Eli5: Why is caffeine often recommended for headache relief?
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Fun related fact:
Excedrin (Extra strength) and Excedrin migraine have the exact same active ingredients.
They both contain the exact same amount of Aspirin, Acetometaphin, and Caffeine.
It’s marketing is the only reason why they have two different “brands.”
Many “headaches” are just caffeine withdrawal symptoms. I used to get a bad headache every Sunday, because I drank coffee at work, but not on the weekends. So naturally caffeine works great on caffeine withdrawal headaches.
Caffeine has vasoconstrictive properties. This means that blood vessels narrow to restrict blood flow, alleviating pain. Like others have said, too, caffeine increases the absorption and strength of painkillers when taken with caffeine.
There are two major reasons that I’m aware of. Firstly it causes vasoconstriction in the brain which stops headaches caused by vasodilation, which is a common cause of headaches.
Secondly it treats caffeine withdrawal which is another common reason of headaches
Caffeine is a vasonstrictor (narrows vessels) so it clamps down on vessels in head that can cause headpain, ie headache. The opposite of a vasoconstrictor is a vasodilator (opens up vessels) such nitroglycerin which causes headaches. Another famous vasodilator, sildenafil, opens up some other important vessels (and also known to cause headaches)
Few reasons.
1) It speeds up absorption of painkillers.
2) It helps combat the drowsiness caused by some medication.
3) It is a vasoconstrictor which can relieve the cause of some kinds of headaches.
Two things combined. First, Caffeine is a mild vasodilator, which will help blood and other pain relief medicine reach the brain a little easier. Second, it is the most common drug in the world, with some of the earliest signs of withdrawal being a headache.
Because headache is the most promiment caffeine withdrawal symptom, and people who may not be aware that they are experiencing relief of caffeine withdrawal when coffee makes their headache go away may believe that coffee helps with headaches, and thus recommend it to others, not being aware that caffeine only relieves headaches in caffeine dependent individuals and that caffeine is not a general remedy for headaches.
Caffeine used in conjunction with acetaminophen (Tylenol) accelerates how well your body absorbs acetaminophen and increases its effect,
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17442681/
Many headaches caused by your blood vessels expanding and creating pressure in your head. Caffiene make the blood vessels shrink, reduces the headache. Other things that might help, drinking water. But especially if the headache is from caffeine withdrawal, caffeine helps.
Edit: typed headache twice instead of caffiene
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