Evaluation of Caffeine in Drug Associations

Abstract

Caffeine is a natural methylxanthine consumed worldwide in foods and in combination therapy, but, according to the literature, some of its effects and mechanism of action are not well defined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits and risks related to the association of caffeine in medicines, as well as making comparison of doses cited in the literature with those found in more commercialized medicines and foods consumed by population in diary basis. A survey of thirty-five medicines most associated with caffeine sold in a comercial pharmacy of dispensing was done. It was noted that caffeine usually is associated with three classes of medicines most frequently used by the population classified pharmacologically as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxants. Besides, 69% of dispensed medicines was associated with spontaneous search by patients, 91% of such medicines presented caffeine sub-therapeutic doses (as literature refers) and in 75% of cases caffeine amount was less than 50 mg, similar to dose of food consumed per person/day. Thus, it is concluded that the use of caffeine in drugs still requires scientific evidence concerning its benefits and studies to define better criteria for caffeine therapeutic use.