---

Caffeine

Caffeine is an alkaloid naturally occurring in coffee and coca beans cola nuts and tea leaves. Caffeine is described as a methylated xanthine alkaloid derivative (1,3 7 Trimethyl xanthine). In mammals ingested caffeine is rapidly absorbed, metabolized and excreted in the urine as methyl Xanthine derivatives. Caffeine is mildly stimulating and is used as a therapeutic agent. Caffeine is the active ingredient in a variety of beverages. These beverages include, but are not limited to: coffee, tea, soda, hot chocolate, and the like. These beverages are often sold in caffeinated and decaffeinated formulations. Caffeine has become a ubiquitous drug. Caffeine is widely distributed in pharmaceutical preparations and beverages. It has a variety of biological effects. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that has been used, either alone or in coinbination with other drugs, in the treatment of headaches. It stimulates the central nervous system, shows toxicity when fed excessively and is even mutagenic in-vitro. Theobromine shows caffeine like pharmacological activities but does not cause excessive reaction as caffeine, so used as diuretic. In moderate doses, caffeine elevates neural activity in many parts of the brain, postpones fatigue, and enhances performance of simple intellectual tasks and physical work that involves endurance. The most common therapeutic use of caffeine is to relieve pain, especially headache pain, although it is also a mild diuretic and a respiratory stimulant. Compositions containing one or more of the analgesics aspirin, acetaminophen and phenacetin in combination with varying amounts of caffeine have been marketed in the past. In several cases, such non-narcotic analgesic/caffeine combination products have further included one of the narcotic analgesics codeine, propoxyphene or oxycodone. Caffeine is a bitter crystalline alkaloid. There are a variety of biological effects and symptoms caused by the ingestion of caffeine including tachycardia, diuresis, headaches, decrease in fine motor coordination, insomnia, and central neurological stimulation.

---