Do codeine and caffeine enhance the analgesic effect of aspirin?--A systematic overview.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether codeine and caffeine enhance the analgesic effect of aspirin in post-operative pain.


METHODS
Systematic overview of the literature and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs).


RESULTS
Codeine 60 mg leads to a small increase in the analgesic effect of 650 mg of aspirin when total pain relief score (TOTPAR%) is used as a efficacy end-point. This increased effect was not seen when sum of pain intensity (SPID%) and proportions of patients responding with moderate to excellent pain relief were used as outcome measures. Caffeine did not enhance the analgesic effect of aspirin.


CONCLUSIONS
Codeine 60 mg may produce a small increase in the analgesic effect of aspirin 650 mg. However, this effect is not clinically meaningful. Caffeine has no adjuvant analgesic effect. At over-the-counter (OTC) doses, caffeine and codeine are not useful in aspirin formulations.
Zhang
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WY
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK.
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D000698:Analgesia; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003061:Codeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine; D001241:Aspirin; D003061:Codeine