Caffeine, Oral kaf-EEN

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: stimulant

Generic and brand names: caffeine, oral; Enerjets; NoDoz Maximum Strength Caplets; Stay Awake; Vivarin (There may be other brand names for this medicine)

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to increase alertness when you feel tired or drowsy. Do not use caffeine products regularly to make up for lost sleep. It may also be used with pain relievers to treat headaches.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• an allergy to any medicine
• panic or anxiety disorder
• diabetes
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• kidney or liver disease
• peptic ulcer disease or colitis
• seizures
• thyroid disease
• trouble sleeping

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether large amounts of this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Up to 200mg a day or about 12 ounces of coffee may be safe. Talk with your healthcare provider about this. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take caffeine early in the day to avoid trouble sleeping. You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

Take this medicine exactly as directed. Do not take more of it or take it longer than recommended. Taking too much caffeine may cause side effects or become habit-forming.

The capsules are usually extended-release. Do not open or chew the capsules. Swallow them whole.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: tremors, fast or irregular heartbeat, restlessness, nervousness, confusion, diarrhea.

What should I watch out for?

Call your healthcare provider if you feel drowsy for 2 weeks or longer.

Do not drink a lot of coffee, tea, or cola that contains caffeine while you are taking this medicine. Using these products together may cause side effects. Also check the labels of all nonprescription and prescription medicines you take. Other medicines that contain caffeine may also cause problems. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions.

If you feel dizzy or have a fast heartbeat, stop taking the caffeine. If the dizziness or fast heartbeat continues, contact your healthcare provider.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Stomach pain; extreme agitation or irritability; confusion; muscle twitching; headache; vomiting; chest pain; flushing; fast or irregular heartbeat; ringing in your ears.

Other: Dizziness, diarrhea, frequent urination, trouble sleeping, mild nausea, mild nervousness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and norfloxacin (Noroxin)
• antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and fluvoxamine,
• antiseizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) and phenobarbital
• appetite suppressants (diet pills)
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), midazolam (Versed), and triazolam (Halcion)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• clozapine (Clozaril)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• drinks and foods containing caffeine such as coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever or other allergies that contain pseudoephedrine (including nose drops or sprays)
• medicines to treat breathing or lung problems such as arformoterol (Brovana), aminophylline, fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair), formoterol fumarate (Foradil), mometasone/formoterol (Dulera), salmeterol (Serevent, Advair), and theophylline
• methoxsalen (Oxsoralen-Ultra, 8-MOP)
• mexiletine (Mexitil)
• natural remedies such as ephedra (ma huang) and guarana
• other stimulant medicines such as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall, Adderall XR), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), and methylphenidate (Ritalin)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.