Migraines, Headaches, and Caffeine

What is Caffeine?

Caffeine is a commonly used drug that increases alertness, decreases fatigue, and improves muscle coordination. Though coffee comes to mind as the most common source of caffeeine, it’s also naturally found in tea and chocolate, and it is often added to soft drinks and non-prescription drugs like pain-relievers and cold remedies. People vary in their sensitivity to caffeine. If used excessively, caffeine can be too stimulating and cause anxiety, sleep problems, muscle twitching, or abdominal pain.

How Does Caffeine Treat Headaches?

Caffeine is a common ingredient in many prescriptions and over-the-counter heache medication (see list below). Caffeine additives make pain relievers 40% more effective in treating headaches. Caffeine also helps the body absorb headache drugs more quickly, bringing faster relief. By adding caffeine and, in turn, taking less medication, you can reduce the risk for potential side effects and possible drug addiction.

Common Over-the-Counter Drugs Containing Caffeine

  • Asprin-Free Excedrin Caplets: 65 mg
  • Bayer Select Maximum Strength Headache Pain Relief: 65.4 mg
  • Excedrin Caplets: 65 mg
  • Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets and Tablets: 65 mg
  • Midol Menstrual Maximum Strength Caplets: 60 mg
  • Midol for Cramps Maximum Strength Caplets: 32.4 mg
Note: The drugs listed are some of the more common drugs containing caffeine; all drugs containing caffeine are not included. Always check the labels of over-the-counter medications for the caffeine content. Or ask your doctor or pharmacist about the caffeine content of your medications.

How Can I Prevent Caffeine Withdrawal?

Withdrawal from normal caffeine usage is rare. However, with excess use, over 500 mg daily (approximately five cups of coffee) over a long period of time, sudden cessation could cause symptoms of withdrawal. You can avoid caffeine withdrawayl by limiting your daily consumption, being educated about sources of caffeine, and by gradually decreasing the consumption rather than ending use abruptly.

Because of the risk of withdrawal, people should not take caffeine-containing pain relievers on a daily basis.

What Are the Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal?

  • Headache
  • Fatigue, drowsiness, or loss of energy
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Decreased ability to concentrate or perform mental tasks

Can Caffeine Cause Rebound Headaches?

Rebound headaches is a condition that develops from the overuse or misuse of any headache medication, including caffeine-containing medication. While caffeine-containing drugs can be beneficial, these medications, combined with consuming too much caffeine (coffee, tea, soft drinks, or chocolate) from other sources, may make you more vulnerable to getting rebound headaches.

Relief from rebound headaches can only be accomplished by completely quitting all medication; however, this should only be done under the supervision of a doctor.

Information provided by: WebMD

Article Link: http://webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/triggers-caffeine

Fill’er Up?

Don’t want a face lift? There are other options…

Courious about wrinkle fillers, which hold the promise of smoother skin and younger look without surgery?

First thing is don’t confuse fillers with Botox and its competitors like Dysport and Xeomin. These are injectables that help smooth so-called dynamic lines (such as forehead furrows and crows feet caused by frowning and smiling) by blocking the muscle contractions under the skin. The half dozen FDA approved fillers on the market help restore the contours of the face by padding the folds and wrinkles and replacing lost volume.

Fillers does not replace a face lift because they wont lift the skin that has lots of sagging, but if there’s not a lot of skin laxity fillers can replace lost volume, and the will contribute to a younger more well rested appearance.

Some of the more popular types of fillers:

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers are made of a sugar that occurs naturally in the body. Popular brands include Juvederm, Juvederm Ultra Plus, Perlane, and Restylane. Yhese gel formulations come in thin and slightly thicker consistencies. They can fill both shallow areas suck as fine lines above the lips and deeper folds like those around the nose and the so-called marionette likes, creases that run downward from the corners of the mouth. These fillers can plump up thinning lips, restore volume to cheeks, fill under-eye hollows, and add definition to a slacking jaw line. The effects remain visible anywhere from four months to a year, depending on the area treated. Results do very from person to person. If you dont like the results hyaluronic acid fillers can be reversed with an injection og enzyme hyaluronidase.

Calcium Hydroxylapatite Microspheres are a compund similar to minerals found in the body, whick make up the main ingredient on Radiesse. Thicker than hyaluronic acid, it’s most effective where more valume is needed, to build up a weak chin, strngthen a jawline, pad sunken cheeks, or filldeep wrinkles. Results last up to a year and in some cases longer

Cancer Quiz

Rate Your Skin Cancer Risk…

Ah, springtime: The sun is out, the air is warm, and you’re tempted to soak up some rays. Will you increase your risk for skin cancer if you do? Unfortunately…yes…”SUN WORSHIPPING” can lead to melanoma. Your risk can rise due to several factors, including genetics, skin type, and family history


1. Do you have fair skin that burns easily?        *YES          *NO

2. Do you have a history of blistering sunburns or frequent sun exposure?          *YES            *NO

3. Have you ever used indoor tanning beds?        *YES        *NO

4. Do you have family history of melanoma?       *YES         *NO

5. Do you have many large or irregular moles?    *YES       *NO


1. People with fair skin are at greater risk of sun damage and skin cancer. Pigmentation helps protect the skin from the suns harmful rays, and those with fair skin have less than other people, but even those with darker complexion can get skin cancer, so everyone should practice sun safety.

2. People who have had serious (blistering) sunburns as children or teens as well as those who are in the sun alot for work or recreation are at higher risk for skin cancer.

3. Indoor tanning with a lamp, bed, or booth expose you to the same harmful UV rays the sun does.

4. A family history of melanoma raises your risk of developing this disease.

5. If you have a lot of large or irregular moles, you’re more likely to get melanoma..