title: Caffeine and headaches.
abstract: Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychostimulant drug. It is a potent antagonist of adenosine receptors at dosages consistent with common dietary intake. With infrequent exposure, caffeine may act as an analgesic for headache or an adjuvant for the actions of other analgesics. With chronic repetitive intake, caffeine is associated with an increased risk of development of analgesicoveruse headache, chronic daily headache and physical dependency. Cessation of caffeine use following chronic exposures leads to a withdrawal syndrome, with headache as a dominant symptom.
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Given C219B, 89 Beaumont Avenue, 05405 Burlington, VT, USA. robert.shapiro@uvm.edu
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Shapiro
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004357:Drug Synergism; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D058906:Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000378:metabolism; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D058906:Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D002110:Caffeine; D000241:Adenosine