News Bites News Bites Caffeine Eases Headache Caffeine Eases Headache

PainPain

HS 460HS 460

• It has long been known that when It has long been known that when caffeine is combined with caffeine is combined with acetaminophen or aspirin in pain acetaminophen or aspirin in pain relievers such as Extra Strength relievers such as Extra Strength Excedrin, it bolsters the medication’s Excedrin, it bolsters the medication’s ability to relieve pain. Now a new ability to relieve pain. Now a new study suggests that caffeine also study suggests that caffeine also relieves garden-variety headaches relieves garden-variety headaches when combined with ibuprofen, the when combined with ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Advil and Motrin, active ingredient in Advil and Motrin, and even acts independently to and even acts independently to reduce pain. reduce pain.

• Researchers at the Diamond Headache Researchers at the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago looked at 385 people who Clinic in Chicago looked at 385 people who typically got tension headaches several typically got tension headaches several times a month. Each person was given 1 times a month. Each person was given 1 of 4 pills to take next time a headache of 4 pills to take next time a headache struck: a combination pill containing 400 struck: a combination pill containing 400 milligrams of ibuprofen (the amount in 2 milligrams of ibuprofen (the amount in 2 tablets of Advil) and 200 milligrams of tablets of Advil) and 200 milligrams of caffeine (the amount in about 2 cups of caffeine (the amount in about 2 cups of coffee); ibuprofen pills alone; caffeine coffee); ibuprofen pills alone; caffeine alone; or a “dummy” placebo pill. Overall, alone; or a “dummy” placebo pill. Overall, those who took the caffeine alone reported those who took the caffeine alone reported a reduction in pain for about an hour and a a reduction in pain for about an hour and a half after taking the pill. But then the half after taking the pill. But then the effect wore off and the pain returned. effect wore off and the pain returned.

• Just the opposite occurred among the Just the opposite occurred among the people in the ibuprofen-alone group: people in the ibuprofen-alone group: they didn’t feel any relief for more they didn’t feel any relief for more than an hour after taking the drug, than an hour after taking the drug, but once it kicked in, it gave them but once it kicked in, it gave them relief for more than 5 hours. Not relief for more than 5 hours. Not surprisingly, headache sufferers who surprisingly, headache sufferers who took the combination pill took the combination pill experienced more hours of relief experienced more hours of relief than any of the other groups. than any of the other groups.

• Experts suspect caffeine helps Experts suspect caffeine helps alleviate headaches by constricting alleviate headaches by constricting the blood vessels in the head, which the blood vessels in the head, which slightly decreases blood flow there. slightly decreases blood flow there. In fact, that helps explain why many In fact, that helps explain why many caffeine “addicts” suffer pounding caffeine “addicts” suffer pounding withdrawal headaches when they withdrawal headaches when they don’t get their usual “fix.” Without don’t get their usual “fix.” Without caffeine, the blood vessels in the caffeine, the blood vessels in the head area dilate and the extra blood head area dilate and the extra blood creates throbbing pressure. creates throbbing pressure.

• The researchers point out that The researchers point out that headache sufferers may not need the headache sufferers may not need the 200-milligram “dose” they used in 200-milligram “dose” they used in the study. Caffeine-containing drugs the study. Caffeine-containing drugs currently on the market contain no currently on the market contain no more than 130 milligrams per more than 130 milligrams per standard dose, which may be the standard dose, which may be the threshold at which the effect kicks in. threshold at which the effect kicks in.

• Tafts University Tafts University

• Health and Nutrition LetterHealth and Nutrition Letter

• Vol. 15, No. 4, June 1997Vol. 15, No. 4, June 1997