For most people, caffeine withdrawal symptoms can last two to nine days and you should be feeling fine again no more than two weeks after you stopped using caffeine.
Headaches aren't the only painful symptom of caffeine withdrawal. Those who stop consuming coffee have reported side effects like depression, anxiety, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, and sluggishness.
Benefits of Quitting Caffeine
These speak for themselves, but cutting down on your caffeine consumption can lead to less anxiety, better sleep, more efficient nutrient absorption, whiter teeth, balanced hormones, improved brain chemistry, and fewer headaches.
The severity of symptoms vary from individual to individual, and most commonly include a headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and feeling foggy/not clearheaded.
However, caffeine can also stimulate the body's fight or flight response, leading to symptoms such as nervousness, stress, anxiety, low mood, heart palpitations, and panic attacks. Quitting caffeine can make you less anxious, especially if you are prone to anxiety.
Some studies show that caffeine may increase cortisol levels in some people. Since researchers have also found a link between high cortisol levels and abdominal weight gain, you may want to limit how much caffeine you consume if you are already prone to stress.
You Could Lose a Few Pounds
Whether you're hooked on coffee, soda—yes, even diet soda—or another caffeinated beverage, quitting caffeine could cause you to lose weight.
Water can help flush caffeine out of your system and keep you properly hydrated. Indications of caffeine withdrawal include drowsiness, headaches, irritability or trouble concentrating, but symptoms should last only a few days.
If caffeine is a big part of your daily diet, taking it away can have a host of unpleasant effects in the short term. These include headache, tiredness, sleepiness, down moods, trouble concentrating, and crankiness. You'll start to feel symptoms a day or two after you stop. They can last anywhere from 2 to 9 days.
Symptoms of withdrawal begin 12 to 24 hours after the last caffeine intake and can last two to nine days.
Try cutting caffeine consumption in half during the first week, then cutting the new amount in half the second week, rinse and repeat. Give yourself time to rest and recuperate – quitting caffeine can put stress on your mind and body because they have become so accustomed to its effects.
Caffeine withdrawal fatigue can last anywhere from two to nine days. If you're sleep deprived and rely on coffee to perk you up, though, you may feel fatigue until you address this.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, dependence on caffeine is not technically an addiction, but it can absolutely lead to withdrawal if you decide to quit. Symptoms of withdrawal include possible headaches, sleepiness, nausea, and irritability.
Most people who give up alcohol notice that their skin is dewy, and healthier looking after just one week. By the end of Dry January, you're likely to see less swelling, clearer skin, and an overall healthy glow.
One way is to take a week off from coffee every month. That's what Ashley Richmond, the founder of Momentum Habits, does. She recommends taking the first week of the month off so it's easy to remember. If that sounds too harsh, try the slower approach.
Teeth that have already been stained with coffee usually do not get whiter on their own without professional teeth whitening treatment. However, your teeth can often stay white if you stop drinking coffee, tea, and other teeth-staining foods and beverages after your teeth have been professionally whitened.
Caffeine can cause insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, nausea, increased heart rate, and other side effects. Larger doses might cause headache, anxiety, and chest pain. Caffeine is likely unsafe when used in very high doses. It can cause irregular heartbeat and even death.
It has been thought that the caffeine in coffee was to blame for causing flare ups, but more recently, it has been discovered that it is the heat of coffee that causes the flushing or redness of the face. Phew! This means if you suffer from rosacea and are an avid coffee drinker (like many of us), you're in luck!