Caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgia
J Ryan Scott,1 Afton L Hassett,1 Chad M Brummett,1 Richard E Harris,1,2 Daniel J Clauw,1,2 Steven E Harte1,2 1Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Background: Caf...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pain Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/caffeine-as-an-opioid-analgesic-adjuvant-in-fibromyalgia-peer-reviewed-article-JPR |
| _version_ | 1818267269244911616 |
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| author | Scott JR Hassett AL Brummett CM Harris RE Clauw DJ Harte SE |
| author_facet | Scott JR Hassett AL Brummett CM Harris RE Clauw DJ Harte SE |
| author_sort | Scott JR |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | J Ryan Scott,1 Afton L Hassett,1 Chad M Brummett,1 Richard E Harris,1,2 Daniel J Clauw,1,2 Steven E Harte1,2 1Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Background: Caffeine’s properties as an analgesic adjuvant with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/acetaminophen are well documented. However, little clinical research has explored ca­ffeine’s effects on opioid analgesia. This study assessed the effects of caffeine consumption on pain and other symptoms in opioid-using and nonusing chronic pain patients meeting the survey criteria for fibromyalgia. Materials and methods: Patients presenting to a university-based pain clinic completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms. Patients (N=962) meeting the fibromyalgia survey criteria were stratified by opioid use and further split into groups based on caffeine amount consumed per day (no caffeine, or low, moderate, high caffeine). Analysis of covariance with Dunnett’s post hoc testing compared pain and symptom severity between the no caffeine group and the caffeine consuming groups. Results: In opioid users, caffeine consumption had modest but significant effects on pain, catastrophizing, and physical function. Lower levels of pain interference were associated with low and moderate caffeine use compared to no caffeine intake. Lower pain catastrophizing and higher physical function were observed in all caffeine dose groups, relative to the no caffeine group. Lower pain severity and depression were observed only in the moderate caffeine group. In opioid nonusers, low caffeine intake was associated with higher physical function; however, no other significant effects were observed. Conclusion: Caffeine consumption was associated with decreased pain and symptom severity in opioid users, but not in opioid nonusers, indicating caffeine may act as an opioid adjuvant in fibromyalgia-like chronic pain patients. These data suggest that caffeine consumption concomitant with opioid analgesics could provide therapeutic benefits not seen with opioids or caffeine alone. Keywords: caffeine, fibromyalgia, opioid analgesics, pain, analgesic adjuvant, chronic pain |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:19:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f9edc44619b44ffab63ae156b3119efb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-7090 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:19:55Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pain Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f9edc44619b44ffab63ae156b3119efb2022-12-22T00:13:17ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902017-07-01Volume 101801180934011Caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgiaScott JRHassett ALBrummett CMHarris REClauw DJHarte SEJ Ryan Scott,1 Afton L Hassett,1 Chad M Brummett,1 Richard E Harris,1,2 Daniel J Clauw,1,2 Steven E Harte1,2 1Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Background: Caffeine’s properties as an analgesic adjuvant with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/acetaminophen are well documented. However, little clinical research has explored ca­ffeine’s effects on opioid analgesia. This study assessed the effects of caffeine consumption on pain and other symptoms in opioid-using and nonusing chronic pain patients meeting the survey criteria for fibromyalgia. Materials and methods: Patients presenting to a university-based pain clinic completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms. Patients (N=962) meeting the fibromyalgia survey criteria were stratified by opioid use and further split into groups based on caffeine amount consumed per day (no caffeine, or low, moderate, high caffeine). Analysis of covariance with Dunnett’s post hoc testing compared pain and symptom severity between the no caffeine group and the caffeine consuming groups. Results: In opioid users, caffeine consumption had modest but significant effects on pain, catastrophizing, and physical function. Lower levels of pain interference were associated with low and moderate caffeine use compared to no caffeine intake. Lower pain catastrophizing and higher physical function were observed in all caffeine dose groups, relative to the no caffeine group. Lower pain severity and depression were observed only in the moderate caffeine group. In opioid nonusers, low caffeine intake was associated with higher physical function; however, no other significant effects were observed. Conclusion: Caffeine consumption was associated with decreased pain and symptom severity in opioid users, but not in opioid nonusers, indicating caffeine may act as an opioid adjuvant in fibromyalgia-like chronic pain patients. These data suggest that caffeine consumption concomitant with opioid analgesics could provide therapeutic benefits not seen with opioids or caffeine alone. Keywords: caffeine, fibromyalgia, opioid analgesics, pain, analgesic adjuvant, chronic painhttps://www.dovepress.com/caffeine-as-an-opioid-analgesic-adjuvant-in-fibromyalgia-peer-reviewed-article-JPRCaffeineFibromyalgiaOpioid analgesicsPainAnalgesic adjuvantChronic pain |
| spellingShingle | Scott JR Hassett AL Brummett CM Harris RE Clauw DJ Harte SE Caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgia Journal of Pain Research Caffeine Fibromyalgia Opioid analgesics Pain Analgesic adjuvant Chronic pain |
| title | Caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgia |
| title_full | Caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgia |
| title_fullStr | Caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgia |
| title_short | Caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgia |
| title_sort | caffeine as an opioid analgesic adjuvant in fibromyalgia |
| topic | Caffeine Fibromyalgia Opioid analgesics Pain Analgesic adjuvant Chronic pain |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/caffeine-as-an-opioid-analgesic-adjuvant-in-fibromyalgia-peer-reviewed-article-JPR |
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