Caffeine headache but NOT going cold turkey!?

I was having problems with my sleep, so I decided to stop drinking caffeine after 3 pm. Usually this means my last caffeinated drink is at 12:30 or so, with lunch.

So I still drink some caffeine. Just not as much, or as long. I have the worst caffeine headaches! They start about 5 hours or so after I stop, and steadily progress until in the morning, when I wake up, I feel like total crap. Then I down an Advil or two with a diet coke, and an hour later I'm better -- until the cycle repeats.

Now, I'm on day three now. I have a headache and can't sleep. Should I just give up? Will I always have these headaches if I just drink caffeine between 8 am and 1 pm? I don't think it's something like dehydration, I'm drinking lots of water (and caffeine-free diet coke or decaffeinated tea sometimes).

(And I was a huge diet coke drinker before, I'm talking, I could go through half a dozen cans in a day, plus 2-3 32-ounce drinks. Now I drink a can in the morning, and a 32-ounce drink at lunch.)

I think these headaches could be as much from blood sugar problems as caffeine if you were drinking so much soda. Keep good track of how much water you are drinking, so you know for sure. Tea and soda are dehydrating, so keep that intake down for now.

You should try taking some magnesium, since lack of it increases headaches and caffeine makes you excrete magnesium. It is a mineral tranquilizer that your body needs.

If I were you I would try taking diet Coke like it's medicine, so much every four hours during the day to evening, then see if your headache resolves. It may have nothing to do with the drinks and caffeine. If it does respond, then just space the drink farther apart in time and/or lessen the amounts.

Detox all the way. Go down to no caffeine slowly and then once you're off it for a while see if you want to have it in your body ever again. Having headaches long term stinks!

Try http://hermansherbalstore.com they will have what you need.

just take some advil or ibuprofen i don't remember how to spell that

well i drank mt dew like water...it has taken me a couple weeks to get myself off from it....got shakes and headaches just spread it out a little more then sub juice/water for lunch instead of pop

Try going half and half for two weeks and then 75/25. I was completely addicted to caffeine and thought I would never give it up. I have been caffeine free for a year and a half now. I don't know if it will work for you, but it did for me.

Don't give up!!!!!!!!!! You're doing awesome and your body is just working those toxins out (go to a gym and sweat it out too!) Congrats on getting this far and getting that pop addiction out of the way- you'll also prevent weight gain and other health probelms!
Firstly, keep with that decaf tea- trick brain into thinking having caffeine, also can try reg. tea if caffeine still needed . It makes a huge difference and not a sudden burst of caffeine.
Secondly, after the noonhour, I take green tea tablets - helps with energy, no headaches, not horrible caffeine shakes etc. I also taper off the use when i kno my body doesn't need them anymore.