Painkillers can contain a wide variety of ingredients and are available over the counter and in prescription strength. Painkillers can interact with other medications being taken, become addictive and cause problems if a patient is sensitive to the ingredients. This can be the case when taking painkillers that contain caffeine. Before using painkillers with caffeine, it is important to seek medical attention to have the cause of the pain properly diagnosed and assess the safety of taking painkillers that contain caffeine.
Features
Most painkillers that contain caffeine are used to treat headaches, including medications that contain aspirin or acetaminophen combined with caffeine. The primary reason caffeine is added is that it might increase the effectiveness of the medication, states MayoClinic.com. Since caffeine stimulates the activity of the central nervous system, it might help the body absorb the medication faster, which can bring quicker relief. Since it makes the medication more effective, less medication might be needed to get the desired results.
Considerations
While caffeine might make pain medications work better, there can be some drawbacks. Caffeine can become addictive and cause headaches after ingesting it or when trying to stop taking it, reports the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Everyone's sensitivity to caffeine is different and for some even small amounts cause problems; others can consume high amounts with no negative effects. Consuming 500 to 600 mg a day is considered heavy use for anyone. Pain medications vary widely in their caffeine content, from 64 mg for every two tables to 200 mg per tablet. If trying to control caffeine intake, it is important to read the medication label or ask a pharmacist how much caffeine is in each tablet.
Benefits
Caffeine seems to provide the most benefit when used to treat headaches or migraines. While the exact mechanisms are not well understood, it appears that caffeine might inhibit the actions of a substance called adenosine. According to the American Headache Society, adenosine levels rise during a migraine attack and might cause blood vessels in the brain to dilate, which in turn creates pressure and contributes to headache pain. However, every case is different and caffeine appears to be more beneficial for those who do not ingest it regularly. Regular consumption of caffeine can build up a tolerance to its effects, which means it might not control pain as well. To avoid dependence, caffeine should not be used more than two days per week. A physician will need to determine how many grams of caffeine each patient can safely use.
Warnings
While painkillers with caffeine might help to alleviate headache pain in some patients, these pills can begin to cause pain if overused. This is known as a rebound headache. The Cleveland Clinic warns against overusing painkillers with caffeine because pain signals in the brain might become stronger and more frequent upon stopping the medication. In some cases, stopping the pills actually might cause a migraine attack. Gradually decreasing the dosage along with taking other medications might be necessary to successfully treat rebound headaches.
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