Wheat Withdrawal Headache?

[Mayflowers]

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.

[mommida]

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]

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.

[lurven71]

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]

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~]

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]

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.

[lilpup]

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!

[cancundiver]

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]

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.

[gina921]

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]

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.

[dgartland68]

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.

[kareng]

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.

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.

[Alexandra345]

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]

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]

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

[Jcrosk]

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.