Headaches/Coffee

PMA150
PMA150 Posts: 43 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been trying to stop drinking coffee for a long time. I don't want to drink it because it makes me feel jittery in the afternoon and too much caffeine is a trigger for panic attacks.
The only reason why I want to drink coffee is I wake up with a headache every morning and the coffee dulls the headache.
Does anyone else seem to always have a headache? Have you found anything other than coffee that helps (besides medications which many have caffeine in them also).

Replies

  • Krock83
    Krock83 Posts: 64 Member
    I have the exact same problem with morning headaches. I've started to drink more water the moment I get up which usually helps it to dissipate by the time I make it into work. Let me know if you find a magical cure though!
  • JONZ64
    JONZ64 Posts: 1,280 Member
    Have you been drinking coffee for a long time? I get headaches in the morning if I don't drink coffee but they are caffeine withdrawal headaches. I have found that if I go for 1-2 days without the caffeine then I will stop getting the headaches
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Caffeine withdrawal. Lower it down to a cup, then eventually half a cup.
  • bosneanubogdan
    bosneanubogdan Posts: 3 Member
    PMA150 wrote: »
    I have been trying to stop drinking coffee for a long time. I don't want to drink it because it makes me feel jittery in the afternoon and too much caffeine is a trigger for panic attacks.
    The only reason why I want to drink coffee is I wake up with a headache every morning and the coffee dulls the headache.
    Does anyone else seem to always have a headache? Have you found anything other than coffee that helps (besides medications which many have caffeine in them also).
    First of all, that is not normal.
    I, personally, drink one or two cups or coffee for a preworkout. If I would not be doing that the only effect that I would feel will be the premature mental tireness, but I can beat that easily. So you can ! Just make sure you will be doing something else for your breakfast to drink. Go with some milk and stevia. Or some herb teas, that should help.
    And remember ! All goes from your mind, you let the pain cover you !


  • suruda
    suruda Posts: 1,233 Member
    caffeine withdrawl headaches are a very real thing and they suck. If you want to quit coffee (sorry for you!) then it is just something you will have to deal with for a few days. I've heard others successfully taper off, but when I've done it I've had to quit cold turkey. Fortunately there are enough articles out there spouting the positive affects of coffee so now I'm sticking with mine!
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,227 Member
    Sounds like caffeine withdrawal. If you want to quit it, drink a lot of water and ride the headaches out for a few days. On the other hand, there's no harm in a cup of coffee of a morning, so if you enjoy it, then have it.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    Sounds like caffeine withdrawal. If you want to quit it, drink a lot of water and ride the headaches out for a few days. On the other hand, there's no harm in a cup of coffee of a morning, so if you enjoy it, then have it.

    I agree fully that you need to drink water while titrating down on caffeine. Headaches are often a symptom of dehydration as well as caffeine withdrawal. I could not ride out the headaches because of the severe lethargy that accompanied them. What I did was get myself some caffeine pills at the drugstore and took them instead, 1 pill for every 2 cups of coffee I drank. Each week I cut down by 1/2 pill until I was down to my last half pill, then I started drinking one cup of coffee in the morning and no caffeinated sodas or whatever. Took me a while but I remained functional throughout.

    Do you wake up with the headaches or do they come on within an hour of waking with no coffee? If you wake up with them, I would recommend seeing a doctor because it may be something more than just caffeine withdrawal.

  • Wiseandcurious
    Wiseandcurious Posts: 730 Member
    If you wake up with headaches, I think the first and simplest thing you should do is examine your mattress and pillow. Swap pillows with whoever lives with you or borrow a different one from a friend/neigbour, and if your mattress is uncomfortable consider turning it around and then some more permanent measures.

    While it could be something more serious and I totally second the suggestion to see a doctor, I would give it a couple of days trying some changes in the bed itself. Poor posture of the neck/shoulders/head and pressure points due to unsuitable bedding are way more common causes for mornng headache than you might think.
  • mburgess458
    mburgess458 Posts: 480 Member
    If you are waking up with a headache, and not just getting a headache a little later after getting up, my diagnosis would be sleep apnea. Morning headache is one of the classic symptoms.

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/basics/symptoms/con-20020286
  • PMA150
    PMA150 Posts: 43 Member
    Thanks for the advice. I've seen the doctor, acupuncturist, ENT about headaches. No cure to be found there. This isn't anything new for sure, Just looking for a new solution to an old problem.
  • PMA150
    PMA150 Posts: 43 Member
    @mburgess458 THANK YOU! That is not something that I have thought of or any doctors suggested. That may be something to look in to for sure.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,615 Member
    PMA150 wrote: »
    I have been trying to stop drinking coffee for a long time. I don't want to drink it because it makes me feel jittery in the afternoon and too much caffeine is a trigger for panic attacks.
    The only reason why I want to drink coffee is I wake up with a headache every morning and the coffee dulls the headache.
    Does anyone else seem to always have a headache? Have you found anything other than coffee that helps (besides medications which many have caffeine in them also).

    You could try drinking more water ... your morning headache might be dehydration.

    Another possibility could be your bed, pillow, or room environment (too hot, too cold, dust mite allergy ...)

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    PMA150 wrote: »
    I have been trying to stop drinking coffee for a long time. I don't want to drink it because it makes me feel jittery in the afternoon and too much caffeine is a trigger for panic attacks.
    The only reason why I want to drink coffee is I wake up with a headache every morning and the coffee dulls the headache.
    Does anyone else seem to always have a headache? Have you found anything other than coffee that helps (besides medications which many have caffeine in them also).

    caffeine withdrawal

    You could try to reduce and replace with decaff

    or just take painkillers for a few days
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    Caffeine causes headaches in the form of rebound headaches. Taper off instead of quitting cold turkey.
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