The Role of Caffeine in Pain Management: A Brief Literature Review

Abstract

Context:Caffeine is the most commonly used psychoactive legal drug in the world. Caffeine’s role in controlling pain has received less attention in the past, yet is being increasingly considered. This article briefly reviewed the literature to clarify the role of caffeine as a drug for pain control and attract investigators to this topic.Evidence Acquisition:The data on Caffeine as an adjuvant therapy or as a main component for pain modulation has been narratively reviewed.Results:Caffeine plays an important role in pain modulation through their action on adenosine receptors which are involved in nociception. The use of caffeine as adjuvant treatment was well-established in the literature and caffeine is currently available in some over the counter medications. Studies showed controversial results about the interaction between caffeine and morphine for pain relief in patients with terminal stage cancer. As a main component for pain modulation, Caffeine can be used for hypnic headache and postdural puncture headache.Conclusions:Caffeine has a potential role for pain modulation. Current evidence on caffeine use for migraine and terminal stage cancer is not well-established. Future studies should address the use of caffeine alone for different types of pain with dose escalation and standardization of outcome measurement.

Análise dos medicamentos relaxantes musculares de ação central comercializados no Brasil na perspectiva do Cuidado ao Idoso

“…Especialidades farmacêuticas de analgésicos, comercializadas sem prescrição médica contendo a associação de cafeína com paracetamol ou antiinflamatórios não esteroidais é fundamentada no efeito analgésico adjuvante da cafeína, avaliado em estudos clínicos 40 . As evidências científicas do efeito adjuvante da cafeína foram demonstradas com doses de 100mg 40 , mas a concentração de cafeína encontrada nos medicamentos registrados no Brasil é de 30mg a 50mg.…”

“…As evidências científicas do efeito adjuvante da cafeína foram demonstradas com doses de 100mg 40 , mas a concentração de cafeína encontrada nos medicamentos registrados no Brasil é de 30mg a 50mg. Não foram identificadas investigações clínicas que avaliaram os benefícios da inclusão de relaxantes musculares nessas associações, assim como as razões para incluir lisina e vitaminas do complexo B. Fica evidente que os relaxantes musculares em dose fixa combinada comercializados no Brasil não apresentam justificativas científicas sólidas.…”

Effect of Dexmedetomidine Infusion During Orthopedic Surgery on Postoperative Analgesic Consumption in Opium Addict Patients; A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Inappropriate pain management in different settings, from the emergency department to the operating room and afterward, has been documented in the current literature and research regarding better approach is still ongoing (5)(6)(7)(8). The efficient management of POP is currently a part of surgery process and reduces patients' morbidity as well as their mortality, accelerates recovery and discharge from the hospital, improves patients' quality of life, and reduces costs.…”

Pain Management Following Anorectal Surgery Using Patient- Controlled Analgesia vs. Pudendal Nerve Block: A Clinical Trial

“…Although most of the patients can be successfully treated as an outpatient, it is important to perform surgery in some circumstances (1)(2)(3)(4). Post-operative pain (POP) is one of the most annoying and disturbing aspects of such a surgery.…”