Caffeine citrate

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Caffeine citrate
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid; 1,3,7-trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
Identifiers
CAS number	69-22-7
ATC code	?
PubChem	6241
Chemical data
Formula	C14H18N4O9
Mol. weight	386.31
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	?
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	Oral, i.v.

Caffeine citrate (Cafcit®) is a citrate salt of caffeine, sometimes used in medical treatment, including short-term treatment of lack of breathing in premature infants: apnea of prematurity. Caffeine citrate functions in much the same capacity as does caffeine, but takes effect more quickly; its speed of dissociation is faster than that of caffeine. Like its sister compound, it can be used to dispel pain from a headache. However, caffeine citrate is typically only used to treat severe migraines.

The drug is prepared simply by combining anhydrous caffeine with citric acid monohydrate and sodium citrate dihydrate. In method of action, the preparation is exactly identical to that of caffeine base as the citrate counter ion dissociates in water. Doses of caffeine citrate, due to the added weight of the citrate moiety, are understandably higher than with caffeine base. The ratio of therapeutic doses of caffeine base to its citrate salt is typically 1:2.

[edit] External links

• Caffeine citrate entry in the NCI Metathesaurus -- warning: even though hosted at a .gov site, this may not be public domain material
• Drugs.com: Caffeine citrate

• Links to external chemical sources.