Experimental study of the effect of aspirin in combination with caffeine with regard to the potential for abuse

Caffeine is suspected to initiate the abuse of caffeine-containing analgesi cs. To clarify this matter the study investigated the effects of aspirin al one and in combination with caffeine on mood and cardiovascular parameters before, during, and after pain induction through mechanical stimulation. 96 healthy middle-aged women - all habitual coffee drinkers - were randomly d esigned to receive 0 or 500 mg aspirin together with 0, 50, or 100 mg caffe ine administered in a double-blind design. Aspirin did not change ratings of mood scales. Caffeine decreased scores on negative mood scales, especially on the anxiety/sadness scale. The combina tion of aspirin and caffeine failed to increase any score on scales measuri ng positive moods. Only a few interactions are noticed. The results do not support the suggest ion that caffeine increases the potential for abuse of aspirin.