Headache coffee

Xanthines such as caffeine (1)> theophylline (aminophylline) (2), and theobromine (3) are a class of alkaloids that occur in numerous plants. The CNS stimulant activity of aqueous infusions containing these compounds has been recognized since antiquity. This has, of course, led to widespread consumption of such well-known beverages as coffee (Coffea arabica), tea (Thea sinesis), mate, and cola beverages (in part Cola acuminata). The annual consumption of caffeine in the United States alone has been estimated to be in excess of a billion kilos. The pure compounds have found some use in the clinic as CNS stimulants. In addition, caffeine is widely used in conjunction with aspirin in various headache remedies. 

False. Tea, coffee and cola all contain caffeine, a mild stimulant drug. In small quantities it provides a refreshing increase in energy levels in larger quantities it can lead to headaches, anxiety, agitation, tremors and insomnia. In extreme cases it has been known to cause death. 

It is commonly assumed that the ubiquitous office coffee pot is heavily used by workers in order to increase their levels of wakefulness, alertness, and, more generally, arousal.4 There may, however, be a number of additional perceived or actual benefits of work-related caffeine intake. Headaches, for example, are often reported in work settings, and one study showed that workers sometimes consume caffeine primarily to relieve them.101 This finding is consistent with the widespread medical use of caffeine to treat headache.102103... 

It has been estimated that beverage consumption may provide the following amounts of caffeine per cup or average measure coffee, 30-150 mg (average 60-80 mg) instant coffee, 20-100 mg (average 40-60 mg) decaffeinated coffee, 2-4 mg tea, 10-100 mg (average 40 mg) cocoa, 2-50 mg (average 5 mg) cola drink, 25-60 mg. The maximal daily intake should not exceed about 1 g to avoid unpleasant side effects, e.g. headaches, restlessness. An acute lethal dose is about 5-10 g. 

A cnp of coffee can contain 50-150 mg of caffeine, and cola drinks can have 35-55 mg. Theophiline,l,3-dimethylxanthine, a principal, characteristic alkaloid of tea, and theobromine, 3,7-dimethylxanthine (23.3.19), a principal alkaloid of cocoa, are among a number of methylxanthines. In small doses, caffeine is a relatively weak psychostimulant and is used for increasing awareness as well as for relieving headaches associated with blood flow disorders of the brain. Caffeine has a stimulatory effect on the respiratory and vasomotor centers, and it stimnlates centers of the vagus nerve. It has a direct stimulatory effect on the myocardium, and in large doses can cause tachycardia and arrhythmia. 

If precipitating factors can be identified these should obviously be eliminated as far as possible before drug treatment is used. Examples are tension, stress, lack of sleep, alcohol, smoking, large intake of coffee and tea, irregular meals, bad work posture and problems with eyesight. Hormonal ilucmations and common colds also often cause headache. 

Notifythe physician of abdominal or back pain, severe headache, black or red stool, coffee-ground vomifus, red or dark urine, or red-speckled mucus from a cough... 

In this section, caffeine is discussed only briefly and the focus is on other stimulants that produce psychiatric disorders. Caffeine can lead to a withdrawal syndrome characterized by lethargy, irritability, and headache, but withdrawal appears to occur in less than 3% of regular coffee drinkers. Moreover, the morbidity associated with caffeine overdose, which can include disturbing effects on sleep and heart rhythm, is much less than the morbidity associated with other stimulants. 

Tolerance to caffeine does occur, but it varies with different people. About six cups of coffee a day, ten cola drinks, or eight cups of tea can result in dependence or addiction. Withdrawal symptoms can occur after longterm use of just a few cups a day. — These symptoms can include headache, sleepiness, and lethargy. 

M. van Dusseldorp, and M.B. Katan, Headache caused by caffeine withdrawal among moderate coffee drinkers switched from ordinary to decaffeinated coffee A 12 week double blind trial. Br. Med. J. 300 1558-1559, 1990. 

Caffeine qualifies as an addicting drug because it presents qualities of reinforcement and its withdrawal induces a syndrome of symptoms. These include headache, drowsiness, fatigue, decreased performance, depression, and occasionally nausea and vomiting. Symptoms appear within 12-24 hours of last caffeine use, peak at 20-48 hours, and last about 1 week. Although withdrawal symptoms are more common in moderate to heavy users of caffeine (in excess of three cups of coffee a day), it can also occur with low to moderate intake (235 mg/day, equivalent to 2.5 cups of coffee). 

Caffeine is the most widely used of all the stimulants. Small doses of this chemical (50 to 200 mg) can increase alertness and reduce drowsiness and fatigue. The No-Doz tablet lists caffeine as the main ingredient. In addition, it affects blood circulation since the heart is stimulated and blood vessels are relaxed (vasodilation). It also acts as a diuretic. There are side effects. Large doses of over 200 mg can result in insomnia, restlessness, headaches, and muscle tremors ( coffee nerves ). Continued, heavy use may bring on physical dependence. (How many of you know somebody who cannot function in the morning until they have that first cup of coffee )... 

Adverse effects Moderate doses of caffeine cause insomnia, anxiety, and agitation. A high dosage is required to show toxicity, which is manifested by emesis and convulsions. The lethal dose is about 10 g for caffeine (about 100 cups of coffee), which induces cardiac arrhythmias death from caffeine is thus highly unlikely. Lethargy, irritability, and headache occur in users who have routinely consumed more than 600 mg of caffeine per day (roughly 6 cups of coffee/day) and then suddenly stop. 

The truth is that coffee is a strong stimulant, one that is hard on certain parts of the body. It is irritating to the stomach, for example, and many people who drink a lot of it have indigestion most of the time. (In the United States, where coffee is regularly consumed in large quantities, there are nearly as many brands of antacids as there are brands of coffee.) It is irritating to the bladder, too, especially in women, and is a frequent cause of urinary complaints. Coffee also makes many people shaky by upsetting the delicate balance between nerves and muscles. It is a common cause of headaches, heart palpitations, anxiety, and insomnia. 

Chronic overdose. Excessive prolonged consumption of caffeine causes anxiety, restlessness, tremors, insomnia headache, cardiac extrasystoles and confusion diarrhoea may occur with coffee and constipation with tea. The cause can easily be overlooked if specific enquiry into habits is not made including children regarding cola drinks. Of coffee drinkers, up to 25% who complain of anxiety may benefit from reduction of caffeine intake. An adult heavy user may be defined as one who takes more than 300 mg caffeine/day, i.e. 4 cups of 150 ml of brewed coffee, each containing 80 20 mg caffeine per cup or 5 cups (60 20) of instant coffee. The equivalent for tea would be 10 cups at approximately 30 mg caffeine per cup and of cola drinks about 2.01. Plainly, caffeine drinks brewed to personal taste of consumer or vendor must have an extremely variable concentration according to source of coffee or tea, amormt used, method and duration of brewing. There is also great individual variation in the effect of coffee both between individuals and sometimes in the same individual at different times of life (see Sleep, above). 

Tea and coffee have been popular beverages for centuries, primmly because they contain the stimulant caffeine. It stimulates respiration, the heart, and the central nervous system, and is a diuretic (promotes urination). It can cause nervousness and insomnia and, like many drugs, can be addictive, making it difficult to reduce the daily dose. A regulcu coffee drinker who consumes as few as four cups per day can experience headache, insomnia, and even nausea upon withdrawal from the drug. 

In general, coffee, tea, mate) Coca-Cola , and other sodas are so ubiquitous that people rarely think of them as drugs. Aside from individuals who are hypersensitive to caffeine, the controversy continues on whether caffeine itself is harmful or helpful to the people who use it. There is no doubt that caffeine is a CNS drug. It is well known that many individuals are physically dependent on its daily use and will exhibit withdrawal symptoms, including headache and disorientation, if their use is abruptly stopped. On the other hand, aside from the spiraling cost of cappuccinos, it may be hard to specify adverse consequences to the use of caffeine. 

SH Works full time as an office manager in the business district, but has been on medical leave for the past 4 weeks for "mental exhaustion" and is due to return to work in 2 days. Married for 25 years with two adult children living on the opposite side of the country. Drinks one to twoeups of coffee daily and one large gin and tonic nightly does not exercise. PMH Postmenopausal for 5 years. Migraine headaches (averages one per month has had three in the past month) HTN. 

Withdrawal (for an initial period of adjustment, discomforting or painful symptoms are experienced when the person s system is forced to function without the drug "It s been two days since I stopped drinking coffee. I ve got this headache that won t quit, and I feel really tired and down.")... 

As with many other substances, like alcohol, tobacco, and coffee, the kava beverage for most people has an acquired taste. Thus in naive users, a number of adverse effects may be noted including headache and nausea, especially if a high dose is consumed. Authors who are unused to kava or are unsympathetic to it have described its taste and effects in fairly negative terms, comparing it to washing-up water, muddy water, chalk swimming in body sweat, etc. 

Caffeine Restlessness, agitation, insomnia, diueresis, GI disturbances, excitement Headache, fatigue, drowsiness, nausea or vomiting Antagonist of adenosine receptors, increase cAMP in neurons that have adenosine receptors Avoid caffeine, analgesics Average adult consumes about 200 mg per day. A cup of coffee contains 100-150 mg of caffeine, tea has 1/3 as much... 

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