Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Wheat Withdrawal Headache?

Mayflowers

Recommended Posts

Mayflowers Contributor
Mayflowers
Posted

Hi,

My sister decided to give up wheat and she has had a headache that's lasting days with associated neck pain. The pain is on the top of her head and over one eye. Has anyone had symptoms like this when giving up wheat? I only had cravings and some irritability.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mommida Enthusiast
mommida
Posted

Yes that is possible to have a withdrawal headache. If she has a fever, headache worsens or does not go away, or is sensitive to light she should seek medical attention at an emergency room.

L.

PS I just noticed you said it has been days she should seek medical advice.

Guest cassidy
Guest cassidy
Posted

I used to get headaches like this all the time. I went to many many doctors and finally a chiropractor got rid of them. He said they are liver headache. Since your liver processes toxins sometimes it gets overloaded. It would make sense if we are eating things that we can't tolerate. My headaches went away completely after going gluten-free. Now, when I'm glutened I get one about a day after and it lasts for about 24 hours.

When I went gluten-free it took me a few weeks to feel better. Hopefully they will stop when all the wheat gets out of her system.

  • 1 month later...
lurven71 Newbie
lurven71
Posted

When I went off gluten I got "nail in my brain" headaches for a few weeks. I still occasionally get them (maybe once a month) but the longer I am gluten free the less they happen.

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted

My cousin has a wheat allergy and says she puts up with the allergy symptoms because the withdrawal from wheat was driving her batty!

Guest ~jules~
Guest ~jules~
Posted

Yep, I have had a stiff neck and not a constant headache but an occassional one. My eyes almost always hurt, or are blurry. Weird things are happening to me too, hang in there.

mle-ii Explorer
mle-ii
Posted

Here's another possible reason why one might get wheat withdrawal headaches. Take away a pain medication (opoids from gluten) and pain blocked by this effect might show up.

Ok, I've heard of Peptides before, but being curious I looked it up on wikipedia.

Open Original Shared Link

While reading it I came across this bit of info:

Opioid peptides, now that sounds interesting what is that?

Open Original Shared Link

Wow, no wonder it's so hard for some folks to give up breads and dairy. Since a lot of us have issues with gluten, lets take a look at one.

Open Original Shared Link

Wow.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


  • 10 months later...
lilpup Newbie
lilpup
Posted

I'm am currently withdrawing from wheat and gluten. Today is my fifth day on a gluten-free diet and I've had nausea and a headache on and off (mostly on, though) for the past several days. The headache feels a lot like what you've described your sister having--pain all over the top of my head and then sometimes centering around my eye too. On the bright side, I've had no cravings. Good luck to your sister!

  • 1 year later...
cancundiver Newbie
cancundiver
Posted

I know this post is ancient news but it came up at the top of the search engines so I had to revive it.

I've been having anxiety attacks and gerd for years...... I've been to doctors and specialists and none can find anything wrong. It's only though research and boards like this I've found the answer to the problem. Diet related! Why don't doctor's suggest things like this? They just like giving you pills and sending you on your way.

Anyways, I've been off gluten for 10 days (and I am a serious bread, pizza, pasta addict) and I have been getting all the same symptoms described here. Headaches, blurry vision in the morning, sore eyes...something is definitely happening in my system and I'm sure its for the good. No Nexium required for the first time in YEARS!!

I just can't wait to get over that hump and feel better.

Thanks to all of you who have made the answers easier to find.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
I know this post is ancient news but it came up at the top of the search engines so I had to revive it.

I've been having anxiety attacks and gerd for years...... I've been to doctors and specialists and none can find anything wrong. It's only though research and boards like this I've found the answer to the problem. Diet related! Why don't doctor's suggest things like this? They just like giving you pills and sending you on your way.

Anyways, I've been off gluten for 10 days (and I am a serious bread, pizza, pasta addict) and I have been getting all the same symptoms described here. Headaches, blurry vision in the morning, sore eyes...something is definitely happening in my system and I'm sure its for the good. No Nexium required for the first time in YEARS!!

I just can't wait to get over that hump and feel better.

Thanks to all of you who have made the answers easier to find.

Welcome to the board. Isn't it great when that knawing pain in the gut goes away? Without a pill!!!!!!! :)

I am sure you will continue to improve although it is a bit of an adjustment in the beginning. Ask any questions you need and feel free to vent. I hope your soon over the hump and feeling great.

One thing though, if the headaches and blurry vision become more severe or continue after what seems like most of the withdrawl is over be sure to check things out.

  • 2 years later...
gina921 Newbie
gina921
Posted

Today is day 3 of my gluten free life and I had a "spell" this evening. Fuzziness around my left eye and now a headache from temporal over the top of my head, down my neck. It's dull, achy. Anyone have thoughts about this? Withdrawal symptoms? The eye thing went away after I took a bite of gluten pita bread. I was lightheaded twice today as well...

hnybny91 Rookie
hnybny91
Posted

This thread had been a real eye opener for me. I have had a headache since Sunday. I thought maybe it was soy. Every day it gets better but it is still there. On Saturday I decided to give up dairy since my stomach hurt after my morning coffee. The headache I am experiencing is probably casein withdrawl! OMG. Guess dairy will be off my list permantely now.

  • 1 year later...
dgartland68 Newbie
dgartland68
Posted

I am 5 days in and have had a blinding headache exactly as you described until about 2 hours ago. I wake up and feel ok, then after an hour or so terrible for the rest of the day. My friends on FB who are gluten free are encouraging me to drink lots of water and keep telling me that it will pass. :D

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I am 5 days in and have had a blinding headache exactly as you described until about 2 hours ago. I wake up and feel ok, then after an hour or so terrible for the rest of the day. My friends on FB who are gluten free are encouraging me to drink lots of water and keep telling me that it will pass. :D

Get some dark Chocolate. I ate Dove. It is supposed to help the same part of your brain that wheat affects. Not sure if it's true, but it seemed to help me. Make sure you are eating, too.

  • 8 months later...
Alexandra345 Newbie
Alexandra345
Posted

After realizing that a component of Type2 diabetes was due to progressive deterioration of L-cells in the intestine, I read Dr. William Davis' Wheatbelly, and I decided to try to eat wheat-free. He voices some very scary claims against wheat. Eating wheat-free has had very positive effects on my Type2 fasting blood sugars, instantly lowering them at least 10 pts, and no, not due to reduced carbs as I have found quite acceptable rice cakes, breads and crackers. The only dietary change I have made is to eliminate wheat.

I am writing though because eating wheat-free caused me to have a nearly disabling foggy, migrainey headache for over 3 weeks, worse it seemed the more stringently I ate wheat-free, meaning avoiding anything without the label gluten free (mayonnaise, salad dressings, hummus, etc). One afternoon recently I decided I needed to throw caution to the wind, gave in to the office table of holiday goodies, and ate a single Whitman's chocolate nut cluster. Instantly my headache was gone and for 3 days now it has not returned. I have not eaten anymore chocolate and have continued to avoid wheat. I have researched the presence of opioids in chocolate and found that opioids are in many foods, but the studies I have discovered re chocolate do not indicate dramatic withdrawal nor mood improvements from abstaining nor eating. Dr. Davis contributes our societal need for wheat and dairy to their opioids, among other things.

I am writing to share my headache story and confusion and also to ask if anyone has any scholarly references re food addiction, withdrawal and control of food-addictive behavior, as I am still seeking a late afternoon-early evening fix of "opioids" (a decades-long snackathon) in any form other than wheat.

Jcrosk Newbie
Jcrosk
Posted

Get some dark Chocolate. I ate Dove. It is supposed to help the same part of your brain that wheat affects. Not sure if it's true, but it seemed to help me. Make sure you are eating, too.

Has anyone else had luck with dark chocolate? I get these headaches often and can last up to two days. It affects my vision, tight neck, and the nail in the head would be an accurate description. Even traces of gluten can trigger the nail in the head.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted

I thought the chocolate helped. Also, Excederin or Target generic ( says gluten-free on label). Excederin is aspirin, Tylenol and caffiene.

Jcrosk Newbie
Jcrosk
Posted

My Doctor won't give me anything for the headaches so I find myself combining Tylenol and Advil to get through the pain with limited success. I'll give the chocolate a try.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,897
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Jennbo
    Newest Member
    Jennbo
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Judy M
      New (possible) celiac diagnosis

      By Judy M · Posted

      My husband has had lactose intolerance for his entire life (he's 68 yo).  So, he's used to gastro issues. But for the past year he's been experiencing bouts of diarrhea that last for hours.  He finally went to his gastroenterologist ... several blood tests ruled out other maladies, but his celiac results are suspect.  He is scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  He was told to eat "gluten free" until the tests!!!  I, and he know nothing about this "diet" much less how to navigate his in daily life!! The more I read, the more my head is spinning.  So I guess I have 2 questions.  First, I read on this website that prior to testing, eat gluten so as not to compromise the testing!  Is that true? His primary care doctor told him to eat gluten free prior to testing!  I'm so confused.  Second, I read that celiac disease is genetic or caused by other ways such as surgery.  No family history but Gall bladder removal 7 years ago, maybe?  But how in God's name does something like this crop up and now is so awful he can't go a day without worrying.  He still works in Manhattan and considers himself lucky if he gets there without incident!  Advice from those who know would be appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!
    • Scott Adams
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten free beer ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In this case the beer is excellent, but for those who are super sensitive it is likely better to go the full gluten-free beer route. Lakefront Brewery (another sponsor!) has good gluten-free beer made without any gluten ingredients.
    • trents
      Patiently Waiting to See Results

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @catsrlife! Celiac disease can be diagnosed without committing to a full-blown "gluten challenge" if you get a skin biopsy done during an active outbreak of dermatitis herpetiformis, assuming that is what is causing the rash. There is no other known cause for dermatitis herpetiformis so it is definitive for celiac disease. You would need to find a dermatologist who is familiar with doing the biopsy correctly, however. The samples need to be taken next to the pustules, not on them . . . a mistake many dermatologists make when biopsying for dermatitis herpetiformis. 
    • trents
      How Come Gluten Didnt Bother Me In Italy

      By trents · Posted

      You state in an earlier post that you don't have celiac disease. Here in this post you state you will "be doing another test". What will this test be looking for? What kind of celiac disease testing have you had done? If you have used a Entero Labs it sounds like you have had stool testing done for celiac disease which is not widely accepted as a valid celiac disease diagnostic testing method. Have you had blood antibody testing for celiac disease done and do you realize that for antibody testing to be valid you must have been eating generous amounts of gluten for a period of weeks/months? 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.