Very bad headache, feeling sick, you feel like it’s the flu, nausea is one of the main symptoms of caffeine withdrawal.
Caffeine can cause physical addiction. You need to drink regular doses of coffee or tea every day so you won’t get drowsy and fall asleep during work hours. Once your body gets used to caffeine dose daily it starts having more noticeable side effects such as anxiety, inability to focus on regular activities or very vivid dreams. However, if you stop drinking caffeinated beverages too quickly it will lead to unpleasant side effects that are known as caffeine withdrawal. In this article, we’ll talk about caffeine withdrawal nausea and what you can do to ease this unpleasant feeling.
Related: Caffeine Panic Attack Symptoms
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What Is Caffeine Withdrawal Nausea?
Caffeine withdrawal is caused by the lack of caffeine in your blood. It may happen if you don’t drink caffeinated beverages for some time, but more likely it can appear after you reduce or stop drinking them too fast like when you switch to decaf coffee or tea (we recommend that you slowly decrease the amount of caffeine consumed every day). Once your body gets used to caffeine dose daily it starts having more noticeable side effects such as anxiety, inability to focus on regular activities or very vivid dreams. However, if you stop drinking caffeinated beverages too quickly it will lead to unpleasant side effects that are known as caffeine withdrawal.
Nausea is one of the main symptoms that can appear within 12 to 24 hours after you stop drinking caffeinated beverages and it will go away in about a week. Nausea is when your stomach could be turning and you feel like you might vomit. You may also have a bad taste in your mouth, dizziness, increased heart rate, and headaches.
How Does Caffeine Withdrawal Happen?
Caffeine withdrawal usually occurs because your brain is used to caffeine and adapts its activity to a normal level of this substance in your blood. When you drink caffeinated beverages, the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) decreases as caffeine blocks adenosine receptors (ARs). This compound plays an important role in sleepiness and drowsiness. After some time, when your body gets used to caffeine it stops producing enzymes that help break down ATP which results in the accumulation of high levels that cause receptor desensitization. It means that you become less sensitive or unable to feel the effects of adenosine which leads to caffeine withdrawal.
How Long Does Caffeine Withdrawal Nausea Last?
As we said, caffeine withdrawal causes unpleasant side effects that are known as caffeine withdrawal. It usually starts within 12 to 24 hours after you stop drinking caffeinated beverages and it goes away in a week. However, the time required for this process to end may be different from person to person depending on many factors such as:
- How much caffeine do you drink daily?
- How quickly did you quit consuming caffeinated drinks?
For some people, caffeine withdrawal symptoms won’t last more than a few days while it could take weeks for other individuals. If your body is not used to caffeine it will need more time for its adenosine receptors to get back into normal condition while if you drink a lot of coffee or tea every day it will cause a faster caffeine withdrawal.
How Can You Treat Caffeine Withdrawal Nausea?
If you are experiencing caffeine withdrawal it means that your body is not used to processing caffeine without any additional intake. This unpleasant feeling can take its toll on you, so do everything possible to ease this symptom of withdrawal as soon as possible. Here’s what you need to know about how to reduce your chances of getting nauseous during the first few days after stopping or reducing coffee/tea/energy drink intake:
- Drink plenty of water – staying hydrated will prevent headaches and other uncomfortable symptoms caused by dehydration. If possible try drinking at least 4 liters of water every day during the 1st week after quitting caffeinated beverages;
- Eat light meals – caffeine is a diuretic and it causes constant urination, so if you switch to decaf coffee or tea your body will inevitably become dehydrated – drink plenty of water and eat light meals with little salt as possible;
- Do not skip breakfast – skipping meals can cause nausea or make it worse. In addition, having a healthy, balanced breakfast every day will help you maintain energy levels during caffeine withdrawal;
- Cut down on sugar intake – avoiding sugary snacks and high carbohydrate foods (such as rice) will prevent your blood sugar levels from dropping too fast.
- Reduce the number of caffeinated beverages you have at once – when you drink lots of tea or coffee it will be harder for your body to process all that caffeine, so try having 1-2 cups at once and see how it goes;
- Avoid strong Black tea, Red Bull energy drinks, and chocolate – if you’ve been drinking caffeinated beverages frequently we recommend avoiding these items because they’re likely to cause more intense caffeine withdrawal symptoms;
- Drink peppermint tea – this herbal tea is known as one of the healthier alternatives for detoxification and may reduce nausea significantly. It is also packed with antioxidants and other essential nutrients that strengthen your immune system;
- Take vitamin B6 supplements – all over the world, people take this supplement to treat caffeine-related side effects such as fatigue, headaches, and nausea. The recommended dose is 100 mg every day for a week;
- Ginkgo biloba supplements – some alternative healthcare practitioners claim that this supplement reduces nausea and other symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. The recommended dose is 50-100 mg once a day for a week;
Conclusion: Caffeine Withdrawal Nausea
It is possible to quit caffeine and not experience any withdrawal symptoms, but if you do feel nauseous and have other unpleasant side effects during the first few days we’ve mentioned everything you need to know about how to lessen those feelings without having too many problems. The most important thing is that you’re aware of what this process entails and that it will end eventually, so take your time and try not to rush it as it can be very unpleasant otherwise.
