Caffeine citrate

See also: Caffeine

Caffeine citrate

Systematic (IUPAC) name
1,3,7-trimethylpurine-2,6-dione; 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
Clinical data
Trade names	Cafcit
AHFS/Drugs.com	Caffeine entry, Caffeine citrate monograph
Pregnancy category	US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration	Oral, i.v.
Identifiers
CAS Number	69-22-7 Y
ATC code	N06BC01 (WHO)
PubChem	CID: 6241
ChemSpider	6005 Y
Chemical data
Formula	C14H18N4O9
Molecular mass	386.314 g/mol
SMILES O=C(O)C(O)(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)O.O=C2N(c1ncn(c1C(=O)N2C)C)C
InChI InChI=1S/C8H10N4O2.C6H8O7/c1-10-4-9-6-5(10)7(13)12(3)8(14)11(6)2;7-3(8)1-6(13,5(11)12)2-4(9)10/h4H,1-3H3;13H,1-2H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)(H,11,12) Y Key:RCQXSQPPHJPGOF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
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Caffeine citrate (trade name Cafcit) is a citrate salt of caffeine, sometimes used in medical treatment, including short-term treatment of apnea of prematurity (lack of breathing in premature infants). Caffeine citrate functions in much the same capacity as does caffeine, but takes effect more quickly; its speed of dissociation is faster than that of caffeine. Like its sister compound, it can be used to dispel pain from a headache. However, caffeine sodium benzoate is typically only used to treat severe migraines, not the citrate form.

The drug is prepared simply by combining anhydrous caffeine with citric acid monohydrate and sodium citrate dihydrate. In method of action, the preparation is exactly identical to that of caffeine base as the citrate counter ion dissociates in water. Doses of caffeine citrate, due to the added weight of the citrate moiety, are understandably higher than with caffeine base, i.e., it takes a larger dose to get the same amount of caffeine. The ratio of therapeutic doses of caffeine base to its citrate salt is typically 1:2. It is therefore generally recommended that caffeine is prescribed in terms of caffeine base, and not caffeine citrate.

It is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medication needed in a basic health system.

External links

• [1] in the NCI Metathesaurus