How Long Do Withdrawal Symptoms Last ?

[dudley007]

Hello everyone, I am a newbie here. I started on gluten free diet exactly 2 weeks ago for two reasons:

1) I would like to lose some weight

2) I get headaches/brain fog from time to time and I heard this may be related to gluten (I realize not every headache is caused by gluten)

I have no reason to believe that I am gluten sensitive, my digestive system works very well but I read that people may be gluten sensitive yet have very few symptoms. I have no problems following the diet - in fact, after a week I stopped craving bread/past completely. However (!), 3 days after I eliminated gluten from my diet, I started experiencing strong brain fog episodes and even mild/moderate depression. This has been taking for 11 days now and it is pretty bad.

I read about withdrawal symptoms but people usually report having them for a few days. Is what I experience common? Why the depression?

Thanks for any insight you can share with me.

[dudley007]

Any help here? Can you please share if your withdrawal symptoms included depression and if so, how long they lasted? Thank you.

[Diane-in-FL]

Withdrawal seems different for everyone.....it depends on how old you are, how long you may have had gluten issues without being diagnosed or knowing it. Gluten is addictive and your body is reacting to missing it, and for some people, withdrawal symptoms can be as bad or worse than their original symptoms. But it will get better.

Welcome to the forum!

[pricklypear1971]

Or, you could need some of the b vitamins gluten goods have added to them. Just a thought - add a multi vitamin?

[Kamma]

Hi Dudley...

When I was going through my withdrawals I really wanted to know how long they would last as well. I started reading some of the research stuff and I believe it was in one of Dr. Fassano's papers where he stated that the antibodies created in reaction to the gluten have a half life of three months. So in three months, half of the antibodies are gone, in another three months, half of that half is gone and so on. It takes a full year to eliminate your system of the antibodies if you don't accidently gluten yourself.

I started to feel better for longer periods of time around the two month mark. Lots of energy, good cheer and hope. Some of my symptoms are ramping up at other times.

Hope that helps.

Oh yes! By the way, gluten acts like an opiate on some of the receptors in the brain so when you withdraw from it some people get depressed.

[Gfresh404]

Why are you gluten-free, as a just in case?

[dudley007]

Why are you gluten-free, as a just in case?

Thanks for all your posts. I do take a multivitamin once a day. The reason I went gluten free is to

1) lose some weight (success here so far)

2) see if it can help me with my occasional headaches

3) from what I read, anyone can benefit from gluten-free diet even if that person does not have any alergic symptoms

[WendyLee]

Hi Dudley...

When I was going through my withdrawals I really wanted to know how long they would last as well. I started reading some of the research stuff and I believe it was in one of Dr. Fassano's papers where he stated that the antibodies created in reaction to the gluten have a half life of three months. So in three months, half of the antibodies are gone, in another three months, half of that half is gone and so on. It takes a full year to eliminate your system of the antibodies if you don't accidently gluten yourself.

I started to feel better for longer periods of time around the two month mark. Lots of energy, good cheer and hope. Some of my symptoms are ramping up at other times.

Hope that helps.

Oh yes! By the way, gluten acts like an opiate on some of the receptors in the brain so when you withdraw from it some people get depressed.

Thx Kamma for the information about the reseach.

Wendy

[JaneG]

This is a useful thread, thanks Kamma for your reply.

I have gone gluten free as a last ditch effort to cure my chronic fatigue - I have done everything else and my Doctors are less than useless, refusing tests unless there are really obvious signs of anything like thyroid, gluten etc. I am having to go it alone because they depress me so much and make me feel I am insane.

Almost a month in, just like above, finding the way of eating easy and pleasurable and not craving bread at all - perhaps because I have learned a lot from the raw food movement. I did high raw for a while but could never give up bread!

Sadly, I feel absolutely dreadful. I sleep more than ever; sometimes feel sick; have severe headaches and neck ache; can't think straight; can't function and today I am angry as well. I am wondering if it is worth it and if I am just clutching at straws. Last year I thought I was healed of chronic fatigue and then it came back, but now much worse since starting this, though the first week was good and I felt I was on the right track.

I need some hope. I have searched so many sites and forums and all I see over and over are these wonder stories of people losing a stone in the first 4 weeks (I have got heavier) and suddenly having all this energy...and I feel like an oddball, like there is something wrong with me and maybe I shouldn't be doing this and it's all rubbish, etc. But it really does feel like my last hope of recovery.

Any advice, links to articles/sites about difficulties would be gratefully received. Thank you

[LauraB0927]

Why didnt you consult with a doctor and have blood tests done before going gluten free? Headaches and fatigue could point to a lot of different diagnoses and shouldnt just be related to Celiac. More importantly, I'm a bit concerned that you feel that going gluten free is a sufficient way to lose weight. In fact, many people begin to gain weight after starting a gluten free diet - some because they are actually beginning to absorb food and others because they are loading up on the gluten replacement foods which have WAY more carbs and calories. Gluten free doesnt necessarily equate to healthy....If you want to lose weight, you're right, stick to more natural foods like meats, fruits, veggies, nuts, etc, but if you dont have Celiac or a gluten sensitivity then there is a legitimate place for gluten in your diet.

I would seriously suggest consulting with your doctor to discuss your headaches and fatigue - you could be ignoring another problem. I have to admit, this post is coming from a bit of frustration because I'm not sure why anyone would want to be on this "diet" or "lifestyle" if they dont have to be. Rule out any other medical illnesses and get tested for antibodies - it could be from something else and maybe even something easier to manage.

[wonderingman]

Hi Dudley...

When I was going through my withdrawals I really wanted to know how long they would last as well. I started reading some of the research stuff and I believe it was in one of Dr. Fassano's papers where he stated that the antibodies created in reaction to the gluten have a half life of three months. So in three months, half of the antibodies are gone, in another three months, half of that half is gone and so on. It takes a full year to eliminate your system of the antibodies if you don't accidently gluten yourself.

I started to feel better for longer periods of time around the two month mark. Lots of energy, good cheer and hope. Some of my symptoms are ramping up at other times.

Hope that helps.

Oh yes! By the way, gluten acts like an opiate on some of the receptors in the brain so when you withdraw from it some people get depressed.

I wonder if acupuncture will help remove the half-life that you researched? I have been gluten-free for 4 months and have no libido. I have also removed diary and sugar too. My labs show normal thyriod. Do you have that article or have you been through a similiar raod with this? How long did it take you?