Acetaminophen; Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine oral powder

What is this medicine?

ACETAMINOPHEN; ASPIRIN; CAFFEINE (a set a MEE noe fen; AS pir in; KAF een) is a pain reliever. It is used to treat mild aches and pains. This medicine may help with arthritis, colds, headache (including migraine), muscle aches, menstrual cramps, sinusitis, and toothache.

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth. Place one packet of powder on tongue and follow with plenty of liquid, or stir powder into a glass of water or other liquid. Follow the directions on the package or prescription label. You can take this medicine with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Patients over 65 years old may have a stronger reaction and need a smaller dose.

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
breathing problems
fast, irregular heartbeat
feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
fever or sore throat
pain on swallowing
ringing in the ears or trouble hearing
signs and symptoms of bleeding such as bloody or black, tarry stools; red or dark-brown urine; spitting up blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds; red spots on the skin; unusual bruising or bleeding from the eye, gums, or nose
trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
unusually weak or tired
yellowing of the eyes or skin

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

diarrhea
headache
nausea, vomiting
passing urine more often
trouble sleeping

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
methotrexate
other medicines with acetaminophen
probenecid

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

alcohol
alendronate
bismuth subsalicylate
clozapine
flavocoxid
grapefruit juice
herbal supplements like feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginkgo biloba, horse chestnut
isoniazid
lithium
medicines for diabetes or glaucoma like acetazolamide, methazolamide
medicines for gout
medicines that stimulate or keep you awake
medicines that treat or prevent blood clots like enoxaparin, heparin, ticlopidine, warfarin
NSAIDs, medicines for pain and inflammation, like ibuprofen or naproxen
other aspirin and aspirin-like medicines
some cough and cold medicines like pseudoephedrine
varicella live vaccine

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

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
anxiety or panic attacks
asthma
bleeding problems
child with chickenpox, the flu, or other viral infection
diabetes
gout
heart disease
high blood pressure
if you often drink alcohol
kidney disease
liver disease
low level of vitamin K
lupus
smoke tobacco
stomach ulcers or other problems
trouble sleeping
an unusual or allergic reaction to acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Tell your doctor or health care professional if the pain lasts more than 10 days, if it gets worse, or if there is a new or different kind of pain. Tell your doctor if you see redness or swelling. If you are treating a fever, check with your doctor if the fever that lasts for more than 3 days.

Do not take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or medicines that have acetaminophen with this medicine. Too much acetaminophen can be very dangerous. Always read medicine labels carefully.

Report any possible overdose to your doctor or health care professional right away, even if there are no symptoms. The effects of extra doses may not be seen for many days.

This medicine can irritate your stomach or cause bleeding problems. Do not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. Do not lie down for 30 minutes after taking this medicine to prevent irritation to your throat.

If you are scheduled for any medical or dental procedure, tell your healthcare provider that you are taking this medicine. You may need to stop taking this medicine before the procedure.

Do not take this medicine close to bedtime. It may prevent you from sleeping.

This medicine may be used to treat migraines. If you take migraine medicines for 10 or more days a month, your migraines may get worse. Keep a diary of headache days and medicine use. Contact your healthcare professional if your migraine attacks occur more frequently.