title: The analgesic effects of caffeine in headache.
abstract: Caffeine is frequently added to mild analgesic preparations but its effect when used alone on pain has never been studied in humans. Using a double-blind placebo-controlled multiple crossover design, 53 patients with non-migrainous headaches were given placebo, acetaminophen, 2 doses of caffeine and 2 combinations of caffeine with acetaminophen. Caffeine appeared to have independent analgesic effects that were equivalent to acetaminophen and were still significant when statistical adjustments were made for prior caffeine consumption and caffeine's effects on mood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of Washington, Seattle, WAU.S.A. Department of Dental Public Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WAU.S.A.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Coralyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Avery
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dunner
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D002110:Caffeine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D000082:Acetaminophen; D002110:Caffeine