Till some time back, the withdrawal symptoms of only nicotine, alcohol, drugs and other such intoxicating items was believed to be real and something like caffeine withdrawal or nicotine gum withdrawal symptoms were thought to be mere imagination. However, today, the medical community has started taking caffeine withdrawal pretty seriously. In this fast-paced world, of more work and less sleep, people have started turning to caffeine, to keep sleep at bay and remain awake longer. The result is that they get addicted to caffeine and the moment they stop taking it, in any form, they undergo withdrawal symptoms, similar to those seen in case of nicotine withdrawal.
Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
The caffeine withdrawal symptoms usually start occurring within 12 to 24 hours of the last caffeine intake and continue from two to nine days after it. The usual withdrawal symptoms are:
- Depression
- Difficulty in concentration
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Moderate to severe headache (the most common symptom)
- Mood instability
- Muscle pain or stiffness
- Nausea or vomiting
Caffeine Withdrawal Treatment
The good part of caffeine addiction is that it is not as difficult to quit as nicotine, drugs or alcohol. The withdrawal symptoms noticed in case of caffeine, though quite the same as seen in case of smoking; are less potent and last for a lesser duration. Most of the addicts stop experiencing the withdrawal symptoms of caffeine after 3-4 days and even in the extreme cases, they last hardly beyond 8-9 days. All you need to do is cut off caffeine and stay away from it altogether. Slowly, the withdrawal symptoms will subside and go away.
