Caffeine can increase the effectiveness of painkillers by 40 percent, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Since caffeine also aids in your body's ability to absorb the medication, taking a painkiller with caffeine can help you feel better more quickly. However, using caffeine with painkillers also has potential drawbacks. Always ask your doctor if the combination of caffeine and pain medication is a good treatment for your specific condition.
Effects of Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant drug that has many effects on your body. It increases the functions of your central nervous system, which results in an increased heart and respiratory rate. It also provides a quick burst of energy and prevents feelings of tiredness. While not as strong as painkillers, caffeine is also a pain reliever itself, reports Russell Portenoy, M.D. in an article published on ABC News website. However, in addition to these positive effects, caffeine can cause unpleasant reactions in the body. Consuming large amounts of caffeine, especially over 500 mg a day, may result in sleep problems, irritability or jitteriness, gastrointestinal upset, muscle tremors or headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
Caffeine Content in Pain Relievers
Many over-the-counter and prescription painkillers already contain caffeine. However, the specific amount of caffeine in each pain medication can vary greatly. For example, over-the-counter headache medications generally contain about 15 to 65 mg of caffeine in each dose, while prescription medications may contain 30 to 100 mg per dose, according to the Cleveland Clinic website. Since the caffeine content of medications can vary greatly -- and some contain no caffeine at all -- you should check the label of your medication to determine the specific amount.
Mixing Painkillers and Caffeine
Drinking large amounts of a caffeinated beverage while taking a painkiller might increase the medicine's effectiveness, but it also can have negative effects. A 2007 study published in the October issue of the American Chemical Society's "Chemical Research in Toxicology" showed that mixing large doses of caffeine and acetaminophen may cause liver damage. While the study was conducted on bacteria and laboratory animals and not on humans, the results may warrant avoiding this practice until more research is done to confirm or dispute the results of this study.
Withdrawal
Individuals who regularly consume caffeinated painkillers may experience caffeine withdrawal when they stop taking the medication. Caffeine withdrawal is associated with unpleasant side effects such as fatigue, headaches and irritability. The higher the dose of caffeine and the longer you take the caffeine, the more likely you are to experience these side effects after halting caffeine consumption. Gradually weaning yourself off the medication instead of stopping abruptly can decrease your chances of caffeine withdrawal.
References
- ABC News; Why Do Some Over-The-Counter Pain Killers Contain Caffeine; Russell Portenoy; November 2008
- MayoClinic; How Much is Too Much?; March 2011
- Cleveland Clinic: Caffeine and Headache
- American Chemical Society; Mixing Large Doses of Both Acetaminophen Painkiller and Caffeine May Increase Risk of Liver Damage; Mark T. Sampson; September 2007
- Aetna InteliHealth; Caffeine: Performance, Addiction and Myth; Michael Craig Miller, M.D.; August 2005
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