About caffeine citrate
Central nervous system stimulant
Used for
- Treatment of apnea of prematurity in newborns
Usual dose in children
Preterm infants: 20 mg/kg caffeine citrate loading dose, then 5 mg/kg daily; doses are typically given intravenously or orally.
Common side effects
- Fast heart rate
- Feeding intolerance or vomiting
- Restlessness
- High blood sugar
Important warnings
- For use under specialist supervision, with heart-rate and breathing monitoring.
- Dosing errors can cause serious toxicity; dose is expressed as caffeine citrate.
- Use cautiously in infants with heart or kidney problems.
- Seizures and dangerously fast heart rhythms can occur with excessive doses.
Pregnancy
Not applicable for the usual newborn indication.
Breastfeeding
Not applicable for the usual newborn indication.
Interactions
- Medicines that slow caffeine breakdown, such as fluconazole, may raise caffeine levels.
- Caffeine may affect medicines that stimulate or slow the nervous system.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.