less damaging substance to be addicted to than sugar. First of all for me I only need caffeine in the morning and I don’t need to take it again during the day. When I was addicted to sugar I ended up stuffing myself with junk the whole day ranging from chocolate to sweets to ice cream to donuts and overall I could feel the damaging effect so much sugar had. It was bad for my skin, I couldn’t sleep at night, I was constantly thirsty as if I had diabetes (luckily I didn’t). I have never had that much damaging effects from caffeine maybe its because I keep it in moderation. In my opinion being “addicted” to caffeine is ok as long as its kept in moderation same with alcohol there is a difference between someone who drinks moderately and an alcoholic, as long as you stay within the moderate range you will be ok, no need to suffer withdrawal symptoms when there is no need to.

  • Matt Bennett

    Just stopped drinking three or more energy drinks per day and find myself shaking. Got muscle pains all over and my adams apple feels really tight like ive got a tight collared shirt on. Feel really tired and sometimes quite dizzy. Trying to work is hard and I keep forgetting what im doing. Also my ears hurt. All very strange.

  • Charly

    I have been drinking 3 cups of coffee per day for the past 7 years; and when I noticed that I was carrying a cooler around with coffee in it, I had to quit. By day 3, my neck down thru my back and shoulders to my thighs down thru my calves were in constant unbearable pain. So today I had one cup and the pain subsided for a few hours and its back again, but not as severe. My plan is to have a cup every other day for the first week, a cup every 2 days second week, and so forth and so forth until I am at 1 cup a month and then I will permanently quit drinking coffee and any other caffeinated beverage.

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Last Modified: April 15, 2013
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