Caffeine Headaches

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Caffeine can be both beneficial and harmful for a headache sufferer.

It is believed that headache and migraine sufferers are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than the average person. Once your headaches / migraines have been properly diagnosed and more serious problems ruled out; you can then determine to what extent caffeine may be involved.

Caffeine and "rebound" headache

"Rebound headache" is a serious problem that develops from taking too many headache medications too often.

Rebound headache is constant -- it won't go away until you completely stop taking the drugs that are causing the problem.

Rebound headache is rare; in fact, less than 2% of the general population is reported to suffer from rebound headache due to over use of pain relievers.

Any headache medicine can cause rebound headache -- taking caffeine-containing headache medications doesn't appear to increase the risk.

How Does Caffeine Treat Headaches?

Caffeine is a common ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter headache medications. Caffeine additives make pain-relievers 40% more effective in treating headaches. Caffeine also helps the body absorb headache medications more quickly, bringing faster relief.

A headache caffeine connection – The Bad News

Many of the things that can help can also hinder. As a stimulant, especially combined with sugar, caffeine can pick you up but may also drop you quickly. One of the worst things a migraine prone person can do it to take in large amounts of sugar and caffeine on an empty stomach, which can make you blood sugar levels do some pretty wild things, and may stimulate that caffeine headache.