Caffeine injection
Caffeine injection
What is this medicine?
CAFFEINE (KAF een) is a stimulant. It is used to help premature babies breathe more regularly.
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for infusion into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug is prescribed for newborns for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
bloated stomach
bloody, dark stools
breathing problems
irritable, fussy
fast, irregular heartbeat
fever, infection
not eating or sleeping like usual
seizure
trembling
trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusually quiet, not responsive
vomiting
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
dry skin
feeding problems
frequent passing of urine
pain when injected
What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
cimetidine
ketoconazole
ketoprofen
medicines for colds or breathing difficulties
phenobarbital
phenytoin
stimulant medicines for attention disorders, weight loss, or to stay awake
theophylline
What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply.
Where should I keep my medicine?
This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
anemia
colitis
heart disease, irregular heartbeat
infection
kidney disease
liver disease
seizure disorder
an unusual or allergic reaction to caffeine, aminophylline, theophylline, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
The doctor will follow the child's condition closely while receiving this medicine. Tell the doctor if your child's breathing does not improve or gets worse. The doctor may order important blood work.
If you are breast-feeding a child who is taking this medicine watch your diet. Avoid food and drinks that contain additional caffeine, like coffee, tea, colas and chocolate. The caffeine you eat will pass to the infant with breast-feeding.
Updated:  
July 17, 2018