Evidence supporting the use of: Methylxanthine
For the health condition: Headache (general)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4
Methylxanthines, a class of compounds that includes caffeine, theophylline, and theobromine, have scientific support for use in the treatment and support of headaches, particularly migraines and tension-type headaches. The most well-studied methylxanthine is caffeine, which is commonly used as an adjuvant in over-the-counter and prescription headache remedies. Clinical studies have demonstrated that caffeine can enhance the efficacy of analgesics such as acetaminophen and aspirin in the acute treatment of headaches. The mechanism is thought to involve antagonism of adenosine receptors, leading to cerebral vasoconstriction and modulation of pain pathways. This pharmacological action is particularly relevant because cerebral vasodilation is associated with certain types of headaches, including migraines.
Caffeine has also been shown to have intrinsic analgesic properties and can provide mild to moderate headache relief on its own. For these reasons, methylxanthines are included in combination products for headache management, and guidelines from organizations such as the American Headache Society acknowledge their role. However, chronic or excessive use can lead to medication-overuse headaches and withdrawal symptoms. The evidence base is robust for acute use, primarily concerning caffeine, with several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses supporting its efficacy. Other methylxanthines are less commonly used for headaches, but the class as a whole is supported by substantial scientific evidence for this indication.
Other ingredients used for Headache (general)
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dioneAbrus
Achyranthes
Aconite
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
Agastache
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Ajuga
Albizia
alpha-pinene
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
Alstonia scholaris
amber
ambergris
American Liverleaf
Amor seco
Anemone
Angelica
anise
apple
apple cider vinegar
Arani
Ardisia
Arisaema
asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarum heterotropoides
ashwagandha
aster root
atractylone
avens
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bael
balloon flower
balsam
bamboo
banyan
Barleria
basil
Bassia scoparia
bayleaf
Bergenia
betel
betony
birch
bitter grass
black cumin
Black Hellebore
black nightshade
black root
black salt
black seed
black tea
Black willow
blackboard tree
blackthorn
Blepharis
blue flag
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
borassus palm
borneol
Boswellia
bottle gourd
Broussonetia
Bryonia
Buddha\'s hand
burdock
Butea monosperma
cactus
Caesalpinia crista
calamus
Camellia sinensis
camphor oil
Campylandra fimbriata
cannabidiol
Cannabis sativa oil
capsicum
cardamom
carry me seed
Carthamus
cayenne pepper
Celosia
Centipeda
Chaenomeles lagenaria
chamomile
chinatree
Chinese silkvine
chrysanthemum
Cinnamomum
cinquefoil
citron
Clary sage
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum indicum
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coca
cola nut
colocynth
commiphora
coriander
corktree
Corydalis
costus
cucumber
Cymbopogon martini
Cynodon dactylon
Dichrostachys glomerata
divi-divi
dragonhead
elephant\'s head
Embelia
English horsemint
Erodium cicutarium
Erythropalum scandens
eugenol
European Elder
Evodia
fang-feng
fennel
fern
fernbush
ferula assafoetida
feverfew
Ficus religiosa
Ficus simplicissima
flowering quince
Flueggea suffruticosa
Fumaria parviflora
Galangal
ganoderma
garden cress
Gardenia jasminoides
Gelsemium
geranium
giant blazingstar
ginger
ginseng
Glechoma hederacea
Gnaphalium
Golden Willow
goldthread
gooseberry
gotu kola
Greek mountain tea
green chiretta
green tea
Guaranine
Guava
guayusa
Heartsease
Hedychium spicatum
Hellebore
Hempnettle
henna
Herb Robert
Homalomena
Horsemint
Indian bael
Indian coraltree
Indian fagonia
Indian frankincense
Indian nightshade
indigo leaves
iridoids
Javanese Long Pepper
joe-pye
jujube
Kokilaksha
kola nut
kudzu
Kukicha
labrador tea
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
lavender
Ledebouriella
lemon
lemon balm
Lesser speargrass
lichen
licorice root
ligustilides
Lilium polyphyllum
linalool
linden
Lindera
Litsea
little ironweed
Lophira lanceolata
Loranthus
lotus
lovage
luffa
Lycopodium
Lysimachia
Macaranga indica
mace
magnesium
mallow
Malva sylvestris
Marjoram
Matapalo Tree
Meadow sage
Meadowsweet
Mentha haplocalyx
Menthol oil
Mesua
Methylxanthine
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Microtea debilis
Milkweed
Mint
Momordica
Morinda
Moringa
Morus
Mountain Pepper
Mountain pride
Mustard
mustard seed
Myrrh
Nardostachys
Natsudaidai
Nymphaea nouchali
onion
Onosma bracteatum
orchid
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Osmanthus
paeoniflorin
pagoda tree
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
Patchouli oil
Patrinia
paw paw
peony
Peppermint
Petasines
Phellodendron
phellodendron amurense
Pimpinella
Piper chaba
Piper nigrum
Piper retrofractum
Plectranthus amboinicus
Pluchea
Polygonum
poppy
Portulaca
Premna
prepared aconite tuber
Prickly Pear Cactus
Prunus
Pulsatilla
punarnava
purple butterbur root
quail egg
riboflavin (vitamin B2)
robusta coffee
root tuber
rose
rose oil
Rubia cordifolia
Rubia yunnanensis
Rubiaceae
Rubus
rue
sage
Sagebrush
Salicin
Salvia
Sandalwood
Sassafras
Scabrous Gentian
schizonepeta
Scoparia dulcis
scrophularia root
Self-Heal
Semecarpus anacardium
Sensitive Plant
Sida cordifolia
silk tree
Snakeroot
Solanum indicum
Sophora
soursop
Southernwood
Spanish Needle
spearmint leaf
Speedwell
Spikenard
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stephania root
Stereospermum
Storax
Sumac
Sweet Bay
Sweet Orange alcohol
sweetgums
Sword Bean
Szechuan lovage
Tamarind
Terminalia
Tetrahydropalmatine
Tinospora cordifolia
Triphala
Tulbaghia
turmeric
Verbena
Vervain
Vetiver
Viburnum
Violet
Water Pepper
Waterhyssop
Watermelon
Wax Gourd
white willow
Willow
Willow Bracket
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Wintergreen
Wood betony
Wulinshen
Xanthine
Xanthophyll
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba buena
Yerba mate
Yuzu
zhejiang fritillary
Zingerone
Zucchini