Caffeine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: stimulant

Generic and brand names: caffeine, oral; Caffedrine Caplets; Enerjets; Keep Alert; NoDoz Maximum Strength Caplets; NoDoz; Pep-Back; Stay Awake; Ultra Pep-Back; Vivarin

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. This medicine may cause miscarriage or may affect the way a baby develops. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. Do not take more than 300 mg (an amount equal to 3 cups of coffee) a day if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How should 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 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.

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.

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:

• amantadine (Symmetrel)
• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and enoxacin (Penetrex)
• antidepressants such as bupropion (Wellbutrin), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• antiseizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) and phenobarbital (Luminal)
• appetite suppressants (diet pills)
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), triazolam (Halcion), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), lorazepam (Ativan), and midazolam (Versed)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• clozapine (Clozaril)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• drinks and foods containing caffeine such as coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate
• female hormones such estrogen or birth control pills
• herbs with stimulant effects such as ephedra, ma huang, guarana
• medicines for colds, sinus problems, hay fever or other allergies that contain pseudoephedrine (including nose drops or sprays)
• mexiletine (Mexitil)
• MAO inhibitors such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), procarbazine (Matulane), selegiline (Eldepryl), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other.)
• other stimulant medicines such as amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), dextroamphetamines (Adderall, Adderall XR), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and pemoline (Cylert)
• terbinafine (Lamisil)
• theophylline

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.