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.
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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
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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 frequently drink alcohol containing drinks
-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
How should I use this medicine?
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Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. 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. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 12 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
Patients over 65 years old may have a stronger reaction and need a smaller dose.
What if I miss a dose?
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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.
What may interact with this medicine?
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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 should I watch for while using this medicine?
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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.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
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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
-black, tarry stools
-breathing problems
-fast, irregular heartbeat
-feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
-fever or sore throat
-pain on swallowing
-ringing in the ears or trouble hearing
-trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
-unusual bleeding or bruising
-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
Where should I keep my medicine?
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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.
