Caffeine helps cure spinal headaches, say doctors

Joe Elvin

2011-08-10 3:00 PM

Coffee could be the perfect solution for those who have had a spinal tap.

Doctors in Catalonia have indicated that caffeine can help to ease the painful headaches which often occur after the medical procedure.

They came to their conclusion by offering caffeine tablets to those with spinal headaches and found that they were almost always more effective than a placebo. Both intravenous and oral caffeine were found to be effective by the doctors.

Considering that these headaches can often last for a few days, spinal tap patients might now find it worthwhile to invest in a cappuccino machine for the home.

According to theconversation.edu.au, the doctors performed the same test on a number of drugs including gabapentin, hydrocortisone and theophylline. These were all found to be more effective than placebos although they are much harder to access than a cup of espresso.

Evaluating the study for newswise.com, head researcher Xavier Basurto Ona said: “Numerous medications are used in clinical practice to treat postdural puncture headache, so the aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of these drugs.”

The results add strength to the debate as to whether coffee can cure migraines. Some researchers have suggested that caffeine can actually cause headaches or make them worse.