Believe it or not, caffeine is a stimulant that's found in more than just your morning cup of joe. In addition to coffee, tea and chocolate, this energy-boosting chemical can be found in certain medications as well.
What is caffeine?
Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance in plants which has many effects on the body. It is a known stimulant of the central nervous system, where low to moderate doses of caffeine can increase alertness, energy, and concentration. Other effects include increased blood pressure and breathing rate. It is most commonly used in beverages but did you know it is also being used to enhance the effects of certain medications?
Why do some pain medications contain caffeine?
Caffeine is often added to common pain medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen to increase their pain-relieving capabilities. Research has shown that pain medication coupled with caffeine is helpful for various types of acute pain, including migraine headaches, dysmenorrhea, postoperative dental pain, and even postpartum pain.
One study demonstrated that adding a small dose of caffeine to analgesics helped improve pain relief in twice as many people compared to using analgesics alone. Another found that paracetamol combined with caffeine led to faster onset of pain relief and prolonged it for up to three hours.
When taking medications that contain analgesics and caffeine, proper care should be taken to avoid any undesirable effects. It is best to consult your doctor first before taking medications containing caffeine as it should only be used for acute pain relief. When buying medications containing caffeine, tell your pharmacist about other medications you are taking to avoid any unnecessary interactions.
General disclaimer
Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6485702/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5018099/
- https://medlineplus.gov/caffeine.html
- https://reference.medscape.com/drug/adenocard-adenoscan-adenosine-342295
- https://www.cochrane.org/CD009281/SYMPT_caffeine-analgesic-adjuvant-acute-pain-adults
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coffee/
- https://thejournalofheadacheandpain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s10194-017-0806-2
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5018099/#:~:text=Caffeine%20could%20reduce%20pain%20sensation,adenosine%20receptors%20on%20sensory%20afferents.
- https://accp1.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1177/0091270007299762
