A methylxanthine naturally occurring in some beverages and also used as a pharmacological agent. Caffeine's most notable pharmacological effect is as a central nervous system stimulant, increasing alertness and producing agitation. It also relaxes SMOOTH MUSCLE, stimulates CARDIAC MUSCLE, stimulates DIURESIS, and appears to be useful in the treatment of some types of headache. Several cellular actions of caffeine have been observed, but it is not entirely clear how each contributes to its pharmacological profile. Among the most important are inhibition of cyclic nucleotide PHOSPHODIESTERASES, antagonism of ADENOSINE RECEPTORS, and modulation of intracellular calcium handling.

Descriptor ID	D002110
MeSH Number(s)	D03.132.960.175 D03.438.759.758.824.175
Concept/Terms	Caffeine Caffeine 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine Coffeinum N Coffeinum N Merck dura Brand of Caffeine Coffeinum Purrum Coffeinum Purrum Berlin-Chemie Brand of Caffeine Dexitac Dexitac Republic Drug Brand of Caffeine Durvitan Durvitan Seid Brand of Caffeine Vivarin Vivarin GlaxoSmithKline Brand of Caffeine Percoffedrinol N Percoffedrinol N Passauer Brand of Caffeine Percutaféine Percutaféine Pierre Fabre Brand of Caffeine Quick-Pep Quick-Pep Thompson Brand 2 of Caffeine Caffedrine Caffedrine Thompson Brand 1 of Caffeine No Doz No Doz Bristol-Myers Squibb Brand of Caffeine

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Caffeine".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Caffeine".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Caffeine".