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 D03.633.100.759.758.824.175
Concept/Terms	Caffeine Caffeine 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine Vivarin Vivarin Caffedrine Caffedrine Coffeinum N Coffeinum N Percutaféine Percutaféine Dexitac Dexitac Durvitan Durvitan No Doz No Doz Percoffedrinol N Percoffedrinol N Quick-Pep Quick-Pep Quick Pep QuickPep Coffeinum Purrum Coffeinum Purrum

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".