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Some drink caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea to combat fatigue, and others consume caffeine supplements for their nootropic effects, such as improved focus and reaction time. Some claim that the ratio of the two methylxanthines most present in coffee, caffeine and theophylline, may have synergistic interactions. The purpose of this experiment was to explore the interactions and relationships between a combination of caffeine and theophylline at different doses. The study hypothesizes that an antagonistic relationship will be observed when caffeine and theophylline are combined. This research will be conducted in frogs to simulate humans. Frogs will be intravenously injected with caffeine and/or theophylline following decapitation and the removal of other potential variables to isolate the reflex response time required for the frogs to move in response to sulfuric acid solution stimuli. Standalone doses, as expected, were efficacious in reducing reflex response time. A combined dose further decreased reflex response time, though with decreasing levels of effectiveness at larger doses. According to the Combination Index (hereafter referred to as CI) from the Chou-Talalay method, Combined doses at meaningful dosages all exhibited antagonism. Any larger dose than a combined dose of 4.36mg (ratio 1:1) will exhibit antagonism. At that dose, an additive relationship is seen. Any lower than 4.36mg, synergy is exhibited. This conclusion proves that the hypothesis of the study is correct. An average cup of coffee contains 95mg of caffeine and 3.8mg of theophylline. These values far exceed the threshold of the combination becoming antagonistic. This means that the pharmacokinetic interactions between theophylline and caffeine can be disregarded in the context of consumer-grade coffee.
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