Caffeine as an adjuvant to ibuprofen in treating childhood headaches.
In adults, caffeine has been shown to enhance the effectiveness of most analgesics, including ibuprofen. This double-blind cross-over pilot study evaluated the effect of ibuprofen and caffeine compared with ibuprofen and placebo in 12 children with headaches. Patients completed diaries for both headaches. Outcome measures included a five-faces severity scale, a measure of clinical disability, and a scale of pain severity. Comparison of the cumulative response scores revealed a trend toward a greater response to ibuprofen-caffeine treatment of headaches (P = 0.14, P = 0.09, and P = 0.07 for the three measures, respectively). Further larger studies are needed to confirm this effect and to identify potential responders.
Dooley
Joseph M
JM
Pediatric Neurology Division, Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. jdooley@dal.ca
Gordon
Kevin E
KE
Wood
Ellen P
EP
Brna
Paula M
PM
MacSween
Judith
J
Fraser
Alex
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine; D007052:Ibuprofen