Caffeine

Synonyms

1,3,7-Trimethyl-2,6-dioxopurine; 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine; 1H-Purine-2,6-dione, 3,7-dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-; 3,7-Dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione; Alert-Pep; Anhydrous caffeine; Cafamil; Cafecon; Cafeina; Caffedrine; Caffein; Caffeina [Italian]; Caffeine (natural); Caffeine, anhydrous; Caffeine, synthetic; Caffine; Cafipel; Coffein [German]; Coffeine; Coffeinum; Dexitac; Eldiatric C; Guaranine; Hycomine; Kofein [Czech]; Koffein [German]; Mateina; Methyltheobromine; NO-Doz; Nix Nap; Nodaca; Organex; Quick-Pep; Refresh'n; Stim; Thein; Theine; Theobromine, 1-methyl-; Theophylline, 7-methyl; Tirend; Tri-Aqua; Vivarin; Wigraine; Xanthine, 1,3,7-trimethyl; [ChemIDplus] UN1544

Category

Plant Toxins

Description

Odorless solid; Slightly soluble in water (1 g/ 46 mL); [Merck Index] White solid; Slightly soluble in water; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Occurs naturally in tea leaves, coffee beans, cocoa beans, mate leaves, guarana paste, and kola nuts; [Merck Index] Used in beverages, cardiac and respiratory stimulants, and diuretics; [HSDB] Also used in cosmetics; [eChemPortal: SIDSUNEP]

Comments

A diuretic and CNS and heart stimulant; [ICSC] Repeated intraperitoneal doses are toxic to liver in mice; Subcutaneous dose causes convulsions in mice with LD50 of 81 mg/kg; [RTECS] Ingestion of 35 mg/kg is moderately toxic in children. Coffee contains 50-200 mg and tea 40-100 mg of caffeine per cup. Acute caffeine poisoning can cause nausea, vomiting, delirium, seizures, hypokalemia, and fatal arrhythmias. [Olson, p. 170]

Biomedical References

7.3E-09 mm Hg

Explanatory Notes

The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Alkaloids, solid, n.o.s. (poisonous)."

Elimination 1/2 life in adults = 2.5-4.5 hours; [Reference #1]

Other CNS neurotoxin

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Not classifiable

Other Information

No other related information on this agent was found.